In Love At 17

Guess Who's the Coach?

I woke up the next morning with a throbbing headache. Crushsickness was getting to me. I shook my head then remembered what happened the night before. If only I could forget me being a complete idiot in front of my crush.

I took some headache pills and went for a shower then prepared my breakfast.

I live in a flat that my mom is paying for. Thing is, my regular salary can't take care of the bills here so this will have to do, for now. I'm studying Art and Design at the Angel's Community College. Life here in St. Beth is pretty easy. Everyday is filled with fresh air and beautiful people. Happy ones. It's a sweet life. In the city there's little traffic and confusion and a lot of restaurants, there, being one of them.

It's my third week in college and everything is going smoothly. Except for the fact that I still haven't found a club to join and rules are that you have to join at least two clubs or societies to graduate. I have been thinking of joining the poetry club and book club but all I'll do is sit at the back listening to SWS. There is the Heaven And Angel band but I think they fell apart sometime in summer. Also, there's the P.E. club but what would a retard like me he doing there?

I thought long and hard on it. Fine, I said, settling my mental argument, I'll join the swim team. I can swim. I miss swim meets and cold pool water. As I pulled on my socks, I imagined me doing the backstroke again. Unconsciously, I starts to actually do it. I really did miss swimming.

I walked to school rehearsing for my examinations that day. Highschool was a sigh. I was the smartest in my class and because of my introversion, I grew to be independent too. I taught myself math beforehand so that I could get an inside joke at the others who wasted their time texting rather than reading. Wolfing down a book a day, I widened my expanse of knowledge. I knew more than anyone about chemistry, trigonometry, the culinary arts, graphic design, culture, resources, technologies, almost everything. But still, I can't find any answers to my questions. I still haven't found the scientific explanation for love at first sight, nevertheless love itself. And the explanation of religion, devotion, spirituality and even simple earthly balance. See what I mean by deep?

The notice board said that swimming tryouts were on the Wednesday of that same week. I shivered a little. What was I thinking!? I am not in shape! I can't go tin this form!

"Why the face cutie?" Someone next to me asked.

Cutie? I turned slightly to them. It was...

Apollo in perfection.

I gasped, blushing as I looked down. He was so beautiful and his voice was even better. Do you sing, o heavenly figure? I thought.

"Something wrong?" He asked

"N- no...." My tongue twisted and I forgot how to speak. "I'm going now..."

Just as I was stepping away, he held my arm, pulling me to a stop. "Are you planning on joining the swim team, is that it?" I shook my head in response. And pulled away, not turning back. I found myself breathing again and I sighed. I could never go on like this. More than just being asocial, I was also becoming shy and afraid of holding normal conversations. But then I thought about what happened the day before. I spoke to him, why can't I talk to others.

The nights leading up to Wednesday were restless. I could hardly sleep so I went for long jogs alone. I still couldn't stop thinking about him. My sickness was getting worse. I'll try and talk to him, I thought. Like that would work.

Wednesday afternoon, right after classes I ran to the indoor pool at the back of campus. It was quiet. I heard nothing but strong kicks from the water. They stopped suddenly. I stepped inside to see a shirtless boy in trunks putting on a shirt. He turned to me. I knew I recognized that hair from somewhere. It was him. My crush.

"Here for tryouts?" He asked with his smirk on. He couldn't be the coach. "Emilé, isn't it? We met in the café, remember?"

"Y- yeah... I remember... Where's the coach?"

He put a whistle in his mouth, "Right here. Jump in." He ordered, signalling to the pool.

"I'm not ready, how can I swim like this?!"

He ignored my words and stepping forward he asked,"Why are you still standing? You should be swimming back right now."

"Huh-?" Without further thought, I was shoved into the pool, fully clothed. Crap, I'm gonna sink.

Seconds after I fell into the pool, I felt a splash from the surface. It was a big one. Someone was chasing me and they were gaining quickly. If lose this, I lose it all. I reached the other side and as was about to push off, I felt the splash of their turn. They're ahead, as expected. I was definitely not in shape for this. I pushed still, and hard. At on moment, I got a glimpse of them, when we were by each other's side. I pushed harder, this time, it was worth it. I hit the wall with so much power, it hurt.

I stood straight and looked to my side. "You're better than I expected." my crush smirked. Was that a compliment?

"What's your name?" I said to break the short silence between us.

"Surprised you didn't know. It's Ethan, Ethan Skylar."

"Ethan..." I repeated, "I'd rather call you coach." I pulled myself out of the pool and sat on the deck.

"No one calls me that!"

"So? I didn't really want to know your name anyways, I just figured it would be square since you know mine fully."

He smirked.

My year was going to be a blast having to meet him everyday for practice and after that, serving him in the café. No day would go on without him. Not a single one.