Water of Hell

Chapter Six - Bad Swimming

დNaidaდ

Abby and I returned to the school just in time for swim practice. We headed straight to the locker room to get changed. I don’t know why but I was feeling nervous, anxious even. I wasn’t sure why; it could have to do with my wound suddenly healing magically.

“Are you alright?” Abby asked and I hummed out in response. Was I alright? I wasn’t sure but I shrugged it off and finished putting on my swimsuit. I avoided the gazes of my fellow teammates as we stood around waiting for the Coach. It wasn’t like the Coach to be late for practice and the others seemed to think that I knew why. I didn’t, of course. When another five minutes had gone past, I took initiative.

“Ok, guys, let’s get in,” I said loudly as I head over to my lane at the pool. I stared at the water, watching it as it moved when my teammates started diving into the water. It was mesmerizing.

“Hey,” I glanced to my left to see Abby looking at me strangely. “Aren’t you getting in?” she asked. I nodded and faced the water once again. This time, however, I dived right in. The moment I was in the water, I knew something was off. I struggled and panicked. I gulped and pushed myself to the surface.

“Saylor!” I heard the Coach yell out and I looked to the side to see her standing there with her clipboard. “What are you doing? Get to it!” I gave her a quick nod and pushed forward, deciding to do the simple free stroke. Although that wasn’t my style, I didn’t feel I had the energy to do anything else. After ten long laps, I finally stopped. “Saylor!” Coach yelled out once again as I pulled myself out of the pool. I was breathing heavily and for some reason, I felt like I was going to have a panic attack. The only thing I could hear was my rapid breathing and the beating of my heart was so hard and fast that it felt like it was trying to claw its way up my throat. I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to focus on something, anything.

“Naida!” I could feel them touching me, pulling me away from the edge of the pool. They were talking to me, asking me things but I couldn’t focus on it. “Breathe Naida, breathe,” someone said as they rubbed my back in circular motions. I forced open my eyes and focused on Abby’s face that was close to mine. She was breathing in and out deeply, I suppose to show me how? I mimicked her actions and I felt myself calming down.

“Get her to the nurse's office,” Coach instructed as Abby helped me to stand up.

“Coach, no,” I said weakly.

“I said-”

“I’ll take her to the locker room first,” Abby said, interrupting her. I didn’t bother to wait for the Coach’s response as I pulled Abby in that direction.

“Fine, but then you take her to the nurse's office,”

“Are you alright?” Abby whispered and I nodded as we pushed through the doors.

“Yeah, yeah,” I said. I had no idea if I was alright. I felt alright. In fact, it felt as if nothing had happened at all. Much like earlier. What was going on with me? Abby guided me to the showers and as I turned on the tap, I breathed out a sigh of relief as the warm water cascaded over my body. I felt much more relaxed and I smiled as I peeled off my swimsuit.

 დდდ

“Are you sure?” Abby asked as we left the changing room.

“Yes, positive,” I answered as I glanced down the hallway. “Although, I should probably go and speak to the Coach,” Abby nodded, and I hurried towards her office. I knocked on the door and when I heard her call out, I pushed open the door and popped my head in.

“Ah, Saylor, get in here,” she said with a wave. I hurried into the room and closed the door behind me before taking a seat across from her. “Did you go to the nurse's office?”

“Yes, Coach,” I lied.

“And?”

“Stress,” I continued to lie. I didn’t want anyone knowing that something was wrong when clearly something was wrong.

“Hmm, is it the upcoming competition?” she asked as she looked at me and I slowly nodded. “Well, take a day or two, Saylor, but that’s it,”

“Yes, Coach,”

“Good, I’ve never seen you swim that slowly, not even whilst doing the free stroke,”

“Oh, I…um…” my voice trailed off as I was at a loss of words.

“I mean, my grandmother could swim faster than you,” Coach said, and I raised an eyebrow. “And she’s dead,” she added with a laugh. I stared at her in shock, not used to the Coach making jokes and seeing her laugh. “It’s a joke, Saylor,” Coach pointed out when she had stopped laughing.

“Oh, haha,” I faked as I looked over at the door. “Is there anything else, Coach?” I asked, wanting to leave.

“No, not, for now, I’ll see you in two days,” she said before turning her attention back to the paperwork on her desk. I frowned as I stood up. What did Coach Harris have paperwork for? Was she working on some kind of swim schedule? I giggled at my own joke as I left her office. Abby was waiting for me and when I got to her, we headed back outside to where she had parked the jeep.

“Naida!” the sound of his voice made me stop and turn around to see Triton running towards us. “Wait up!”

“Waiting,” Abby muttered sarcastically. I threw her a look, and she rolled her eyes before getting into the passenger seat of the jeep.

“Hey, Triton,” I greeted when he finally arrived.

“H-hey!” he said breathlessly, and I couldn’t help but notice just how unfit he was.

“Not much of a runner, eh, Triton,” I teased.

“Nah, not much,” he said with a chuckle. “Where were you earlier?” he asked, and I frowned. “I didn’t see you at lunch,” he pointed out and I nodded.

“Right, oh, um, Abby and I went home,” I blurted out, unsure of what excuse to come up with.

“Why?”

“We had some left-over pizza that we were craving,” Abby said loudly, and I nodded once again.

“Yeah, that’s it,”

“Oh, alright well, next time, invite me?” Triton suggested with a smile and a wink. I stared at him in wonder as I realized he was flirting with me. In front of Abby. I liked it. I liked it a lot.

