Gloria came and took everyone out in the hallway next to the pool, a mom came over after Gloria calls her on her phone after everyone is in the hallway.
"I'm just concerned for my daughter," the mom says in a worried tone. "Have the Atrians been tested for any diseases?" She asks.
"Yes, of course they have." Gloria replies. The daughter of the mom goes over to her.
"Mom, you should've seen her, she broke Eric's state record." She says in a convincing voice.
"Like hell she did," Eric says annoyed. "Hey I got an idea, why don't we let a dolphin on the team? Or an alligator, they're really fast swimmers too." He announces sarcastically. Something about him makes me want to slap him.
"Come on, lots of athletes have physical advantages. Michael Phelps has double jointed ankles and you're saying you don't want that on our team." He tells Eric and looks towards Emery.
"Okay, enough Sophia—
"We encouraged her." Emery and I both say cutting Gloria off.
"No, I wanted to do it. I want to be on the team." Sophia says.
"And I'm afraid that's not possible," Gloria starts to finish. "When your father and I negotiated the integration program, we both agreed that sports at least at the start my pose a security risk."
"But the meet is on school grounds, you're saying you can't protect them at Marshall." Emery rebuttals.
"Even if we did bring additional security, okay the board decided having Atrians participate in sports would be disruptive to the other students they've been training for years—"Eric nods his head in the back agreeing with everything Gloria says.
"So you're leaving your best swimmier off the team, right before the meet. I she took you guys to state would that be disruptive?" Emery asks aloud.
"Stop encouraging her," Roman comes in the conversation. "I don't think this is a good idea."
"Well I think it's a great idea," Grayson says. "If you want to talk about unfair advantages Collier Prep makes state every year because they're a private school and could pull in the best athletes from the Gulf Coast and they're a factory. It's either this or we fight back."
"See what is the problem?" Emery asks Gloria.
"I will talk to the board. Okay, if I can reverse the board's decision, I expect all of you to be on your best behavior. Am I making myself clear?" Gloria asks us and glancing at Teri and walking away. Sophia, Grayson, Emery, and I all smile.
Hallway…
"Hey, Rachel!" I turn around but instead of seeing Drake I see Eric running with his jacket flying as he comes to me.
"Yeah?" I reply as he stops in front of me.
"Would you like to come eat with the swim team tonight? We do it every time before a big swim meet." He pushes his hair back nervously.
"I can't, sorry." I lie and start walking away but his arm pulls me back.
"Is this because you think I'm a Red Hawk?" He asks. I start smiling and laughing at his question.
"I think you're a Red Hawk? I know you're a Red Hawk, at the carnival I found you with Drake tied up in the back of your truck. That's something a Red Hawk would do, or were you just bringing him to get something to eat?" He looks at the ground and I shrug his arm off mine and continue walking to class.
The Next Day…
Today is the swim meet with Collier Prep, if the board allows Sophia to swim; we'll have a big advantage and probably go to state. Everyone is excited about the meet including Emery and I, I would like to see Collier Prep lose. On the outside of the school, the protestors get louder everyday with more signs and more rage, Emery brought a gift for Sophia today and I walk alongside her bringing it.
"Hey, Sophia! I've got you a present," Emery holds the bag up and Sophia with a smile takes it.
"Seriously?" She asks in disbelief. I peer around and see a group of guys watching us and laughing but when they see me they all look away.
"It's awesome, thank you!" She opens her locker and behind it, there is a doll of Sophia with a knife in it. She covers her mouth in horror.
"Oh my God." Emery says shocked. I see Roman coming to see what has happened.
"What's wrong? He asks. He looks at the locker and tears the doll off in anger.
"This is over." He tells Sophia.
"Roman—"Emery starts.
"I'm talking to my sister not you," He says. "I know you want to honor dad, but I'm not going to let you risk your life to do it. I love you, but I'm going to drag you out of that pool if I have too." He holds her arm gently but Sophia shrugs it off.
"No, you won't." She states and slams her locker shut. I look at the group of guys again who are now laughing almost demonically, 'They put the doll in the locker' I think. I see Roman walk away throwing the doll in the trash.
"That's it." I walk past Emery and reach for the doll by grabbing the knife part. I examine it and raise my arm.
"Hey, assholes!" I throw the doll at the guys and they stop laughing and run off in the hallways.
"Nice throw." I hear Emery and a voice say together in sync. I look and see Emery and behind her Drake, she starts walking to class leaving Drake and I in the hallway.
"If I were you, I would throw the knife by their forehead and scare them to death." He says smiling. I glance at him and walk to class leaving the doll on the hard floor.
Fitness Center…
After our classes, I caught up with Sophia and we both started walking and head down to the pool.
"I really want to see you cream Collier Prep," I tell her. "If you do that you'll be a hero." She just smiles and we walk past treadmills but are stopped by a girl with blonde hair and two energy drinks in her hands.
"Hey Sophia," She starts. "I just wanted to break the ice, there's a lot of hate from Collier Prep about an aliens swimming for Marshall, but I'm really looking forward to it." She says. 'She sounds too nice' I think.
"Thanks, I appreciate that." Sophia says politely.
"A peace offering, it's a sports drink, my pre-race ritual." She hands her the orange bottle.
"What's in it?" Sophia asks.
"Fruit juice, electrolytes… that sort of stuff." She says.
