Protection and Respect

"What are you doing here McCullers?" I heard Coach ask.

"I'm here to swim what does it look like I'm doing," Paige said with attitude in her voice. I knew she was pissed off, it had been almost two weeks since she last swam and her Dad has been riding her to get back into the pool.

"No you're not, not with that arm of yours. Come back when a doctor has cleared you," Coach said walking away not impressed. Watching from the pool I saw Paige make a straggling gesture behind Coaches back, she didn't actually mean it she was just frustrated.

"Looks like there's a race for the new co-captain position," Jasmine a girl who had lost the co-captain race to Paige said. Jasmine was a couple of lanes down from me and probably thought I wouldn't be able to hear her, not with my cap covering my ears but she was wrong.

Pushing myself up out of the pool, I yell "Jasmine, ten freestyle laps now and the rest of you five!" I saw Jasmine wanted to give me lip but my glare was able to stop it from happening, she quickly kicked off the wall and began her laps.

"Nice work Fields," I heard Coach say behind me as she handed me my towel.

I replied with "I won't stand for anyone thinking Paige is out and down, just because of a setback."

Coach nods and said "Paige seems to be getting restless, I don't blame her. I think this is the longest she been out of the pool, I've never not seen her in the pool."

"Yeah, she doesn't mean any disrespect by her words or actions. Like you said she getting restless and slightly worried that someone's going to take her position but that won't happen under my watch."

"Paige doesn't have anything to worry about," Coach spoke before turning and leaving. Smiling at Coaches words before smiling even bigger when I saw Paige sitting on the bleachers, even though she was annoyed she was still waiting for me. Making my way over to Paige, I take a seat next to her and give her a look with my eyes.

"What?" Paige asked annoyed but wasn't able to hide back her smile.

"You need to calm down and let your arm heal properly. I know you Dads being, well your Dad but if you push yourself to hard too fast you'll just do more damage and that's the last thing you want."

"That's easy for you to say, you get to swim."

"You will too. In a couple of weeks you'll be back with a stronger arm and be beating everyone again, just give it time." Running my fingers down Paige's injured arm before reaching her fingers, I intertwine our hands together and bring them up to my lips to kiss the back of her hand.

"How do you do that?" Paige asked.

"Do what?" I asked back confused.

"How do you make everything okay again, how are you able to calm everything down and make me see reason."

"I don't know, it's a gifted I guess but it's also in the girlfriend description; there's a whole handbook on it."

"Really, how come I've never read it before?"

"I don't know, maybe you should and then you might be as good as me, but not better. No one can beat me," I say full of confidence.

Paige looks at me with serious eyes before cracking up laughing, through that laughter Paige said "You are so amazing," she then leant forward and kissed me.

Pulling back from the kiss, I say "Well my job here is done."

"And what job was that?"

"To make you smile, to laugh and relax."

"You definitely succeed, thank-you."

"Anytime cutie," I say with a wink. At hearing a noise, I look up and see Jasmine walking passed with Lisa and Amy all glaring at me for giving them laps. I just smile back at them quickly before turning my attention back to Paige.

"What's their problem?" Paige asked concerned.

I replied with "Oh their just mad at me for giving them laps."

"It's not like you to give out laps, what did they do?"

"Well Jasmine said something not realising I could hear her, the others didn't deny or disagree so they joined her in laps."

"What did they say?"

"Don't worry about it, I handled it," Paige gave me her glare but soon dropped it off and nodded her head.

I say "I just need to go get change and then we can leave."

"Okay, don't rush for my sake."

"Alright but don't go jumping in that pool," Paige smiled and watch as I walked away.

Walking into the locker room, I could hear the girls talking but as soon as I walk in it falls silent.

"Everything okay?" I asked while spinning my locker combination.

Kim the girl I'm net closest too after Paige said "They are just annoyed you gave them laps but I tried explaining that you didn't stand dis-honesty in your squad."

Nodding my head, I say "I most certainly don't. Paige is one of us, anyone of us could be in her position and I don't want my squad acting like they're better then another team mate."

Jasmine speaks "That's all well and good for you to say being the captain and all, but how can your word stand for anything when your just protecting your girlfriend."

Turning around from putting my shirt on, I ask "Okay what's the real issue here. Are you mad at me for giving you laps? Are you mad at Paige being pick as my co-captain over you? Are you mad at me for being gay? Are you mad at Paige for being gay? Are you mad at Paige and I for being in a loving relationship? Or is it something else completely, what is it Jasmine?"

"I'm sick and tired of you and Paige acting like you are better than us," Jasmine said annoyed.

"Okay when have we ever acted like that?" I asked confused.

"Every single time you order us around," Lisa comes in protecting Jasmine.

"Let me just ask you a question Jasmine, if you were co-captain with me and I was the one injured. And you over hear one of the girl saying my co-captain position is up for grabs, wouldn't you give the same punishment out?"

"I guess it's possible," Jasmine said confused.

"Exactly and that's why I gave you laps because you talked badly up my co-captain. While Paige is my girlfriend and I'll stick up for her no matter what, I'd do the same if it was any of you and I'd expect the same from you. I don't like people who talk behind others back, I just don't and that's why you got laps because you were disloyal to your co-captain. Who by the way is struggling with this injury, not just in her own mind but by her Dad; who you all know and have seen how crazy he is about her times."

I was about to say more when I heard Paige's voice yell "Emily!" Stopping I look over at Paige who has entered the locker room and is now standing in front of me.

"Sorry," I say feeling really bad for telling them about Paige's Dad.

"I'm not mad, I just can't believe how far you are going to defend me," Paige said in an amazed tone.

"I'll go to the end of the earth to defend you and back again, I'm always going to defend you; no matter who or what I am defending you against."

"I love you Emily."

"And I love you too," I say reaching up to run my fingers lightly through her hair.

"Emily, Paige?" We heard Jasmine say and Paige turned around to face her. I wrapped my arms around Paige and rested my chin on her shoulder, waiting to hear what Jasmine had to say.

Jasmine spoke "You were right and I was wrong, I'm sorry for talking badly about you both behind your backs. I'm sorry."

"It's okay Jasmine," Paige said simply and I smiled to confirm that I agreed. Jasmine nods her head before picking up her swimming bag from her locker, closing her locker and then leaving the locker room to go home. After everyone else had left Paige removed herself from my arms and sat down on the bench.

"You could've told me they had an issue with me not swimming."

"I know, I just didn't want to upset you. I know how much being captain of the swim team means to you and how hard you work for it, so I don't want anyone thinking anything different; especially our own teammates."

"Thank-you," Paige said reaching up to hold my hand.

"Your welcome," I say back simply.

Paige then suggested "Now why don't we pick up a couple of pizzas before heading to your house and watching some movies?"

"That sounds perfect," I turn to pick my bag up out of my locker before closing my locker and locking it.

"I'll take that," Paige said and I don't get a chance to answer because it's out of my hand and on her shoulder before I can even think of a response. Smiling across at Paige, before we walked hand-in-hand out of the locker room and making our way to her car; for a very good night ahead.

The End.