Synchronized Swimming

Chapter 25: Diagonal Chic

Summary of the last few parts: Sang made it onto the team and is now preparing to go teach a clinic to the Greensboro Guppies. What Sang doesn't know is that this is actually an Academy mission to take down a cheating ring led by Nikolas Raptis. The boys are supposed to obtain proof of his cheating so that Jonathan and Adrian can shut down the ring. However, a family emergency came up for them so they can no longer participate in the mission. Desperate, Mr. Blackbourne called the Toma team to take control of the mission. Axel agreed to do it for no favors on one condition... that Raven help them at the clinic. Mr. Blackbourne agreed after learning that Raven is actually an excellent synchro swimmer. Right now, Sang is heading off to her surprise with Sean and then her physical.

There will be some cursing in this part, because there is just no way that Gabriel would remain calm in the situation that arises.

Sang

The historic-looking buildings catch my attention as Sean drives through Charleston. In Illinois, everything in my town was just so... meh. The plain, prefabbed stores didn't do much for the ambiance and the dreary weather certainly didn't help. I think I like Charleston better, although I haven't seen a lot of it besides the area around the pool and where we are now.

"Where are we going?" I ask Sean. I had tried to be patient and not ruin his surprise, but I could only hold out for so long.

Sean grins at me mischievously. "Well, the other day I saw this cool shark chair. When I showed it to Gabriel, he politely told me that I was crazy and that no one would want to sit on a shark chair. So now I have to buy it just to prove him wrong."

His eyes glint when he speaks, leaving me suspicious of his motives. "Are you sure you aren't in some sort of prank war with Gabriel or something?" I clarify.

"He told me I can't dye my hair purple. I didn't actually want to, of course, but he didn't have to be so mean about it." Sean huffs. I giggle, then turn thoughtful.

"You know, I've actually wanted to cut my hair short for a long time. My stepmother wouldn't let me because it's too hard to put in a bun that way, but once I stop swimming I'm definitely going to cut it." I say. Sean glances at me with a calculating expression. In one swift move, he turns the car around so that we're heading back the way we came.

"With fake buns you could actually cut your hair however you like." he informs me. Instantly, my heart starts to pound with excitement. I've never liked my long hair- it brings back too many memories of Avidite pulling and tearing at it. Could I really cut it right now? She'll notice when I get back, but it's not like she can magically make me grow it back right away.

"Is there enough time to get it cut now?" I ask hopefully. Sean shakes his head, causing a sigh of disappointment to escape me.

A smirk appears on Sean's face. I look at him questioningly, and he giggles. He actually giggles. "If we go and get your physical out of the way right now, we can do something really, really, mean afterwards. Who needs a shark chair to annoy Gabriel when we have this?" he says.

"Are you sure that there'll be an opening for me so early?" I question. Sean nods confidently.

"Definitely. Now, just how short do you want to cut your hair?" he asks. I tell him that I want to cut it all off except for a few inches, which causes him to burst out giggling again.

"Okay, so this is what we do. After the physical, I'll hack off bits of your hair and leave around six inches left," Sean has to pause for a moment to catch his breath from laughing, "When we get home I'll call down Gabriel and ask him to look at something. When he sees your hair, he'll freak out!"