Chapter 7

• NICOLE’S POV
• I walked slowly with my protein smoothie in my hand. It was finally evening and I was already dressed up in a black tight fitting swimming costume waiting for Blair to come.
• As I took in the atmosphere around me, I looked down at the unbroken water which lay so still, untouched. I knew it wouldn’t be long before the water was kicked up so much, that the bottom would be nothing but a haze. But for now, it was calming, welcoming and would be where fate decided if I won today.
• I fuelled up this competition and I was prepared.
• “Waiting for me baby girl?”, I heard his deep voice behind me.
• Turning around, I noticed him standing there in his swim teams black and red outfit. His hair was messy, and his swim bag swung carelessly over his shoulder but man, even I’ll admit it, his confidence made you nervous to race him.
• I ignored him then went on with taking my smoothie, ready to finish it.
• “You drinking those shakes, right now? You know you won’t win even if you endure those kale filled smoothies,” He chuckled as he pointed to the smoothie, him now directly in front of me standing at the same height with his duffle bag hung on his shoulder.
• “Watch and see”, I sneered with a smirk on my face.
• “Okay”, He shrugged his shoulders.
• I let out a breath of release, my nerves temporarily leaving my body as I stood up on the block. My toes curling around the edge, I looked down at the water below me.
• “Are you ready?”, Blair asked.
• “Yes”, I nodded inwardly telling myself to be strong. Yes I started and I had to end it.
• “Okay let’s go”, As soon as he said so, my body immediately reacted like a swimmer’s body should, I dove into the water starting a long stream line. Under the water everything was quite. My vision focused on the black line at the bottom of the pool. Releasing small pockets of air from my noise I breached. My arms swinging in a fly like motion taking the first few strokes of the 100 fly.
• I felt amazing, each stroke was clear and clean. I was pressing my t-zone exactly how my dad showed me when I was young. Coming up to the wall, my two hands touched and turned fast. In my stream line I could see Blair swimming in the corner of my eye. He was right there giving me a race, so I kicked harder making each up and down kick count. Breaching for the second 25 I took a quick breath lifting my head enough to see Blair swimming at a first pace. Keeping my rhythm I kept swimming. Two strokes, breath, two strokes, breath.
• Stroke, stroke, breath. I went on but I was inwardly panicking. Blair seemed to be so experienced. Was he that far ahead of me? Did I lose the race? I could feel my breathing pick up and my strokes get choppy as I panicked. Quickly calming myself down I had to remind myself to focus on me and only me. I recovered and fell back into place. Pressing and staying in the rhythm. My arms moving above the water in smooth motions.
• Focus... focus. This was the 25 that could make or break this race. I can’t get tired, I can’t give up. Here it was either all or nothing. Yes, my legs burned, and my shoulders were on fire, but that didn’t mean I could stop. No. That meant I would swim harder.
• My legs were burning at the sheer adrenaline I was using to pump them. My chest felt like it had a brick on it, as if I couldn’t get enough oxygen in but I persevered, refusing to let any of this affect my performance.
• I flipped at the wall, kicking off as fast as I could to break the water again and continue my way back up the pool but then just as I was about to reach the wall that marked the final, all of the sudden, I lost it and I kicked my ankle painfully against the swimming pool wall.
• I didn’t know what happened next but all I know, my body could swim anymore. I felt like I was sinking deeper, drowning, I no longer had focus.
• I attempted to swim upwards toward the surface, but my body didn’t give me a chance.
• I started to get dizzy. I was running out of air! If I don’t surface soon, I’m gonna drown. After seconds of countless attempts, I let it happen.
• The water started to get darker. I started to sink. The world started to turn black. I felt like I was sinking into nothing, until I saw a figure coming towards me.
• I then felt someone lift me up in a bridal style then placed me on the edge of the bed.
• He then began CPR and also plunged his lips onto mine then breathed out. He kept breathing and giving ne air until I gasped.
• “Huh! Thanks”,
• My lungs felt like they were on fire as my chest heaved up and my ankle was hurting so painfully.
• “Its nothing much, let me take you to your room”, He again carried me then placed me on the bed.
• As soon as Blair left, I slowly headed to the ensuite bathroom. Yes my ankle was painful but I had to shower. The warm water felt so good on my aching muscles but I didn’t spend much time in the shower.
• My legs were killing me. The sheer fire radiating up my legs made me feel like I couldn’t move anymore but I didn’t care. My mind was all about Blair.
• I couldn’t focus on anything or make sense of anything. My thoughts were spinning so quickly I couldn’t form one coherent thought. He saved my goodness!
• My mind was on autopilot, and I couldn’t bring myself to switch it off.