Sink

chp. 24

CHAPTER 24.

"I don't really know what to say," Coach sighed, running a hand through his almost grey hair. "We've come so far, and I'm so proud of you all. This is your big moment, yeah? Make it count."

We murmured our replies as he stood up from the chair.

Everyone had gathered into his room, as it was the first day of the trials. Not all of us had an event today, but it was still nerve wracking for everyone.

All I was going to be competing in was the 100m butterfly, and that was tomorrow. All of our events were spreaded out, for example, today, it was Ella's and Tom's events.

Everyone would be done with their event by Friday, which was great.

Jade's was the day after mine, and Ethan's was two days after mine.

"I'm freaking out right now," Ella breathed into my ear, her leg bouncing up and down. "I'm dying, oh my god."

"Don't worry," I reassured her. "You'll do amazing."

"I'm not expecting to get in, you know?" she told me, and I frowned. "Like, I'm going to do my best, obviously, but what I'm most scared of is being last."

"Why?" I asked, tilting my head slightly.

"I don't like losing."

"So win your race," I said. "That was so inspirational, I'm awesome."

She let out a laugh. "You'll be there, right?"

"Of course." I scoffed. "I wouldn't miss it."

"Good," she breathed. "Oh my god, I'm actually freaking out."

"It's in a few hours, Ella, you still got time, it's all good," I attempted to calm her down, but I knew deep down, that I would be worse than her tomorrow.

"Tom, Ella," Coach said, catching our attention once again. "I know you can do this. You're going to fucking beat everyone, and you're going to win, yes?"

"Yes, Coach," the two of them chorused.

"We believe in you two," James said dramatically, placing a hand over his heart. "I will be there, screaming your names every second of the way."

"That sounds great," Tom replied sarcastically, shoving James gently. "Well, fuck. I'm dying."

Ethan rolled his eyes. "I bet you both that you're going to win yours."

Two hours later, Ella's hyperventilating, and Tom isn't too calm either.

"Guys, guys," Coach said warningly, watching as they both couldn't stop fidgeting. "You have to go now. We'll be here, okay? You'll be amazing."

"Yeah, guys, you're going to win," I cheered encouragingly, because they both looked like they wanted the ground to swallow them up.

"Oh my god," Ella hissed, making her way down from the stands. "Bye, guys. I'll see you on the other side."

"Just get it done, and it'll be okay," Jade called as Ella made her way to the waiting room. "We have shit load of faith in you, Ella. You got this."

"Thank fuck mine isn't today," I murmured. "But it's tomorrow, so that's just fucking bad."

"You'll win, and you know it," Ethan said, rolling his eyes. He sat unessecarily close to me, with my hand in his. "Do you never not win?"

"Yeah," I said, my mind going back to the time I lost a race.

"Once, in your whole life," Ethan amended. "You'll be fine."