Pigskin… I've not been called that since high school. The name takes me back to a difficult time. I thought back to when I had fallen for another swimmer on my team. Abi was a senior, she had beautiful blonde hair, biceps to die for and she was full of poise and confidence. I felt special just being around her. My feelings grew and grew for her and I hated myself. I was not OK with liking a girl, I suppressed my feelings for her by writing them down in a journal. The day this fell out of my locker my life was shattered. The queen bee picked it up and shared by feelings for Abi to the entire student body. The taunting and bullying became too much for me but Abi being unable to look me in the eye at swim practise drove me over the edge. I went home grabbed my dad's pen knife and cut into my skin. Being on the swim team, having my skin on show people noticed and the name calling began.
The gym door slamming brought me straight back to reality. Allie was not going to take me back to the hardest point in my life. Emily was worth fighting for. If the rest of the team were taking a trip out the pool would be my sanctuary. I left the gym for the locker room and changed into a spare swimming costume we had all been left in our lockers. I hit the pool deck, pulled my goggles over my eyes and plunged into the water from the diving block.
I was at one with the water. The only thing going through my head was the stroke count, letting me know exactly when to turn. I had improved vastly from training this morning. I had let Allie physically assault me but she was not going to ruin swimming for me. The thought of Allie made me kick on and push myself hard, it was almost like having my dad at a swim meet. I was flying through the water; the water baby is back I thought to myself. Before I could get too carried away and enjoy the familiar muscle burn any longer, a shadow appeared at the end of my lane. I surfaced unsure of who I might find.
"Don't stop, that was awesome" Zoe was holding a stop watch whilst trying to contain her smile. She was pretty and any man would be lucky to have her I thought as I noticed her golden wedding band glisten in the light. "Thanks" I said whilst trying to regain my breath. "Two seconds short of a pb, McCullers" Zoe added whilst holding a towel up for me. I got out of the pool and wrapped it around my shoulders.
"You've settled in since this morning pretty quickly" Zoe said with a raised eye brow. "It's amazing the difference a gym session can make" I joked back. "Paige honey I've been doing this a while and trust me I know how horrible girls can be. It's obvious somebody is giving you a hard time" a hard time?! She has no idea!
"It's nothing I can't handle" I hoped the fear I had for Allie didn't show in my voice. "You can't let somebody ruin this for you, you have real potential and the Olympics are only 18 months away" Zoe added in a more serious tone.
"My dream was ended by an injury and it hurts. I scouted you and Emily Fields and you two are my main priority" the anguish of missing her chance was written all over her face.
"Thanks for the pep talk, I do have a question. There is another swimmer Allie, I was wondering how she got here?" I stated trying not to give too much away. "Oh you noticed her swimming huh? I trust you Paige that's why I'm going to say this. Swimming isn't free from bribery and somehow she has Coach Carter wrapped around her little finger".
"I thought she was going to drown earlier" we both laughed in unison.
"I've worked with Carter for some years and I've never seen him act like this. Avoid Allie if I were you she's bad news" I could tell she knew more than she was letting on. The colour was gone from her face.
"Did she do that to you?" Zoe pointed to the bruising around my neck. I gulped "it was just a little misunderstanding" I could end this drama now but I'm too scared of what Allie might do. "Paige if you don't report this there isn't anything I can do".
"She didn't do it. I'm just accident prone" it would be easy to say something to Zoe but I didn't want to gain a reputation for ratting out my teammates. If Coach was team Allie it would be my word against hers.
"It's hard to stay away from her when we share a room" I said "Perhaps I could sort something out" she winked "anyway Paige go get some dinner and rest you must be exhausted from that swim!".
I made my way back to my room via the cafeteria. Picking up a tuna salad and energy drink. My thoughts were occupied by what Zoe had said. Was Allie black mailing the coach? It wouldn't surprise me. It still didn't make any sense why come to swim camp If you can't swim.
Before my team-mates reappeared I had time to Skype Pru. I was really surprised to hear she's still dating Matt in our first year at Danby she had a different guy every week. I checked my emails, I had to let my parents know I was still alive and I needed to reply to the lovely email I got from my dad. I then watched a few episodes of the big bang theory a guilty pleasure of mine.
I looked up from my laptop screen when I heard the door unlocking. Allie entered the room and to my surprise Emily walked in behind her. It was hard to avert my eyes from Emily. I could stand back and admire her all day every day.
"Paige, hey" Emily said whilst poking me in the arm. "Oh Hey, nice trip?" I whispered whilst trying to locate Allie in the room. "She's gone to get us a drink, I practically had to beg and promise not to talk to you" Emily said whilst smiling.
"I can't believe you can stand to be around her" I blurted out. "Paige this isn't exactly a voluntary situation" Emily said with her eyes wide. "What do you mean" I questioned.
"She overheard me on the phone to Samara" that name made my chest hurt " she threatened to tell the team, from past experience I know that nobody wants to share a locker room with the gay girl" before I realised what I was doing I was on my feet pulling her into a tight embrace.
After a few heavenly seconds Emily broke free from our hug and sat down on the edge of my bed "She told me it was you that hid my clothes earlier, you know if you want to see my naked you could just ask" Emily winked "sorry" I felt myself blush. "Don't apologize I thought it was hilarious" she giggled "Allie thought it would make me angry, you should have seen the look on her face when I couldn't control my laughter".
The footsteps from the corridor grew closer. Emily leant over and whispered in my ear "Paige, meet me in the gym tomorrow I'll be there at 6am. We can talk more and about earlier, I'm sorry about putting you in an awkward situation about Samara" I closed my eyes and let the warmth of her breath fill me. Emily just about made it to the other side of the room before Allie opened the door. "Emily lets go, coach said we could watch some movies. That's not an invite Paigey!" the way she said my name filled me with dread.
Thank you for reading :) lots of you have been asking for Paige to start kicking ass. Don't worry it will come.
So my week has ended with being snowed in. The UK is just rubbish with dealing with a tiny bit of snow, the country comes to a standstill.
Paily lover: I'm glad you enjoyed reading that line as much as I liked writing it! I was never a big fan of Samara but as you said I would take her any day when compared to Maya haha I don't know why I just didn't really connect with her. I'm happy now though of course Emily's back in Paige's arms. Peace out x