Jade
27th October 2019
The sound of the water running from the tap, the smell of Chanel No°9 in the air. A set hands flow through the purple, curly hair of a girl, Jade. She stands at her kitchen sink as she waits for her kettle to boil. Gazing deeply into the running water, lost in it's trance. Jade waits patiently. Jade pulls a gym shark hoodie from the back of her black, stylish adjustable chair. She throws the hoodie over her head, sliding her arms in effortlessly. The kettle boils, Jade turns swiftly, picking up the kettle and pouring the boiling hot water into the flask.
Jade grabs her bag pack from the kitchen floor. She throws one strap over her right shoulder. Jade butters a piece of toast and puts it in her mouth, hanging. She walks toward the front door, picking up her car keys from the table at the front door. Jade walks out her door and towards her car. She opens the trunk and tosses the bag inside, closing the door gently. Jade enters her black, Range Rover. She turns the key in the ignition. The engine, loud, powerful. Jade gently lets off the clutch, placing her foot down on the accelerator as she pulls out of her driveway.
Jade pulls up outside Hawthorne gym. This one of the most expensive, up to date, modern technology gym that exists in multiple states. Jade parks her car in her parking spot. Jade exits her car, walking around to the trunk. She opens the trunk, taking her bag out. She presses the button at the top of the door, as she watches the door close itself. The weather is foggy. The dense fog crowds the Hawthorne Gym. Jade walks slowly toward the entrance. She pushes open the door. She makes her way to the reception desk.
The marble, stainless floor gives the gym a warm feeling. The walls, a navy stone wall. Jade approaches the desk, swipes her key card and walks through the barriers. She walks forward down the hall to her office. A brown wooden door, with a plaque on the door that reads, Jade Vanderwall. She turns the key, pushing open the door. She drops her bag at the coat rack before closing the door behind her. Jade walks around to the opposite side of her desk. It's filled with pictures of her and her friends from high school. Jade picks up a picture of Whitney and herself.
She smiles at the photo as she reminisces back to her high school career, when things were less complicated. Jade, although works at an elite gym, is still a student at university with a full ride swimming scholarship. She balances out her work life with her student life quite well considering she is the daughter of a very wealthy business man. Jade rocks back and forward in her seat. She lets out a sigh, not one have to work, she finds it boring and something for the people who are less then her should be doing.
Jade stands up, exiting her office and moving to the break room. She puts the kettle on, making herself a cup of coffee. She stands, twirling her hair between her fingers, checking her phone to see if her followers have increased. She sits on the chair, scrolling through her news feed "Blocked, blocked, blocked... Oh that's disgusting, definitely blocked."
Sometime passes before Jade decides it's time to go back to her office. She finishes her coffee, throwing the cup into the sink and leaving it there for someone else to clean. Jade enters back into her office, closing the door behind her. She slowly walks back to her chair. She glances once again at the high school pictures of her friends. She smiles running her hand across the photo "Everything was so easy back then." She whispers.
Suddenly a knock on the door spookes Jade. She drops her photo on the floor, quickly bending down to pick it up "Come in." She utters. Jade is greeted by a smile from her boss. He enters the room "Hi Jade, I've called Adam in to cover you today so you can make your swim competition." He says. Jade tilts her head to the side, smiling ear to ear giving her best good girl impression "That's fantastic, thanks Mr. Larson." She says.
Mr. Larson exits the office closing the door behind him. Jade's smile disappears back to her resting bitch face. She let's out a big sigh and begins typing on her computer "Obviously I was going... Idiot." She whispers.
Jade picks up her bag and walks out of her office, locking the door behind her. She walks hastily to her car. She throws the bag onto the back seat and slams her door closed. She puts her phone in the holder,. She scrolls through her contacts until she reaches her coach "Hey I've just left work. I should be there in fifteen minutes." She says.
