awake. He quickly packed my break

d evening. The parents had decided on this schedule last year so we

ol with two changing rooms, but only one side had a grandstand. The facility had been renovat

only to realize Brian hadn't been exaggerating. Pau

the swim, and finally, the timed lap.

're up," Coac

m as hard as I could-I had to

the coach didn't share our times. H

ion won't be based solely on speed-I'll be considering leadership and other qualities as well. So

ing, but I still wante

hat I'd get the captain's position. What

was practically faster than you. We'll see who values this position more a

stand. I'll do my

already made up his mind. I'd simply

riends. After just a few days, he had built good rela

e movies on Saturday,

the invite-I'll co

e or coming alon

okay, I'll bring my sister. Just a heads-up-

r followed h

er anyway. We leave each other's siblings and gir

aul said quietly, more to himse

Brian said w

ing on the weekend. They were still getting to know each other. I

ir. Girls liked it much better when i

quietly eat my sandwich, but as soon as I entered, I real

r-probably just picked one of her nearly identical pat

. You got here e

of hair gel at home?" she

reading?" I ig

astic response made me smil

of book?"

tand. Sci-fi. Time travel." Her eye

" I wasn't about to l

to save the world." She put the book down but didn't

n it? I mean, tim

ible-we'd have to be faster than light. But who knows what

ought about i

gel, there's hardly time for that." That

ld you go back to?" I as

osed t

that day. Or if he did, to do it an hou

any emotional stories,

t about our biol

hem over the weekend." She immediately retu

pped over and droppe

y-I barely had five minutes left for my sa

y greeted me. "Would Saturday at 2 PM work

e afternoon. Where sh

ng a big party in the evening, so it's bett

an

e neutral, like a burge

already have plans for the evening. Come to my plac

ribbled my address on two slips

ked in and dove straight

neventfully-until lunch, wh

er if they didn't get too comfortable in the spot. But I didn

you could take me somewhere on Frida

you happy, kitten

r?" Shannon snuggled up to me like a

on Friday night," I said, flashing

ssed my neck and

knows what she wants," Bria

I remark

"Look around-every guy is busting his chops to impress someone, and he

njoy what I get," I g

My gaze landed on the new girl. She was reading, though she wasn't alon

it eyes and wealt

e reason, Paul pushed his own toward

class, Jane was already insi

asked, settling into my ch

when I'm interrupted at every pa

't seem

eodore again

ed softly, gave up, a

time," I continued, "

she said with another smile. She

, though I already knew the

With all the travelin

ut before she could ans

she sat down at the desk next to me. "I hope you h

in the same league-but that w

gotten," I winked

I have to throw up," Jane muttered behind

Shannon whispered in my ear, which m

est of class, though I was cur

as already impatie

turday, bro. I don't want

see,"

the new students today?

wims like me, and there's nothing w

girl?" Am

nide remarks to e

d glances, but I di

y?" Amber ask

said s

said. I ignored