The Fated Match

Watching Grayson walk into the bar was actually an interesting display. The fresh new face didn’t go unnoticed by girls standing at the bar. He walked in with confidence and searching the room for me.

I waved him over quickly.

He successfully managed to push his way through and dump himself down into a stall next to mine.

“A uni bar, really” he huffed dragging his fingers through his hair. I had to contain the giggle that was threatening to leave my lips. I covered them with my glass of lemonade. I had to stay away from the alcohol no matter how tempting it is.

I’m driving tonight.

“it was either this or you’d get lost, trust me” he could only nod his head agreeing with me.

“so, what made you want to have a drink with me tonight” I decided to get straight to the point since I’m not really planning to stay too long here.

He ordered himself a drink and turned to face me.

“can you just accept it and not ask questions” he said leaning on his arm.

“Not really an option for me” I told him. This time he openly laughed over at me. I watched him showcase his dazzling white teeth and dimples.

Boy was this guy cute.

“I actually want to personally thank you for helping my sister out. Growing up with her I honestly thought she was going to stay a bitch forever”

Little intense but I guess that’s what all big brothers call their younger sisters.

“It’s no problem really, its actually my job” I watched him break into a smile from my words.

I honestly thought this was going to be weird but I’m oddly comfortable with just sitting here and speaking with him.

“We actually have a mutual friend, ruby and I trained together last year” at the mention of ruby I stared at him.

“so, you’re still swimming?” I had been under the impression that he wasn’t swimming anymore, from what Tina had told me.

He took a sip from his beer that the bartender slid over to him. “yes, I’ve been recovering from an injury, so it hasn’t been my best season” I felt sorry for him. Nothing could be more evil than an injury.

“two swimmers in the family, that’s impressive “I commented thinking about how good bryony was today.

He hummed agreeing.

“can I ask you one question before I leave here” I urged him to go ahead.

“what made you want to coach a small team like this, surely coaching a bigger team would be better for your career” I clicked my tongue. This isn’t the first time I’ve been asked this question.

For a long time, I brushed past this question but now I really think I have the answer.

“yes, I agree coaching a bigger team would help me out, but I know how hard the transition from swimming in school to swimming professionally can be. Nobody teaches you how to make that transition and plus I heard that the team were really struggling, and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to help them out”

I kind went off in my own little world, but he didn’t seem bored at all which is was refreshing.

“I agree that transition is real as shit” speaking from experience clearly.

When I left school, I struggled a lot in finding a team, finding the motivation to train every week. I had zero connections and it was generally just so fucking hard for me.

“well, its time for me to head back. I promised bryony I’d take her out for some late-night festivities” he finishes the rest of his beer abruptly standing up.

“its been a pleasure coach Elle” he holds his hand out ready for me to shake. I stood up reaching for his hand and giving it a firm shake. We must have looked beyond crazy shaking hands so formally in a university bar.

I watched him make his exit. He made sure to avoid all big groups of girls, I guess he wasn’t looking for any students coming onto him.

I quickly send a message to Bryony giving her a heads up. She told me to give a text when we were done. No doubt she’s celebrating hard back home.

Little too much information from my student let me just say.

I packed up my stuff and heading out to my car. I politely smiled at some of the students shouting my name as I passed. Drunk teenagers are always an interesting one especially this time of night.

I drove through the streets and pulled up into my driveway. I switched off the engine and climbed out the car. My muscles were finally feeling the impact of a full day. I wouldn’t be surprised if I turned up late tomorrow for training.

My mind couldn’t stop picturing my bed. Oh, how I wish I didn’t have to shower and remove my makeup.

I pushed my key through ready to greet my beloved bed.

“Elle”

Or not.

I looked behind me and standing by my car was Theo.

“I’m tired Theo can we do this tomorrow” I turned back to my door successfully opening my door. Theo ran up and grabbed my arm turning me around.

“why are you avoiding me Elle, what wrong” really, does he have to do this right now.

“ask Michelle, you seem more interested in her anyways” I said. After the words left my mouth, I instantly regretted it. I know I was being salty, but I couldn’t help it.

I pulled my arm back and stepping into my house. Theo didn’t want to give it a rest for this one night since he slipped inside just before I was able to slam it shut in his face.

“where’s this coming from Elle” he went back to grabbing my arm. I shook him off me already ripping off my jacket and taking the steps up to my bedroom.

“don’t be so heartless Elle, she needed some comfort, her dads not doing well” he tried to reason with me like I would find sympathy for her.