Jade pulls up at Hawthorne university. She jumps from her car, taking her bah with her, as she rushes to the pool. She quickly swings open the door. She see's her teammates in the pool practising before the big races. From across the pool Jade can we the swim coach, he calls upon Jade with his index finger. Jade walks hastily around to the other side of the pool. With her feet squeaking off of the water and tiles. The coach stands looking into the swimmers doing laps of the pool "You're late. You need to focus Jade. Every moment your not here is a waste of my time and yours. If you want that spot on the Olympic team you need to be here to practice." He says.
Jade nods at the coach and makes her way into the dressing room to prepare for her race. She pushes open the door and his met with a smell of chlorine. The silver lockers on each side of her. She approaches her locker with the initials J.V on it. Jade opens her locker and throws her bag in, she slams it with a force at could move mountains. A loud thud scares another swimmer out of her skin "Jesus, Vanderwall. Come on I'm trying to focus here." She snaps. Jade looking at the other girl responds with a bitchy tone, while tying up her hair "Doesn't matter, because you won't beat me." The girl stands up and makes her way into Jade's face "You want to bet on that?." She replies. Jade holds her stomach and chuckles "Right, because you have money to lose." She replies.
The two stand face to face for a couple of moments when suddenly the girl backs off, giggling. Jade begins smiling, the two embrace in a fist bump as they laugh. Jade turns back around grabbing her cap "Good luck Katie." Says Jade. Katie looks at Jade grinning "You too." Jade changes quickly as she gets prepared for the race. She opens the door of the changing room and makes her way to the pool. She stands beside her coach, who now has calmed himself "Coach, I'm ready to warm up." She says. He looks at her smiling "Perfect, okay, get in the pool and give me two laps." He says.
Jade jumps into the pool, starting off at the end of the coach. She swims fast, pushing her hands through the water effortlessly. She completes her two laps in record time. Jade touches the wall at the end of the pool. The coach blows his whistle, loudly "Alright girls, great hustle. Now go and wait until the competition starts." She says. Jade jumps from the pool walking past her coach "Hey, Vanderwall. You swim like that in the race and you bag yourself first place." She whispers.
Two hours pass, the girls of Hawthorne university are on fire in their races with three of the five junior racers taking first place. Jade is up next. She waits in the stands as she cheers for her teammates, the roar of the crowd is like no other. The adrenalin pumping through Jade's veins is electric. She has her game face ready, she is focused and in the zone. She places her swimming cap upon her head as she walks down the steps to the tiled floor.
Jade makes her way to the podium. She passes by many of her other competitors, they size each other up as they stare a hole through one another. Jade stands beside her podium, the crowd screaming her name. She looks up into the stands to see empty seats where her friends would normally sit to cheer her on.
The announcer in position, he narrates the name of each girl going in line "And in lane six we have Jade Vanderwall. Jade is representing Hawthorne university. With that being said. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the final race of the day. Girls you may start when you hear the buzzer." He says.
Jade leans into position, the sound of the crowd drowned out by the thoughts in Jades head. The water is steady, ready to be home for six hopeful swimmers the next thirty seconds. The buzzer sounds as Jade leaps from her podium and into the water. The perfect start, a far dive as Jade resurfaces. She kicks and pulls with all of her mite. The crowd not heard as she focus on one objective, one goal, victory. She swims hard toward the opposite end of the pool. One quick tumble as she kicks off the wall, making her way back toward the finish. She pulls the water behind her with tremendous strength. One last reach of the arm as Jade touches the wall. She looks up to see Katie's hand also on the wall. The judges stunned as both women finish the race at the same time.
The crowd goes wild, screaming and shouting for their favourite racer. The girls look toward the screen as they await the results. Jade is stunned, second place. She places her head on her hands as she rests on the floor. Her body drifting on the water like a majestic mermaid. Her stomach tightens, a sick feeling overwhelms her. First place was the only option for an Olympic trial. Everything Jade has prepared for led to this race. The feeling of failure takes over her body. She lays there motionless, thinking of all the things that could of been, with just one more inch she could of been number one.
