'Come on Sera!' Natalie insisted... 'We still haven't warmed up...'

'Who wanted to stop for a smooch with the boyfriend?' I teased.

'Ok... Fine...but he's good luck...' she smiled, while she looked behind her, and saw that Taylor was in the front seat. She waved at him and I saw him smile back at her from the corner of my eye. I couldn't understand why she grumbled about her overprotective father who's willing to be there for her every second of the way... I wish I had that... But I also understood that my parents owned their own company, which resulted into more stress and pressure on them to be perfect... I only had to support them...

'Sera!' Natalie said again while I went down into a split.

'What!'

'I was talking to you...' she replied while she joined me in the split.

'Sorry... Was thinking...' I replied. 'You were saying?'

'I told you not to tell dad about my smooching and that I stopped at Mark's.'

'Natalie... You don't have to keep reminding me... I never tell him anything... Unless, of course, it's something that will kill you... Like the idea you had on trying marijuana and weed... Ohhh and smoking...' I teased while I stood up and stretched my back. 'Sometimes I do wonder... Where do you get these ideas?'

'Hey… I want to try things!'

'...but not drugs! I know I'm not perfect, but those are really addicting and dangerous!... Besides, wouldn't Prescott tell him?'

'Ok…ok... Fine... You made your point Sera...' she tried to brush it off. '...however, you may be not doing drugs, but you are getting way too thin Sera... and no… whenever I'm with you, Prescott is off…'

'No, I'm not Natalie...' I replied while cracked my arm. '… so let me get this straight… Prescott is off because I'm with you?' I asked perplexed.

'Yeah… dad is you're on your tail, so if I'm with you, it means that he's also on mine…'

'I see…' I replied while I fixed my swimming suit.

'Sera... You looked better when you fainted... You look like a ghost now...'

'Thanks!' I replied almost hurt.

'It's the truth Sera... I never see you eat.' She stated worriedly.

'Natalie... I eat tonnes... But please, can we stop about this? I need to concentrate... I have a valuable opponent today.' I smiled.

'I do too!' she laughed.

'Yeah right Natalie! You're the fastest one on the team... You will win for sure!'

'Don't hold your breath too long Grey...' she continued while we both made our way to the benches. 'Between...Where are your parents?'

'Stuck at work... They had a meeting...'

'Ohh...'

'It's fine... At least better than they arguing...'

'How are they ... You know... In their relationship?'

'They're ok I guess... Now it's more of work arguments that they're having...'

'...at least they didn't get a divorce Sera... My mother was tired of dad having to go on service whenever needed... She gave up waiting...'

'...but they love you Natalie... And your parents seem to be quite great with each other, right?

'Yes... That's true... they still are good together…and they never leave me alone… it's just that now they're open to new relationships.' She smiled.

'And are they taking them?'

'Nope… They want to keep me in a good family environment, with only one mother and one father… Mum tried dating a couple of times... and she said it never worked... Dad said that he doesn't want to get me all confused…' She replied. 'Mum still loves dad… Whenever he comes home for the weekend, or even for holidays, she is excited as if she's going on her first date.'

'Why don't they get back together?'

'I don't know Sera… I don't know…' Natalie sadly replied. 'I just wish for them to be happy… you know… I miss dad at home… but at least, I see him every day… and they don't fight on whom to get me on which days.'

'I'd rather my parents had a divorce…' I replied while I rested my back to the cold tiles. '…I think they would be better off like that.'

'Whom do you want to get custody?'

'I don't know... but I'm soon 18…'

'Sera, you're 18 next November… you can choose for yourself… When I get 18 next month, I can choose custody.'

'…and what are you going to do?'

'I'm good as I am.' She replied while the coach came in front of us disturbing our conversation.

'Natalie, Sera, you are to get ready on the planks.' She ordered.

'Yes coach…' We nonchalantly said.

'Come on Sera…' Natalie smiled while we hugged each other. 'Let's kick some butts!'

We both took our places on the planks. I closed my eyes and took deep breaths. I felt my heart beating faster than ever, but I had to keep calm. The horn was soon blown, and in an instant there were clear splashes of water. We all started rowing fast, and in few seconds, we managed to do first half lap.

It's amazing how things turn out to be. People… parents cheering for their kids, and they are pampered. I wished my parents were there… in the crowd… I used to look at a certain point during every performance… every game… to see them wave and cheer… but now… it's nothing… I want to have them back… I love my parents so very much, and yet, they still haven't quite recovered from Mrs. Robinson.

I remember, after that happened, she came to find me in school. I remember both my parents being furious. Dad had literally almost cut her head off, and I think I had never seen my mother that angry to her. She still wanted dad. She still wanted him for her things … that's how my mother explained it. I couldn't understand it that time… and I still cannot understand many things they have in their lives, but I think it had to do something with dad's past. He has scars all over his chest… I tried asking him about them… but… they always avoided the question by saying I'm too young to understand certain things… maybe I'm not so young after all…

Soon the race finished, and Natalie was already up. She came first, followed by Nadine. I heard Natalie cheering for me to make it to the third place, and I did it. I smiled at my accomplishment. I never managed to get into 3rd place… but the motivation from Natalie helped. We hugged each other tight and cheered for each other. I knew Natalie could make it… she is the best… and I'm glad I'm her best friend… sisters for life…

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