Little white rose

The begining

10 weeks earlier
"Come on Cali you have to go now" my little sister hope whines even when she's whining she is beautiful. With long chocolate brown hair, golden eyes and olive skin she is the perfect image of our father, while mother and I have wavy blonde- orange hair that falls over our electric blue eyes and tanned skin from to much sun exposing. Hope and I had been playing hide and seek our favourite game, when for the millionth time she had found me I gave up and started looking up at the clouds the competitive person she is she turned that into a game of who could find the cloud that most resembled a mouse - her favourite animal-. Of course she won and bragged about it but I don't mind no matter what she is cute. "Cali your stuck in your head again" she has a way with words, not "ok I will go" I enjoy the last bit of the crisp but warm afternoon sun before walking inside to talk to our mother. You see hope really wants to go to my swim meet but it was later tonight and mum said no but the persistent person hope is she begged me to talk to our mother. So here I am. As I slide the back door open mother turns around "oh Cali, how are you" I will play it nice before I ask her the big question "good mum, and you". See nice for now.
"I'm great dear, can you help me stir the pot" we always have stew on Sunday nights it's our tradition. I go over to the pot and stir it here goes "so mother, I was wondering tonight is my big comp and can ho-"
"No we talked about this already, I said it before and I will say it again, she is to young to be out that late". Uh mums. right!
"But please she promised not to be cranky, she will be well behaved and it's only one swim" yeah the one swim that will either map or destroy my future. I look the the back door and see hope, her usually pretty face is squashed up against the glass and her nostrils are two times bigger, her breath is fogging up the glass, I choke down a laugh. When I look back at mother her frown has turned to a smile and "yes dear she can come" yay. I turn to hope and give her the biggest smile and thumbs up, she squeals with delight and forgets all about the door she runs smack into it, this time the laugh comes, it is big and makes mum laugh then we are joined by hope, in the end the three of us end up on the floor.
~
I finally succeed in putting on my bathers, they are so tight I have to breath 10x longer than usual, but it's worth it this is the race that will get me into the state champs. I walk down the stairs and greet my family at the door with a warm smile. Then the four of us leave into the cool summer nights air. Once in the car dad drives off, the drive starts well, quiet and peaceful until of course hope decides to play a game "hey Cali let's play car bingo"
"Ok how's it work"
"Well, you name an object or vehicle and I have to look and find it once I do I name an object and you find it, so on"
"Ok sounds easy, I'll go first um... Oh find a silver motorbike" as soon as I say it one drives past. Well that worked didn't it, hope laughs.
"Ok me, find a purple car" hope says. I never found one, we drive into the car park of the swim stadium and I instantly get butterflies. Hope tries to calm me down by trying to count them but gives up and is ushered by mum to go up to the grand stands. I am then left to get ready for my big race. Breathe in. Breathe out. I walk to the locker rooms to store my bag away. And come face to face with Sara, my arch nemeses, I call her. Her and I are about the same speed so it's always neck and neck. "Oh look it's little Cali" her tone is so clipped she makes it sound like a chore to talk to me. "So Cali thinks she can beat me, ah ah I don't think so". I can't let her take away my focus, it's my race my whole life depends on this race. I walk off. "Don't you walk away from me Cali, you-" I can't here what she says either from my distance or the language she used.
~
I walk to the starting block and shake off my incoming nerves. "On your marks" rasps the starter, we walk to our blocks, I can see Sara on one side of me and another girls Cassidy to my left she is ok but compared to Sara not very good. "Take your marks" I take my stance at the starting block and crouch low, waiting for what seemed like an eternity for the starter to finally say- "GO" I jump into the cold water it freezes my nerves and snaps me out of my thoughts, until only one remains. I'm a swimmer. I kick hard and fast swim hard and fast do everything in my power to swim the best and be the best. I loved it because every time I took a breath and looked left or right I saw the distance I was putting in between myself and the competitors.
My hand finally touches the finish wall and I look above the water, my name is flashing red on the top leader board meaning I not only won I got a record. I punch the air with my first today is a really good day. When the last person arrives at the finishing wall we all walk out. I here the crowds screaming and hear hope scream my name. I walk to the winners podium and stand behind number one. Then the loud speakers boom "hello and welcome to the districts swim championships. Tonight was a nice race and it has only just begun, the first race of the night was the girls 50metre freestyle, here are the placings 3rd place was... Olivia Lin, well done Olivia" the crowd went mad clapping and cheering "next second place... Sara Parsons". Again the crowds go crazy clapping and whistling, "thanks to everyone who competed but now for first place... Calista Bestford" this time it's utter madness and I soak it all in I'm like the sponge of happiness, only the best for me. Finally the crowds die down and I look over to see mum, hope and dad smiling and waving at me, I return the smile and look at the loud speakers "thank you, thank you. Now for the biggest announcement yet, Calista Betsford is now going to get the opportunity of a life time, she is going to state finals in 12 weeks and there will be scouts there, looking to see the countries top swimmer for the commonwealth games" I swear my smile stretched a million miles. I just couldn't wipe it off my face today was the day to enjoy myself and it was pretty damn easy.
~
The drive home was amazing and I found my purple car. Best night ever. The time I got home Hope was asleep in my lap and dad carried her up stairs, I went to my room and hung my meddle on the meddle cabinet. I was still smiling as I dozed off into a nice and peaceful sleep.