”“That’s because I deserved it.” She countered. I bang my fist on the table.
“How the hell can you say that? You alone just saw how much it can affect a team when one team member decides to sit on their hands and not work. You affected and dropped the morale of each and everyone of them and for what?” I answered Regan back, I stood crossing my arms waiting for my question to be answered. “And that’s why I’m captain because I understand that isn’t’ about me or what I did it’s about them and what they can do for themselves is the drive of this team.” Regan stood up staring at me with blood shot eyes.
“Look little girl, I don’t know who you think you are or who you want to become when this is all over but I have and always will swim for me. It was me who was raised in the gutter and made something out of myself. Me, who made this team and ‘me’ who will keep this team going.” Regan eyes were narrowed on me. We stared at each other for what seemed like an hour. A cheer from out side is what brought us back into reality. From the vibrations of the crowd told us it was our side that cheering. I just smiled.
“I think they are doing just fine without you” I said.
“Look I’m a swimmer, swimming is my life and all I ever wanted to do was swim and be the best at it.” Regan continued. I held a hand up, my eyes flashing to my watch. This was taking too much time.
“If you ever pull that shit you just pulled again then I will personally bench your ass so long you will forget how to swim. I promise you that,” I bent down collecting the papers thrown. Regan was still sitting down in the chair watching me. I lifted my head up to meet her stare. “Oh you can go now” I replied nonchalantly.
--
When I walked back into the meet I could see Coach pacing up and down the edge. He turned and saw me when the crowd erupted at my entrance. “Corrine” he screamed. I jogged over to him.
“You and Regan need to hit the water, now” he exclaimed exasperated.
“Me and Donna” I said pointing to Donna sitting on the bench immersed in conversation.
“what about Regan?” He asked, his eyebrows furrowing.
“Bench her” I answered him. “I made a promise and now I want her to see my intentions on keeping it.” Coach nodded his head walking away from me and straight to Regan who was stretching at her podium. I walked back to the bench and began pulling off the jogging pants. “Donna, you are with me” I mumbled while folding my pants and laying them on the bench. Donna looked up at me with surprise.
“What?” she began.
“We don’t have a lot of time, let’s go” I said quickly walking away from the bench. I could see Regan and Coach conversation was on the brink of getting heated as Regan’s arms were flailing all over the place and Coach was looking around nervously at everyone who had their eyes on them. After further conversation Regan saw she wasn’t going to get anywhere so she just walked pass Coach, Donna and I and headed for the locker rooms. Coach just scratched his beard, his dark eyes zooming in on us and giving away his shaky feeling in his gut. Donna had already been in two races, she was tired but she was good and all I needed from her was to back me up. The rest I could handle we had to close this meet out and take home the win by a lot, not by the skin of our teeth.
We steadied ourselves at the podium, bending our bodies down to our feet next with all the other girls. Like practiced time and time again Donna and I took a long inhale and began to push the air out of our lungs our stomach muscles tightening. Then took in a deep breath letting a little air back in.
*BANG* we sprung out of our positions and hit the water with a splash.
