String of Fate

Chapter Fifty Three

Sometimes, I think that I had the worst luck with my life. First, I was the only fifteen year old that I knew who couldn't swim. Well, it would be sixteen tomorrow. Second, I was at a school that had its own pool – and was known for producing the country's top swimmers. My secondary school life had been difficult and I had avoided every swimming lesson. I was lucky that just not turning up for those lessons hadn't seemed to impact on my attendance record. I walked into the classroom after skipping my latest swimming lesson. "Lizzie, Mr Jackson would like a word with you in his office downstairs."

"Yes, miss." I replied, turning around and walking back out. I headed down to the offices, knocking on the right door. It opened after a moment, the deputy head of school standing there. "I was told that you wanted to speak with me."

"Ah, Lizzie, of course. Come on in." He ordered. I followed him into the office, letting the door shut behind me as I took a seat. He sat on the other side of the desk, clicking the mouse a couple of times. "Now, Lizzie, I have noticed something about your attendance. Apart from actual illness days, your attendance has been affected by skipping certain lessons. Swimming lessons, in fact. I have also noticed that you have not achieved any of the schools required achievements to graduate from this school. Do you wish to tell me why that is?"

"To be truthful, sir, I can't swim." I admitted, clasping my hands in my lap. I had only ever let my parents know. I would have tried to keep it hidden a bit longer, but I couldn't think of a proper excuse to tell him. "I never learned in primary school, and it was a bit embarrassing to admit when I got to comprehensive school."

"Well, you cannot graduate without the swimming badges." Mr Jackson explained. He sat forward and leaned on the desk. "If you wish to graduate then you will need to swim the 5,000m. This will allow you to gain all the necessary badges. I will expect you to do this a week Friday. The pool can be used every day after school until then. Most of the swim team is away for a training period. The one member that has stayed behind you will be teaching you how to swim. He has been told to meet you by the entrance to the pool after school so he can help you buy the stuff needed and maybe have your first swimming lesson today."

"Um, thank you, sir." I answered, not sure that I had even been given a choice in the matter but I did want to learn how to swim – and this was going to let me do it. I stood up and started heading to the door, it was clear that the conversation was over. I turned around when my hand was on the door handle. "Sir, may I ask who the student is?"

"It is Victor who will be teaching you, Lizzie. Now, don't you have a lesson to get back to?" he replied. I nodded and headed from the office, going back to lesson.

After the end of the last lesson, I headed to the pool. I hoped that Victor was going to be a nice teacher and not throw me in at the deep end. He was waiting for me outside the pool, arms folded over his chest. "You took your time."

"Sorry. The lesson ran over." I told him, stopping in front of him. He had a scowl on his face. Yikes. The next couple of weeks were going to be fun. "So, where are we going to buy swim stuff?"

"The sports gear shop." He spoke a little sharply, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. He headed past me to the main school gate. It was the one nearest to the sports shop. He stopped after a few steps and turned to me. "Well, come on. We haven't got all day. The pool doesn't shut until six so you could start learning to swim today."

"Oh, right." I noted, walking over and easily falling into step beside him. It was quiet until we got into the shop. "So, when did you learn to swim?"

"I was about four when I officially started to learn to swim but my mother had taken me swimming before that. She swims competitively so I've probably been swimming since before I could walk." Victor spilled out to me, pulling three different bathing suits off the sale rails. It didn't seem like he was keeping those facts about himself a secret. He handed the bather's to me. "These look like they're your size."