Chapter 32 New Spotlight
Ryder's POV
It was a total waste of time explaining to a woman.
My father had always told me and now I was seeing it.
As we sat in the office, waiting for the Principal, my blood boiled.
How dare she call me jealous?
Of all persons to be jealous of... Chase?
I turned to her to address that part when the door opened.
"So..." Principal said, looking between us. "Who'll start?"
"You have no evidence of proof." I stated coldly.
"I am the principal and what I say, goes." He frowned. "Seriously, Uriel. How did you settle for... this?"
"If I were you, I'd mind my words. Throwing baseless accusations is a crime and could lead to defamation, Sir." I narrowed my eyes at him, daring him.
"You imp!" He muttered through gritted teeth, eyeing me.
"I promise, we -"
"Explanation is for the guilty, Kennedy." I didn't bother to spare her a glance.
Couldn't she see that I already got it.
"Just, leave." Our principal pushed an envelope to me.
"What's this?" I raised my eyebrow at him, picking it up. "You're not suspending me because of what you thought happened, are you?"
He sighed, rolling his eyes. "The only reason we tolerate you sometimes is -" his eyes darted to Uriel, then he forced a smile. "It's what you've been expecting since. Just check it, boy."
I knew what that was.
"Oh." I nodded, standing up. When I got to the door, I noticed that Uriel was still seated. "Why are you still seated?"
"Because we have to talk. Do you have a problem with that, Mr. Mayor?"
My jaw tightened, my eyes glaring daggers at him. Then I looked at her.
She looked comfortable.
She wasn't the problem.
I didn't trust the principal.
As I opened the door to leave, I heard him say, "your grades are really not very impressive, Ms. Kennedy. What's happening to you? Is it Ryder?"
Of course.
I banged the door, letting him know I heard that last part.
As I walked into the hallway, my friends spotted me, walking to meet me.
"Yo! You've been scarce bro." Mason threw his hand over my shoulder.
"What's this?" Peter snatched a paper from my hand. I raised my hand to drag with him but decided against it.
"Has he gotten someone's daughter pregnant?" Mason joked. "That's usually how pregnancy test comes in. First, at wrong places. Secondly, in white envelopes."
"Speaking from experience, Mason?" I shot at him, throwing him a glare.
"Fuck you bro." He showed me the finger.
"No way." Peter's eyes widened once we got to the locker room for boys.
It was training time and so we had to change.
Felt good to use that word again.
"He's in?"
Everyone's eyes were now on us.
"You fucking registered for swimming?" Peter yelled, his eyes dark.
"Who still does that?" Mason mocked, snatching the paper. "You fucking play a lot, Peter. Holy shitttt!"
"Are you out of your mind? Just come back to the team, Cap." Peter begged. "We need you more than that crappy swim team."
"This must be a freaking joke." Mason began to laugh so hard, holding his stomach. "You didn't tell me you loved to be a merman. Or are you looking to see a fucking mermaid? Bro, what the fuck?"
I stood still, looking between the both of them. "Done?"
Before they could reply, the paper was being snatched by someone else.
We all turned, glaring at Chase.
"Swimming? That's what you've reduced yourself to?" Chase chuckled, shaking his head. "The swim team is dead. Nobody fucking sees that shit."
"Exactly why I'm going there, Chase." I took my paper from him, handing it to Mason.
"To revive it?"
"Bingo! To steal the spotlight again. But not in basketball." I smirked. "I had my prime in basketball and I enjoyed every bit of it. Now it's time to move into something else. Something different."
I placed my hand on his raging chest.
"You know me, Chase. I'm too athletic and too much of a Star to be buried under."
He shoved my hands away, his nose flaring.
"You'd be surprised, Connell. You're a sore loser and you'll only prove that with this shitty swim thing." He scoffed.
"That's your fear talking. See you at the top, boy." I brushed my shoulder past him. Then I stopped, "if you can reach, of course."
"I'll kill that bastard." I heard Chase growl loudly.
A smirk danced on my lips.
He was loosing it already?
I haven't even started.
I needed this swim.
She said it was going to help me.
In as much as I didn't want to believe it, I also didn't want it to seem as if I didn't try.
Emma rushed to my side, following me.
"What do you want?"
"I see my sister looking, so I'm trying to rub it in." Emma said casually, smiling widely.
Then she laughed, slapping my chest lightly like I said something funny.
"And -"
"Last night was awesome!" She yelled, placing a peck on my cheek before running off.
My eyes locked onto Uriel's eyes. They fluttered, disappointment flashing for a split second. Then she turned away into a class.
You're not so loyal to Chase, are you?
Smirking, I turned away to meet my new coach. It was a man, thank God.
"I was thinking you wouldn't make it." The coach said, folding his arms. "Welcome to my small team, Ryder Connell."
Respect
That was all I could hear from his tone.
At least someone still felt my impact from when I was Captain.
"Good to be on your team, Sir. I look forward to winning." I said.
"Good swimmer?"
"Great one." I said confidently. Almost too confident.
It had been a while I swam but yeah, I was good.
"Show us what you got." He said, nodding at the pool. The boys who were in the pool, came out.
I stripped off my clothes until I was in my brief.
"Good physique there." He praised.
"Worked for every bit of it." I smirked, stretching a bit.
My eyes met with the girls who sat at the bleacher, taking pictures of me.
Smirking, I flexed my muscle for them.
They squealed, shamelessly taking more shots of me.
Now, that was my fan base.
"Be back in 3 minutes."
"Make it 1." I told the coach, diving into the water once he blew the whistle.
Just like I was thought, the water was my friend...
An enhancer.
Slow breaths.
Determined structure
I moved fast, touching the wall and diving back to the start point.
"59 seconds." Coach said, amusement in his voice. Then he turned to the door, nodded and turned to me with a smile. "There's someone I'd like you to meet."
Huh?
Immediately I came out of the water, a girl brought a towel to me. I took it, cleaning my face first.
"Every swimmer needs an assistant. She has been saddled with the responsibilities of looking out for you. Feel free to put her on call whenever you need her." He stood in front of the girl, blocking her from my view.
"Okay?"
"And finally, this would be added to her grades. That would solely depend on your remark as her superior." Coach Ben said, patting my shoulder before stepping away.
We mimicked each other's action, our mouths falling open.
"Ryder?"
"Uriel?"
No shit.