Streamline (19 page)

Leo looked up at the clock and pumped his fist in the air when he saw his time: 20.09, another personal best. He was state champion in the 50 free!

His teammates cheered riotously, and Leo found Audrey clapping with a look of sheer joy on her face. They shared a grin.

Forgetting for a moment about all of the misery of the past year, Leo lazily floated on his back, enjoying his accomplishment.

On the van ride back to the hotel, Leo still basked in a happy glow, now holding Audrey by his side. Matt answered his cell phone, then handed it to Leo.

He’d managed to avoid seeing his parents after the meet, but CS had still tracked him down. “This is Leo.”

“How was your fifty, bro?”

“Jason!” Leo’s eyes crinkled with a smile. “You called.”

“Of course I called, idiot. So, how’d you do? Don’t leave me hanging!”

“It was awesome, Jase. Twenty-oh-nine, my best time.”

“Sweet! Did ya win?”

“Yup. It kind of sucked because Gary false started. Maybe if he was in the race we could’ve both broken twenty.”

“Well, that’s something to look forward to for college, I guess.

Under twenty seconds? That’s seriously fast, Leo.”

“It would be
incredible
to swim that fast. How’s everything at home?”

Jason paused. “Pretty good. I’m with Cam, and we’re headed for some pizza. Hope day two goes even better. Wish I could be there, man.”

“Thanks, Jase.”

Audrey watched Leo beam as he handed Matt’s cell phone back to him. This was his moment, and she was thrilled for him. He’d certainly earned it.

When they arrived at the hotel, Audrey sent Leo on ahead without her. While the other swimmers piled out of the van, she stayed and waited for her coach, who was gathering his clipboard and other belongings from the space between the front seats.

“Um, Matt, could I talk to you for a second?”

“Sure, what’s up?” Matt sat with her in the front row of van seats.

She took a deep breath, trying to think of what her father would do — what Leo had encouraged her to do. “I’m sorry for yelling at you like that. I was being a crappy team captain.”

“Apology accepted. I’ve seen a lot of swimmers bounce back from a bad first day, Audrey.”

She said nothing, feeling tears just below the surface, threatening to erupt.

“I have a story for you.” Matt skated his hand through his surfer-blond hair. “There was once a boy growing up in Louisville, Kentucky.

His family was poor. He was jealous of all the other kids in the neighborhood riding their bikes, because his family couldn’t afford to buy him one.”

Audrey wondered what this had to do with swimming.

“When he was old enough, he got a job bagging groceries, and he saved his money until he had enough to buy his own bike. And what a bike he bought, I tell you — a beautiful red bicycle he proudly rode around the neighborhood. Unfortunately, one morning he woke up and discovered it had been stolen.”

“Aw.”

“When the boy grew up, he started boxing. He worked hard at developing his skills, and started winning every bout. Before he faced an opponent in the ring, he’d stare across at him and think, ‘I bet that’s the guy who stole my bike!’ And Muhammad Ali became a pretty good boxer in his day.”

Audrey’s eyes widened. “Muhammad
Ali?
Is that a true story?”

“True story. Audrey, all you can do is give your best effort. Now go get some rest, and tomorrow I want you to go get your bike back!”

“Okay!” Audrey grinned and climbed out of the van.

Matt wrapped his arm around her shoulders as they walked into the hotel, and the pressure on her chest lightened a little. She only wished her father could be there.

Spectators filled the stands to capacity for finals on Saturday night.

Before the meet began, it was time to honor the senior swimmers on their last night of high school competition.

Leo and Audrey stood with Elaine, Alex, and Eric representing the senior class of the Pensacola High School Panthers. Their team surrounded them in a sea of purple and gold, congratulating them and handing them bouquets of flowers.

Leo smirked as Alex hugged Elaine. “Hey, I know you two are lovers, but keep it PG — there are kids in the stands.” Alex laughed. “Your dad’s such a twit.” Leo led the way when the announcer called for the seniors to line up. “Can’t wait for that free relay, dude,” Eric said, falling into place behind him.

Leo nodded. “It’s gonna rock.” Leo had swum a strong 45.2 in the morning’s 100 free preliminary, which seeded him first for the finals, with Gary close behind at 45.4. Eric had had a breakthrough performance in the 500 freestyle, and his 4:35 nosed him into eighth place. He’d made the finals for the first time.

After instructing the crowd to hold their applause until all the names had been read, the announcer eventually got to Pensacola’s senior squad. “Eric Alexander…Alex Bradbury…Elaine Ferris…Audrey Rose…Leo Scott.”

