*Cams P.O.V*
I sat in my chair on the pool deck, my mind in race mode. My mind had been in race mode sense the moment I got on the bus this morning. The Adrenalin hit harder as I stepped on the pool deck.
I stared acrossed the pool at Hannah, she had her parka pulled up on her head jamming out to whatever song was on her airpods. I was ready to destroy her, crush her, I was feeling better than good.
I sighed to myself and looked around the loud pool deck. People in the stands were almost forced to sit on top of each other because the stands were so full. Reporters were in their corner of the deck asking their questions and interviewing swimmers as they got out of the pool. Coaches shouted on the pool edge as other athletes swam their hardest, And swimmers on the deck got into their own swim mode.
The Adrenalin wasn't going to wear down in me, I could feel it, it was here to stay. Standing up I shook my legs and arms my breathing hitched as I realized my event was next. This was it, if I didn't swim this well I could say goodbye to states and goodbye to the record.
Luke came up next to me and rubbed my shoulders taking my hand and squeezing it. He then stood by my side.
"How are you feeling?" He asked starting a conversation in hopes that it would make my nerves go away.
"Good." I stated nodding my head.
Truth was I felt great, minus the nervous feeling in the pit of my stomach.
"Good. Well I don't know if I told you but, I will be at the end of your lane by blocks cheering for you the whole time." Luke said looking at me with his dark brown eyes.
I looked at him slightly confused.
"You won't be taking splits for the 100 fly?" I asked
Luke shook his head with a small smile.
"Nope... I said to coach, 'sorry but I have someone who's going to need me at the end of the lane to tell her, her time, and to be right there when she gets the record."
I looked at Luke with a smile on my face. Trying to find words in my head to describe how much I liked him, or how kind he has been to me, or everything else he's done for me in the last few weeks. Instead I took his hand and squeezed it lightly letting out the nerves in my stomach.
I made my way to lane 4 with Luke on my tail as I walked. Once behind the block Hannah walked up to lane 5 getting prepared for the same race. I took one look at her and decided not to let her in my head ever again. I had everything I wanted right now, confidence, strength, support, and... Luke.
I looked at Luke behind me. No, we aren't dating, but God I wish we were, and God it sure feels like we were already dating. We had spent every waking moment together sense we started training, and in these waking moments we hugged, held hands, and yes we flirted. We both knew we were flirting, but neither of us could stop, or wanted to stop for that matter. I just had to wait for the day I could officially call him mine.
Turning back toward the pool I took off my parka and readjusted my tech suit straps.
"Hey, when you lose again please don't cry like last time. It makes me forget that win the race when you're all pissy." Hannah stated putting on her goggles.
I shook my head and put on my own goggles. Not even bothering to look at Hannah I responded,
"Hey, when you lose go ahead and cry. It will remind me that I won." I said with a fake smile.
Behind me Luke snorted at my comment, making Hannah turn toward him.
"Come to cheer me on?" She asked completely ignoring my comment.
Luke rolled his eyes.
"No, I came to cheer Camilla on." He said using my full name while taking a step closer to me.
Hannah raised and eye brow and looked straight into my soul.
"lets be honest Camilla, It doesn't matter how much he likes you. He'll be taking home the winner no matter what." She said in her girly voice trying to get under my skin.
I looked at Luke, who had the most fed up look on his face. I knew that Hannah was trying to get under my skin before the race. I also knew it was never going to work.
I shook my head and turned toward Luke,
"Tell me my time?" I asked with a small smile.
He smiled back and shook his head.
"Yeah." Was all he said before I turned toward the block.
"The girls final 100 butterfly! In lane one we have...." the annoncer continued but I blocked him out, now was time to focus.
My heart beating fast, my body itching to get into the water I put my hands on the corner of the block ready to get on it. Focusing on my breathing, I shut my eyes for a split second picturing my race... there was no way I was going to lose.
"In lane 4 we have Camilla Westphal!" Said the annoncer.
The crowd got loud after my name was said, people from my school were shouting and screaming words of encouragement and somewhere in that clump I could hear my dad.
"In lane 5 is Hannah Slides!" People from Hannah's school went crazy as Hannah lifted her arms up to them... Everyone was here to watch the rematch of the 100 fly, I was just hoping I could swim the race they came to see.
"Quite for the start" one official said. Causing the pool to fall into an Erie silence. I swear I could hear my heart beating.
"100 yard butterfly! Four lengths of the pool... Mr. Starter." The official said pointing to the starter.
"Swimmers step up!" His voice scratchy, coming out of the microphone.
I let out a breath of release, my nerves temporarily leaving my body as I stood up on the block. My toes curling around the edge, I looked down at the water below me.
Just remember everything Luke taught you and you'll be fine, I thought.
"Swimmers take your mark."
Just remember...
BEEP
My body reacting like a swimmers body should, I dove into the water starting a long stream line. Under the water everything is quite. My vision focused on the black line at the bottom of the pool. Releasing small pockets of air from my noise I breach. My arms swinging in a fly like motion taking the first few strokes of the 100 fly.
I felt amazing, each stroke was clear and clean. I was pressing my t-zone exactly how Luke showed me. Coming up to the wall, I two hand touched and turned fast. In my stream line I could see Hannah swimming in the corner of my eye. She was right there giving me a race, so I kicked harder making each up and down kick count. Breaching for the second 25 I took a quick breath lifting my head enough to see Luke cheering for me at the end of the lane, making me swim faster. Keeping my rhythm I kept swimming. Two strokes, breath, two strokes, breath.
Reaching my second wall I turned, my ears hearing Luke's voice shout down at me.
"Go!" Was all I had time to comprehend before I was back underwater for a streamline. I took 3 dolphin kicks when I realized I couldn't see Hannah next to me.
Internal panic hit me... was she that far ahead of me? Did I lose the race? I could feel my breathing pick up and my strokes get choppy as I panic’d. Quickly calming myself down I had to remind myself to focus on me and only me. I recovered and fell back into place. Pressing and staying in the rhythm. My arms moving above the water in smooth motions.
Somewhere in the stands as I took a breath I heard my dad cheer for me, and Coach yell his classic BOO! BOO! Flip turning I could clearly hear, for a split second, how loud the crowd was... It didn't faze me as I went back under water for my last 25.
Focus... focus. This was the 25 that could make or break this race. I can't get tired, I can't give up. Here it was either all or nothing. Yes, my legs burned, and my shoulders were on fire, but that didn't mean I could stop. No. That meant I would swim harder.
Stroke, stroke, breath.
Think of the record
Stroke, stroke, breath.
Think of beating Hannah.
Stroke, stroke, breath.
Think of Luke....
I kicked harder my body inching closer to the flags, closer the the pad. God I had to win, I had too.
Reaching the flags I buried my head and swam. Moving my body forward with great force.
Three more strokes...
Two more strokes...
One more stroke...
The tips of my fingers collided with the pad, then my full fingers, followed by the palm of my hand. Hands colliding with the pad, my body came to a full stop.
The race of my career was finally over.
Word count: 1590