Yeah, nope, I still don't own anything if I did this may have actually happened in real life.

Saturday

Catie's POV

I woke up Saturday morning, went to commons with the team for breakfast, and then went to the pool to stretch, have a team meeting, and warm-up before the 1:00 meet. I was incredibly nervous the whole time and everyone kept telling me I'd be fine. That helped a little and it helped when Eric told me he'd be telling Kristin to move the counter to avoid being drafted and to help me draft others. I was glad to have the whole team's support as I and Sarah, another freshman, opened our first college meet with such an intimidating event.

I had looked up to the observation area, after we all filed onto deck and smiled as I saw my parents and my friend Alyssa there along with Matt's parents. I looked at them and they all gave me a thumbs-up and smiled. I thought, ok I can do this. And after the national anthem I mentally prepared myself to swim. As I got up to the blocks I looked up to them again and over at the team, I felt so much support in that moment that I knew I could do it.

I finally finished and came in second! When I finished I heard a roaring of applause from the fans up on the top deck and from my team and coaches on the pool deck. I looked to my family, Alyssa included as she is pretty much a member of my family at this point, and I could see how proud they were of me. Then I heard voices I recognized whooping and yelling louder than the rest. I couldn't place them right away and at first I thought it was my friend who said he was coming that I had yet to see. I looked up and was shocked to see Darren, Lea, Chris, Lauren, Joe, Joey, and Brian Holden all cheering loudly with the rest of the fans, even though I was pretty sure they had no idea what was actually going on. I chuckled and shook the hand of the girl next to me before doing a warm down lap and hopping out of the pool.

The event was not easy; it hurt and my legs were shaking, not from nerves this time, as I walked over to talk to the coaches. They both told me how great I had done and I walked back down the line of my teammates and got a high five from each of them. I looked over to my parents again too and realized that my friend, fondly nicknamed Frodo, had finally arrived. I waved and they waved back smiling. I couldn't help, but look to where the group of actors had assembled. I caught Darren's eye and he grinned, a smile that I rarely saw him give anyone else as much as he seemed to give it to me. He mouthed "amazing" and I giggled, smiling. I mouthed thank you then went to dry off so I could put my warm ups on.

I saw the group looking over to see who I was smiling at when I looked over at my parents and friends again. I knew Darren would recognize Alyssa, I had described her in great detail and he'd seen me hug Frodo that day on the tour. Darren saw that he was there and must have recognized him because that strange look came over his face again. I still couldn't figure that man out, but I really wanted to.

After the meet I met with my parents and friends and then Darren 'n friends, as I had started calling them in my head, called me over and each one gave me a huge hug. Darren, Chris, Lea, Lauren, and Joe Walker all smiled at each other and I felt like I missed something, but I was too happy that day to care.

I went to dinner with my parents and when I came back my roommate had given me a note. It was from Lea, giving me her real number and inviting me to go shopping with her before the show tomorrow. I texted her sure I'd love to. Then I got a text from Darren and we talked until about 1 am. Needless to say, I fell asleep with a smile on my face.

Darren's POV

I knew Catie was nervous so I and a few Gleeks and Starkids went to go cheer her on. I hadn't told her though; I wanted it to be a surprise. I liked making her feel important and special without her knowing in advance. The smile she gave me when I did made the effort worth it. That's not to say I only did it because she liked it, I loved making her happy, but seeing her smile that way warmed my heart too. God, I always knew I was- what did Chris always say? – a hopeless romantic, but I never realized it was this bad. I wouldn't change what I was feeling now for a million dollars though; it was amazing, almost like flying and everything just seemed to fall into place for me.

We got to the meet just as they were announcing the team and I saw Catie walk out with the rest of her team. She looked up to the balcony, where we were sitting with the rest of the fans, searching for someone I assumed. I held my breath simultaneously hoping that she'd look over and notice me, but at the same time hoping she wouldn't because I didn't want her to get more nervous for her 1000 because she knew I was there. She didn't see us, but I saw her smile and give a little wave just before she grabbed the hands of the people on either side of her. I looked over and saw who must have been her parents and parents of another one of the swimmers waving back.

After the national anthem there was one relay race and then her event, as she walked over to the starting platform her teammates were giving her high fives and patting her on the back. She stepped up and I saw her almost fall, God she must have really been nervous for this.

