25| Swim meet 1

"Isla, get up and get ready," Maddie says, yanking the covers off me.

I groan dramatically and pull them back over my head in protest.

It's Friday.

The day of the swim meet Oliver invited me to.

After that disaster of a day—when my lies caught up with me, and I had to see the hurt on Oliver's face—I thought I was automatically uninvited. But this morning, I woke up to a text from him: Will you be there?

What was I supposed to say? No?

I couldn't crush his heart again, especially on his big day. And from what I've gathered, it's an even bigger deal than I realized.

Campus is practically buzzing with excitement. Girls are wearing those viral Bruin Buzz Reid T-shirts, placards are everywhere, and the entire atmosphere is electric.

"Come on, you already said you'd go, so stop being a baby about it," Maddie huffs, tugging the covers off me again.

"Can't I just fake being sick?" I mumble.

"Lying is what got you into this mess in the first place."

I groan. No comeback for that. She's right.

I'm doomed.

The real reason I don't want to go? Reid will be there. He's on the swim team too. And the thought of seeing him shirtless again, watching him cut through the water with that ridiculous ease, makes my stomach flip.

I'm a hopeless fool.

I glance at Maddie, who's already dressed in her supportive fangirl outfit. She's wearing one of those Reid T-shirts—pink, of course—which she's tied at the back to crop it. A white pleated mini skirt, a matching pink bow placed just below the length of her skirt, tied around her thighs, and her hair in two high pigtails complete the look. Her makeup is light, except for two tiny red hearts drawn like teardrops beneath her eyes.

She's definitely excited. Then again, Maddie is excited about everything—except classes and actual schoolwork.

I used to wonder how she even got into UCLA, until Lila told me Maddie graduated as valedictorian. Apparently, she's always been this way—barely studying but still acing everything.

I'm definitely jealous.

"Come on, Isla, go get ready," she whines, kicking her feet like a toddler throwing a tantrum.

"Fine, fine," I sigh, dragging myself toward the closet. Lila had something to do so she couldn't make it.

Before I can take another step, my phone rings. Saved by the bell.

I grab it eagerly, happy for the distraction, but my excitement fades when I see the caller ID: Mummy Dearest.

I turn to Maddie, holding up the screen. "I have to take this."

"Fine. But you're getting ready right after," she says, flopping back onto her bed with an exaggerated sigh.

I do a mock salute and step out into the hallway before answering.

"Hi, Mum."

"Hey, baby," her voice fills my ears, instantly making me smile. "Guess who wants to say hi?"

"What?" I ask, confused.

"Hi, princess," Dad's voice comes through, and my smile widens.

"Hi, Dad! When did you get back?"

"This morning."

I nod, still smiling.

"I got you something too—a matching charm bracelet with your mum. I can drive over this weekend to give it to you."

"Dad," I groan, laughing.

"I'm not interfering, it's a one-of-a-kind bracelet! I just want to make sure you get it."

"Thank you, and I love you, but I'll see it when I come home, okay?" I say, already used to this game.

"Fine," he huffs, and I know he's pouting. The confirmation comes when I hear Mum laughing.

"Told you it wouldn't work," she teases.

Dad grumbles something before saying, "Alright, talk later, princess. I'm jet-lagged, so I'm going to hit the shower and sleep for two business days."

There's shuffling, giggling, and then—smacking lips.

I gag. "Gross."

Mum laughs. "So, how are you?"

"Still alive."

She's quiet for a beat before saying, "Am I allowed to ask what's going on between you two?"

I hesitate, shifting my weight as I stop in front of a vending machine. I struggle to feed my dollar in and finally choose a protein bar.

"It's just... complicated," I sigh, leaning against the wall.

"Love always is," she says. After a pause, she adds, "I saw from a post that you two went to the same high school. Is he the same boy from back then?"

I exhale. No point in denying it anymore.

"Mhm."

"I thought I was over him, but turns out I wasn't. I just like him so much, Mum—even though he's the biggest asshole in history who only complicates my life. I'm sorry I'm such a failure."

"What are you talking about?"

"Falling for the typical bad boy. I was supposed to follow in your footsteps..."

