Hello everyone :) Long time no see :) Anyway, I have really found alot more motivation to write recently so I will be starting a new chaptered swimming fic involving phan cause it feels like there's not been that many recently :/ Any of you reading my other story "What does not kill us makes us stronger" don't worry! I'll still be continuing it but I thought I would try something new as well :) Also, if this wasn't enough I will be starting another fic also to be uploaded soon (all will be explained when I upload :P)
Dan POV:
Have you ever wondered what it feels like to be as light as a feather even with the weight of the world on your shoulders; to feel the calm in anger; free from fear or worry. That's what the water gave me. As the waves crash against my skin; lap by lap, I feel it all just melt away. With every turn; every kick, I further myself from reality. The scene played before you, harsh and angry – forceful strokes divide the water; the waves clinging to the sides as I move faster, stronger. Powerful…yet graceful – no harsh brush strokes or violent swirls of blue paint the scene before you. It is a delicate canvas; the most beautiful expression of freedom you could ever envision and I wish I could stay in its presence forever.
It's not enough though; not strong enough – not fast enough. I must keep going if I am ever to equal the majesty of the element. My goal is simple; be the best and only the best. The one who's lifted through the current, not swept away by the aggressive arms of the ocean; not lost in the swell of the person in front of you.
"Dan,"
I will be the best….I am the best….
"Dan,"
…keep going…..keep going…..
"Daniel,"
…just…one…more…lap…
"Daniel James Howell!" My daze is broken by a harsh voice and a sharp blow of a sports whistle. I didn't even register the hard pool wall colliding with my head.
"Jesus Christ Sal!" I groan, "You could have at least let me finish!" I look up through speckled vision to see a petite, but muscular, woman standing over me; her arms folded and her brow furrowed in annoyance.
"Dan, training finished an hour ago, the pool boys need to put the cover on," Sally, my strict swim coach huffed, "You know you shouldn't be in here after hours, suppose something happened to you – there are no lifeguards in here after the session ends,"
"But…but….," I whine.
"Out…now" she bellows, her words resonating throughout the empty room, before shuffling off back to the swim staff room. Huffing irritated, I haul my body out the water, hissing slightly as the cold air stings my exposed skin. As I pad towards the shower room, towel hung loosely over my shoulder; I cannot help but feel a tinge of disappointment at my performance today. Trials for the swimming gala are only a few days away and I can already feel myself slipping. What if I don't make my time? What if I let Charlie, Ben, Jack and the rest of the school down? What if I can never make my dream to appear at the Olympics happen? Another tired sigh escapes my lips, there's no use complaining about it now.
After quickly showering in the ridiculously cold showers, drying myself off and changing into my swim tracksuit reading Mapleton Academy Swim Club, I make my way into the lobby of the sports centre – not bothering to dry my hair as its probably curling by now anyway. I cringe at the thought. I glance at the dirty white clock hanging loosely from above the unmanned reception desk. 10:30pm. I groan. I hadn't realised I had been in the pool so long. I suppose, when water is my lifeline I would be careless to think about how much time I spend in there. I mean, do we really need to think about how long we spend breathing. Probably. Yet, in a way I am pleased at my disregard to my schedule; showing that I still retain the rugged, untamed nature that I can only express through my swimming – one that I need if I am to hope at succeeding in the upcoming time trials. I snigger silently as I think to myself. Ha, those guys won't see me coming! I hope they enjoy the taste of the waves I will create as I speed past them. Ha! I'll show them….
"Hey Dan!" a high pitched voice from behind me startles and I jump, my hope to leave swim practice without participating in meaningless conversation having evaporated.
"Huh…oh, hi Sally," I mumble, uninterested.
"Listen, I know how much swimming means to you and I know you're probably not going to listen to me, but as your coach and the one who is responsible for your welfare, I must insist that you refrain from overworking yourself – even-though I know that the time trials are only a few days away," she pleads, her eyes creasing in worry. She frowns as I sigh in frustration.
"Hmph...clearly you have no idea what a time trial is, Sal," I scoff.
