To Be Freed

Chapter Two

~Josh~

"Get set..." A whistle blew. He was up next. He was moving his knees up and down simultaneously to keep warm. He looked at Makoto. He was still chatting it up with Rei and Nagisa. They were all complaining about the "bad" swimming. Josh thought that they were pretty good, though. Haru, on his right, was staring at the water longingly. Josh's groan was silented by the cheers of the people. I bet he's wearing his swim shorts under his jeans again, he thought.

The race was over. Someone from another school other than his won, of course. He stood up and began walking to the starting block.

Before he got to the stairs of the bleachers, though, Haru grabbed his wrist. He scoffed, "Dad, I need to go!"

Haru nodded, "I know. It's just... Remember everything I taught you, okay?"

Josh rolled his eyes, "Of course, Dad. Can you let go of my wrist now?"

"Oh yeah, right."

Josh continued on and went to the stairs.

"Good luck, Josh!" Makoto was waving, along with Rei and Nagisa. Rei was wearing earbuds, yet Josh could hear the music blasting from them:
'Make us free na Splash! Kasaneta hikari no kontorasuto abite
Feel so free na kyō tobikomu ore-tachi no Brand new blue, yeh
(A splash that makes us free
The contrast of overlapping rays of light
Let the water wash over you
feel so free today
Dive right into our
Brand-new blue
Yeah!)'

He was everything but scared. He slipped his goggles over his eyes and walked to the starting block. He remembered to focus his breathing and remembered to look ahead at all times.

The referee signaled for everyone to go on their starting blocks. Josh looked to see who was on his left and right to see if he knew any of them. On his left (on lane 4), was a girl with blue goggles and a swimming cap who obviously looked terrified. On his right (on lane 2) was a boy who looked a year younger than him and was smiling menacingly.

"Get set..." The whistle blew. Josh dove in.

~Courtney~

"Remember everything that Coach taught you." Her mom demanded.

"Yes ma'am."

"Do you feel warmed up enough?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Do you want to go home?"

"Yes-- I mean no! Ma'am..."

"Okay then, swim as fast as you can." It was her turn to go, "And beat that boy with the gay parents."

"The one with the blonde bangs...?"  She saw him. Clear as day. He was actually kinda cute. "Why?"

"I heard he's the fastest in the county."

"Okay then. But how'd you know that his parents are gay?"

"It's obvious! 4 guys sitting together, chatting it up!"

"That doesn't mean anything, Mom."

"Whatever, just do your best!"

"Okay."

Courtney began walking to the starting block and was placed at lane 4. Next to the blonde-banged kid. She studied him without making it obvious and realized that he looked the same age as her; 14.

For some reason, she was shaking in terror. If he was indeed the fastest, what if he beat her and her mom got mad at her? She really, really, really wanted to try her best to beat him.

The swimmers were given the signal to go on their starting block and Courtney's legs were shaking. She took a deep breath and let all her worries out. She was ready.

"Get set..." The whistle blew. Courtney dove in.

~Josh~

He was at ease in the water. He brought his arms up and brought them back in the water like clockwork. Whenever he turned his head to breathe, he could distinguish everyone's cheers, and he knew which ones were his parents and his uncles.

He always knew he was the fastest but now, something didn't feel right. He felt someone next to him. On his left?? The terrified girl was catching up to him?

He began to lose focus. He was losing it. He turned to breathe but instead swallowed some water. When he tried again, he was coughing.

She seemed ahead of him now. They did their flip turns a tenth of a second apart, with the girl in front. Who the heck is she?? Josh wondered. The wall was nearing and Josh felt like a rock sinking. How could he lose to some girl who he's never seen at a meet before?

He heard her hand slap the wall in front of him and his hand slapped it afterwards.

Josh's head resurfaced and he was trying to refocus his breathing. He. Lost. To. A. New. Swimmer.

~Courtney~

No flipping way. She actually beat him. She climbed out in triumph and turned to see him climb out right after her. So she beat him, but only by a little bit.

"Hey," she called to him as he was walking away to his... Dads? She held her hand out to shake his. "Nice job!"

He turned and glanced down at her hand, then shook it awkwardly, "Um, thanks. You too."

"I'm Courtney."

"Josh."

Courtney heard her mom call out to her. "I gotta go. I'll see you next meet?"

"Yeah. Sure..."

"Okay." She turned and walked as fast as she could to her mom, who was smiling at her genuinely for the first time.