Teacher? (teampeeta)

Marco started to get upset. His head popped up from the water as he did his stroke, to wave to Cala, but she didn't even notice him. She was talking to the coach. He asked her if she could teach the class. Marco felt just that little bit of jealousy. He could feel it around him too. Many guys felt embarassed with a girl, younger than a lot of them, teaching the class. Marco kept swimming, but Cala didn't even come over to say hi to him. She was too busy teaching.

Marco was getting even more upset. Now, Cala was having them do some exercise with heavy bags. She was bossing them around too much! Marco saw the faces of the swimmers around him. They didn't like it either. Cala was not turning out to be the person Marco thought she was. Suddenly Marco dropped his bag and started swimming down to get it. But he didn't retrieve the bag. Instead, he was distracted by all of the colorful fish that lit up the water. He started swimming the other way, far from his class, holding his breath under the shimmering water. If he wanted to, Marco could hold his breath for a very long time. He followed the train of red, orange, and yellow fish, until he was far out, barely able to see the other swimmers. He let his head come up to the top of the water, as he took in the real beauty of the water.

Marco just kept on swimming, letting the small ripples of waves drag him across the water. Soon, he was so far out that he could barely see land anymore. But he wasn't afraid. In fact, he liked the free feeling of being out in the middle of the water. He was farther out than he had ever swam. The sky was starting to darken and Marco thought about Cala. Where was she? Did swimming already end? But Marco erased the thought from his mind. He just wanted to enjoy the moment alone, without anyone following him, or trying to get him to do something important. Marco dove back under the water, and watched all the schools of fish swim by. When he came back up, the darkness started to crowd the sky. Marco figured he should probably get back. But, as he glanced around him, he realized that he didn't know which way was back, which way was home.

Oh, perfect. It was Cala. Marco rolled his eyes when he saw her. She was the last person he wanted to see. Marco started slowly swimming away. "What are you doing here anyway?" He asked Cala, turned the other way. He looked up at the dark sky as he swam through the water. He had to get home, no matter if Cala came or not. It's not safe to be in the middle of a huge lake at night. If something happens...no one would be there. Cala wasn't answering his question. "Cala?" But when he looked back behind him, he could see the reason why.

Slowly, Marco answered. "No, well I don't think so." Suddenly, Marco remembered. He had scraped his knee on a rock while he was swimming in the shallow part of the lake. He could tell it was still bleeding just from how it felt in the cool water. "Umm...Cala," Marco said. Cala's eyes were like darts as they moved straight towards Marco.
"What?" She asked sharply, but Marco could tell she already knew what he was about to say.

Marco couldn't breathe. He was still partly conscious, but barely. He knew Cala was doing the best she could, but Marco was pretty sure he might not make it. He'd gotten himself into so many life-threatening situations before, he wasn't sure he'd survive this one. Slowly, Marco felt himself return to consciousness again, but then loose it again. This went on for minutes, nonstop.

Marco blinked and blinked until everything was clear again. Cala was in front of him. He couldn't speak, he was too struck by confusion and the cold. Cala helped him up and they walked back near rows of houses and shops. They were silent the whole way. Once they arrived, Cala helped Marco just get to his house, and then she walked in a different direction. Marco lay in his bed thinking, "Did Cala just save me?"