Drift
Prologue
I'd promised myself as a child that I'd never be the kind of girl to cry over a guy, or let my heart be broken. Mind you, I'd also been a hopeless romantic and destined to fall quickly and hard. Guess I never really thought it through, I'd always figured myself the strong, independent type.
In the end, all my foretelling's were useless, he'd reduced me to a shy, blushing schoolgirl within seconds of our first meet. Now, he's reduced me to a heart-broken, ben & jerry eating mess.
But that's what they say right; we're all fools in love? Well I had been, him however…
My hand crashed to the wall with a force that pushed my backwards. I brought my head above the water, gasping for breath. "Whoo", Diego whistled. "4:87:98, good time, chick". I looked up and he was smiling at me. I gave a cheeky grin back as I climbed out of the pool. "Did you expect any less?" I asked, sticking my tongue out at him. He shook his head, handing me a towel from the bench. "There's still a couple of extra seconds on my backstroke I think I could shave off". He stared down at me as I pulled my long, mahogany hair from my swim cap. "Doll, you think you could swim across the Atlantic and back in a day, if I'd let you. You're pushing too hard, we can't risk injury. Not now". I shook my head but left it. He's the coach and what coach says, goes.
As I walked out of the locker rooms, freshly showered and changed, I saw Diego with his wife Miranda. His heavily pregnant wife. I sighed with concealed jealousy. Don't get me wrong, I loved Miranda, but she had the one thing I longed for. Love. I sighed again. What I wouldn't give to be married, expecting my first-born. I mean, I'm only 24, plenty of time left and I'm not short of suitors believe me but I'm a perfectionist, no man is the one. Don't get me wrong, I love to go to a club with the girls and much as the next 24-year-old, but my hidden desire for a family, for love, for comfort, is exactly that. Hidden. I plastered a smile on my face and waved as I went past them and into the car park. We all dream of something, right?
The next morning I was tired. Not the 'ugh, don't want to get out of bed' tired, but the 'my whole body is drowned in fatigue, I could die', tired. I made myself a plate of toast and prepared for the day. I worked at a small coffee shop a few blocks from my apartment. The pay was reasonable and the coffee shop did okay for a small business in Bushwick, Brooklyn. I was working 10 till 3, and then I had training from 7 till 9. I trained 5 times a week, in 2 hour sessions. Diego and I were aiming high. Olympic gold medal kind of high. But due to the pending birth of his son, Di will be leaving me in a few days, with a promise of a great replacement. I had my doubts.
Bushwick was mild this time of the morning. Not too busy, not too quiet. I made my way towards the shop and smiled at familiar faces I passed on my way. The shop was already open when I got there and Mike Newton, son of the owner was standing behind the counter serving the few customers that had come in for a coffee before heading to work. He smiled when he saw me, glad to be relieved of his short stint of work and quickly took off through the back. I got to work and my day passed quickly. After work, I did some grocery shopping, called one of my best friends Angela and scoffed back some simple pasta before heading out to training.
Training passed without much fuss or drama and by the end I was ready to fall into bed. I'd begged Diego to tell me who he had picked as his replacement coach but he remained teasing. "Just have to wait and see, you'll love him though". Him. That's all the information I had. I was slightly concerned about the teasing emphasis Di put on the 'Love him' part. It was like he knew something I didn't. Hmmp, well that's 'cause he does, you tool. My sub conscience is so mean to me sometime. Dramatic sigh.
The morning of the weekend, I was significantly less tired than yesterday, though it's not that hard to figure out why. I had no training until Monday. Don't get me wrong, I love swimming, but it's a lot sometimes, you know? I headed out to run some errands and pick up a new pair of shoes for tonight. Saturday night, was girls night. It usually involved lots of drinking, short dresses and lots of dancing. Angela and I were to meet my cousin Alice for lunch, go home, get our outfits and head back to Alice's to get ready. I always felt like a teen again doing this. Getting ready for the disco with my friends then a sleepover so we could gush over every little look we got from a crush. Le sigh, it seems so long ago. Okay, I'm getting nostalgic now, bad sign.
3 and half hours later we were all dolled up and ready to go. Me in a short, tight green dress that reached mid-thigh and sleeves that went below my elbows, matched with black heeled pumps. Angela donned a beautiful purple lace dress that was slightly shorter than mine and has a high neckline. Alice was slightly more eccentric than the two of us. She had chosen a short, dark blue dress with a low-cut sweetheart neckline paired with bright pink shoes that matched her lipstick. She pulled it off though. We looked good.
The club 'New moon' was across the bridge in the city so we all donned long coats to avoid looking like hookers on the subway. When we arrived at the club, it was packed. I knew from the smirk on Alice's face as we entered that this way going to be a good night. We headed to the bar to grab a mojito before we started dancing. A catchy, familiar tune started playing and Angela jumped. I wasn't sure of the name of it but Angela and Alice turned to each other and said simultaneously "I love this song!" We all headed to the dance floor and let loose. I shook my head and moved my hips like I didn't have a care in the world. It was moments like this; similar to when I'm in the water, when nothing else matters. I was slowly brought back to reality by the sensual feeling of hand moving slowly on my hips and a warm body dancing in time with me. I turned my head a caught a flash of wild, bronze hair before a dazzling pair of green eyes caused my breath the catch and the world to fade once more. When he smirked, his eyes sparkled again an I felt myself blush. I haven't blushed since I was 14 years old. My hips slowed until I was at a standstill.
I suddenly felt nervous and lost my confidence to move in such an erotic way around this man. He continued to stare down at me and I saw his eyes darken as he examined my flushed cheeks. He leaned down to my ear, close enough that I could feel his hot breath on my neck, "You're a beautiful dancer". I knew I was blushing again. I wanted to reply but found myself speechless. Damn this sexy, womanizing beast. I looked into his 'designed-by-god' face and saw a beautiful yet arrogant smirk sitting there. I felt his hand slid down to the top of my ass as his head motioned towards the door of the club. The trance I'd been in shattered at this man's audacity to assume I'd be willing to leave with without even knowing his name. I laughed and stepped from his grasp, shaking my head. His surprised frown told me that this wasn't the reaction he usually got. Well sorry mister. I lay a hand on his shoulder, reached up and whispered low and what I hoped was seductively in his ear, "You're looking for a whore, go look somewhere else, boy". I chucked again as I walked back towards the bar but not before turning back and seeing the shocked look on Mr Sexy Adonis Asshole's face. Pity, I thought, He looked like a good one. Looks can apparently be deceiving. Hmmp. Uh-oh, not all of my body agreed with my decision. I mentally shrugged my shoulder and inwardly let out a massive sigh of … something.
There you have it, chapter Uno. Review and tell me what you thought and such. Please's and thank-you's. Hugs and kisses'. – Burning Liberty.