Chapter 5 ANNOUNCEMENT

Vanessa's POV

The following day, after an early morning lecture, I walk into the aquatic center and immediately see Coach Benny standing with the rest of the team on the pool deck. Cassie is right beside him. She gives me a wave with her hand up.

Hmm, someone is being all nice today. I raise an eyebrow, adjusting my swim bag on my left shoulder, then walk over to them and drop the bag on an empty seat.

“Six minutes late, captain,” Coach Benny says, looking down at his wristwatch.

“Sorry, Coach. I’m here now.”

“And late,” Cassie adds under her breath.

“I had a morning class,” I say, moving into line. “It ran over.” Then I turn my head slightly to meet Cassie’s eyes. “You’re all giggly today. Care to share?”

Before she can answer, Coach blows his whistle, the sound piercing through the air. “Warm up. Two laps around the deck, then dynamic stretches.”

Everyone starts moving. I jog at a steady pace with the others, falling into step between Jasmine and Yolanda.

“Hey, Nessa, you know what I think?” Yolanda says, lowering her voice.

“I just knew you would say something,” Jasmine chimes in. I chuckle, shaking my head.

“Coach has that serious face. I bet it’s about BUCS. It’s all the school has been anticipating all summer,” Yolanda says.

I groan. “Please don’t remind me.”

“You’re not excited?” Jasmine asks.

“I’m excited about swimming. The rest of it? Not so much.”

“I get it. I’m practically happy I won’t be the one representing the team. That kind of pressure would be mental,” Jasmine says. “Well, whatever happens, you know I’m Team Nessa.”

“Same here,” Yolanda adds. “You’re going to completely clear them out.”

“Thank you, girls. I just hope…”

“Less talking, more running!” Coach Benny calls from behind us.

We immediately straighten up.

We do a few short bursts of high knees and butt kicks before we circle back into formation. I keep my right arm as still as possible, It feels noticeably worse this morning, but isn’t completely unbearable.

It's just enough to remind me that I need to do something about it, and fast. I’ll probably have to go outside the campus if I’m lucky enough to find private help.

I can’t even imagine asking my mum for help. The way she might react scares me, if I’m being honest.

I glance across the water, Seth is sitting on the station chair in the safety area with his arms folded. His green eyes are fixed in our direction, thankfully not at me.

We finish our warm up and move into group stretches, we started with arm circles, followed by shoulder rolls and arm swings.

The moment I rotate my right shoulder, the pain that shoots through it makes it stiff. I suck in a breath and immediately slow the movement, as I keep the hand closer to my body.

“Owww.” The word slips out before I can stop it.

Yolanda notices. "Are you alright?”

“Yeah,” I say quickly. “Just stiff, bad sleeping position.”

She watches me for another second before nodding.

I look around, hoping no one else noticed. Unfortunately, my eyes land on Seth.

He isn’t even pretending to look somewhere else, his attention is completely on me. Slowly, he raises his eyebrows in a silent, arrogant challenge.

What a jerk. I roll my eyes hard and turn my face away before he gets the satisfaction of knowing he caught me again.

I manage the rest of the stretches without a problem since it's mostly lower body movement.

After that, Coach Benny gathers us around the spectator seats. “Everyone here?”

We all mumble yes.

Coach calls out for Seth to join us. "You’re part of the team now. Be here too,” he says, patting Seth’s broad back as he sits in front.

Coach looks around at our faces. “We all know what this year is, right?”

Yolanda leans slightly toward me. "Told you.”

I grin at her.

"Well, there’s been a major update regarding the BUCS program this year.”

My stomach twists. He pulls out his phone and reads from the screen.

“Sterlingview will be taking part in the annual Couples Challenge for the first time in years. thanks to the competitions we’ve been winning because of your efforts, most especially Vanessa.”

“Wooooow!” Olivia gasps loudly, immediately slapping my back in excitement, as the girls turn to whisper in pairs.

Coach raises his hand, waiting for everyone to settle down.

“Do we have to have an actual partner, Coach?” Cassie asks.

“This isn’t for the whole team,” he says.

The noise slowly dies down.

“I will be sending just four of you from the team to represent the school. Vanessa will be our main representative for the 200m freestyle and the anchor leg of the 4x100m freestyle relay."

Coach continues, “We can only have one female representative for the Couples Challenge, so it’s only normal that she also be the one to take that role as the school’s best swimmer and your captain.”

Well, I’m not surprised, I'm literally the face of the swim team, so being thrown into every promotional activities

is not a new thing. Everyone knows I'm the only hope for us at BUCS.

“Participation is mandatory for every university competing in this year's championships. There will be media appearances, interviews and team activities, all contributing to the points leading up to the main championship.”

I stare at him, a numb sensation washing over my skin.

"Cassie," Coach points at her with his whistle, "you’ll also have additional sessions with Vanessa. I want you prepared to step in if anything happens and she can’t compete."

Cassie turns to me with a smile that is far too pleased.

“Vanessa, you have until Friday to register with your partner’s name on their website.”

“Friday?” I ask, like I didn’t hear him.

“Yes, Friday,” Roda says from behind me. “Got anyone in mind?”

I shake my head. “Not really, that’s barely any time."

I need an actual partner. Who the hell am I supposed to pick? I stare down at the floor, my mind going in a hundred different directions.

Coach gives us a few more detail about the training schedule before sending us off for other lectures.

Luckily, we didn’t have to enter the water yet, but we’ll be back by 4p.m.

I walk toward the exit, trying my best not to think, when a tall shadow falls over my side, and the air suddenly feels heavier.

“Lucky you,” Seth’s deep voice murmurs right beside me as we hit the quiet hallway. “Decided on what to do about that arm yet? Take it from me, it will get worse. And because I care about the well being of our athletes, I already told coach Benny.”

My whole body goes stiff. For a second, I swear my soul leaves my body.

“What!? You did what?” My voice echoes through the corridor.

Seth doesn't even flinch, like he hasn’t just dropped a bomb on me. Why Isn't Coach Benny calling me aside if he knows? Will he call my mum first?

Fuck no, she's going to find out I’m becoming defective.

I’m completely screwed.