"Cheers." They both raise the bottles and open the caps. 'Sports drink' I think. The first thing that comes in to mind is caffeine! I slap the bottle out of Sophia's hand but it's too late, she already drank from it.
"What's your problem?" I ask the blonde who is still drinking her bottle.
"Why did you do that?" The blonde asks weirdly.
"Sophia, sports drinks have caffeine in them!" She looks at the bottle on the ground and her eyes widen. She starts choking and falls to the ground, people gather around us and stare at Sophia. I move down next to her screaming.
"Help her! Help her!" I feel a hand come over my mouth and arms pick me up. I'm in the arms of two guys next to me and one's hand is still over my mouth.
"Shut up Rachel!" He says. I try to struggle out of their grasps but can't and all I can do is watch Sophia on the ground. I see Eric come over staring at Sophia also and he looks at me with a solemn glance
"Sophia!" A voice shouts. I see Julia running over to the crowd and crouching next to her.
"Guys she can't breathe!" She exclaims in panic but no one helps her. "I need to get help!" She says and runs away out of sight. I see Emery and Grayson come over both of them coming next to her; Grayson then pushes two guys back.
"Get back!"
Why don't you get back? Tattie-lover?" One guy says.
"Who are you calling Tattie." A voice says. I look up and see Drake come in wearing a white tank top showing his markings. He looks at me and his eyes are filled with fury as the two guys strengthen their grips on me. I see Teri walk over to the blonde in resentment.
"What did you give her?" Teri asks pulling the sports drink out of her hand.
"Caffeine!" She shouts.
"It's not my fault E.T. drank it." The blonde says.
"What you're saying makes me fell unwelcome, and fills me with rage," Teri says pulling out her earrings. "There I used my words!" Teri head-butts her causing her to collapse to the ground and the fight begins. Drake comes running over to the guys holding me and punches them both in the face releasing me, I fall to the ground and gasp for air.
"Are you okay?" Drake asks in a caring voice. I look past him and see a guy running towards us. I spring my legs in his face knocking the guy to the ground. We both smile and Drake helps me up and we fight against the jocks of Collier Prep. The more punches that are thrown the more we head to the pools doors and we do the whole pile of us charging in causing two girls to fall in the pool. I see Grayson knee someone and Drake pulling up someone from the pool but punching him in the face before he can get out. I see one guy running up behind Teri but I sprint and punch him into the pool, Teri turns around and we nod at each other. Then I see Eric running in the fight kicking two guys away from Drake and Grayson fall into the pool with two jocks fighting underwater. An air horn sounds and we see Gloria and guards follow behind her with one holding the air horn the fighting ceases and we all look at them walking towards us.
"The next person to throw a punch will be expelled!" Gloria shouts. "The meet is cancelled, Collier Prep to the locker room, Marshall to the auditorium!" We all stand frozen like statues.
"Now!" Everyone starts moving and I follow behind Drake to the auditorium.
Auditorium…
"The Marshall swim team will be suspended from competition, you'll forfeit all further matches. You're season is over." Gloria states.
"Are you serious?" Eric asks holding a bag of ice.
"It's not their fault, its mine." Sophia says.
"No… I put the integration program on the line today, I trusted you all and you let me down. Still, when Nox one of the founding members of this program passed away, many feared that his dream died with him. But after today's event, I know that's not the case." Gloria says looking at us all. "True the meet was an unqualified disaster, but for the first time in history, humans and Atrians were fighting alongside each other. You were fighting for each other. And I viewed that as a victory." Everyone in the auditorium looks at each other with small grins on our faces. So, there will be no further disciplinary action, you can go."
"Wait, we came here to swim. After everything that has happened can we at least do that?" Sophia asks.
"What's the point? We already forfeited the meet, and no one is here to see it." Eric says.
"We're here." Grayson replies to Eric.
"The pool is yours, one hour." Gloria tells us walking out of the auditorium. Drake and I face each other and smile.
Pool…
The swim team lines up to dive in the blue water and Drake and I stand alongside each other watching with the others who are not on the team.
"On your marks."
"Get set."
"Go." Everyone dives in and we start applauding and whistling for Sophia.
Outside the School…
Night fell just as quickly day does and we all left the school with Sophia winning the race. Drake and I were the last ones to eave and we walk side by side to his bus.
"The stars are sure beautiful tonight." I say stopping and staring at the night sky. He stops too and stares at the sky as well.
"I used to do that on Atria, I'd count however many stars I can but there is just so many I would get mixed up." I smile and think about Drake on Atria laying down in awe and count the bright shapes. A bright light distracts me and I look down and see it coming from the stone on my necklace.
"What is it doing?" I ask Drake and he moves in front of me and touches it with his fingers touching my neck.
"That stone glows whenever it is a full moon outside, it makes your eyes shine." He says. I can tell the last part came out of him on accident but I didn't mind. His face turned red, the shade of red when you're embarrassed.
"It also makes your marks gleam." I say staring at his mark's on his face. He smiles and we stare at each other with our eyes locking on each other's. My heart pounds and it is a feeling I can't name but his face moves closer to mine and his hand moves my hair back with his lips brushing mine. I feel like he can hear the loud beats of my heart but it didn't matter and I kissed him back. My face feels hot and red like a crawfish after being cooked.
"See you tomorrow." He whispers and walks to the Sector bus. I smile and continue walking home with me thinking about him the whole time.