Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Twilight. I don't own the Spartans or the Greyhounds, or Doritoes or anything else this chapter mentions except the plot.

Summary: Bella and Edward are swimmers... from different school. However, they dated a few years back, and when their school end up competeting against each other, what will happen to Bella and Edward? Will their old flame start up again, or will their love sink to the bottom of the pool... for good?

Kind sucky summary, but the story will be good. :)

AN: So, another new story! I like this one so far too.
FYI, my school mascot is also the Spartans, and there really is a swim meet called 'Spartan Relays'.
This story DOES NOT take place in Forks. It takes place in Kent, Washington. I needed it to be closer to Seattle.
Haha. However, the mascot is still the Spartans because it's awesome that we have the some one. We even have an actual mascot... you know, a guy who dresses up in as a spartan. He's so cute. :)
Oh, and I'm keeping the school colors the same. If I'm not mistaken, the color is... yellow? Ha. Sorry if it's not. I'm too lazy to walk 10 feet to my closet to grab Eclipse to check and see if I'm right. ;)
More on that in the bottom AN. Ha.


Chapter 1 song: Better in Time- Leona Lewis
So... it's a little dramatic for the story, but whatever.

--

Sink or Swim
Chapter 1: Better In Time

--

My hair still smelt slightly of chlorine from practice last night as I walked into the locker room. It was smell I'd grown used to since joining the Kent High swim team my freshman year.

However, I've been swimming since I was five years old, and my mom brought me to my first ever swimming lesson. I instantly fell in love with it.

I was in my first competition when I was in sixth grade and joined the YMCA swimming league. I continued doing that until I started high school and joined the Spartans' swim team.

I have lots of memories thanks to swimming. I met my best friend Alice through swimming at the Y. We met and started hanging out all the time. She's also on the swim team with me at school.

I became one of the youngest captains to ever captain the girls' swim team in Kent, as a junior. That was usually reserved for the seniors. But, since I was considered 'the best' swimmer on the team, I got the job after Casey Allman graduated last year, and she hand selected me to do the job.

I've only been nervous in very few meets I've ever done, and that hasn't happened since the first meet of freshman year. Even at state last year, I wasn't nervous.

Which is why I was surprised to feel those unfamiliar butterflies eating away in my stomach today.

It's not like I didn't know why I so nervous, I was just surprised that was that nervous. Today was what we called Spartan Relays. We'd invited six other schools in the state to swim against. Normally swimming against six different schools wouldn't bother me. I've done it twice before.

One of the teams we were swimming against was the East Seattle Greyhounds. Our biggest threat. They have an amazing team, coached by an amazing coach.

That, however, isn't why I was nervous. It wasn't even the swimmers that I was nervous about. It was the Greyhounds manager.

When I was in fourth grade, I was at my first swimming lesson of the year. I knew a few of the kids in my class, including Alice. We were in the locker room taking showers, because we were supposed to do that before we got in. When we walked through the doors to the pool, I immediately saw something new. Someone new. He had messy, bronze colored hair from what I could see.

I later discovered he had the brightest green eyes I'd ever seen.

His name was Edward, and he was an amazing swimmer. He told me that he's been swimming since he was six. He'd just moved to Kent from Chicago, and I was his first friend.

We would hang out all the time together and our team at the Y would always win.

When we were in eighth grade, there was a dance at our school, and Edward asked me to go. After that, I guess you could call us a couple.

That all changed, though, the summer before freshman year.

-Flashback-

I was sitting on my couch, waiting for Edward. He's usually never late to pick me up, so I knew this must be something important. He was supposed to get me at 1:00, and it wasn't until 1:35 that there was a knock on my door.

I opened the door, "Hey Edward."

He looked really nervous about something, "Uh, hey Bells." He looked over my shoulder, "Could I come in?"

"Yeah, sure." I opened the door farther, and he walked in.

"What's up, Edward?" I asked. He seemed really tense about something. "What's wrong?"

He went over and sat on the couch. "Bella," he looked like what he was trying to say was difficult, and it had me worried. He sighed, and didn't look at me as he said, "I'm moving."

I just stood there for a minute before my brain kicked back into gear. "What?"

He looked at me this time, "I'm moving."

"But, but- to where?"

He sighed again, "Seattle."

"Seattle!" I wasn't expecting that.

He just nodded.

"But, why? Is it Carlisle's job? Does another hospital want him or-" he cut my off but shaking his head.

"No, Bella. It's because of me."

"What do you mean it's because of you? Is something wrong?"

"Oh, god, no. Bella, I'm fine." I sighed in relief at that thought, but that didn't explain anything.

"Then, why are you moving?" He mumbled something I couldn't understand. "What?"

