Chapter 6

"This is Walter C. Ameraman reporting live from the Iridium High pool, home of our Sharks! Today, the Sharks are facing off against the Dolphins, and it's sure to be a fight to the finish! Get on down here now to see the action, or if you can't, keep watching because I'll have every race recorded! This has all been FYI!"

Ariel, who had been holding the camera, lowered it as a signal that they were done filming.

"How was it? Was my posture perfect? Was my hair on point? Were my teeth white enough?" Walter questioned.

Ariel responded with a smile and a thumbs-up.

...

"This it it, Sharks. Our biggest swim meet of the year, and also our first. So let's start on a high note, yeah?" Darren spoke to us when we were huddled outside the locker rooms.

"Yeah!" Everyone cheered.

"Sharks on three," he commanded, thrusting his arm in the center of the circle.

We all followed suit.

"One, two, three," he counted off.

"SHARKS!" We screamed, then ran out towards the pool in our bathing suits.

It was tradition for the team captains to face each other and shake hands. So I had to hold in my laughter when I saw a guy who was obviously a senior (based on his height) shake hands with a much shorter freshman.

The refs explained the rules and all that, then told us which race would be first. Darren was first, because another tradition was that team captains swam first.

Alex and I sat down on the bleachers, waiting for our turns and to support Darren. Even though we didn't really like cheering for the guy.

"Some guy on the Dolphins is staring at you," Alex whispered in my ear, and I could tell she was holding back a giggle.

"Who?" I asked, furrowing my eyebrows.

"Don't make it obvious, but he's right over on your right, sitting on the end."

So of course, I turned my body all the way around and craned my neck to see who the creepy Dolphin was. I could faintly hear Alex facepalm, but was too much surprised at what, or rather, who I was seeing.

Nick sat there, wearing a grin on his handsome face. Really, what were the freaking chances that I'd see him again, and that he's a Dolphin?! Maybe we really are meant to be.

Stunned beyond all belief, all I could do was stare open-mouthed.

Nick chuckled, then waved to me.

I closed my mouth, and was able to wave back.

Suddenly, he rose from his bench, coming over to me.

"He's coming this way!" I whisper-shrieked to Alex.

"Just keep it cool!" she instructed.

I stared at my swim shoe'd feet, mentally telling myself to keep cool.

"Is the ground that better looking than me? Hm, maybe I should get that Olay Regenerist stuff," Nick chuckled.

Unable to help myself, I burst out laughing, looking straight into his face. If there was one thing that could help me be more comfortable, it was a joke. And this kid just told a pretty funny one.

"You have a beautiful smile, I wish you'd wear it more often," he complimented.

I could feel Alex nudge me with approval while I tried not to melt into a puddle.

"I feel we didn't get to know each other well that night, can we talk?" he asked.

"Um, sure," I replied.

"Great!" he smiled as he took my hand, leading me away from all the people and instead towards the more secluded locker rooms.

"So, you're a Dolphin," I started off.

He nodded, "yep. And you're a Shark. Our romance is simply forbidden," he mocked a disappointed sigh, shaking his head.

"Too bad," I played along.

"You know, this could be like a modern Romeo and Juliet. Will you be my star-crossed lover?" he asked, taking my hand in his with a teasing smirk upon his lips. He raised the hand to his mouth and kissed it, sending tingles up my arm.

My cheeks colored as I took in a shaky breath, then nodded.

"Wonderful," he smiled.

He cupped a hand to my cheek, closing his eyes and starting to lower his head. At first, I didn't know what to do, but then allowed my eyes to close as well and just go with it.

Our kiss wasn't passionate, it wasn't like a bunch of fireworks went off, but that's okay. It was sweet, and nice. His soft lips molded gently over mine, guiding my inexperienced ones.

Then all we heard was the shrill of a whistle.

Startled, we both jumped back, turning to face the exit.

Darren stood there, soaking wet, in his swim trunks, and looking angry. Really angry. Furious, pissed, incensed, whatever word works for you. If this were a cartoon, his face and eyes would be red and smoke would be coming out of his ears.

"Get back to your bench, Dolphin," Darren spat in a low tone that honestly terrified me.

