AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Eighteen
Adrienne
I stepped into the hallway just as the door to the women’s bathroom at the end swung shut. That had to be where Alana was.
I’d always wanted kids. Not a big family. One or two. Sean was firmly set against them, and I was grateful now I’d never pushed that issue, but I was also aware my chances for having my own children got slimmer every year.
“Alana?” I asked softly as I stepped into the restroom. The door to the stall against the far wall was closed.
She sniffled. “What?”
“What can I do to help?” I’d been a millisecond from telling Dustin yes earlier when he asked me to go with him. It wasn’t my place. This probably wasn’t either, but no one else was here to do it, and I felt for her.
“No one understands.” Her threatening tears were evident in her voice.
Poor kid. “I do. I’ve never been a competition swimmer, but I used to do dance.”
“Really?” She managed flat and sad in the same breath.
“Yes. My first time was right before we were supposed to be in a state competition. In all white outfits.”
“Oh my God, I would die. Is this some sappy story about how things all turned out okay?”
“Besides the fact that I was terrified the whole time of something going wrong, and the cramps were the absolute worst? Yes.” Of course, it was easy to say that almost twenty-five years later, but directly saying one day this won’t matter at all didn’t seem like the best approach.
Alana sighed. “I can’t wear pads with a swimsuit.”
“When’s your meet?”
“Thursday.”
“You might not even have to worry about it by then, and if you do, you’ll wear tampons.” God, I hoped her mother had already talked to her about that. “You have to get used to them if you’re swimming.” Was I overstepping? Maybe. Did I see another option? Not really.
“Did you win? At state?” Alana asked.
I swallowed my laugh, but didn’t have a good response.
“You got your asses kicked, didn’t you? Was it your fault?”
I’d be offended by the question, but she was probably projecting her own fear. “No. No. And no,” I said. “We were the good sportsmen entry, there because we’d tried so hard during the season. But it was one of our best performances ever.”
The stall door creaked and Alana stepped out, eyes red and cheeks puffy. “You shouldn’t have been there if you weren’t good enough.”
Maybe. Maybe not. “We showed up and did our best. You have the chance to do the same. You can’t lock yourself away for three to five days a month for the next thirty-ish years.”
“I guess not.” She trudged to the sink and washed her face.
We walked back to the Art room in silence, to find Dustin and Phillip still waiting in the office. Dustin visibly relaxed when he saw us. “What can I do?” he asked.
Alana shook her head. “I’m better.”
“I’m glad.”
“But Adrienne and Phillip are coming over tonight, right?” Alana asked.
Excuse me what?
“They probably have other plans.” Dustin’s reply lacked resolve.