"Isla, stop." Her voice is firm. "You could never disappoint me or your dad. We would never see you as a failure, no matter what you do. I know you've placed all these expectations on yourself, but you have to stop. I love that you look up to me, but you need to start living for yourself."

I swallow hard.

"You know," she continues, "this is something exciting. You're experiencing your first love. Even though it didn't work out the way you hoped, it's still an important part of your life. And just as you fell for Reid, one day, you'll fall for someone else."

I frown. "That easy, huh?"

"It happens, sweetheart."

There's a pause before she says something that shocks me.

"Your father wasn't my first love, you know."

I blink. "What? But I thought—"

"Your father was my greatest love. But not my first. I made mistakes too. And our relationship wasn't as perfect as you think it is. We had ups and downs. Broke up a few times, even."

"I never knew that. I always thought you two were... perfect. The perfect match. I've never even seen you argue once."

She chuckles. "Because we knew better than to do it in front of you. Sweetheart, no relationship is perfect. And, honestly, I think your father was an even bigger asshole when I first met him."

"Mum!" I shriek.

She laughs. "It's hard to picture him as anything other than your doting father, right?"

"Exactly!"

"Oh, trust me, he had his moments," she says, her voice laced with nostalgia. "But the thing is, throughout my time with him, I learned to enjoy the journey, not just focus on the destination. That's something you struggle with, Isla. You're always fixated on where you're supposed to end up and how thing should be that you forget to actually live in the moment."

I fall silent because... she has a point.

"So allow yourself to enjoy the journey, Isla. If Reid is meant to be in your life, the universe will pull you two together. And if not, your soulmate will find their way to you. But in the meantime, live. Create memories. So that when you do reach your destination, you have something to look back on—just like I do now. College was one of the best times of my life."

Her voice is light, almost like a teenage girl reminiscing.

"Thanks, Mum," I whisper, feeling... lighter.

"My love, I can't find my razors!" Dad's voice calls in the background.

"Did you check the cabinet above the sink?"

"No."

Mum sighs. "Talk later, Isla. Love you."

"Wait, Mum, I wanted to ask—"

The call ends.

Great. I never got to ask about Isabel. Or Red.

Sighing, I grab my protein bar, rip open the wrapper, and take a bite before heading back to my room—where an eager Maddie is waiting for me to get dressed.

꘎♡━━━━━♡꘎

The aquatic center was buzzing with excitement by the time Maddie and I arrived. The air was thick with chlorine, the hum of excited conversations, and the rhythmic pounding of drums from the student section. The large electronic scoreboard flickered with the upcoming events, and the stands were already packed with students, alumni, and fans waving blue and gold banners in support of UCLA.

"This is insane," I muttered, gripping the strap of my bag as Maddie practically dragged me forward.

"Welcome to the madness," she said, grinning as she scanned the bleachers for a good spot. She finally settled on a row near the middle, close enough to see the swimmers clearly but not so close that we'd get splashed.

As we sat, I took in the scene before me. The pool was divided into eight lanes, marked with floating lane dividers, the water almost eerily still as the swimmers warmed up on the sidelines. The announcers' voices boomed over the speakers, hyping up the crowd. Cheerleaders were scattered around, pumping up the energy, while students sported those custom-made bruin- buzz shirts with Reid and Oliver's names on them.

Maddie nudged me. "Look at that."

I followed her gaze and saw a group of girls holding up signs that read Reid Carter, Drown Me Next! and Oliver Kingsley, Make Me Wet!

I choked on my spit. "That's—wow. That's dedication."

Maddie snorted. "Reid's fan club is practically a cult. But hey, at least Oliver's getting some love too."

I exhaled sharply, shifting in my seat. This was already overwhelming, and the meet hadn't even started yet.

The announcer's voice crackled through the speakers. "Next up, the 100-meter freestyle, featuring UCLA's very own Oliver Kingsley!"

The crowd roared. I found myself automatically scanning the pool deck until my eyes landed on Oliver. He stood near the starting blocks, stretching his arms, his expression unreadable.

As if he sensed me watching, his head lifted, and our eyes met across the chaos.

My breath hitched.

For a moment, the noise faded, and it was just us, locked in a silent exchange. He didn't smile, didn't smirk—just held my gaze with an intensity that made my stomach clench.

Okay so he was definitely still mad at me.

