Apologies for the long wait!! But it's here now!!
There's always something strange about schools come the end of the year. The teachers get into a sporty spirit. However, they don't start running around doing the sports; they make the students do tournaments within their houses for the final time of the year.
Demyx had already faced tennis, rounders and all-round sports day in the last week. There was now only one tournament left- the swimming gala.
All students made their way to the outdoor pool, plain black swimsuits on and towels to hand.
"I hate this," Axel grumbled, slipping his flip flops off once he sat down on a bench by the side of the pool. "I want my board shorts… And how come the girls have all skipped??"
"Time of the month??" Zexion sniggered.
Axel's eyes widened. "ALL of them??"
"I dunno," Zexion said. "But at least all the guys can fit around the pool this year without getting squashed." He looked around at the benches that were slowly being filled with male students of all ages, not a girl in sight.
"We're going to have so much fun!!" Demyx smiled, swinging his legs from the bench.
"You might, waterbaby," Axel sighed. "But I have no Roxy to cheer me on."
"I'll cheer extra hard then!" Demyx said, raising his fists in determination.
Zexion sighed. "No one ever cheers for me."
"We will," Axel said. "Us three have to stick together this year since we're all feeling uneasy over the gala."
The red-head glanced at Demyx, who was tapping his feet together, smiling.
"All feeling uneasy, eh?" Zexion mumbled.
"Ok, he doesn't count!" Axel grumbled.
"At least you're a confident swimmer, Axel." Zexion leant forward, eyeing the pool in front of him.
A head lay on his shoulder, hair tickling his neck. "You'll do your best though, Zex?"
The silver-haired boy put an arm around the blonde.
"I'll try, Dem."
"Ok, everyone. Settle down!" the PE teacher, Mr Xaldin yelled. Everyone had to call this guy Mr Xaldin, even though the students all knew his first name was Xaldin. It just seemed rather stupid to put a 'Mr' in front of that. It was the same for many of the teachers in the school.
Silence fell. No one dared to not listen to Xaldin since he had rather threatening muscles that could probably snap you in two. Also, Xaldin was good friends with 'Mr' Xigbar, whose punishments were hellsome laser-fests!!
"Ok, can the house members competing in front crawl make their way to the pool!" he yelled. Not only did the guy have muscles like steel, his lungs were also.
"Hey, Xal!!" Axel yelled across the pool, proud for standing up even with the knowledge of Xaldin's punishments.
Xaldin turned around, angry at the one who had defied his order. "Pyro! Sit your arse down! And I've told you before, it's MR Xaldin!!"
"Whatever!" Axel yelled back. "But where the hell are the girls? Only the guys are here!"
"Shut up, Axel!!" Xaldin yelled. "The girl's have their gala separate from the guys this year!!"
"Why!?" Axel yelled. His confidence against this PMT teacher was increasing by the second.
"Why the fuck would I know?!" Xaldin growled. "It was the head's idea; I've nothing to do with it!!"
Axel sat on the bench, smirking with both triumph and interesting thoughts. "Bet's it's to do with dignity," he muttered to Zexion and Demyx.
"Right, four students for the front crawl!!" Xaldin yelled.
Zexion sighed. "Guess that'll be the race I signed up for."
"You'll be great," Demyx smiled.
"Thanks," Zexion mumbled, not convinced.
He stumbled over to the start and slid into the pool.
This is gonna be a nightmare for my hair, he thought as he eyed the other contestants, all younger than himself. They also slipped into the pool, shivering slightly at the change in temperature.
At least I'm not the only amateur who can't dive
"Ok you lot!" Xaldin yelled from the other end of the pool. "Two lengths of the pool, front crawl. Understand?"
"Yes, sir," all competitors replied.
"Ok then," Xaldin smiled. God, the menace smiled!! "On your marks!!"
Zexion took a breath in and exhaled. It'll be ok
"Set!!"
Zexion closed his eyes, arms behind him clutching the side, bending his legs in preparation for the push-off.
