Beep, beep, beep.
I lean over and turn off my alarm clock with a groan. As much as I love swimming, I do not love waking up at six in the morning. Despite having to do so for the past four years, I am still not used to it.
I peel my eyes open and yawn as I swing my legs out from under the covers. Anxiety eats at my stomach as I realize what day it is: the first day of my month long swim meet.
I don't have to be there until three this afternoon, but I still set my alarm early so I would have plenty of time to work out and shower before leaving.
I never thought that swimming would be my thing. I've always loved art and music more than sports. But, this was a compromise between my mother and I. She wanted me to join a sports team like she did. She played softball in high school, and wanted me to have a similar experience. I suck at softball. I suck at most sports. We went through softball, soccer, and lacrosse before we landed on swimming.
I've always loved being in the water. I used to pretend I was a mermaid with my friends when we were younger. Joining a swim team meant I got to keep that feeling as I got older. I've gotten a lot better over the years, and I've even placed in a few competitions.
This meet is going to be my biggest one yet. It's also my last before college. I need to do well in order to get a good scholarship.
It's just my mom and I, and I really don't want her to carry the burden of having to pay for all of my college expenses. I realized that four years ago, and I haven't let anything distract me since then. I've worked hard, and I plan on keeping the same amount of focus through this month long competition.
Staying in a hotel is sure to have its own distractions, but I'm determined and my mom has raised me to believe that that is enough.
I brush my teeth, throw on my work out clothes, and head to the garage which my mom converted into a makeshift gym a couple of years ago after I kept complaining about how the gym was across town.
After my workout, I go upstairs and check through my list one last time to make sure I packed everything.
"Socks... check. Ear plugs... check." I mumble aloud.
"Hug from your mother?" I hear from behind me.
"Hi mom." I say, still checking my list.
Mom comes up and wraps her arms around my shoulders and gives me a squeeze. "I don't know what I'm going to do without you for a month."
I laugh. "I'm sure you'll survive. But, just in case, there are a couple of pre-baked lasagnas in the freezer for you to heat up if you need to."
Mom smiles at me. "You're always taking care of me."
"We take care of each other." I tell her.
Mom grabs my bag. "Ready to go? Its a three hour drive, so we should get going if we are going to make it there an hour early like you like."
"It doesn't hurt to be prepared for traffic or something." I say in a nagging voice.
"I know, I know. You've told me." She mocks.
We go to walk out the door, and I turn around to give the house one last wave before leaving for a month.
I text Olivia, my best friend, when I get in the car and tell her we are on the way. Olivia and I met on the swim team. That's pretty much where I met all of my friends. I dedicate almost all of my time to swimming, so that's the best time for me to get to know people.
Olivia joined the swim team three years ago. She used to be a dancer, but it was causing her knee damage, so she had to quit. She joined the swim team a few months later. She has never been as into as me, but then again she has money for college. I don't.
Ding.
Olivia: Of course you're leaving an hour early ;)
Laney: No harm in being prepared.
Olivia: Whatever i'll see u there
I roll my eyes and chuckle. Olivia probably hasn't even gotten out of bed yet. As much as I hate waking up early, Olivia loathes it.
Mom and I listen to our road trip playlist and only have to stop once for gas. We are making great time. Everything is working perfectly with my schedule.
We arrive thirty minutes early. Mom walks me in to get checked in and then it is time to say goodbye.
"I'll miss you." I say as I wrap her in a hug.
"And I will miss you." She says, squeezing me right back.
I'm still holding her tight, tears in my eyes, when I notice a tall, dark haired boy staring at us. He has a smirk on his face that suddenly makes me feel embarrassed. I let go of my mom and take a step away.
"Well, I'll see you soon." I tell her.
The dark haired boy walks past us with a laugh. I feel anger start to rise up in me, but I take a breath and push it down.
I tell mom one last goodbye, and then head in to find my swim team's table and sign in.
I'm only two steps into the lobby when the strap on my bag breaks and I trip over it running into the person in front of me. Unfortunately, that person is the same boy who laughed at me earlier.
"Sorry." I mumble. As I was falling, he kind of caught me by the arms. This close, I realize how handsome he is. He has deep, hazel eyes and long, dark lashes. He has a bit of a tan that suggests he's been outside a lot. Dark curls fall across his forehead.
"Can't walk without your mom around?" He asks in a mocking voice.
I wrench my arms out of his grip and pick up my broken bag. I don't even bother replying. I just spin on my heel and walk to the table where I see my coach.
Ten minutes later and the rest of the team, including Olivia, has arrived.
