Swim like Hell

° .• Chapter seventeen ° .•

Alec's POV

Elijah was blowing up my phone. I hadn't bothered replying because in all honesty what do I say?

I felt like my life was over.

I was behind already, so far behind and I could see it in todays training session. Everyone could. Now, I was going to be out for even longer. I was already stressed on how I was going to catch up, already beginning to plan out my extra training sessions only to fall behind more.

No sponsor would go for me now. Any scholarship I was hoping for was throughly down the drain. Any elite team that would consider me would turn their head the other way the second I stepped back in a competition.

I couldn't help but feel some sort of resentment towards Elijah. He had everything I wanted right now and I couldn't do shit about it.

Staring out the window of my car, I finally sighed and got out, heading into my ever so empty house.

I couldn't even tell my parents, after everything they've gave me to get here. Their disappointment would be unmeasurable if they knew my career had went to pot in a few short weeks.

I needed a hug.

Rustling with my keys for a moment, I put the key in the door prepared to unlock it only for the door to already be open. I paused, reaching for the handle and opening the front door, watching it effortlessly swing open, my keys still dangling from the lock.

Did I forget to lock the door this morning?

Quickly pulling my keys from the door, I dumped my stuff in the hall and closed the door behind me, turning to look for any signs of a robbery. Instead, the muffled sound of voices met my ears, the sound travelling in waves from the kitchen.

I hesitantly, walked through, keys gripped in hand as I prepared to face my intruder. However, to my surprise, mum and dad were in the kitchen, chatting away in a world of their own with two half empty mugs in front of them. Mum noticed me first, her face lighting up as she saw me, darting over to embrace me in a hug.

"Darling, I feel like I haven't seen you in so long!" She stated, leaning back from the hug to take in my appearance.

"That's because you haven't," I deadpanned before cutting to the chase, "Why are you guys here? Your cars aren't here?"

I couldn't face them right now, not after the training session. I couldn't handle their disappointment as well as the knowledge swimming might be over for me.

"Our friends dropped us off when we heard the news, we were with them at the time," Mum told me, rubbing a comforting hand up and down my left arm.

"News?" I asked, in confusion, glancing between them both.

"Your swimming, son," Dad vaguely stated, gesturing to the empty seat next to him.

I stiffly nodded, heading over to sit in the chair next to him whilst mum took her previous seat across from us.

Guess there was no avoiding it now.

"Your coach called, honey. Why didn't you tell us your ribs were still bad? I'd have made you an appointment to get rechecked," Mum said, staring at me with sympathy in her eyes.

"I was better," I drifted off, looking down at the table, dreading to see their disappointment.

"Son, your health is important. We've booked an appointment for you tomorrow and in the mean time go get some rest, you clearly need it," dad chimed in, squeezing my shoulder.