"GO!!"
He launched himself from the start, hurling his arms in front of him. They hit the water harder than expected and he grimaced. The cool blue water gave him goosebumps as he placed his face in the water.
A rush of noise hit his ears from students cheering. He couldn't make out any cheers of his own name, but continued to swim.
I must be going at snail's pace, he thought, catching a glimpse of someone go past him in the end lane. His arms ached from the strong start but he kept up the pace. He hardly ever swam and his arms had been weakened in previous years from the lack of blood. He had always had terrible times within school swimming lessons, particularly as he was always hurled into the pool. His parents had a pool at home, but he was never in the mood to coat his hair in chlorine in order to splash around for a bit.
The cheers started to die away as he made it to the end of the pool, spun around and started his second length. He glanced up quickly to see everyone near the finish line, one person already climbing out of the pool in success. Zexion panted for air, willing himself to go on even though he knew he was suffering.
Why'd I cut myself this morning? he thought. But no matter how tired I am I can't just sit here in the middle of a pool.
He slowed his pace to let the strain off of his arms.
"C'mon, Zexion!!" a voice called. He looked up to see Demyx and Axel at the end of his lane cheering for him.
He smiled, succeeding in moving forward a little. His arms no longer had any strength left, however and he started to use his legs to move. He merely moved around in a circle on the spot.
Zexion opened his mouth to call for help, but swallowed a load of water. He choked, slipping under the water.
The further sounds of cheering ceased as Zexion sunk deeper underwater. Fear flooded through him as well as water, unsure of what to do.
More water made its way into his body. He started to lose focus, barely noticing a figure coming towards him.
Zexion slowly opened his eyes, his body aching. Slowly, he turned to the side, confused at his new surroundings. He found Demyx sitting in a chair beside him, uniform on.
"Hey," he whispered.
Zexion shifted in the bed he found himself in, noticing he still had his trunks on. "Where am I?" he croaked.
"First aid," Demyx answered. "You went underwater so I dove after you. You were unconscious when I got you out so Xaldin sent you to first aid."
"What about the gala?" Zexion managed to say. It was hard to speak.
"It should just be finishing," Demyx sighed, looking at a clock on the wall.
"But… shouldn't you be swimming?" Zexion asked.
"I dropped out," Demyx said in a neutral tone. "I wanted to stay with you."
"But you were so desperate to swim," Zexion said.
"It doesn't matter." Demyx's voice started to waver.
There was a knock at the door and Axel entered, uniform on in its usual messy/casual state and a number or medals around his neck.
"I won every race!!" he beamed.
"Well done," Demyx said shakily. Tears started to form in his eyes.
Axel's face fell. "Dem, don't worry about it. We can go swimming at the weekend. I'll chip in and we can go to the local pool."
Demyx smiled weakly. "No, it's alright. It wouldn't be the same being in a crowded pool."
"No, I insist," Axel said. "Who cares about the number of people there? You love the water; you need to be in it!!"
"No, I'll just play in the bath when we get home," Demyx sniffed.
"Look," Zexion started, moving to a sitting position and wrapping the blanket around his neck. "There's a pool at mine. You can both come over at the weekend."
Axel stared, whistling. "Demyx never told me about that!"
"That's because it's separate from the house," Zexion mumbled. "I never showed it to him."
"You have a pool?" Demyx asked, the shakiness in his voice faded.
Zexion nodded. "Wanna go for a swim?"
"Yeah!" Demyx beamed, glomping Zexion.
"Ok, ok, not so tight," Zexion gasped.
Axel chucked a bag at the end of the bed. "Look, it's the end of the day and I wanna go home. Can you hurry up. Your stuff's in the bag."
"Ok," Zexion said, pulling on his shirt and trousers. "Let's get outta here."
So that's that. Not as long as other chapters but I was kinda having writer's block... Not exactly but I just couldn't find the words and the detail is all... If that makes sense. Dunno when the next chapter will be up