Then, slowly, he climbed onto the starting block, muscles taut with focus. The referee gave the signal, and the swimmers took their positions.

The tension in the air was suffocating.

"Take your marks."

The sharp whistle blew, and the race was on.

The swimmers launched themselves into the water in a flurry of motion, their bodies cutting through the pool like sleek torpedoes. The crowd was on its feet, screaming, stomping, the atmosphere electrifying.

I watched in awe as Oliver powered through the water, his strokes clean and efficient. He was fast—faster than I'd ever seen before.

"He's in the lead!" Maddie shouted over the noise.

My fingers clenched around the edge of my seat as Oliver surged forward, maintaining his position. But a Berkeley swimmer was closing in fast. For a second, my heart jumped to my throat, but then, with a final explosive push, Oliver slammed his hand against the wall first.

The stadium erupted in deafening cheers.

I exhaled, releasing a breath I hadn't even realized I was holding.

Oliver pulled himself out of the pool, water cascading down his toned body as he pushed his wet hair back. His eyes swept through the crowd again, finding me.

I felt my pulse jump, but before I could react, Maddie grabbed my arm.

"Oh, this next one is gonna be big."

I frowned. "What do you mean?"

She tilted her chin toward the pool deck.

Reid was stepping forward.

My stomach flipped.

He moved with an effortless confidence, rolling his shoulders back as he adjusted his goggles. The crowd was going absolutely feral, chanting his name. Unlike Oliver, who seemed focused but relaxed, Reid looked razor-sharp, his jaw set, his expression unreadable.

"Reid's going up against Andrew Hayes from Berkeley," Maddie said, leaning in. "Their rivalry goes way back. Andrew's been gunning for Reid's spot since high school. He was the only one who ever came close to beating him."

I swallowed. "And has he?"

"Nope." She grinned. "Reid's undefeated against him. But Andrew is pissed about it. Watch—this is going to be a war."

The energy in the air was completely different now—charged, suffocating. The commentators were hyping up the tension, listing off their past showdowns, but I wasn't listening.

Because Reid was searching the bleachers.

And then—his eyes landed on mine.

I stopped breathing.

The noise around me dulled, like the world had slowed.

His gaze was piercing, burning into me with something I couldn't decipher. His lips parted slightly, as if he was surprised to find me here. But he didn't look away.

Neither did I.

The commentators chuckled.

"And it looks like Carter is looking for someone in the crowd before his big showdown. Wonder who's got his attention like that."

My skin prickled with heat. The way he was staring at me—like I was the only thing in the entire arena—made my stomach churn. There was a flicker of something dark in his expression, something unreadable, and it sent a rush of nerves down my spine.

Then, the whistle blew.

And just like that, Reid broke eye contact and dove in.

The pool exploded with movement.

Reid and Andrew were neck and neck from the start, their strokes almost perfectly synchronized. The crowd was in an uproar, voices merging into a deafening roar.

"He's pushing harder than usual," Maddie said, eyes glued to the pool. "Damn, he really wants this."

Lap after lap, Reid and Andrew battled for dominance, neither giving an inch. My heart pounded as they made their final turn, heading into the last stretch.

And then—Reid pulled ahead.

It was just a fraction of a second, but it was enough. With a final, explosive burst, he touched the wall.

The stadium erupted.

"UCLA takes the win!" the announcers boomed. "And once again, Carter proves why he's at the top!"

Reid gripped the edge of the pool, chest heaving, before he climbed out. His hair was slicked back once he took off his cap, water dripping from his body, but the second his feet hit the ground, he threw his fist in the air, his face alight with something I could only call—pure, unfiltered joy.

My heart clenched.

In high school, Reid had always been nonchalant about winning. He never celebrated, never seemed to care. But now—now he was feeling it. And I felt it too.

I barely noticed the way my breath had quickened. The way my fingers were gripping my jeans. Was it insane that I wanted to cheer his name at the top of my lungs?

Then, my phone buzzed.

I tore my gaze away and glanced down.

Oliver: Meet me behind the building in five minutes.

My stomach twisted.

I swallowed hard, nerves creeping in.

What did he want to talk about?

Authors note:

We're entering into the drama portion of CLPP. Buckle up cadets.