"Okay, everyone. We will be doubling up rooms. I have already assigned people to their rooms. There will be no arguments." Coach says.
Everyone groans, but she just goes through the list like she can't hear us. Olivia gets paired with Hazel and I give her a sad look as she goes to grab her room key. Everyone gets called except for me.
"Coach." I say as I walk up to her. "You didn't call my name."
She looks up at me, confused. "That can't be right. I checked this list at least three times." She says in a very stressed voice. She flips through the list again and more panic flickers across her face. "You might have to share a room with two other girls."
I internally groan.
A phone starts ringing. "Hang on. I have to take this."
I wait to the side as she talks on the phone and look out over the crowd. It's sometimes frustrating how much you can plan and things still go wrong.
"Well that really sucks. I hope you feel better." Coach hangs up her phone.
"Laney," she calls me over, "Coach Baxter got mono. She will be sick for a couple of months at least. So, her room is open. You okay rooming by yourself? It's the level right above where the team is staying."
I smile. "That works for me." I tell her.
She hands me the key and I head up to my room. So nice that I will have the room to myself. This way I can wake up early and not bother anyone.
I walk into my room and start unpacking my bags and putting my stuff in the drawers. There is a queen bed in the middle of the room and a tv mounted on the wall. Typical hotel art hangs above the bed, and there's a small bar area outside of the bathroom.
I've finished putting all of my shirts in the dresser under the tv when loud music starts blaring from the room right next to mine.
It takes me a second, but I eventually recognize it as Paramore. I audibly groan. I do not want to be stuck next to a group of loud girls for a month.
That's when I see the door in the center of the wall connecting my room to the girls next door. I walk over and twist the knob. Whoever shared the rooms before us probably knew each other because the door is unlocked.
I knock to let them know I'm coming in, just in case they are indecent.
"Hey. Do you mind turning down the-" I stop in the middle of my sentence.
In the center of the room is not a group of girls, but the guy from the lobby earlier. He is only wearing a towel and his whole toned, tan torso is showing. I can't help but look at his sculpted abs and the chiseled V leading underneath his towel.
My face turns a deep red. "S-sorry." I stutter as I turn to face the door. Somehow, my right foot gets caught underneath my left foot and I land on my butt.
The boy walks over to me, smirking once again.
"I thought you were a girl?" I mean for it to be a statement, but it comes out as a question.
"Why?" He asks, still with that stupid smirk on his face. "Because I'm listening to Paramore? That's not very progressive of you."
He reaches out his hand for me to take. I grab it and stand up. "Sorry again." I say in a rush. He is still holding my hand and the warmth from it is spreading up my arm. "I saw the door connecting our rooms. It's unlocked, so I just came in. I'll call downstairs and ask them to fix it."
"What's your name?" his questions catches me off guard.
"Um... Laney." I respond. My voice comes out so unsure. I really need to get it together. This guy has already seen me in three embarrassing situations. I need to not make it four.
"Hi, Laney. I'm Finn." He lets go of my hand. "You hear for the swim competition?"
"Yeah. Is that why you're here?" I ask him.
"Yup."
"Well, I was in the middle of unpacking, so I think I'll go back to that." I say, moving towards the door.
"You're unpacking? As in putting your stuff in the drawers? At a hotel?" He asks incredulously.
"Yeah...?" I say hesitantly.
"That's crazy. Everyone I know just lives out of their bag when they stay in a hotel."
"Well, I just figured, since we will be here for a month, that I should settle in."
"You seem like one of those people." he tells me.
"What do you mean?" I ask, genuinely confused.
"You know. A little high strung."
Wow. That stings. This guy doesn't even know me.
"You don't even know me." I tell him indignantly.
"Right. So, if I told you there was a party tonight, you would go?" He asks.
"I can't tonight." I say automatically. It's been my response for the past four years.
He gives me an 'I told you so' face.
"Who throws a party on the first night of a competition anyways?" I ask.
"Fun people." He says.
I am now embarrassed and angry. How could this guy possibly know that I haven't been a fun person who goes to parties in years? How did he peg me so fast? It's not that I don't want to have fun. It's that I have responsibilities that are more important than parties.
But... maybe one night wont be bad.
"You know what, I will come."
"Great. I'll meet you back here at eight."
"I'm bringing my friend." I tell him.
"Fine. Do you mind leaving so I can get dressed?" he gestures to his towel. "Unless you want to stay."
"No thanks." I turn around and walk back to my room. Going to a party makes me nervous, but at least Olivia will be there with me.