Sink

chp. 1

CHAPTER 1.

"Fifty nine point nine four seconds, Lia," Coach Hans announced the second I slap my hands on the edge of the pool and surfaced from the water. "Not your best today."

Coach Hans, a what, middle aged guy who spent 10 years teaching people swimming so far, and most of these people ended up competing in the Olympics. I'm 17, one of the youngest swimmers that he teaches, and I tend to think I'm his favourite female swimmer. The male spot, which I wish didn't exist, goes to my dear friend Ethan Woods - not. Brown hair, grey eyes, 6ft 1, and 18 years old. Competes in 200m individual medley, just like I do, sadly, and 400m freestyle, and 4x100 medley relay. Fun.

I compete in 200m individual medley, 100m butterfly, and 4x100 medley relay. You could say that both of us are good at most strokes. The little annoying person who annoys me with his face every time he appears just had to have the same Coach as I did. And though I never ever admit this out loud, he's a good swimmer.

"Sorry, Coach," I breathe out, lifting myself out the pool and pulling my goggles off my head. "I haven't really practiced that particular stroke."

"Malia, one hundred metres butterfly is your main event, it's possibly the easiest one you could win in, and you haven't been practicing it," Coach shook his head. "See, how are you going to compete in the Olympics with this?"

"I know, I know," I sigh, swooshing my feet around in the water. "It's just...I had to deal with Dylan arguing with Mum and Dad a few times last week, and I had to help out, and next thing I know, by the end of it all, it's too late to come swim."

Coach's face softened immediately, and he lowered his voice, and said, "Okay, Lia, but swimming is also one of your main priorities which you need to seriously consider about. But I'll let you off this time, and if you dare-"

"What's she done now, Coach?" I narrowed my eyes as I turned to see Ethan walking towards us, his swimming trousers hanging dangerously low, water dripping from his hair and chest. Cue in drooling girls. "Oh, Lia, what have you done?"

"Don't call me that," I snapped. "And nothing. I've done nothing. It's none of your business, anyways."

Coach lets out a sigh. "Why do I never see you two get along at all? You're my best swimmers, you're the youngest people to represent USA in swimming meets, and all I hear is you two yapping about nonsense."

"He started it!"

"She's being rude!"

I glared at Ethan, suddenly tempted to be childish and push him into the pool, so he can drown. But he can't, because he's one of the best swimmers in the USA. Yay me.

He merely smirked at me, his eyes drifting up and down my body. "Pervert," I muttered, and luckily no one caught it. Coach lets out another sigh before saying to Ethan, "I'm gonna time your two hundred metre IM now, so go warm up for a few minutes while I finish my conversation you rudely interrupted with Malia."

Ethan's face dropped and it was my turn to smirk. "Bye, Ethan," I said sweetly, wiggling my fingers at him. He rolls his eyes, giving me the finger before stalking away to another free lane.

"Fuck you too!" I call out to him, before turning to Coach and letting out a small laugh. "We're never going to get along, Coach, so don't expect anything."

"I realised that the moment you guys turned seventeen or something, Lia," Coach smiled, but then his face turns solemn. "But seriously, you need to work on that time. God, Lia, your best times are so close to the winners of the last Olympics, you have so much potential in this. It's whether you want to rise with it, or not."