"There you are." Amber uncrossed her arms when she saw her friends walk out of the classroom.

"Everyone's treating that new teacher like royalty," Carmen sighed. "I mean, even the principal is kissing up to him bringing him coffee and everything. What's up with that?"

"Hello!" Shelby waved her hand in front of Carmen dramatically. "Have you seen him?! He is the definition of perfection."

"Oh please, I'm with Carmen on this one," Amber scoffed. "Just because he's attractive doesn't mean he deserves special treatment. We hardly know him."

"We are slowly getting to know him, it's only his first day! Anyway did you hear how he praised me when I talked about the poem? He said I was 'insightful'!" Shelby gushed, her cheeks turning pink.

"I just wish I was able to ask him about Mr. Dacus," Carmen muttered.

Amber's interest piqued. "Right, to ask if he knew about Rai-"

"I really need that letter of recommendation soon," Carmen groaned.

"Should I keep wearing glasses from now on? Amber whaddaya think, are they cute? Will Mr. Perfect think I'm cute?"

Amber closed her eyes and ahemed to resist rolling her eyes. Well, she still did, but at least the others wouldn't see her doing it.

"It's cliche, but sure," she reluctantly admitted. "Listen, I'm going to finish snack early. I want to take the chance to swim some laps now since nobody's using the indoor pool."

"See ya, you desperate goldfish," Carmen stuck out her tongue and laughed.

Well that was new, Amber thought to herself. She'd never seen her do that expression before.

As she turned and made her way down the swarming hallway, her eyes met with someone staring at her.

The beanie kid blinked and turned away, resuming a conversation with some guys near the lockers.

She took that as unspoken confirmation that their relationship wouldn't go anywhere. Amber sighed softly, opening the door that led to the indoor pool.

Her sigh echoed off the walls. It was quiet and empty, only her sharp footsteps reverberated through the stretched room. The ripples in the clear blue pool reflected onto the walls around it, providing only slight illumination in an otherwise dim room.

Amber's heels clicked across the shiny grid floor. Looking out across the water, she wondered why no one else took advantage of extra practice this early. Not that she was complaining, of course.

She took a left, pushing open the door to the women's locker room. The men's was all the way on the opposite side of the room.

Passing by the sinks and stalls, she made her way to a narrow set of small corridors with lockers and benches between them. She set down her purse and textbooks and unlocked her own, pulling out a sports bag with her swimsuit and swim cap.

Amber felt a chill run up her spine as she undressed. Suddenly, she remembered some of the rumors her teammates warned about. They always cautioned against going to the locker room alone, because a few had sworn to have heard the showers turn on without warning or the lights flicker off for too long before turning back on. In all those stories, they'd never found another soul in the room with them. At least.. not one they could physically see.

Amber shook off the memories and adjusted her straps. It was a good thing the lights were on right now.

She stuffed the rest of her things into her locker before gently closing it, not bothering to fold it neatly like usual. She scoffed at herself. Who was she watching out for, closing the locker so quietly?

"Come on, don't be a wimp," Amber coached herself while adjusting her hair under the cap and goggles over her eyes. She stood tall in front of the mirror, trying to convince herself that she'd leave behind her fears once she walked out of this door.

Out she went, bare feet quietly crossing the tiles as she sped up and brought her palms together over her head. She squatted just before edge, sprung up and plunged gracefully into the water.

Her ears got fuzzy as soon as she broke through the surface. She curved like a serpent, her body undulating as she gained speed. She pushed through the water, tilting her body to the sides with each powerful stroke.

She surfaced and gasped for air upon reaching the opposite end of the pool.

Ugh give me a break! I don't swim laps everyday like a demented goldfish I would know, Amber, Carmen's teasing voice echoed in the back of Amber's head.

Amber made a turn underwater and propelled herself away from the wall. She furrowed her brows and forced the memory away, urging herself to swim faster.

Demented goldfish my ass, Amber retorted. It might have been too late for that comeback, but that didn't mean the bitter resentment was gone.

What even gave Carmen the right to act all high and mighty? Ever since she was offered that stupid letter of recommendation, it was obvious she thought she was all that and a bag of chips.

Amber rolled her eyes under her goggles and kicked off the wall, racing herself to the other side again. She gasped for air again, turning quickly onto her back and rapidly swinging her arms over her head one at a time while kicking herself backward through the cool water. On she went, swimming back and forth and alternating between exhausting techniques.

Her muscles ached, but she didn't care. The only thing giving her energy was a fierce adrenaline rush rooted in anger.

Nothing made sense. There was just no way Carmen had worked as hard as her to get where she was. Amber took harder classes, volunteered more often— so why? How could Mr. Dacus choose Carmen over her?

Amber smirked. Oh well, it was just too bad Mr. Dacus had been replaced today. Maybe that would knock Carmen down a peg or two.

She is so damn selfish and self-centered. Carmen just loves making herself the star of the show, doesn't she? Amber thought to herself.

She reached the edge of the pool and gripped the cement. Her chest heaved heavily, almost like there wasn't enough oxygen in the room. Amber buried her head on her arms, trying to catch her breath.

God, I'm an awful person... What is wrong with me?

Her throat clenched up as the dark reality finally set in. Amber took a huge breath and let herself sink six feet.. eight feet under the surface... all the way to the bottom of the pool.

Amber sat down and hugged her knees, shutting her eyes tight.

I'm selfish... I'm so goddamn selfish. I just... I wanted to be the best.

She recalled all her trophies, awards, the applause and the approval, the admiration in everyone's eyes. Where did it all go? What could she possibly be missing?

Why, of all people, did she now see her beloved friend, Carmen, as a rival? It wasn't fair. No matter what she told herself, her emotions were reluctant to let logic win.

Every single one of Carmen's successes was a direct threat to Amber's sense of stability. Something within her told her she had to retaliate. She had to prove she was stronger, smarter, better than Carmen. However, every spark of hope surrounding Carmen slowly chipped away at Amber's own hope for herself.

Amber hugged her body closer, cocooning herself safely under the dark water. Nobody could see her here. Right now, she was the only one who knew how small and insignificant she truly felt.

I don't deserve you, Carmen, she lamented. Her eyelashes carried dews of teardrops. I'm just the worst, and you don't even know it.

Something rubbed against her arm. It felt like a soft ripple underwater, as if someone were moving closer. It couldn't be, since she was alone at the depth of the pool.

Amber opened her eyes. A figure sat in front of her, dark curls floating around in her the dark water while she stared back emptily.

Amber gasped and instantly regretted it. Chlorinated water rushed into her mouth and throat and she started choking. She reached up to cover her mouth while her nostrils flared and burned. She could barely see anything behind the cloudy mess of bubbles erupting from her face as she struggled for air.

Everything was becoming blurry— there was so much water and she couldn't breath. If she didn't get out now, she never would. It was a mistake— a grave mistake to come here alone.

Amber used every ounce of her strength to swim upwards. The surface seemed so far, so hopeless. Her body convulsed as more bubbles shot out of her nose and mouth. Sensation was slowly leaving her muscles. Her head felt light. She forced herself to swim more. At this point, she wasn't even sure whether she was swimming up, left, right, or back down into the depths of her demise.

I screwed up, oh God. Carmen I'm so sorry.