"I said, swimming."

I was confused. I blinked a few time, "Wait- you're moving because of swimming. What does that mean?"

"East Seattle has a better swim team than Kent, Bella. My parents wanted me to go there, in hopes of getting noticed or something. And, you know how I've always wanted to move back to a big city."

"Seattle has a better swim team? That's why you're moving! What is wrong with you?"

"Bella…"

"No, Edward! You can't do that!"

"Bella..."

"Edward. Are you trying to break up with me. I mean, Seattle's only, what, a half hour away? We can make it work."

He was shaking his head, "I think that's best, Bella. It would just be too complicated. I mean, neither of us can even drive yet."

I took a deep breath and tried to not let the threatening tears fall from my eyes.

"Just go, Edward."

"Bella-"

"No, Edward! Just go."

So he did.

-End Flashback-

And that's who I was going to see today for the first time in over two years. Edward.

Apparently he was the manager of the girls swim team, meaning he had to go to all their meets with the girls. (Yes, guys managed girls swimming and girls manage guys swimming... its true. At least at my school.)

I guess he's been successful up there in Seattle, and I couldn't help but hate him for that.

And that is why I was so nervous. Not only to see him, but because I had to prove that Kent had a good swim team.

That was my current predicament as I walked into the locker room of Forks High.

"Bella!" I heard as I walked to my locker, that was next to Alice's, who was already there.

"Hey Alice. You ready to swim today?"

"Of course. When am I ever not ready to swim?"

I laughed, "Good point."

"And you? How are you doing?"

I shrugged, "I've been better."

"Nervous?"

"No." My voice was a little too high for it to be the truth, and Alice didn't miss that.

She sighed, "Bella, it's going to be fine," she said as she rubbed my arm.

"I know, Alice. I just want to prove to him that he didn't have to leave. We're just as good as Seattle is."

"Of course we are, Bella, but there's nothing you can do about that anymore."

I just sighed and shrugged as I put on my yellow sweats, since I wasn't swimming until the sixth heat, and grabbed my bulky parka.

Ten minutes later, my team and I were crowded behind the door, ready for the pre-meet pep talk.

"Okay, girls, this is the meet we've been waiting for. And this is important. This could be first time in the history of the school that we've won these Relays when we've gone against the Greyhounds. Also, we have to pose a threat to them for later in the season. We know we can beat the other teams, so there's no need to worry about them. Just worry about beating Seattle, you got that?" They all nodded, "Good. Emily, Megan, Jessica, Ashley: you four are in the first relay, lane six, so when we get out there, go over there and wait for me and coach, okay?"

The four girls nodded, "Okay, let's go."

I pushed the door open, and lead the girls over to our section of the pool area.

"Emily, Jessica, Ashley, Megan," I called. They looked at me. "Lane six!" They knew what I meant, and went to lane for to do their stretches and warm ups. "The rest of you, you know what to do. Cheer on your teammates. Pump them up to swim faster. If your swim is next, wait at the front of that lane. Now, with that said, go to wherever it is you need to be."

Then, they scattered. Alice followed me as I went over to my four relay girls. I started to massage Ashley's shoulders, because she was always tense before a race.

These were four of our best swimmers. All of them, except Jessica were seniors, and they could handle going first, as well as three or four other races later in the meet.

I head the whistle blow, and that meant five minutes until race time.

Then, I heard the announcer. "Hello, friends and visitors, and welcome to Spartan Relays!" Me and the rest of my team cheered, seeing as we were the home team. "It's my pleasure to introduce to you the six teams swimming announcer announced the Hornets, the Falcons, the Wolves, the Bulldogs, and the Cardinals.

Then, I heard, "Also swimming, the East Seattle Greyhounds!" I looked over and saw all the swimmers from Seattle cheering. I didn't see him though. Maybe he's not here, I thought. Ha, yeah, right, the other side of my mind was saying.

"And now I'm happy to introduce, the home team! The Kent High School Spartans!" Our team erupted into cheers. "Coached by Andrew Martain. The Captain is Bella Swan and the manager is Scott Smith." I heard clapping from up in the stands.

"The first race is the the 4X100 Freestyle, so swimmers, take your positions."

A few minutes later, the race started. We had the lead the whole time, and won the race by 4.68 seconds, with the Greyhounds in second, and the Falcons in third.

I was with my team cheering them on the whole meet, until the fifth race, when I had to go get ready for my race.

So far, we'd won 2 of the 4 races, the Greyhounds won the other 2.

According to the scoreboard, my team was in the lead, the Greyhounds had a close second, and the Wolves were in third.

I went into the locker room, pulled my sweats off, and stuffed them into my locker. Then I grabbed my swim cap and goggles.

