Page 113 of Oar Than Friends

We all knew Coach was right, but it didn’t stop several of the boys rolling their eyes as they settled back into their seats for a quick nap. I was about to do the same exceptmy legs were knocked off the seat next to me by Will Norris, who sat down.

‘How’re you doing?’ he asked.

‘Good, thanks,’ I nodded. ‘How ’bout you?’

‘Same.’ He tilted his chin up to where Coach was. ‘Nothing like a Westcott pep talk, right?’

‘Yeah, right. Must be effective though; he’s been here forever.’

I rested my head on the seat and waited for Will to say whatever it was he’d come over here to say. Although he was president of the men’s club we hadn’t talked much since I’d been brought onto the crew, and while I hadn’t gone out of my way to talk to him, I’d had the impression that perhaps he’d been doing the same.

Understandable given what had happened in my dorm room.

‘How are you finding the training?’

I turned my head with a broad smile. ‘Even with my alarm going off at four fifteen, I’m loving it. It’s so awesome to be working with you guys, you really know how to power through the water. I love having a front row seat for it.’

‘We’re glad you could come,’ he smiled back. ‘I don’t want to speak ill of the ill, but the results you’ve got from us have been amazing. Westcott might want us to stay quietly confident, but I have full confidence we’re going to smash Oxford.’

I rolled my mouth into a hard line, ‘I think I agree with you.’

In my periphery I could see him nodding to himself, before he spoke again, quieter this time, ‘How’s Oz getting on?’

I took a deep breath, filling my lungs with much needed fresh oxygen while I thought about my answer.

‘We don’t talk about training, we like to keep it to ourselves. Can’t be trading secrets now, can we?’

I didn’t even have to lie. We really didn’t talk about it any more. It was something I’d found harder than I thought I would, and Oz was the same. Neither of us had realized how much we relied on our daily conversations around training and preparation. The reassurances we were both doing a good job, or the advice we doled out following a shit day. I missed his stories about Charlie, Brooks and Marshy, and I had none to swap because I hadn’t trained with Imogen and Hannah for two weeks.

Our conversations now revolved around school, him getting another First, and me falling asleep in my neurobiology lecture and being sent out.

But not talking about rowing was nothing compared to how much I missed him. I thought after the first week it would become easier, but it was quite the opposite. Ten seconds of silence stretched out between us before Will spoke again, ‘I’m sorry about the other week. I’m sorry about Mary …’ he trailed off.

I smiled softly. ‘Don’t worry about it, it’s not your fault. And you shouldn’t be apologizing for your girlfriend.’

‘Well, actually, she’s not my girlfriend any more. We broke up.’

I spun around to face him properly, ‘What? When did that happen?’

‘Last week.’

‘I’m really sorry, Will. I hope that wasn’t because of … you know … this.’

He shook his head. ‘No, it wasn’t. It’s been on the cards for a while, I just hadn’t found the right moment. I should be thanking you for helping with that.’

‘Is she okay?’

He shrugged. ‘I’m sure she’s fine. Probably too distracted with how to win the race.’

‘Yeah,’ I chuckled, ‘she’s very determined.’

‘Got that right. Anyway, I just wanted to say I’m sorry, and I’m glad you’re on our crew.’ He stood up to go back to his seat, then paused. ‘Oz is a decent guy. I enjoy rowing with him.’

‘I agree.’ I smiled up at him.

Since I’d been sitting down, my hands had stayed warm clasped around my phone in the little pouch on the front of my hoodie, and I pulled it free.

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