Chapter 5
~ Cameron ~
I step up to the swimmer's block, adjusting my goggles and steadying the hum of nervous energy that has my body feeling like it has been set alight. The crowd simmers down as the swimmers, me included, get into starting positions. It’s our first swim meet of the new season and our biggest rival. Vanderbilt, is amongst the visiting schools.
I take a quick look around, measuring up every rival swimmer. They’re not all that big in size, but some of these guys have reputations for being fast the minute they hit the water. But I’m ready for them. I always am. Coach Baker has had us training like crazy for the last few days in preparation for today's meet and I’ve been spending a few extra hours in the pool whenever I can.
I crouch down and touch the block beneath my feet, focusing on the rhythmic, steady beat of my heart. Everything from here on is automatic, like it is engrained in my DNA. The gunshot, hitting the water, pumping my muscles with every stroke, inhaling once and exhaling twice. It all happens without thought or provocation. And it’s what I live for. The few seconds where my mind and body are one, and I don’t have to think about anything. When I’m in the water no one else exists. Not my mother, not my sister, not my comatose father. No one. Just me.
I near the end of the pool and roll forward, using my legs to kick off again. My arms reach ahead, propelling me further with each stroke until my hand touches the wall. The whistle blows and the crowd cheers in excitement. I can’t hear much though; my pulse is galloping in my ears. I look up at the scoreboard and grin. Of course I won, and I set a new personal record, too. I hop out the pool and Noah is at my side in an instant.
“Nice time, Cam. Think you can make it a second time?”
I smirk. “Hell yeah, I can. I’ll be ready to go again in a few minutes, just in time for our Individual Medley.”
He’s about to say something but stops mid-sentence. I follow his gaze. Hayley is standing close to the edge of the pool, holding a digital camera in her hands and taking action shots. Her hair is tied up, high on her head, and she’s wearing a pair of denim cut-offs with a red University shirt that’s tied in a knot at her waist. Not too far from her is Hannah, Noah’s sister, also holding a camera, except she’s too busy flirting with our competition to take photographs.
“Who the fuck is that and why haven’t I nailed her yet?” Noah asks next to me.
I look at him and frown. I’m not sure why I glare at him, but I can’t stop myself. Noah can be very crass when it comes to women, but then again so can I.
“That’s Hayley,” I reply.
He looks at me quizzically. “You know her?”
I shrug, looking back at where Hayley is now standing and talking to Zander, an arrogant fucker from Vanderbilt. “Yeah, I met her like two weeks ago but I haven’t seen her since.” But I’ve been thinking about her.
“And you didn’t think of introducing us?” Noah asks, slapping my arm.
I shake my head, keeping my gaze fixed on Hayley. In hindsight I’m glad I didn’t introduce them, even if I had the chance. Noah can be a real dick and she probably doesn’t want to get mixed up with a guy like him. Or me, for that matter.
“Oh, I get it,” Noah adds. “You want a go with her first.”
I scoff. “She’s too good for the likes of either of us, you douche-canoe. We know better than to get mixed up with girls like that.”
Noah barks out a loud laugh, causing a few people to look at us, and says, “Oh my god, Cam, you want that girl, don’t you? I can see it on your face right now, the way you’re shooting daggers at that fucktard, Zander.”
“I do not. She’s too nice for me.”
Noah looks at me with a ‘do-I-look-like-a-dumbass’ expression on his face and it quickly turns smug. “Don’t talk shit, Cameron, I’ve known you since we were twelve and discovered what a hard-on is. You can’t lie to me, brother.”
I want to deny it, but the truth is, I’ve had a hard time not thinking about Hayley since I walked away from her those few days ago, when I dropped her off at Campus after giving her a ride. It’s the strangest thing because I don’t believe in ‘getting to know someone’ and ‘seeing where it goes’. That shit is best left in books and movies because, hell, if I’m a fucking knight in shining armor. I’m just another twenty one year old guy that thinks with his dick first, and his brain later. Rachel is an easy lay, and a convenience fuck, but I’m bored. I need a new challenge and I may have just found it.
“Ah, fuck,” Noah mutters, throwing his arms up in defeat. “I know that look, man.”
I grin wickedly and make my way towards Hayley. The last race for the afternoon is in thirty minutes, but all I need is ten.
Zander sees me first and his posture straightens in defense immediately. I hate him and he knows it. He’s such a pussy, especially when he’s always a stroke or two behind me in the pool. Hayley’s head turns in my direction and she blasts me with her gorgeous smile.
“Oh, hi Cameron,” she says. “I didn’t know you were on the swim team.”
Our eyes meet briefly before hers slip down the length of my body, stopping to admire my ink. The half- naked angel that curls around my shoulder and down my biceps to my elbow seems to have intrigued her, as her eyes linger there the longest.
“Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that I’m a serial killer and Captain of the swim team. How rude of me.”
She giggles, and as if remembering we’re not completely alone, her head tilts up to Zander. He’s glowering at me. “Zander, this is -”
“I know who he is,” Zander snaps.
“I don’t know how,” I reply smugly. “You’re more familiar with the sight of my ass than you are with my face.”
Hayley starts laughing beside me, cupping her mouth and failing miserably to stifle the noise, and Zander snarls. His eyes dart between Hayley and I, and then stop on her. “It was nice chatting to you, Hayley,” he says
