Swim like Hell

° .• chapter thirteen ° .•

Alec's POV:

I lay back, floating in the pool as I stared at the metal beams stretching across the ceiling.

It had been two weeks since Elijah more or less confessed he had been in love with me which is why we stopped being friends. I'd been avoiding him like the plague to the point coach Morgan actually cancelled the group building training sessions so I didn't have to see him because it was affecting my focus. I knew I wouldn't get away with it forever but even coach Morgan could sense when she was pushing a line past the group building being of benefit. None of his team mates had my new number either so it was radio silence from them.

I needed it though. The next competition was only three weeks away and I was still trying to get my fitness up in the pool. Thankfully, it wasn't too sore anymore but the faded green and yellow bruise still adorned my side. I hadn't lost any speed either in the pool due to my leg workouts, however, that also meant I hadn't improved whereas everyone else had. I was due to properly join the team sessions again instead of just swimming free casually to get me back into the swing of things.

This set back had me worried. What if I couldn't catch up? It felt like no matter how hard I tried, everyone was always a step ahead of me.

I continued staring at the ceiling, not really knowing what to do. I felt so hopeless. Swimming wasn't my escape anymore.

"Hey," A muffled voice called from above the water.

Turning, I saw Nova dressed in leggings and our teams hoodie. She was standing poolside looking down at me with a tilted head and chuckling lightly.

"Hey," I replied, moving to stand.

"My phone has been blowing up because no one can get ahold of you," She stated, waving her phone in the air.

"Yeah?" I replied nonchalantly, seeming disinterested.

"Yeah," She scoffed, "How long are you going to keep up the cold shoulder. You even had training sessions cancelled with the other team like what the hell Alec."

"As long as I need to, I got the comp to focus on, Nova."

"So does everyone but we're all too confused on what's going on with your sorry ass to focus so explain!" She all but yelled in frustration.

I scoffed.

"Thats not my problem. I don't owe you an explanation."

"When did you turn into such an ass! I thought we were friends," She snapped at me, scoffing right back at me.

"Since my life isn't any of your goddamn business, Nova!" I exclaimed, throwing my hands up out of the water in frustration creating a splash.

She stepped back, shaking her head at me.

"How about come find me when you know where the real Alec is because this certainly isn't you."

With that, she walked away and I let out a deep breath, regret seeping in.

"Wait Nova, I'm sorry!" I yelled after her, swimming to the edge of the pool and getting out to follow her.

By the time I reached the changing rooms door, she was gone.

"Fuck!" I exclaimed, taking in a breath before turning and heading back towards the guys changing room.

"You're a dick, you know that right?" Elijah smirked as I walked into the guys changing room.

"Jesus, fuck!" I yelled, slipping and catching myself before i fell in fright.

"You good?" He chuckled, leaning against the lockers.

"Yeah no thanks to you. What are you doing here?" I huffed, heading over to my own locker and pulling it open.

"Well someone disappeared off the face of the earth. I was making sure you were okay," Elijah shrugged off, pulling his phone out to check it.

I rolled my eyes as I grabbed my towel and began drying off my hair, choosing to pretend he wasn't there.

"What's up with you?" He asked after another minute.

"Just fuck off Elijah," I snapped.

"Typical," he sarcastically laughed, "you pry a confession out of me and then ignore me. This is why I didn't tell you."

I inhaled sharply, turning my head towards him. He had put away his phone, now glaring at me with just as much anger.

"Not everything is about you! I didn't just dismiss your feelings! I have to worry about my competition, about my ribs getting better, about how to move forward now I know you had feelings. Did you ever think maybe I just needed time to figure shit out? Life isn't as easy as just running into your arms the second you tell me you used to have a thing for me," I snapped at him, banging my knuckles off the nearby locker.

I was so fed up of everyone expecting something from me, expecting that I bend to every single thing they wanted. I had my own things to deal with, I couldn't just drop it all to make everyone feel better.

Not nova.

Not Elijah.

Not anyone.

"You act like its been any easier of me? I couldn't even message you to find out what is going on! I've been thinking about you non-stop and had no idea where we stood!" Elijah snapped back at me.

"Just leave Elijah. We have a competition to worry about and it's best to just forget any of this ever happened," I told him honestly, sitting down on the bench.

"I can't do that!" He exclaimed helplessly, "I can't just forget you know how I feel."

"Felt," I snapped, looking up at him, "Felt. You don't know me anymore, don't confuse this."

I suddenly winced, clutching my ribs with my hand as I balanced myself, trying not to retch. Elijah widened his eyes and reached for me but I held my arm out to keep him at a distance. He scoffed, stepping back and rolling his eyes at me, recrossing his arms.

"why are you being so difficult, Alec. I know how I feel-"

"No, Elijah," I started, standing up unsteadily, "You know how you felt. We see each other at comps and the occasional training session. We used to hang out every day. That is the version of me you know. If you still feel anything for me, it's for a memory of me. I'm not that person anymore. So do us both a favour and let's just end this now. Before it ruins our future."

"You're unbelievable. Maybe you're right. Whatever this is, it's done," Elijah stated, turning and leaving.

So much for avoiding him till the competition.

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞

A/N:

Drama, drama, drama.

I understand it's a lot of hot and cold right now but they're used to fighting and are now navigating uncharted emotions they don't know how to handle, bare with my babies x

See you guys in the next chapter <3