Mixed Emotions [Tom Daley Fanfic]

1

“Right guys, we have twenty minutes until we practise, go and hit the showers!” My coach yelled as I pulled the towel across my body. I did kind of hate practising but if I wanted to make it onto the Team Great Britain for the summer Olympics then I had to. I had been practising virtually every day and night to get my strokes perfect and the timing just right. I wasn’t the best swimmer around but I wasn’t bad, I had been told. I knew that if I wanted to be on the team, I had to give it my all and forget about the competitors, just me.

“Ellie, over here!” I heard my father call as I sat on one of the benches. I shrugged, walking up to him. My father was the diving coach in Plymouth so we often saw each other in the same pool.

“You’re doing good,” he praised, smiling. I was? Of course I was. I had to believe I was otherwise all my hard work was for nothing.

“I know how much this means to you,”

“Really?” I grinned. No one knew how much I wanted this. Not even myself. My parents said that I wanted to compete for Team GB in the Olympics ever since I was three and now fifteen years later, my dream could be accomplished. I sat beside my father as I watched two divers practice. I think it was Hannah Starling and Tom Daley but I was too busy concentrating on their movements and how they perfected everything they did. My coach called me to practise some more so I walked off and jumped into the swimming pool.

The women’s hundred metre butterfly was my strongest event that I could do although today I seemed to be panting a lot.

“Your slacking Ellie!” My coach yelled and I pushed myself harder as I heard the klaxon sound once more, meaning that I had completed it. I breathed heavily as I shook off the water off my body.

“I’m fine,” I heard someone say as I past the diving area, unsure of what was happening.

“Tom, your slower than most of your team. Explain now!” I heard a man yell. I recognised that voice. My father. I ignored the shouting and I heard a door slam as I made my way to the lockers.

“Stupid coach,” I heard Tom mutter behind me. I took out everything in my locker and ran out of the pool when someone called me.

“Ellie,” Tom called me as I stopped in my tracks. What did he want? I sighed, letting my fingers run through my hair.

“Yeah?” I asked confused. I turned around and he smiled at me.

“I’m sorry for saying your dad is stupid,” he apologised. Seriously? That was it? I didn’t care what my dad was like at his job or being a parent, he wasn’t my coach so it wasn’t up to me whether or not I agreed with Tom’s antics.

“It’s fine,” I smiled, popping my Beats into my ears as I strolled down the street.

*****

“All I’m saying is that Ellie shouldn’t know about this!” I heard my mother cry downstairs as I planned out my budget on what I could spend whilst being in London. I sighed and placed my notebook on the side of my drawer as I walked downstairs, noticing Debbie, Tom’s mum in the living room.

“Oh hey Debbie,” I greeted her whilst jumping on the last step of the stairs.

“Hey sweetie,” she smiled, greeting my mum. I heard Debbie speak to dad about Tom not attending today’s session because he wanted to visit his father’s grave. Our family didn’t know Tom’s father before he passed away. All I know is that he was a supportive father and cared for everyone and Tom wants to make him proud at the Olympics.

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Like the new fanfiction of my favourite diver of all time? Please vote and comment! Sorry if this chapter was short, it’s more of an introduction than anything else.