“Sure,” I promised.

“Alright, well, I’ll see you tomorrow then,” he said before waving at Abby and hurried off the way he had come. I smiled as I got into the driver's seat and looked over at Abby.

“Yeah, girl, I get it, you like him,” she commented and all I could do was smile as I switched on the engine.

 დდდ

“How are you feeling?” Coach Harris asked me when I returned to swim practice.

“Much better,” I said as I glanced at the glistering pool.

“Are you ready to get back to it?” she then asked as she carefully studied me. I nodded slowly as I thought back to the last two days. Nothing weird had occurred again and I was starting to think it had all been in my head. However, since Abby had been around, I knew that it wasn’t. Something was wrong, but nothing had happened again. No panic attacks. No magical healing, although I hadn’t hurt myself again. We were planning to go to the island on Saturday after practice and I suppose it should have made me feel nervous, but it didn’t.

“Yes, Coach,” I finally answered.

“Alright then, off you go,” she said as she turned away from me. I smiled as I hurried to the girl's locker room to get changed. Abby was absent and that sucked. Unfortunately, her appointment with the Dentist couldn’t be moved. I hurriedly got undressed and slipped on my swimsuit before rushing back out to the pool. I could feel my nerves picking up, but I forced myself to breathe and stay calm.

“Hey, Naida!” I glanced to my left to see Kevin waving at me and I quickly wave back. “How are you?” he asked as he came towards me.

“I’m good, how about you?” I asked casually.

“Nah, I’m ok,” he said. “Where’ve you been?” he then asked, and I could tell that he was quite curious about it. “I saw what happened the other day,”

“Oh, that’s what happens when you have way too much on your plate,” I said making light of it. “Stress,” I added to make sure he understood.

“Ah, I hear you, loud and clear,” he agreed. “Was just, you know, worried about you,”

“Oh,” I had no idea what to say to that, but I smiled anyway.

“Alright! Line up!” Coach yelled out. Kevin threw me a quick wave before rushing over to his lane. I started out at the water and when I heard the whistle blow, I dived in. The water was cool against my skin and I could feel the panic rising up. I didn’t know why this was happening again, but I did my best to push forward. I didn’t have to look around to know that I was the last one to finish when I climbed out of the pool. “Saylor!”

“Yes?”

“Come see me when you are done,” she said before she left the pool. I nodded to no one and sighed. What was going on? I am Captain of the swim team for a reason and now I am slow? Not only was I slow but I am breathing heavily. Apparently, I was unfit too. My passion for swimming was becoming a chore and I hated that. After finishing up in the locker room, I headed to Coach’s office. The door was ajar, and I pushed it open before entering.

“You wanted to see me?” I asked softly.

“Yes, Saylor, come in,” she smiled as she pointed at the chair across from her and I hurried inside and sat down. “You did better than the other day, but at this rate, you won’t be ready for the competition,” she said seriously. However, I could also see that she was concerned. She needed me to reassure her that everything was going to be alright and as much as I wanted to do that, I couldn’t.

“I don’t know what is going on,” I admitted. “You know me, you know my best time and you’ve seen my speed,” I continued. “Something is off, and I know you gave me a few days to get it together but there is something else wrong,” I wasn’t sure why I was opening up like this, but I realized that I needed to speak to someone about how I was feeling. “I’d like to request private practice,” I blurted out.

“What?” Coach looked bewildered for a moment and then she nodded. “Actually, that may not be a bad idea,”

“I think that I just need the time on my own to get my groove back,” I said. I cringed at my choice of words. Who uses the word groove?

“Alright, Saylor, you can have your private practice and I’ll help you get back to it,” she promised. I felt somewhat better, but I knew that I wouldn’t be alright until Abby and I figured things out. I could only hope that whatever it was, wasn’t serious.

“Thank you, Coach, I won’t let you down,” I promised. She nodded and I left her office. With my plan in action, I felt more relieved as I headed home.

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Abby – Hey girl, how are you?

I read Abby’s message and smiled.

Naida – I’m ok, what about you? How was your appointment?

Abby – It was fine, I’ll call you in a minute

I leaned back against my mountain of pillows and waited for her call. When my phone rang, I immediately answered.

“Hey,” I greeted.

“Hey girl,” Abby sang out. “I hate the dentist!”

“Ai, was it that bad?” I asked teasingly. Abby was a big baby when it came to things like that.

“Nah, probably not,” she said with a laugh. After a moment of silence, I heard her clear her throat. “Listen, Naida, Coach Harris called my mother,”

“What?” I asked, sitting up.

“Yeah, she wanted my mom to bring me around the school after my appointment,”

“Did you?”

“Of course, but Naida, Coach Harris is really worried about you and now my mom is too,” Abby said, and I sighed. Abby’s mom and my mom were quite close and if her mom was worried then it wouldn’t be long before she told my mom.

“Sh-”

“Naida!” the sound of my mother’s voice interrupted my conversation.

“I’ll call you back,” I said before hanging up. As I was getting out of bed, Abby had sent me another message.

Abby – The reason Coach wanted to see me was because she wants me to be Co-Captain of the team. She said that whilst you are doing private practices, she wanted me to take your place until you returned. I couldn’t decline it, girl, my mom was right there. I’m sorry

After reading the message, I smiled. Trust Abby to feel bad about this.

“Naida! Come here!” my mother shouted out and I groaned as I pulled open my door. Here we go, let’s do this.