Don't Let me Drown
Here is chapter 2, just to put it out there, I try to make sure to get all the chapters before publishing the story. Once again, I have no ties to Free! Please, RxR ;)
Chapter 2
Rin sighed as he finished washing away the sweat from his morning run. Turning off the water, he grabbed his towel, and headed for his locker to get ready for his day. After dressing, he sat down and took a drink of his water, knowing that he still had some time to kill before classes.
"Morning, Rin." The usual cheerful voice of his roommate cause him to look up, and give his usual grunt of morning, before leaning back on the bench. He decided he would wait for the younger man today, knowing that he would keep away the silence. Only to blink when his phone started to vibrate in his pocket. Sliding it out, he blinked in surprise as he saw Makoto's number on the screen, announcing that the man had sent him a text message. Flicking his phone open, he opened the new mail and read over it:
Rin, something is wrong with Haru. He hasn't been himself since his race at the tournament with you. If you know anything, please tell me. Or, at least, help me keep an eye on Haru. He's starting to really worry me. - Makoto.
He blinked at that, his mind going blank for a moment. Haru was acting differently? How differently? Had something happened at the race he didn't know about? He was about to text the man back, but was stopped when a shout from the swimming clubs captain caught his attention.
"Rin. Come here for a sec." He shouted, blinking, he slid his phone shut, and walked toward the man. Not sure what he wanted to talk about, but knew that he wouldn't really be focusing since that message had gotten to him. Sure, he was Haru's rival, but they had been friends. That wasn't something he could overlook, even though most of the time he was a fucking jackass.
"What would you say if I asked your sister out?" The captain asked, causing him to pause mid step and stare at him in shock. What the hell?! His thoughts automatically went past the text that he received, taking a back seat as his brother instincts kicked him. His gaze slowly turned into a glare and he slowly approached the man, staring him right in the eyes, daring him to flinch away. Sneering slightly when the captain met his gaze unflinching with a small smile on his face.
"Well? If I asked Gou out, what would you do?" The captain asked again, and it took every fiber of his being not to snap at the older man for taking an interest in his younger sister.
"It comes down to her answer, I wont get in her way should she wish to date you. But so help me, you make her cry once!" He growled out, knowing his eyes were flashing as the man took a half-step back. He watched as the man swallowed, then gave him another bright smile.
"Deal. Also, no worries about me hurting her, I wouldn't dream doing that to the little cutie." He stated, and Rin leveled him with a glare that should have killed the man right then and there.
"Right, right." He stated, holding his hands up in a soothing manner.
"No talking to you about your sister like that, got it. So, then, uh, about practice after school?" The captain stated, and Rin allowed himself to calm slightly. He then half-listened to what the man was going on about, and then blinked as he recalled the text. He knew it would be too late now to ask Makoto what exactly had him so worried about the dark haired man, and sighed as he realized that he would have to ask him later. With that, he gave the swimming captain his usual bored look, and walked away in the middle of his sentence. Knowing that he could get away with it, since he hadn't been reprimanded on it yet. He walked to his classes, his mind to concerned for his rival to pay attention to anything that was being said. Halfway through school, he was starting to get impatient, and knew that even after school he'd have to wait since he had swim practice. Although, he had half a mind to skip practice to check on Haru.
Then he recalled that Haru, too, had swim practice after school. Giving an annoyed sigh, he dropped his head onto his desk, and thought back to the tournament, where he had beat Haruka. He had been so thrilled at first, knowing that he could move past the fact that the one person who knew that mattered he could beat. That meant that he could continue with his father's dream, although, he wondered briefly if it was worth it if it meant hurting Haru. He blinked at that, giving his head a mental shake. He didn't know that it was something that he had did that hurt him. Damn! Getting tired of everything, he stood and walked out of class. Knowing that the only way he would get anything figured out he would have to be alone. Hopefully Makoto wasn't such a goody goody that he wouldn't reply to him during class.
Once he reached his dorm room, he flopped down onto the bed and pulled out his phone.
So, what exactly is wrong with the water obsessed guy?
He sent the reply, and briefly wondered if this meant that none of them were going to show up to the joint prectice. He blinked when his phone vibrated, and opened the message.
You don't know?
He felt a nerve tick above his eye at that, and was half tempted to throw his phone. He hated when people beat around the bush, it pissed him off to no end.
Damnit, Makoto! Would I be asking if I knew? Also, will you all still be coming to the joint practice?
He hit send, and glared at his phone until he received his reply.
Guess not, sorry. Rin, I don't know the whole story, but whatever is bothering Haru. It's because of you. I'm not sure if it would be a good idea for him to see you.
Rin sat back in shock after reading that. What the hell? It was his fault that Haru was acting up? What the hell had he done? All he had done was gloated, and then walked away!
The hell! What did I do?
He hit the send button, and then gripped the phone tightly between his trembling hands. He had hurted Haru!? If so, then he hadn't meant to. Hell, he never meant to hurt him in anyway, he cared about him to much. Even though he would never admit to that out loud, especially since he cared about him more than one man should to another. Swallowing, he thought hard on what all he did after the race, and trying his hardest to remember what he had said to him. Only problem, was that he had been on an adrenaline high as he had talked to him, and couldn't recall a word. The sudden buzz of his phone caused him to jump, and he looked down to see Makoto's name again. He hesitated, to afraid to see what he had done to the man to read the new message. Swallowing, he pushed his fear aside, and opened the message. Knowing that he had to own up to whatever he had done, and do his best to set it straight.
I don't know what it was exactly. I do know that it had something to do with what you said to him after the race. While he was still in the water.
He slouched at that. He couldn't even recall what he had said. So how the hell was he suppose to fix that!? Giving another curse, he hit reply.
I can't recall what I said. Bring Haru anyway, and I'll try everything I can to recall it. I promise, I will try and fix this.
He sent the message, and then clasped the phone tightly between his hands as he lowered his head. His entire body trembling as he tried with everything that he had, to recall what he had said to Haru. Yet, his mind came up blank. Nothing was coming to him. How the hell could he fix something he said, when he didn't even recall what he had said.
"Damnit." He whispered, dropping his head between his arms, and squeezed his eyes closed as tears threatened to spill. He had been the one to hurt Haru without realizing it, and now he had to fix it. He could only hope that when he saw the man, the words would return, and that he could handle seeing the damage he had done. His hands tightened on his phone more, the plastic cracking slightly.
"Damn."