The five seniors stepped forward, hugging their flowers and surveying the crowd. As the announcer went on to the next school, Leo sensed Audrey’s sadness about her parents’ absence. He snuggled closer. “I’ll be your family tonight,” he whispered.

“It’s hard to believe high school’s almost over,” Audrey said. “It’s gone fast.”

“For me, the first two years kind of dragged,” Leo said. “I just wanted to go to college and get away from CS. But then I met you, and now I never want high school to end.” Audrey reached for Leo’s hand. “That’s one of the nicest things anyone’s ever said to me.”

His gaze swept down her body. “How’d we meet again? Oh, yeah, you were skinny dipping.”

Audrey chuckled. “You’ll never let me live that down.”

“I
do
think we need a repeat performance before we graduate.

Maybe you can finally earn a ten for your synchronized routine.”

“Or maybe we can score another way,” Audrey countered.

Leo’s eyes lit up. “How am I supposed to focus on swimming when you say something like
that?”

“Ladies and gentlemen, your seniors!” the announcer finished.

Thunderous applause rang out in the gathering night.

A few events into the meet, Leo stood behind lane four, listening to Elaine’s iPod. He imagined himself exploding off of the block, and his heart thumped by the time he opened his eyes. Smoothing his hands down his sleek black suit, Leo gulped deep breaths and pressed his goggles into his eyes. Next to him, Gary was in the middle of his own pre-race routine.

The starter called the heat up to the blocks. After a clean start, Leo broke out of his streamline a touch ahead of the field. Gary soon caught up during the straightaway, but Leo nudged ahead on the turn. The two swam neck and neck the first three laps. On the third turn, Leo edged in front of Gary once again only to lose his edge as both came barreling toward the wall in their last length.

It was difficult to know whose hand first reached electronic touch pad. Panting, Leo searched for the clock to find Gary in first place with 44.92 and himself in second with a 44.98.

Leo reached across the lane line to grasp Gary’s hand. “We both broke forty-five!”

He was genuinely happy for Gary after his disqualification in the fifty. Swimming faster than ever before was really the name of the game, regardless of which place he finished.

Audrey’s voice was hoarse from all the cheering. After her talk with Matt, she’d decided if she wasn’t swimming fast, she’d at least do her best to help her teammates. Beaming with pride for her boyfriend, she watched him head to the cool-down pool while she gathered her cap and goggles to ready herself for the 100 breaststroke.

Audrey passed Marcie already in place behind lane four, looking carefree and relaxed.
Wench.
Audrey waggled her fingernails, painted gold with purple polka dots, at Marcie as she removed her team jacket and began stretching. This was her last race of the meet. Though she’d relinquished her title as state champion in the 200 IM, she was hell-bent on getting her bike back in her best race. Taking a deep breath, Audrey made one final adjustment to her cap as she stepped up on the block.

“Take your mark,” the starter announced, and then they were off. All was quiet underwater as Audrey completed one pull and one kick, but she popped up high out of the water to piercing cheers. She could make out some teammates at the end of her lane, screaming at her to speed it up at the turn.

Audrey had no idea where she was in the field. Her quick stroke thrust her body forward with each glide, spearing the water. During the fourth length she felt her energy fading, but she willed her body forward, surviving on guts and anger to finish her race. She touched the wall and scrambled to see the clock.

Her time was 1:02.1 and her place was first. Audrey nearly fainted with relief. It wasn’t her best time, but she’d defended her title, and after a horrible IM, she’d take it.

Marcie didn’t even look at her, just quickly popped out of the pool and stormed away. As Audrey pulled herself out, she felt a stab of pain in her abdomen. The pain grew in intensity, and she barely made it to the locker room before she doubled over in agony. Feeling the return of nausea, Audrey shut herself in a bathroom stall, trying not to moan out loud. She wondered if her period was finally starting — but she’d never had cramps like this before.

As a moan escaped, she prayed for the pain to disappear. Eventually she turned to throw up in the toilet. She was shaky and unsteady, but she began to feel better once she vomited. Resting her head against the cool stall, she reviewed the last few days. Was it the flu?

She didn’t think so. Was it food poisoning? No, it couldn’t be…the nausea wouldn’t come and go, and none of her teammates were sick.

Audrey racked her brain to find what was making her sick and ruining her meet. She had so looked forward to going out with a bang her senior year, just like Leo. Suddenly she gasped and splayed out a hand on each side of the stall. She knew the source of her fatigue, nausea, and cramping. She knew the exact source of her pain.

Leo scanned the team area for Audrey. Where the heck was she? She’d won her race more than twenty minutes ago, and he still hadn’t congratulated her. Now it was time for his relay.