Dream, Dive, Daley?

Chapter 3(a)

Sutton's point of view

This week-end was the competition week-end. I sat in the grandstand surrounded by other girls waiting for the results. My ear-buds were plugged in, and an upbeat song was streaming through them. On the wall there was a gigantic clock. 43 minutes till the winner will be announced. It was definitely my first contest since I've moved. This meant that I had to aim for the gold to get sponsors. If not succeeded, I will go out with no money, clothes or other supplies for the rest of the season. I don't usually keep the scores. Well, occasionally I do, but this time I had to focus on the dives.

"Women 10m platform individuals will be announced in 30 minutes" The concierge's robotic voice got everyone's attention including mine. I turned my head to the left to see Tom standing there in the middle of a group of guy divers. Juniors? Probably...Or?

"Hey Sutton" He faced me and waved eagerly. Everyone stopped doing whatever they were doing and looked at me strangely. People started whispering and mumbling on about me and my diving. I waved eagerly back too and ignored the others.

"Have you been avoiding me or something? I haven't seen you all week" He joked and sat down left for me. I unplugged my iPod and pushed him with my free hand.

"Have you been living under a rock or something? I've been practicing every single day this week!" We laughed a quiet laugh to not to attract any attention from the other girls sitting here. They were listening to our conversation, which made me extremely uncomfortable. I removed my feet from my bright pink flip flops and crossed them in a lotus position when two guys came up to us and sat down in the seats in front of us.

"Mate, why don't you introduce us to your new friend?" The blonde, who also seemed a little bit shorter, asked. I remember him from the 1 and 3 meters springboard dives. He does synchronizing too I believe. He looked at Tom and then at me, smiling the widest smile. A couple of crooked teeth in a perfect smile, how cute aren't that? I gave him and his friend a wide smile back too before I set my gaze back on Tom. It seemed like he was embarrassed of his friends.

"My name is Sutton" I broke the awkward silence.

"I'm Jack and the quiet lad over there is Christopher" Jack referred to his friend whom I'd completely ignored.

"Chris" Chris corrected. He sat there with his arms crossed over on the back of the chair. The four of us talked for a couple more minutes when all of a sudden the entire venue was gasping.

"Look at the leaderboards!" A lady's voice shouted. It was completely silent, almost like every sort of sound escaped the pool and all you could hear was the water hitting the filters. I glanced at the leaderboards just as anybody else. Where's my name? Halls, Halls, Halls... Where are you?

"On tenth we have...." Ninth, eighth, seventh, sixth to fifth, fourth, third, second.... A ridiculous loud "yes" escaped my mouth and I jumped in excitement!

"First place, baby! Hell yeah!" I cheered. I had one of England best female divers on second place. The crowd was in ecstasy! Of course they were cheering and applauding after every contestant. It felt so good! What a relief! I grabbed Tom's shoulders and shook in back and forth and pecked him on the mouth out of friendship.

"What are you doing?" Chris asked. The boys were all staring at me jumping up and down and shaking my butt off, not exactly amazed by my weird dance.

"My victory dance" I answered and jumped a little bit more. I kept shaking him back and forth before I finally let go.

"I think Tom's about to do a victory dance" He joked.

"GOLD!" They all congratulated me on my way down to the podium.

"And on first place from Plymouth, the gold goes to Sutton Halls!" A deep male voice said in the microphone. I jumped up on the tallest part of the podium with a large "1" on it. Another man in a suit gave me the medal and a bouquet of flowers the kid beside him held. Happy day! Tonight we're going to eat like kings! Wait! Oh my... Did I just kiss Tom Daley?!