Free Underwater

Chaper 1 Back to the Water

Chapter 1
The sun shone through the plastic blinds of the egg shell and baby blue room. The smell of hand sanitizer and disappointment filled the air and the hum of a plug in fan threatened to put asleep any unsuspecting students.
Amaya sat in the principal's office looking at her feet as she was continually yelled at by her concealer.
Her blonde hair fell over her shoulders and her purple eyes day dreamed while her ears tuned out every word the counselor said.
"Pushing a teacher into the school pool is strictly forbidden I don't care what the reason is and do to the fact you seem to enjoy the pool so much you are now assigned to be the swim teams new assistant manager." Yelled her counselor as she straightened a stack a papers on a ugly white desk.
Amaya's head snapped up. "But it wasn't my fault he tried to force me to swim when my doctor clearly said I shouldn't!..." She began as she gripped the sides of her seat nervously.
Her Counselor interrupted. "I don't care, I will notify miss Gou Matsuoka, their current manager and you will start today."
Amaya sighed. "Yes ma'am." She agreed reluctantly. She stood and walked out of the room dragging her feet. She had heard rumors that the school had a new swim team. It was a club of all boys with girl names and a girl manager with a boy name. I'm gonna be a duck out of water. Sighed Amaya. For one she was a girl with a girl name and she didn't swim anymore. She didn't even touch water unless she was taking a shower, she shivered and hustled to class. Hopefully they won't even notice I'm there.
~~~
"I'm so glad you're here!" Gou smiled as she shook Amaya's hand. Her pink hair blew in the wind as she rambled on about how grateful she was to have an assistant manager. Amaya looked past her and saw a boy with black hair dive into the water. His form wasn't flawless but it was beautiful, it was like it was free. He swam fast and smooth like a dolphin, as his hand touched the other side of the pool he lifted his head.
"Amazing." Amaya gasped, as she watched him turn and swim back.
"Hmm?" Asked Gou as she turned to see what Amaya was talking about. "Oh that's Haru, he swims freestyle 100 meter. That's Nagisa, Rei, and Makoto." First she pointed to a short boy with blonde hair who was swimming the breaststroke, then the a tall boy with dark blue hair who was swimming the butterfly and finally to a tall boy with light brown hair who was swimming the backstroke. "Everyone!" She yelled above all the splashing. "This is our new assistant manager Amaya Nazumo!"
"Wow really!" Yelled the blonde.
"It is a pleasure." Responded the blue haired boy.
"Nice to meet you." Smiled the brown haired boy.
The boy with black hair just looked at her and dove back into the water.
"Well that's Haru for ya." Chuckled Makoto.
"Hey Amaya you should jump in with us after practice." Shouted Nagisa as he waved and returned to the water.
"No." Amaya shook her head and stepped back even farther from the water feeling a familiar panic begin to creep up inside her.
"Why not?" Asked Gou. As she handed Amaya a clip board.
"If you do not know how to swim I assure you we can teach you." Explained Rea puffing out his chest.
"I can swim fine, I just don't like the water." Amaya turned her head away and fought not to turn red as the entire team stopped what they were doing and stared at her.
Gou clapped her hands together. "Everyone back to work we have regionals coming up. Amaya you can record their individual times."
Practice went by smoothly and Amaya watched intently as she recorded each teammates times for each lap along with notes on how to improve. As she observed the team she couldn't help but notice Haru failed to extend his leg fully.
Amaya frowned and cautiously approached the side of the pool; she knelt down as Haru touched the end of the pool. "Umm Haru?" She said timidly.
Haru looked up at her. "What?"
Amaya bit her bottom lip. "Does your leg hurt or something?"
"No." Haru said shortly.
"Well it's just that you weren't extending it fully and..." Amaya began.
"I said no alright!" Haru snapped as he dove back into the water.
~~~