I was swimming an individual right now. A 100. The easiest one of my races.

When I got back out, I walked to lane four, where I was swimming. The last race just ended, and we got second, and Greyhounds first, meaing we were now overall in second place.

When I got to my lane, I noticed Alice standing there. She always helped me get pumped for my races.

What I wasn't execting, though, was who I was racing against.

I looked to my right, and saw a blonde with a red swimming suit next to me. So, I thought, I'm swimming right next to my competiton. I can do this. I can do this.

When I looked back at her though, what I saw surprised me even more.

I'd gone five whole races without seeing him, and now, suddenly, he was standing in the lane next to me, massaging her shoulders, and whispering in her ear. She nodded at whatever he was saying.

The whistle blowing pulled me back to reality. I have to beat this girl, I thought.

"Swimmers take you mark," I did.

When the horn went off, I was in as fast as I could. All I had to do was swim the entire length four times. I've done it a million times before.

I continuted to kick my legs, and throw my arms around. One length down, three to go.

I had no way of knowing what was going on in the other lanes. All I could see was the bottom of the pool.

Another length. Half-way done.

I continued to push myself. I could break a record today, I remember thinking.

And I did. A school record. I won that race. I was proud of myself.

When I was done, I stopped at the wall of the pool and pulled my goggles off, saw my time, and smiled a huge smile.

Alice helped pull me out of the pool and engulfed me into a hug.

"Good job, Bella!" She squeeled in my ear.

I laughed, "Thanks, Alice."

I looked ahead of me, and saw him again. He was talking to another swimmer. It looked like a serious conversation.

"Bella? Bella, what are you looking at?" Alice was asking. Then she turned around, and saw him. "Oh," she said, then added, "Come with me, Bella."

Then she grabbed my hand an pulled me to our section of the arena. She grabbed a bag of Doritos, then pulled me to the stands.

She had to shout, but finally got the attention of who we were looking for, Rosalie.

Rosalie was our best friend and we always did everything together. However, she didn't share our love of swimming, and this was the only meet the came to all season. And we practically had to drag her here.

"ROSALIE!" Alice shouted at the top of her lungs, then ate a chip.

"WHAT?" She yelled, then saw was Alice was holding. "ALICE! WHAT ARE YOU EATING?" Rose was on a diet, for some reason. I did't understand why; she already looked like a supermodel.

She laughed quietly, then grabbed a handful of chips and stuffed them in her mouth before yelling back, "MMMM! CARBS!"

Rosalie just crossed her arms, and sat back in the chair, which what I'm guessing was a 'humph'.

Alice just laughed and pulled me back to our table.

"What was that about, Alice?"

"Oh, it's just fun to torture her, don't you think?"

"Yeah, I guess."

There was a pause for a while.

"Well?" Alice asked.

"Well, what, Alice?"

"How are you?"

"Fine." I replied.

"You sure?"

"Yes. I mean, it's not like he was making out with some chick or something."

"I guess," she sighed.

"And besides, I've moved on Alice, you know that." I had moved on. It took a while, but eventually I got a new boyfriend, who... dumped me a few days ago.

"Yeah, I know. It's just always hard to see an ex for the first time, not matter how much time has passed. Especially when the first time you see him he's massaging other girls' shoulders."

"Alice!" We heard our coach yell, "You're on deck."

"That's my cue, Bella."

"I know," I smiled. "Good luck!"

She did great. She won her race.

However, we didn't win the meet.

Seattle did. I wasn't happy.

We heard that there would be an 'award' ceremony in a half hour, so we had time to shower and change.

After I put my jeans and swimming shirt on, I noticed someone was missing.

It was Jessica. She'd messed up on a race, and wasn't taking it well. I knew she'd be hiding somewhere. It's happened before.

"Alice, Jessica's missing."

Alice sighed. "Need help finding her?"

"Yes, please."

We walked through the locker room and went to the door that led to the hallway.

When I opened the door, the two people walking outside it stopped dead in the tracks, obviously not expecting someone to be opening the door.

It was one of the Seattle girls.

And Edward.


So, did you like it? Review if you did.

I think it's funny how two of my stories have first chapters where the last word is 'Edward.' Anyone else find that funny?

Next chapter should be better. I hate first chapters. Too much background info to be said.

That's why I usually read at least three chapters before I decide to continue reading or not.
And you probably don't really care about that, do you? I didn't think so.

Wow, this is long.

Oh, and, no, I'm not a swimmer, but a few of my friends are, so that's where I'm getting these things from.
More fake knowledge comes later.
I actually have the next chapter all planned out in my head :)
And the third, if the second goes longer that expected, because it probably will. Haha.