Roe St. Alee

Only a few of the younger boys are still swimming as I pull myself up out of the pool. I have a strange realization as I do so. Even two months ago, when I came to Ogawa High School, I had barely been able to pull myself out of the pool without using the ladder. But my training has improved all parts of my strength and skill, not only swimming but also my power. It seems like a small thing, and a foolish one to be proud of, but I take note of it more as a change than an accomplishment. I

Yuto Tanaka has been training harder than ever for the Ogawa High School swimming club's first meet of the year. While he is not as strong or fast as some of the older boys on the team, he has been making progress. Progress due in no small part to the mentorship of his senpai, Gen Uotate. With only a few days until the meet, Uotate-senpai pulls Yuto aside for one last bit of preparation, intended to strengthen both Yuto's standing on the team and their bond with each other.

Chapter 25 While we were on our way to the dance, the interior of the limo felt huge, like we could have fit ten more people in there. It seemed impossibly fancy, pristine and elegant, and we all felt the same way. It’s the same limo, with the same driver and the same people, but it doesn’t feel that way anymore. It’s just the way these nights end. Like when they turn on the lights at the end of the dance. The glitz and glamour are gone, and you’re left with the same old high school gym

I’ve done way dumber things for love... but you make a good point :)

Chapter 24 Dark grey, with more grey. I’m still not convinced this is going to work. I loop my tie through itself one more time and pull it down. I tighten the knot and push it up until it’s snug against my neck. I straighten my collar one more time and then slip on my jacket. I’m sure I’ll take it off again while I’m waiting, but I have to see one more time what everything looks like together. Sam helped me pick everything out, but I was reluctant to go for this look. I was all for

Chapter 23 “We have to win, no matter what.” I nod my head. “Got it,” I say. “A must-win game.” “Exactly.” “And then you make the playoffs?” Gray holds up his finger at me and shakes his head. He looks dead serious. He wants to make sure I’m getting this. “It’s more complicated than that. Even if we win, we might not get a spot.” “But if you lose, then…” Gray puts one of his big, meaty hands on my shoulder. “If we lose,” he says, “we’re out no matter what.

Chapter 22 “You sure about this?” I take a second to really think about Ko's question. Am I sure about this? The simple answer is no. I’m not sure. But am I unsure enough to let it stop me? “I get it,” says Ko, “but you could always just come hang out at my place.” I sigh. He's right. I could bail and go play videogames with Ko. That sounds nice. And easy. And safe. So while I know this isn’t a great idea, I need to do it anyway. Even now it's hard to tell if

Chapter 21 I should have known better. I stayed up extra late last night and didn’t even play video games. I worked on my English homework like I was supposed to. I practiced my presentation and worked out exactly what I was going to say today in class. Apparently, no one else puts the same amount of importance on English homework that I do. When Mr. Boyle announced for the first group to get up in front of the class, they looked terrified. As he surveyed the room, he didn’t see

Chapter 20 [ Yeah, they have somebody's ID. ] I send the text and immediately see the three dots on my phone, indicating that a response is coming. I lean out over the railing of the porch and look into the trees behind Lucas's house, but it's tough with my night vision being ruined from my phone. Just like the rest of his yard, the grove of trees behind his house seems bigger than it actually is. We can't be more than a few hundred feet from his neighbors back there, but I feel like you

Chapter 19 I can't believe I let him talk me into this. The second I hear Ko's tires rolling out the end of the driveway, I have to fight the urge to pull out my phone and text him: Come back and get me! I would never hear the end of it. I turn around and shove any thoughts about bailing as far away from my mind as humanly possible. I can do this. I can hang out with Carter's friends. I look up at the house and I'm amazed at how out of place it looks. Most houses in our town

Chapter 18 Don’t worry. The story’s not over. I mean, if you want to freeze frame on this moment, and stop reading right now, that’s ok. It’s a happy ending if there ever was one, and I won’t blame you in the least. But it’s not the end of the story. And it’s not even some epic moment that’s burned into my brain forever. Honestly, it happened so fast I almost missed it. It’s almost like I didn’t know what Carter did until it was already over, like it never occurred in the present mom

I've thought about that as well... Maybe one day

Chapter 17 It’s finally here! Opening night. Or rather, it’s the early predawn hours of the day that will eventually turn into opening night. My alarm isn’t set to go off for almost another hour, but I’m so excited I can’t imagine I’ll be able to fall back asleep. Instead, I try to quiet my mind and focus on the day to come. I need to save some of this excitement for later. There’s still a full day of school. I have a math quiz. I need to turn in homework. After tha

Chapter 16 This might not be so easy to explain. Sure, I missed Monday and Tuesday, and while I know that a visit to the principal’s office counts as an excused absence, it’s not ideal to be missing another day of drama class. Opening night is only a few weeks away, and it would be good to get a couple of extra hours under my belt rehearsing lines or practicing stage directions. That’s typical. Called to the principal’s office and all I can think about is how I’m not gett

Don’t worry! There’s more on the way. I’ll post the next chapter on Sunday