"Of course I do"
"Then you will understand that I can't let my guard down so close to them, do you not want me to get into the swim team this year is that it?" I snarl as my voice wavers from the stress and exhaustion.
"Of course not Dan, you are by far this schools finest backstroke swimmer – capable of going far beyond the boundaries of a mere school time trial," she soothes but I remain unconvinced.
"That means nothing if I can't actually get onto the swim team!" I groan, "How am I gonna hope to get any further than I am in this stupid school! I wanna be the best for both for my family and I and I can only do that if I win. Only win. There is no room for mistakes if I am to succeed!" Tears well in my eyes and my chest tightens. She sighs.
"I know, just be careful ok," Her voice softens as she places a soothing hand on my tense shoulders. "Try to have a good night sleep at least before tomorrows training yeah?" I mutter my nuances and a quick, reluctant "ok" before she gives me a small, mother like smile as she goes to head towards her office, located in a small crook beside the entrance of the reception desk. "See you then" she calls, defeated and I give a hesitant wave. I wish she wouldn't do that. Running a hand through my damp brown hair, I close my eyes in weariness.
She always tries to pull the caring card whenever she thinks that she is right about my training. I suppose I cannot blame her though. She has already experienced everything; the highs and definite lows of competitive swimming and yet she is still willing to help me. See, at just the tender age of 25, she has already competed at the European championships for her flawless freestyle. She wowed judges and swimmers alike with her fabulous form and powerful grace but due to a progressive shoulder injury, was forced to pull out of any further competitions – including her lifetime goal of appearing at the Olympics. I suppose, in a way, that's why she is so concerned for me all the time; she just doesn't want me to end up with the same fate as she did – coaching spoilt, sulky teenagers instead of earning medals of bronze, silver and gold. Nevertheless, I cannot risk my performance and I must ensure that I do everything I can to win my time trial. After all, there is no need for both of us not to achieve our dreams. With that, I jog out of the sports centre, out the school, ready to win these time trials if it kills me.
Phil POV:
"Baby can't you see, I'm calling….,"
"Stop it,"
"A guy like you should wear a warning…,"
"Chris….,"
"It's dangerous….I'm falling….," I scoff and tilt my head up slightly – my eyes widening in horror as I see PJ's face contorted in awkwardness as Chris gives him a playful lap dance.
"Chris!" I shout, half laughing.
"Not tonight…uh…I've got a headache," PJ whines, his eyes screwed shut tightly. Chris pauses, threatening to erupt into a fit of laughter also, and drags his fingers along his back with feather-like touches. "Now, now PJ, you wouldn't want to misbehave now would you," He gives PJ a mock suggestive wink and the boy pales.
"…eep...,"
Sniggering, I attempt to end the poor boys suffering.
"Alright, alright Chris," I laugh, holding my hands up, "Come on leave the poor boy alone, I know you are bored but there is no need to resort to that," With a diva-like huff the flamboyant brown haired boy removes himself from PJ, who sighs in relief, and flounces back to his seat, settling on giving him the occasional wink when I'm not looking.
"You two are no fun you know," Chris groans, resting his head on his elbows. "I only agreed to stay at school this late if we were gonna actually have some fun,"
"Hey, you knew I needed to finish this, besides I'm almost done," I explain, my attention turning back to my music composition sheets.
"Aww come on Phil, you spend more time with that piano than with your friends," he pouts like a small child and I throw him a disapproving scowl. "And you Peej, ever since you met Anya, you're hardly ever free anymore – unless you've got your yappy Chihuahua hanging off your arm,"
"Hey," PJ interrupts, looking slightly hurt, "I think she's perfect, she loves attack on titan and she is just so pretty" He smiles.
"Oh vomit-," Chris grimaces, rolling his eyes.
"Come now Chris, there's no need for that, I think it's nice that PJ has found someone to fall in love with. Its very sweet," I smile, nodding to PJ who grins in return, as I continue with my music work.
"Who are you and what have you done with my real friends?" Chris gripes, standing up to grab a cup of water from the water cooler by the door.
"What's wrong with a little bit of romance," I ask.
"It's dull…pointless…leads to nothing but misery," he explains.
