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Multiple whistles pierce the air, but I sink under the water, cupping my mouth. I kick up, gulping at the air as I try to breathe through the pain. My fingers are soaked with red when I pull them away from my busted lips. I know the skin is split, and I can feel the throbbing heat stronger as soon as I let up the pressure of my hand.
The ref blows his whistle again, and I glance as he calls the number and does the hand signals to eject her from the game. It doesn’t calm my rage that she gets thrown out, I want the chance to elbow her back for that dirty move.
“Peters! Get over here!” Fallon shouts and I turn to glare at him, shaking my head.
I don’t want to be subbed out. He stands at the edge of the pool, his arms crossed and the vein running down his neckpopped in anger. When I don’t swim toward him immediately, he looks to the ref and calls for a timeout. I groan as now the whole team is forced out of the middle of the pool and has to huddle toward the edge by the benches.
“Get out of the water, Peters.” Fallon repeats, the coldness in his voice leaving no room for argument. He nods to one of the girls sitting, signaling for her to sub in for me.
I climb the ladder, plopping down onto the bench with a pout. Emily tries to hand me my parka and I shake my head, my anger keeping me warm for now.
The ref blows the whistle, letting us know our time is up and the girls swim away to get into position to start the play.
Fallon settles next to me on the bench, his hand gripping my chin harshly as he turns my face to his. His thumb pushes down on my cut and I let out a hiss of pain. I jerk my face away and he lets me, wiping my blood on his pants.
“I didn’t want to be subbed.”
“I know,” he says, facing the game. “It doesn't matter what you want till your bleeding stops.”
I cross my leg over my knee, glaring at the side of his face. “It would easily wash away in the pool. No one would have known.”
Fallon looks back at me, and the incredulous expression he gives me makes me feel small. “Everyone saw you take that hit, Sage.”
He’s right, but it still doesn’t feelrightsitting here when I’m okay to play. Especially during a game important enough to determine if we qualify for championships.
“Dude! You took it like a champ!” Alex’s jovial voice sounds behind me.
I stiffen, turning slowly to face my best friend. Emily’s cheeks turn red as she leans toward me.
“Greg wanted to come. I’m sorry,” she says, before turning to the stands and waving. “Hey guys!”
Her boyfriend and Alex come to kneel behind the bench, staying out of the waiting girls’ and the observers' way. I don’t mind Greg for the most part, he’s a pretty cool guy. But Alex is like a bull that keeps on charging, no matter how many times I’ve said I’m not interested. He’s nice, but most of his friendliness is a disguise to ask me out. I found this out after continual attempts to get me to ‘meet up’ with him while Greg and Emily were on a date. Alex always makes it sound like a friendly hangout, but Emily has usually already told me it’s a date.
“You okay?” Alex asks softly.
I plaster on a smile, my annoyance over not being in the game still boiling. “Yeah, I’m good.”
“You need me to get you an ice pack or something?”
Fallon glances at him, the bitterness evident in his glare, but he doesn’t say anything.
“It looked worse than it actually is. I promise,” I say, still watching Fallon’s reaction. He rolls his eyes, facing back to the game without a peek at me.
Alex clears his throat. “If you’re sure?”
“I’m sure. Thanks though.”
He nods, moving to sit on the closest bleacher and Greg joins him after giving Emily a quick kiss.
She scoots closer to me, moving her parka over my shoulder and I squint at her, suspicious of the gesture.
“So…bestie. How are you?”
“Spit it out,” I tell her.
She sighs. “They want to take us out to eat after the game.”
I grimace. “Emily…”