Her coach kneels down beside her as he whispers in her ear "Head up, don't be disappointed. You swam one hell of a race. Keep your head up." He stands up, backing away, giving Jade room to jump out of the pool. She raises her head, the soft, puffy red eyes indicate tears. She places both palms onto the grates as she lifts herself from the calm, now warm water. She looks around the pool house as teammates, family and friends congratulate Katie. Jade, frozen in position as the girls look at her. She fakes a smile and approaches her team, hugging and congratulating her teammates on their victories.
The team moves to the dressing room. The girls scatter around the dressing room. Each one taking a shower bag from their lockers. Jade sits on the wooden bench for a moment, trying to let defeat sink in. It replays over and over in her mind, like some sort of scary memory. Jade finds the strength to stand and also grab her shower bag. The girls make their way to the showers. They each have their own individual showering area, lined up beside each other. Just a wall separating them. Jade drapes her towel over the door and turns the heating up to eight. The sound of the shower is that of a snake hissing. Jade stands still, allowing the water to hit her face, her deep breath against the roar of the water.
The chants of happiness fill the shower area. The team ecstatic with the results. All in good spirits, except for one, Jade. Her area is silent, no emotion, her internal screams haunt her memory of the race. The turns off, Jade takes the towel from the door. She quickly runs the towel through her long purple hair. She wraps the towel around her chest and leaves the
Most of the girls have gone. The changing room quiet as church in prayer. Jade takes her clothes that hang from her locker and gets dressed. A tight pair of ripped, blue jeans and a white Hawthorne jumper is her attire of choice. Katie stands at the mirror applying her makeup "Hey, great race today. It could've gone either way." Says Katie. Jade closes her locker and turns "Yeah, I guess. Great race Katie, best of luck at the trials." Replies Jade charmingly. Katie smiles at Jade, throwing a subtle wink "Hey your coming tonight right?. Hawthorne woods, the bonfire?." Asks Katie. Jade also with a subtle nod "I'll be there. See you tonight. Champ." Jade replies.
The day turns to night. Jade pulls up at a clearing in the woods. Cars form a perimeter around the trees. A small but burning bonfire sits in the middle. Jade exits her car, she examines the people around her. She makes her way to the centre of the party. Everyone's drinks are raised to Jade. She smiles, it's the best she has felt all day. A fraternity brother tosses Jade a beer. She catches it effortlessly and cracks it open. Jade takes a sip from the bottle, smiling. She clanks the bottle of another, cheering at the top of their lungs.
Sometime passes, the drink flows more and more. The party at it's peak. Jade turns to see Katie, the star of the day and now the queen of the night. This is for her,. Jade feels that sickening pain once again as the emotions flood back to her. She pushes them away, deep down into the pit of her stomach. Jade needs this, it won't be ruined by some race. Katie spots Jade through the sea of people, she approaches "Hey, you came." She yells in Jade's ear. Jade smiles back leaning into Katie's ear "Yeah, wouldn't miss it." She replies shouting back. Katie's body flows to the music as the two girls begin dancing.
More time passes, the party quiets down. Some of the team have gone home. The fraternity brothers have also made their way back to their house. Jade and Katie sit on the hood of Jade's car. The two looking up to the stars. Everything is silent, the bonfire almost out. The girls drunk, giddy and emotionally available. Jade points to the stars "That's what I want, the easy life, no worries, no responsibilities. Just shining, lighting up the world every night." She says. Katie looks at Jade, her emotions overwhelmed "That's beautiful." She responds. As Katie leans in for a kiss, Jade's phone rings. Jade quickly sits up as Katie clenches her eyes shut. Jade looks at the incoming call and answers "Hello, go for Jade. What? – your sure? – oh my god." Jade drops her phone on the ground as she weeps.