Thrust Into His Arms

GWENETH

I practiced and practiced until my zeal for it burned out. Exhausted, that is when I finally think it is time to end my marathon self training session for the day.

How long have I even been at it? I don’t know.

I find Maverick sitting by the pool when I come out of the water. "How long have you been there." I ask with a small smile, panting.

"A while. I have turned in all my midterm assignments, and that gave me a free period so I just decided to use it to come watch you train."

I blush, nodding "Ooh, nice bestie. How did I do? Even if you do not understand a thing about swimming moves, just tell me how mine are from your perspective, and be honest!" I urge. I want to hear someone else’s opinions aside from Coach to truly validate in my mind that I am a good swimmer.

He smiles, "You are great like you have always been." The answer is duller than I expected. And why does he look a little down? That smile seems forced.

I immediately ask out of special concern, going closer to him. "Are you okay? You look sort of down." Maverick with his cheerful and easygoing personality, you can always tell when something is up with him because it shows no matter how he tries to conceal it. His personality would dim a little, making one easily able to tell.

"Nothing, it’s just this banging headache that I’m having." He flat—almost weakly responds.

"Then go to the infirmary." I quickly, and matter-of-factly suggest.

"I already did and was given medication. You don’t need to worry. It is getting better." He assures. I decided not to press or point out if it is about the midterms. He is not much of a bright student, so unlike me, he had been so tensed about the exams.

I can’t wait to see how he would be when the semester end exams come. Or his final year.

"If you say so. And if it is about the midterms, don’t you worry. You’re going to ace it somehow." I encourage.

"You’re like a psychic."

"I don’t have to be to tell that, dear bestie."

I start doing a few limb stretches. During that I got so thirsty, and I went to get my water bottle from my bag to see that there is just a small amount of water left inside. It is not enough to even wet my tongue let alone clear off the thirst.

"Are you out of water?" He asks thoughtfully, "Then you can have my orange juice." He offers me the small bottle juice, clearing away the frustration. "Oh thank youuu. You are such a lifesaver!"

I happily accept it, undoing the cap and taking large sips. I unknowingly pause when I get a call from Dad, telling me that he would be returning home pretty late today and strongly admonishing me about safety checks like he always does for most of the call before he hangs up.

That gives me a fun idea. "How about a movie at my house tonight?" I ask Maverick. He has suggested it twice to me before and I turned it down.

But now I just think I should make the most of this being home alone thing. I don’t have problems and I am not bored with being alone with my brother—I will never be. It’s just that this would be an exciting and fun thing to try.

"We can get pizza or order chicken. Or maybe try my Dad’s special ramen noodles?" I entice.

"Sounds fun but, I wouldn’t be able to."

My shoulders immediately slumps, downcast upon hearing his polite turndown. The excitement of the thought melting away at his refusal like expired candy.

I had been fully expecting him to be instantly cheered up, and jump on the offer. "Huh? Why not?" That’s disappointing. "I just happen to be going to my grandparents house later today. I haven’t seen them in a while."

"Okay. No problem, we can definitely have the movie night another time then."

We both leave the swim section, I want to go to the library and relax over a book. He wanted to join in initially but backed out saying he had something else to do, rushing off before I could even inquire about what it is. I reach the library and thoughtlessly pick out a book about plants. It was sort of boring at the begining but I started to get into it later on as it explains the origin, meanings and uses of rare plants and many that have not been seen since ancient times.

I have never heard of most of them before. Like the Nicton berry that is said to glow fiery blue in the dark. And the Nightshades. None of the ones I have seen so far are edible. They are either meant to be used as poison or an aphrodisiac. Which on both sides is deadly and potent.

This book would be a treasure guide for a serial killer who loves using the poison method.

I suddenly feel like a princess living in a tall fantasy mystic castle and I just stumbled upon the a book detailing forbidden witch magic that I could be executed for reading.

I laugh silently to myself at the crazy imagined thought.

It gets all bubbly and crazy in my head sometimes. Don’t blame me, you should see how ancient this book looks first. Brown parchment-like pages.

There is one drawing of a plant that I am seeing now that instantly reminds me of a tattoo that I have seen on someone. It is drawn on his chest, and I have seen glimpses of it—the eery-looking dead branches peeking out when he wears sleeve shirts that he does not care to button up properly because he wants to show off his stupid body.

It is the asshole like you have probably guessed.

I try to shake his thoughts out of my head and turning over the next page and the next page after. Later, I could no longer force myself to read and understand the words and drawings. Not only are things getting increasingly foggy up in my head,

I’m getting dizzy and small circled bits are blurring my vision.

This sometimes happens to me when I am too tired. I had swam too much. When cleaning my eyes and doing a blink spike did not stop it, I placed the book back where I had taken it, mentally marking the spot and then left for the infirmary to go rest.