Page 19 of Dahlias, Sapphires, and Cool Autumn Dusk
She laughed. “Yeah, they didn’t tell you, which is a constant problem, but it usually works out for us. We’re the women’s water polo club here at Pullman, and we’re different from these guys. They’re PSAA but we’re only a club. Don’t get me started on the difference in funding for women’s and men’s sports in this school.” She held up her hand like she wanted me not to speak as she rolled her eyes in obvious frustration, which was fine, since I had no intention of interrupting her. “Anyway, we practice when they’re not using the pool, which works out to be three times a week. We play games against other clubs in the area, but we’re down one player and we need that player to keep our status as a club.”
Interesting, but why was she telling me? Then it hit me and I swallowed hard. I tried not to be too hard on myself for being so slow, but I wasn’t typically invited to things. I cleared my throat. “You want me to play?”
She nodded. “Four months with us takes care of your PE requirement.”
Barrett nodded. “It does.”
Julian and Jeremy arrived, dressed in matching Pullman tracksuits and carrying backpacks.
“Sarah?” Julian said to the girl, who still hadn’t introduced herself to me. “What’s going on?”
Barrett slipped his arm around me. “Sarah was asking Alatheia to join the club for water polo.”
“Really?” Jeremy sloped his brows down. “I don’t know that it’s really Alatheia’s thing.”
Sarah laughed. “I’m talking to her, Lent, and I didn’t ask for your opinion. Or your big brother’s, really. Or your twin’s. I’m talking toher. By the way, you totally had that guy. You just needed to swim left, and you would’ve nailed the goal, maybe a second one with the five meter he was bound to do.”
Jeremy visibly swallowed, considering her words as if impressed. “Thanks for the input.”
She turned back to me, saying, “Yeah, so do you want to play water polo, help me out, make some friends, get some exercise, and take care of the fact that you need to do PE anyway? Otherwise, you’ll end up doing something else with someone a lot less charming than me.”
All their eyes were on me, even if it didn’t feel like a life-or-death decision. I didn’t know if I wanted to play or not, so I wasn’t sure how to answer. “I just saw water polo for the first time today, and I’m not a great swimmer. I can swim, but it’s more like I can survive in the water rather than any intentional grace. I for sure can’t do whatever they just did in the pool.”
She grinned, confidence oozing from her like a drug. “By the time I get done with you, you’ll be a swimmer. Like I said, we’re a club team, and a pretty bad one anyway. Come on. Try it.”
I jolted. “Right now?”
“Why not? The guys are done. Let’s go.” She nodded toward the locker room. I swallowed, since I hadn’t even agreed to join the club yet.
“Hey.” Julian caught my hand, snagging my attention. “You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to. Or you can try it. Ifyou hate it, just don’t do it again. We’ll figure out how to handle your PE requirement, I just didn’t think of it yet. We handled Phoenix’s. What did he do again?”
Barrett sighed. “An independent study where he was supposed to be professionally skateboarding.”
I shook my head. We didn’t need to make up a PE for me. “Okay, I’ll try it, but I can’t promise I’ll be any good. I might be terrible. You may regret asking me to do this.”
She snorted, dropping her hands from her hips finally. “Doubt it. Let’s go.”
I turned around, glancing at the guys. “I guess I’ll see you later?”
They all agreed, but Jeremy frowned. Something about the situation didn’t track for him, so I wished I could read his mind to find out what.
I followed Sarah into the locker room, where about a dozen other people changed. I didn’t know any of them, but Sarah pointed to the left. “Grab a bathing suit from the rack in your size. Towels are over there. Leave your stuff in a locker.”
“Sarah,” I said again, trying to make her understand. “I really don’t swim all that well.”
Her smile was fast and confident. “You will soon. Can’t get stronger if you don’t get started.”
True enough words for many things. Without other options, I made my way to the rack she indicated and grabbed a bathing suit, happy there were a few that looked like they would fit. I changed quickly and stored my stuff away, my palms slick with sweat. I’d never played a team sport, other than generic gym classes, so I didn’t even know what to expect.
“She got you, too?” a girl said from the corner. I glanced at her, finding a skinny pretty girl with light brown hair and glasses.
I smiled, admitting honestly, “She sort of caught me by surprise out there. I’m still not quite sure what I’m doing here.”
“My mom said I have to do something with myself if I want to go to college. Sarah’s mom knows my mom, so here I am.” She shrugged. “I’ll be entirely awful at this, I’m sure of it. I’m Valerie.”
I put out my hand and we shook. “Alatheia.”
“Cool name.” She walked past me, dancing a bit on her toes. “Why do our bathing suits have to go up our asses like this?”