Nick raised up his hands in a sign of surrender, walking towards the exit. Before leaving, he sent me a quick smile.

Darren marched over to me, still looking as angry as ever.

I shrunk back. This guy was a powerful wizard, who knows what he could do to me.

"What. Was. That?" he questioned, every word sounding like a sentence.

Wait a minute. Why should I be afraid of him? Sure he was a wizard, but he wouldn't kill me. Right?

"It was a kiss. So what?" I sassed.

"Ohhh, okay. I get it. When I go in the water, then that's your time to go make out with opposing team members, I understand. Sorry if I was angry about that." he smirked sardonically.

"It was only Nick!" I protested. He was making it sound as if I was a slut!

"Do you even know the guy?!" he exploded. "What's his last name? How old is he? What's his best friend's name? Where does he live? Is he a wizard, or a human? Does he have any siblings? You don't know the guy!" By now he was in my face, our noses were almost touching.

"I will!" I retorted, my anger rising. "I'll know him in time, as long as you don't keep interrupting us. And why the hell do you even care?! You're not my father, you're not my brother, and you're certaintly not my boyfriend. We're not even friends! I'll kiss whoever I damn well please, and nothing you can do will change that!"

He fixed me with a stone cold glare, blue eyes frozen.

"Get in the water, your race is up," was all he said, before leaving the locker room area.

I sucked in a breath, still amazed at what had happened.

Somehow, I managed to put one foot in front of the other and made it out into the open, walking towards my bag to get my goggles.

"Oh my God, what did you do?!" Alex demanded in shock, scaring me with her sudden presence.

I recovered quickly. "What are you talking about?"

Jimmy walked up. "All we know, is that we saw Darren storming out of the locker room area, with you following not long after. And now he's on the warpath, looking at everyone as if wishing he could kill them! I almost accidently sat on his goggles and he almost took my head off!"

"I don't know what's up with him," I lied.

"You know nothing? Really?" Alex raised a suspicious eyebrow.

"Nothing! Now I have to go beat a Dolphin, excuse me," I answered, securing my goggles on my face and walking to the beginning of my lane.

I watched her with a scowl.

"...and nothing you can do will change that!"

I almost laughed at the sheer irony. I could do plenty of things, there wasn't much that could hold me back.

I could make her love me, I could make her want me so badly that it would hurt. It would be simple, really. All I'd have to do is cast a spell on her; no one would even know. The self-restraint was torturing me. Just one flick of a finger and a few words, that's all it would take.

But I couldn't do that.

No, I wanted her feelings for me to be genuine. I could never live with myself knowing that her love for me was artificial, and not the real thing.

But really, she only talked to the guy for a few minutes before I came in...twice. And she kisses him?! When she's known me since we were in first grade?!

I guess whoever wrote the quote, 'The course of true love never did run smooth,' was right.

After Nick's race, he went over to his duffel bag, then started walking in my direction. He quickly dropped a piece of paper in my lap, then continued on towards the enterance of the school, presumably to use the bathroom.

In wonder, I unfolded the paper.

Nick Lewis

867-5309

Text me ;)

I held back an excited squeal as I quickly put the paper in my own duffel bag. Alex and Jimmy were getting snacks, so they didn't see a thing.

I'm not involved with Darren, I can do whatever I want. If I want to text Nick, then I will.

We ended up winning the swim meet, which lifted my spirits even more. It was sundown, and everyone was getting ready to leave.

"So, the usual?" Jimmy asked, with a grin.

"Of course!" I replied excitedly.

"We'll get even more pizza than last year!" Alex vowed.

We started laughing as we left for the locker rooms. 'The usual' was our sleepover we had after our first meet, whether we win or lose. This year, it was being held at Jimmy's house.

"Novoa!" A voice suddenly barked.

Curious, I turned to find Darren staring at me with a scowl. "Come here."

I looked to my friends, shrugged and rolled my eyes, then made my way over to the Captain.

"Yes?" I asked, trying not to be awkward after our confrontation only awhile ago.

"Your swimming was off. I want you to swim ten laps right now."

"What?!" I screeched, "but it's sunset! And we just had a meet! Why can't I do them tomor-"

"I make the rules around here, Novoa," he interrupted, his tone beginning to rise. "You can either swim the laps or quit the team. Your choice."