Doesn’t he get that I would feel somewhat pissed if I saw them getting all close and personal. I mean Michelle has made it clear that she likes Theo and hates the idea of me, and Theo This is the perfect plan for her to get close to Theo

And the greatest thing about it, it actually worked.

“that’s fine” I stepped into my bathroom pulling open a draw and getting a makeup wipe to remove this makeup.

“this is childish Elle, I expected this from students maybe. But not from you” my hand paused. I stared at myself in the mirror as I listened to Theo make an abrupt exit. It wasn’t long before I heard my main door slam and the sound pf tyres skidding on my drive.

Am I being childish.

I haven’t had boy drama in so long maybe I am being childish about everything.

But scratch that, why did he have to make such a dramatic exit like I was going to think about my actions all night instead of getting the sleep I deserved.

Yeah you guessed it.

That’s exactly what I did all night. Just sat there and thought about what I saw, what my initial reaction was and how I’ve avoided Theo ever since seeing him with his arms wrapped around her.

The next morning, I wasn’t even surprised when I checked the time to find out I did sleep in. mostly because of all the thinking I did last night and up to the early hours of the morning.

I ran around the house pulling on a pair of athletic shorts and an oversized jumper. I barely had my other converse on when I ran to the car.

“late for work honey” I turned around and spotted my friendly neighbour Gary standing in his drive with his little poodle.

Gary was a business owner who just recently moved into this house with his daughter.

“don’t you have a business to run Gaz” I shouted over to him. He shook his head at me and headed back inside.

I drove to the building. Tina has explained to me that half of the students weren’t in. it’s what I expected, and I wasn’t going to go bat shit crazy on them not today.

I made a straight line and headed into my office. I fell into my office chair breathing in deeply. I could smell the lingering scent of coffee meaning that someone had already come in, no doubt Tina. Normally she comes in with a Starbucks already in hand, but I guess today she didn’t.

“42 Minutes late, how professional” I lifted my head immediately seeing no other than Ben leaning against the wall.

He looked like he just came out of the shower with his hair still wet.

“what do you want Benjamin” I said pulling out my keyboard and logging into my computer.

I watched him from the corner of my eyes walk around my office and sit himself quite leisurely in one of my comfy chairs.

“ah ah coach, it’s what we can do for you” he replied to which I stared at him.

“we” I questioned. Literally as the word fell from my lips my door was opened and the other idiot walked in.

“happy to see me coach” Scott said sitting in the other chair. What did I do to ever deserve this punishment so early in the morning.

I decided to sit back and give them my full attention. Maybe that way I could make them go away.

“well me and benny boy decided to grab some early morning breakfast over in the next village when we saw something oddly suspicious” Scott started off by saying.

We at least I know this has nothing to do with swimming. We I think so anyway.

“what did you see boys” Another voice said coming into the room.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

If I was annoyed that Scott walked in, I was definitely not happy to see her as she walked in unannounced. Every heard of a knock.

Ben smacked Scott and they rose out of their seat ready to leave. Not like that wasn’t suspicious at all.

“oh, just a really large moose looking thing. Quite interesting this time in the morning”

“yeah or a deer can’t quite picture it now” ben babbled on; I don’t think I’ve ever seen him so nervous in my life.

They ran out of the office instantly leaving me to stare at them weirdly with Michelle’s eyes glaring directly at me.

Remind me to go find them after, like that wasn’t weird in the slightest.

“can I help you with anything” I asked Michelle. Her eyes finally moved over to me and she offered a small smile.

“I was wondering if you new where Theo was this morning”

Stay calm Elle.

“No, I just got in, I’m sure you know exactly where he might be Michelle” why was it so tempting for me to call her Michael. This woman is starting to get on my nerves.

She gave me an almost sadistic smile “jealousy really doesn’t suit you Eleanor”

Again, Elle calm the fuck down. She knows damn right my name is not Eleanor.

“if you’re done here please get out of my office, some of us have real work to do” I picked out a random folder and searched through it. It happened to be Melissa’s. I heard her laugh quietly to herself and leave.

As soon as I heard her leave and go down the hall, I grabbed the nearest thing and lobbed it at the door.

The sound echoed loud and the door burst open. A frantic scoot barged in searching the room. When he only found me sitting at the desk he looked around and saw the stapler laying on the ground.

“The teams waiting for you” he said his attention not leaving the stapler on the ground.

Scott jumped out of the room avoiding my angry state as I stormed out the office heading to pool successfully managing to push the door resulting in hitting someone in the face.

Ben stood on the other side. Scott quickly grabbed ben shaking his head.

“don’t”

Not really the best start to my morning.