Like a Koi

Lillian Rivers' POV

How long had I been pacing? Long enough to wear this floor into a crater! Where on the Goddess' green Earth was Arte Jones? Late! That's where! So help me, GODDESS if she overslept...

"Relax, Lil. She'll be here," Mia reassured me. I turned to her, impatiently tapping my foot against the floor. "She was supposed to be here an hour ago so we could rehearse! We had to do it without her!" I whined, my eyes stinging with tears. "Oh dear, look at our little baby, crying again", Margot cooed at me, rubbing circles on my back. "Don't sweat it, you know that Arte was made for the water". I whined some more, sniffling like a child. Our whole team had practised hard for this for two years, and although I loved Arte more than anything...I'd never speak to her again if we had to forfeit due to a lack of swimmers. 

"I'm here, I'm here! Lil isn't crying, is she?" It was the first thing she said as she arrived before she even saw me. I huffed, stomping my foot "Who's crying?! You're so late, Arte!" I yelled at her. She held her hands up defensively with a sheepish smile, "Forgive me, our little petal. Khione asked for my help with a contract!" I tilted my head at her "Oh? I'll let you off in that case," I smiled sweetly, and she let out a tense breath. I quickly shooed her off to the changing rooms, and we all waited for her to come out. 

Upon seeing her, I frowned. "How is it that you make this basic bitch swimsuit look designer?" I asked with slight playful hostility. She blinked, looking down at herself with confusion. How did she not know she was fucking beautiful? She infuriates me! "Never mind, let's just go. We need to be out there in ten," She said, grabbing my hand and quickly pulling me toward the arena where we would be performing. 

Coach Patterson pulled us all to one side and began to give us a pep talk. She addressed each and every one of us, but as usual, she left Arte out. In the meantime, Arte was off to the side, stretching, never once complaining that she felt left out. Coach didn't do it to be spiteful, she did it because she knew about Arte's confidence to win. She never showed even a speck of nervousness or anxiety...Arte just strolls in and takes the win every time. Knowing that, it makes my earlier outburst seem childish, I'm sure. 

"Okay, ladies, take your places", Coach said with a sharp inhale. I saw her glaring daggers at our opponent's coach, who actually turned out to be her cousin...But the two were on less than good terms. I'd say their relationship was dust. All because Coach's cousin likes to win by any means...Even if it involves getting her hands dirty and she encourages her swimmers to do the same. 

Arte came to stand beside me, taking her place in the middle as our lead. She always chose the middle, giving us all a sense of security. I watched her look to the stands and wave frantically at her boyfriend, Cole, who waved back. When Arte looked away and focused on the water, I watched Cole's eyes gaze at another girl. I grimaced. This was the second time I'd seen him looking at that girl like this...As if he were in love with her. His eyes were so soft and gooey when looking at that little shark, Ebony Walters. 

That girl drove me BATTY! Acting like a saint when in reality, she's nothing but a flesh-eating parasite. It's a shame that no one can see that. Then again, I wouldn't be surprised if she'd seduced Cole. Then, she'd be just like her mother - A homewreckin whore that stole another woman's husband and convinced him to have an affair. Then, when she fell pregnant with Ebony, she trapped him and convinced him to get rid of his wife. 

Ebony's innocent half-sister went with her mouth and has refused to associate with Ebony or their father ever since. She's in the year above us and will be leaving the Academy soon to go off to college, but she's so lovely. Ebony has everyone convinced that she's the legitimate daughter and her half-sister, Nadia, is the product of an affair. 

It baffles me. Like, make it make sense! Nadia is a year older, and Ebony's mother isn't even married to her father! So, who was the illegitimate one again??

A finger flicked more forehead and I almost yelped. When I zoned back in, Arte was frowning at me, "Focus, petal. We're up," She said, and I nodded firmly, getting into position. 

BANG!

"Annddd...They're off!" Came a commentator's voice just before I hit the water. I could see that all of us were doing Dolphin Kicks until the 15-meter mark, when we all finally broke into our front crawl strokes. While this race was a freestyle, the front crawl stroke was a common and more efficient stroke to gather speed. Thus, you'd often see many swimmers using this stroke even in a freestyle race. 

Of course, Arte was ahead of us all. When I turned my head to the side, I could see that I came up to her hip...That's how far in front she was. I was certain this race would go smoothly with our Arte Koi on our team...But my thoughts jinxed me. For a moment, I thought I heard a scream, but just in case I didn't, I continued to swim. 

That was, until I heard the whistle. I stopped mid-stroke and ended up breathing in a bit of water that was easily cleared by coughing. When I lifted my goggles and looked around, I could see a lifeguard jumping in to pull someone out. When I realised who it was, my whole body tensed. 

Of course Ebony fucking Walters had to have her spotlight and ruin it for the rest of us. "Goodness, Miss Walters, what happened?" The lifeguard asked, propping her up and making sure she could breathe okay. "I-I..." She paused for a beat, her eyes gazing at Arte before snapping them away quickly. "I guess I just didn't stretch properly..." Ah...This is where the insinuation that Arte did something to her comes in. AGAIN.

The lifeguard followed her eyes and saw Arte doing stretches in the water. His eyes blazed with fury, as if he knew the truth. Fucking Ebony and that innocent act she put on! "Referee! I request that either the white Rivers team be disqualified or just Arte Jones!" Arte stiffened and stopped stretching, bringing her eyes to the lifeguard. I held my breath, already feeling that icy attitude of my best friends before she even opened her mouth. 

Arte lifted her goggles and frowned at the lifeguard "Why would you make such a request?" She asked, oblivious to the silent accusations against her. "You obviously did something to Miss Walters, of course!" He yelled at Arte, his index finger pointing at her while his free arm continued to prop Ebony up, who was acting so pitifully. "Is that so? With which eye did you see me do something to her? And with which mouth did she say anything happened to her? She obviously just said she didn't stretch properly. Who gave you your lifeguard license?" Arte threw rapid-fire questions at him that didn't require an answer. Each question made him feel furious, his red face said it all. Ebony didn't look much better off either. 

"Even if I wanted to do something to Miss Walters - Which I don't. I don't even know her and I wouldn't sabatage my team for something ridiculous - I wouldn't have the opportunity because she was so far behind me. My arms aren't that long. Now, if she wanted to grab my ankle and pull me down on the other hand..." Arte trailed off, leaving her own silent accusation in the air. 

Ebony was quick to brush it all off at this point, saying she was okay to swim again. Now, we had to start from the fucking beginning! Though I suppose it didn't matter. Our very own Koi fish, Arte Jones, won us gold in the end. We never doubted her for a second!

Coach got to be smug in front of her cousin yet again, and Ebony looked as though she'd been chewed up and spat out for her failure. What made me feel sick to my stomach, though...It was how Cole followed Ebony out of the arena and toward the changing rooms. I could feel bile rising in my throat at the thoughts that were swirling in my mind. 

Please, please don't let him be a cheat...Please don't let him break our Arte's heart...