{COMPLETED} ✔ December Bloom

thirty'three

"Close, Nichols. It's basically saying that love is blind and that it's difficult to see but as soon as you really open your eyes, it's clear as crystal glass."

"Nichols! Move! You strokes are too slow! Be faster! Saunders! Quit the chit-chat with your mates and haul your butt up to that diving board!" Coach Branson, my Sports and swimming coach, yells angrily at Braden and I.

I sigh heavily in annoyance and begin pushing myself further as I swim, my strokes slicing through the water as I feel myself gaining a tiny burst of speed.

"Nichols! Keep moving! If you want to win your school a trophy, my advice is that you MOVE!" He bellows crazily.

Sometimes, I wonder if the dude's on crack or something. He ALWAYS gets high-strung when it comes to Sports. 'Not fast enough! Not good enough! Stop standing around! Jump!' and on and on and on.

It's not that anyone hates the Coach but…

Well, maybe quite a few do and I have to admit though, I do hate him sometimes also.

However, he is a great guy he just overreacts at times. I guess you just have to get used to him, I suppose. I've had him for years and at first, I was a bit wary but now, things are cool.

"Okay, get out of the pool! Get your lazy selves to the changing rooms. You boys did good today but next time, more effort, eh?" he glanced at every one of us before turning and striding off to his office.

I was just towelling my hair when Braden comes up to me, still looking at Coach's retreating back and scoffs.

"Pfft, he really worked us hard today." Braden comments, shaking his head and bending down to snatch his towel up from the tiled floor.

I shrugged and was just about to head to the changing rooms to shower when Braden stops me by saying something.

"Hey. Who's that guy?" he nods, his head gesturing to something behind me. I turn around and see none other than that kid who was sitting opposite Norah and had gotten her spit drink all over him.

He was hefting a pretty heavy-looking backpack and was making his way towards Coach's office, throwing nervous glances towards his surroundings.

Suddenly, he seems to see us and soon, he's staring at Braden and I, his mouth hanging open slightly for just a few seconds before it shuts and he snaps his head to the floor, his eyes glued to the tile.

I noticed his face flushing a little, the tips of his ears a little red.

"No idea. Why does he look so embarrassed?" I say, wondering.

However, beside me, Braden suddenly bursts out into guffaws of laughter, bending down to clutch his stomach and shake his head.

"What? Why're you laughing?" I ask him and he just continues his stupid guffawing.

I sigh and wait until he's finished.

When he finally is, I ask him again,

"What? Why're you laughing?"

"The guy, god, I know why he's gone all red! It's 'cause he wants to try out for the swim team! An-and h-ha-have you seen him?!" He replies, incredulity in his voice.

"Yeah…"

"Well? The guy's tall and did you see how skinny he was? No muscle? God, I bet he won't even make it halfway across the pool before having an asthma attack!" Braden laughed.

I sighed, a small smile coming to my lips anyway.

I shook my head, glancing at Braden.

"You. Are. Just. So. Mean. Plain nasty, that's what you are." I sighed before turning around and making my way to the changing rooms to shower quickly.