Story 44/1001

• threshold
• mouth
• swim

Austin noticed the lights at the back of the school. His eyes widened, as he climbed the fence and rushed to the pool.

“You’re still here? It’s 1AM, man.” Austin said.

“I couldn’t sleep. So I went for a swim.” Conrad answered, swimming closer to Austin.

“Dude, you can’t be here anymore.”

“They forgot I still had the keys.” Conrad smiled.

“C’ mon. Let’s go home.” Conrad looked at the water, like he was asking it what to do. Then, he turned to Austin.

“I think I’ll stay.”

“You’re crazy. You know what coach said. If you so much as even think about passing that threshold, he’ll expel you from the school.” Austin pointed at the doors.

“Thanks for reminding me, Austin.” Austin crouched, watching Conrad.

“You know you have to graduate. If you mess this up, your mother, father, I mean, even your sister-“

“Shut your mouth!” Conrad yelled, getting out of the pool. He walked towards Austin, not breaking eye contact.

“Don’t you think I know that? Don’t you think I know they were sacrificing everything so I can have a career with swimming? They are sacrificing so much that they even got a second mortgage just to pay for this stupid posh school with its stupid posh people. And you know why? Because it has the best coach, the best teams, the best pool. The best opportunities. So, don’t preach to me about my family or swimming.”

Conrad stopped, feeling the tension in his chest calming down.

“I know I messed it all up. I know I disappointed everyone. But swimming is all I know.”

“Why did you go with them that night?” Austin asked.

“I-” Conrad shook his head. “I don’t know. I thought we would just be swimming a bit. I- “

“Really?” Austin scoffed. “Knowing Jackson, the ass who always hated you because you’re a poor dude, but you swim better than him – and you thought his crew and you would just swim a bit?”

Conrad rolled his eyes and smiled.

“No wonder they were able to get your ass drunk by the pool and call the coach. “

Conrad frowned.

“That’s not all they did.”

“What do you mean?”

“Coach ordered every drug test possible. I was positive for some heavy ones, Austin.”

“Did you-“

“I don’t know, man. I swore to the coach I didn’t, I told him I only drank a bit. But the truth is, I don’t remember.”

“You think Jackson-“

“I don’t know.”

Austin and Conrad stood in silence, one thinking of possible solutions, and the other trying to not think about anything.

Suddenly, Austin started walking away.

“Get dressed, my car is nearby, so I’ll take you home. Tomorrow, we’ll think of a plan.”

“What?”

“I am the principles son, Conrad. We will find a way to get you back on the team.”

“And how exactly will you do that, Nancy Drew?”

“I prefer Sherlock.”

“I’m surrounded by posh idiots.” Conrad said, smiling.