"So, you don't see the point of it?" I press.
"Nope" he replies, bluntly.
"Not at all?" I press further.
"Nu-uh," he repeats, taking another sip of his water.
"Oh really?" PJ and I exchange knowing glances, "What about Charlie?" Chris chokes spluttering and I cannot help the look of smugness spread across my face.
"Wha-what!" he coughs, frowning at the water saturating his white school shirt. "Wha-what are you talking about?" He eyes me nervously as I stretch back further into my seat; PJ grinning beside me.
"You know…tall, dark, handsome…swims butterfly on the boys swim team…that Charlie," His cheeks flush a deep crimson and he looks away trying to regain his composure.
"I don't know what you're talking about," he mumbles defensively.
"Oh Charlie, let me help you…..oh Charlie you were amazing out there…have my babies Charlie!" I mock as he walks over and whacks my shoulder.
"Oh piss off," he frowns, sitting back down with his arms crossed, the blush still evident.
"Oh he was only messing with you Chris," PJ sympathizes; jabbing me in the arm to stop my sniggering.
"Ha! I don't know how you can be so smug Phil, we all know who you'd like to make beautiful music with," he eyes me suggestively.
"Huh? You must be mistaken, I don't fancy anyone," I reply confused.
"Oh really?" he muses, "So you won't be interested in the fact that the gorgeous Dan Howell will be competing in the time trials this year; I hear he's really toned up since last summer," Shit…I cough awkwardly and look down, but I can tell he is smirking at me.
"Pfft…n-no," I stutter, hoping my concentration on the work in front of me will mask the blush covering my face.
"Awwww is Philly blushing?" he teases, "Wouldn't be the first time,"
"What?" I scoff, "That's ridiculous," I try to remain neutral on the subject but my obviously red face isn't helping the situation.
"Really Phil? It's as clear as Peej's unhealthy obsession with Eren/Levi fan-fiction,"
"Hey!"
"Face it Peej he's too old for him,"
"I…but…,"
"How? I do not fancy Dan," I try to reason, but he's having none of it.
"Its understandable that you can't think straight when that magnificent specimen of perfection is around," he sniggers – part of him is enjoying this, "He's got talent, getting straight a's and being captain of the swimming team; he's popular, even amongst the teachers, and he's got a figure that even straight guys would dream about,"
"And your point is…," I drawl, impatient at his insinuation.
"You love it Phil," he states bluntly, "Too bad you're too much of a coward to ask him out,"
"Ok, one – I do not love Dan so why would I want to ask him out and two – he's the most sought after boy in this school, who is about 300% straight, so why would he be interested in a nobody music nerd like me," I sound almost sad in my explanation. I suppose it's true though. Regardless of my feelings for anyone, no one has ever really been interested in me. It's not like I am a boy crazy teenage girl but, I'm not gonna lie, it would be nice for a boy to talk to me without it being to pass a love note to the cute girl sat next to me. I'm lucky in the fact that this school doesn't really have a problem with homophobia, but it doesn't really make finding that special someone any easier.
"Aww don't say that Phil," PJ sympathizes, smiling softly, "You've got lots of stuff going for you. I mean, your funny, kind and your talent for the piano is far superior to anyone else this school has ever seen. You wouldn't have been scouted by that prestigious music academy for after you're a-levels if it wasn't,"
"I suppose," I mutter, "Thank you Peej,"
"Which is why, Casanova, you need to get out there and grab your man," Chris chirps, eyebrows wiggling suggestively.
"I DO NOT fancy Dan Howell," I repeat, but Chris just smirks.
"Whatever Phil, I'll just have to date him then," Before I could think, I was instantly giving Chris a look of possession and jealousy, causing a roar of laughter from the shorter boy. I instantly regretted it.
"Hmph…I have music work to do," I huff, turning back for the final time to my neglected composition sheets.
I do not love Dan. I thought to myself. Well, maybe just a little bit…
How was it? Good? I hope so...although even if it wasn't thank you so much for reading :P
Please feel free to review as I love reading what people have to say about my stories :)
See you in the next chapter xxxxx