I narrowed my eyes. "Fine," I bit out, "I'll do the laps."

"And I'll stay right here just to make sure you do them," he replied, setting himself down on the bleachers.

Bastard.

"Hey! You coming, Rose?" Alex yelled, clad in her regular clothing with Jimmy next to her.

"No!" I shouted back, "His Royal Sharkiness is making me swim ten laps!"

I don't care that he heard me.

"Make that fifteen," he smirked.

I groaned while Alex and Jimmy laughed at my misfortune. "We'll save some pizza for you!" Jimmy laughingly said.

"Maybe!" Alex added, and then my two best friends left me, probably laughing all the way to Jimmy's house. What friends I've got, right?

"Are you going to get in the water anytime soon?" Darren asked when we were alone, with a smirk.

I bared my teeth at him and hissed.

"Since when did you turn into a dog?" he taunted.

I ignored him, diving into the water to begin my laps.

He said nothing throughout my torture period, and I felt my arms were ready to fall off by the end of it.

I simply pulled out my t-shirt and shorts, slipping them on over my bathing suit. I didn't feel like changing out of it.

"Come on, let's go," Darren said, guiding me out the exit.

"What are you doing?" I snapped.

"Walking you to Jimmy's house. You can't walk alone, there's barely any sunlight left."

"I'll walk alone if I feel like it," I stubbornly replied.

He opened his mouth, but before he could say anything I cut in. "Yeah, yeah. You're the Captain, you make the rules, blah blah. I get it."

He grinned victoriously.

Sighing, I let him walk next to me while on the way to Jimmy's. I was still angry though.

"Why did you make me swim fifteen laps?" I asked.

"Your swimming was off; you were slower than what you normally are. You were probably too distracted by Dick," he growled.

"Nick," I corrected with a scowl.

"Whatever."

"And my swimming was not off, I swam how I normally do. You're just mad that I kissed Nick, God knows why."

"If I say your swimming was off, it was off," he glared.

"Fine."

We walked in silence after that.

"So what's, 'His Royal Sharkiness?'" he questioned out of the blue.

My mouth broke into a tiny grin, "it's a name me and Alex came up with for you. Since you act like you're a king..."

He laughed. And laughed. And laughed.

Seriously, the guy's face was turning red and he was starting to gasp for air.

"Is it really that funny?" I questioned awkwardly.

Darren only shook his head, "never you mind, Red."

The nickname made my stomach flutter. I guess since he hasn't called me it in awhile. What am I thinking, I hate the name!

We arrived at the Miller household, I walked up the porch steps with Darren right behind me.

"Um, thanks for walking me here," I said.

"Anytime," he replied.

We stood there, staring at anywhere besides the other person.

"So...see you on Monday?" I spoke.

"Yeah, see you," he answered. "Rose?"

"Yeah?"

He sighed, shaking his head. "Nothing. Good night."

"Night."

As soon as he walked off and down the sidewalk, completely disappearing from view, the door opened.

"Are you ready to par-tay?!" Alex screamed.

A/N: Ooh, we got some more drama in this chapter!

p.s. 867-5309 is a reference to something...do any of you know? ;D

tierrayaoi: Thanks!

lovethatignites: I thought you and delightisadream would like C. Ameraman XD Awe, aren't bonding moments the cutest? ;) Yes, that was a bit ironic of Aggie to say.

alli211: Thank you so much! Roseren, gotta love them ;)

delightisadream: I had a feeling you would XD Rofl 'the first time someone is glad to see a Miller' XD Ah, yes, the Jemma throwback ;)

Hope: Well, we got to see some of Darren's inside thoughts.

jisela: Thank you!

ILoveEWW: Thanks, I want to portray the trio as being very close, since that's what bffs would be in real life XD

Guest: Thank you! And I'll update whenever I get an idea, for the most part I've been getting plenty of ideas for this story haha. And as for the Jemma chapter, this story is being told through Rose's POV for the most part, so I don't think I'll be having a chapter focused solely on them. They'll be featured in a lot of chapters, but I don't think one will be entirely based on them.