When the swimmers dove in I was in awe. I knew nothing about swimming, but I could tell from the reactions of the people around me and on the pool deck that she was doing very well. They started out at a pretty even pace, then one girl sped up and one of the people said that this was "her event" I assumed that meant that she was really good at this event, so I stopped paying attention to her. Catie was pulling ahead of the rest of the pack anyway. I had wondered aloud about the people sitting at the end and putting the boards into the water and one of the parents said that they were helping the person so that they could concentrate on the race and not on counting laps. They said that the counter would put a double red in the water when the swimmer only had one lap left and that the official would ring a bell over the lane of the lead swimmer when they were on the second to last lap. Joe Walker, whose brother was a swimmer as it turned out, said that a 1000 was 40 laps and that laps to swimmers were one length of the pool. I watched with bated breath to see if my swimmer girl, as she was now being called to me, would stay in her second place spot. My swimmer girl. Whenever they said that I would tell them to shut up, but in reality I really liked the way that sounded. She stayed ahead, and somehow found the energy to go faster for the last four laps. I was astounded, she had done so well, and she came in second by a lot and had been only 35 seconds behind the first place swimmer. Joe said that was incredible. We all cheered really loud along with her team and the other fans. I saw her look to her parents and smile and give a small wave. Then she looked over to us. I saw her laugh as she watched us jump around like crazy, then she shook the hand of the girl next to her and swam slowly to the other end and go out.

She talked to her coaches and I saw them all smiling. I imagined they told her just how good of a job she had done. Then she looked over at her parents again smiling. Then she looked over to us again and we locked eyes, I could tell I was grinning and she grinned back. I mouthed amazing to her and she thanked me, still holding eye contact. Then she went over to her bag and dried off and put on her jacket and pants.

She looked to her parents again and started smiling even more. I looked over and saw who by Catie's description could only have been her friend Alyssa and to my dismay the boy she had hugged that first day on the tour. My smile fell before I could stop it. I schooled my face back into place and saw her look away just as I looked down at her. I hoped that she hadn't seen my face when I recognized the boy. I really shouldn't have resented him so much, but I did. I really, really did.

She swam amazingly the rest of the meet and even caught her relay team up. The last girl couldn't hold it though and they came in second. I was so proud of her though and so excited about the rest of our plan.

Joe had gone over to talk to her friend Alyssa, who said she would definitely help us out with the plan. They had exchanged numbers, I knew he'd like her, and he said he'd text her so she could let us into the dorm. As it turned out Alyssa and Catie lived next door to each other.

After the meet we saw Catie come out and her parents and Alyssa congratulated her and Alyssa gave her a huge hug. I was glad to see that that boy was nowhere to be seen. My friends called her over and we each gave her a hug telling her how great she was. She said she had to go because her parents were taking her out to dinner. We said our goodbyes and Joe texted Alyssa who said she was at the dorm and would be waiting to let us in. Alyssa also said that Catie's roommate had come back early and that she would give Lea's note to Catie for us.

I went back to the hotel with Chris because I didn't want to be caught in the hall or accidently run into that boy. I didn't know how I would be able to handle it if it turned out that he actually was a nice guy. It was easier to dislike him knowing that there was a possibility that he might be a jerk. I wasn't sure which way would make me dislike him more though; if he was a great person he'd be competition, if he was a jerk I'd want to rip out his insides for not deserving a girl as amazing as Catie as a friend.

Joe called me about twenty minutes later. They had found Alyssa and delivered the note to Sara, Catie's roommate. He also said that he thought Alyssa was a really cool girl and asked if we could all hang out sometime. I reminded him that Catie had mentioned a bowling alley in town and suggested that we maybe try a bowling night at some point. He said that sounded great!

Lea told me that Catie texted her later that night and that they were going shopping at 8 getting breakfast at the bagel shop in town before they left. When Catie texted me a little while later she thanked me profusely for coming to watch the meet. She said that she was kind of sorry that her friend hadn't stayed after so she could thank him, but that he probably had rugby practice. I hated the guy already, if he couldn't see how incredibly she was then he wasn't worth her time. She changed the subject and we ended up talking, just talking, until 1 am. I got to know her so well that I said things and I could anticipate her responses by the time we said goodnight. I fell asleep that night smiling and thinking of the time I would get to spend with her tomorrow afternoon and evening. I couldn't wait!