Perfect

Hey, you!

Everyone turns to look at me. For a few seconds, everything is silent. Then the door slams. I whip my head towards the door. Standing there is the one person I wish wasn't there the most. 

Robert Menderez.

Robert Menderez POV

I am talking with some of the level 4's in the main section of the locker room. "Hi! I'm Cassie! I heard you were an olympian! What's it like? I want to go to the olympics!" "Me too! I'm Mia. Cassie and I are gonna be on the team together!" I hear raised voices coming from the level 9 to elite locker room. "That's amazing girls! Please, excuse me, I need to have a chat with the level 9's." They just nod, wide eyed. I step into the upper leveled locker room, pulling open the heavy door and stepping inside. The scene inside would almost be comical, if it wasn't real life. Many girls are holding backpacks and bags. In one corner, Lindsey, Kayla and Gabby have backed Grace, the level 8 girl, into the corner. I can't hear what Gabby is saying, but Grace's eyes get wide as saucers before something in her snaps. Tears fall messily out of her already puffy eyes, and she makes a weird sound before wiping her nose and yelling, "What is wrong with you?! All of you!" The door slams behind me. Instantly, all the girls heads snap to face me like robots. The three girls jump back from Grace and look at me with equal expressions of guilt. Grace wipes helplessly at her eyes. Who do these girls think they are? "Everybody, get out. Including you, Grace. You can go home. Kayla, Lindsey, Gabby, I'd like to see you in Mark's office in 5 minutes."

Grace POV

I walk out of the locker room quickly, head down in embarrassment. I walk outside as quickly as possible, just wanting to get away, wondering what to tell Liam when I get to the beach, when I feel a warm hand on my back. My mind panics for a brief second, until I turn to reveal Macie. "Gabby was being really harsh. Nothing of what she said was true. I'm glad to have you in this group, even if they aren't. To be honest, if I had to pick with being on a team with you or any of them, I would not even come close to considering them. Trust me. They are insecure and like to take it out on the lower teams. They were saying Madeline should go back to level 5, because she wasn't ready to skip two levels. I heard Robert talking to Mark and it did not sound good." Just listening to Macie dries my tears a little quicker. "Thanks, Mace. That makes me feel a lot better." Emma walks up to us, to my surprise. Neither me or Macie are that close to her. I've never even competed or interacted with her before. I always thought she and Kayla were friends. "Oh, my gosh, Grace! Are you okay? Gabby is so competitive and harsh. She thinks she can treat people however she wants just because her Mom helps the gym. Just because she's better than..." Emma trails off once she realizes what she said. In the time Gabby was yelling at me, she managed to rinse all the chalk out of her hair. Her curly blonde hair is hanging loose around her shoulders. She's wearing a coral colored tank top with lace around the hem, denim shorts, tan sandals, and a stack of gold bracelets on her wrist. She's holding a tote bag with gold writing on it that says BON WEEKEND in fancy cursive writing. Her big toe on her leather sandals is digging into the parking lot awkwardly. I quickly change the subject. "Did you make your bag?" I ask. "Yeah! Do you like it?" She asks. "It's super cute." I say. "Thanks. See you later!" She responds. 

I glance at Macie. "Well, I'm off to my brother's job. He'll drive me home from there. Wanna come grab a shake?" She asks. "I wish. Busy. See you tomorrow!" "See ya!" 

I glance at the time on my phone. 4:15. I take off running towards the beach. I go through the gyms parking lot, past the Starbucks, past the Big 5 Sporting Goods, past Walmart. I turn through the gap in between Walmart and Miss Mia's Diner and sprint down the secret path to the beach. When I get there, I slow to a walk. I'm out of breath, breathing hard, scanning the beach for Liam. I hope he didn't leave! I spot his back pack next to the spot I left my towel last time, so he must be here. I pull of my tank top and shorts, spread out my towel, and head down to the water. I let it splash around my ankles and I look for him. Hands cover my eyes. "Hey, you!"