Bondi Girl (Writing on Hold)

Chapter 4: The Test

Hoppo's P.O.V:

As I walk to the pool where the first part of try-outs are taking place, I see Ruby, asleep, next to the gate to get into the pool. "I shake her shoulder, worried, "Ruby? Ruby!? Wake up!" Panic rising through my voice.

Ruby's P.O.V:

"Ruby? Ruby!? Wake up!" is the first thing I hear. Wait how does this person know my name? I open my eyes.

"What?" I say groggily. "Hoppo, what are you doing here?" I say, shivering. This was a big change from a huge bed.

"I thought you were an orphan?" I here a voice behind him.

"Jesse?" I say, confused. "Oh," I say, "well," I say, thinking quickly. "I lied," say, "I didn't want you to be worried about me." I mumble. "I-I'm homeless?" I hope this works. I know this is wrong but they need to build up trust towards me and if that meant lying then that's what I will do.

"Well Ok, we wont stress about that right now." Hoppo says calmly. "Let's go inside. Oh right, I almost forgot about the test. I get up a walk inside. Everyone was coming later so we sat and talked for the long 3 hours.

"So what were your parents like?" Jesse asks.

"Well," I sigh, "they were great, until this time in my life where I wasn't good enough. It got to this point where they couldn't stand me." I paused to look at their faces. "So they just left." I really hated lying but I couldn't tell them the truth, they would hate me.

"Wow that's rough," Whippet said, who had snuck up behind us. We were sitting next to the pool so when Jesse jumped he fell into the pool. We all laughed.

"Awww, I still need to change!" he wailed as we all laughed. Everyone was arriving so we all got ready.

"Ok everybody!" Hoppo shouts over the huge crowd. "It's time to start! For those who are new, there will be heats, you will swim 800 meters in under 13 minutes. If you don't finish you are unable to be on the team." That's a long way. How will I do it? "Heat 6, Deano, Chappo, Ruby, Samuel and Troy. Samuel and I were the only 2 trying to get on the team.

"Hey," I hear from behind me, "hey Ruby!" I turn around, it's was Troy.

"Oh hi!" I say.

"You must be nervous," he can see right through me.

R - "Yeah, are you?"

T - "Not really,"

R - "How?"

T - "I've done this 9 times,"

R - "Point taken."

"Heat 6 is up next!" Hoppo calls.

"Well, good luck!" Troy says, walking off. Man he's so hot. One of the Lifeguards says something to him and laughs, Troy walks away from him and gets in the pool. The other guy walks up to me.

"Hi I'm Harrison!" he says walking up to me. "Who are you?" he asks.

"Ruby."

"Oh, well you're up next quick! Go!" he shouts as I get up and run to the pool. I couldn't change into anything so I just wore what I was wearing when I ran away. (Jeans, a T-shirt and a jacket). I left my jacket on the side of the pool.

"Ready, GO!" Hoppo shouts. I push of the wall as hard as I can and start paddling. 1,2,3, breath! 1,2,3, Breath! Was all that went through my head.

800 meters flashed by fast and when I finished I looked up and see I beat everybody else!

"Wow 7 minutes 19!" Harrison said.

"Awesome!" I said. "Is that good?"

"Good?" he says, confused, "That's amazing!"

He walks off and I get out of the pool, I must have pushed myself too hard because I shivered as Troy walked up to me, he was about to say something when everything went black.

Harrisons P.O.V:

As I watch Ruby swimming in the pool thinking she is so amazing she is on her last lap already, Whippet walks up next to me and says,

"Well she is pretty fast." And I find myself saying,

"And fit!" I turn red and he laughs, "Ok I like her, so what!?" I say.

He says between giggles,

"Troy seems into her too!"

I roll my eyes as she finishes and I walkup to her as I'm keeping the times,

"Wow 7 minutes 19!" I say, extremely surprised.

"Is that good?" she asks.

"Good?, I say, surprised she is being so humble, "that's great!" I walk off and think she's so nice, and cute and...

"Ruby? RUBY!?" I turn around and see Troy holding her up. "She's so cold!" he said as I run up to her.

"Call an ambulance!" I say checking her pulse. "There's no pulse!"