Olive
What am I doing here?I’m asking myself as I take a seat in the empty classroom where the first planning meeting for the school centenary newspaper is taking place.I don’t belong here—but, then, I thought the same thing six months ago when, very much against my will, I took up Mr.Acevedo’s suggestion of helping out with costumes and makeup for the theater club.In the end, that led to me making up with Tori and genuinely enjoying myself during the rehearsals.
I’m not so sure that will work out this time, but maybe that’s because the average age is considerably lower on the newspaper team.The younger kids are eyeing me almost with awe, which is irritating because it reminds me that I belong in the upper sixth, where I ought to be working way too hard on my A levels to have time for the school paper.But it is what it is, and to be honest, I’m impressed by the businesslike way Theresa and her friends are approaching the editorial meeting.They genuinely have thought of everything, and at the end of the session, they even hand me a camera they’ve borrowed from the tech club.
Straight after study hour, which follows the meeting, I head out to the rugby pitch.Most teams have training now, including the swimmers.I hang around by the running track for a while, where I spot Emma and Grace among the athletics team, while Gideon and Henry are with the rugby lads on the pitch in the center.I can hear Mr.Cormack from miles off, the stands are empty, the floodlights on, and in the distance, the sun is setting.The whole thing makes me weirdly emotional as I stand on the edge, watching them all.My fellow pupils moving, chatting, cheering each other on.Their yells and laughter fill the cool evening air, and the thought that I’m no longer part of all this is painful.But I’m not going to sink back into self-pity.So I do what I came here to do—watch the teams and make a note of people to interview for the profiles.In the end, I even venture into the swimming center.
The air is warm and heavy with moisture.It settles on my skin and my hair as I slip off my socks and shoes at the doorway and walk barefoot over the tiles.There’s the biting smell of chlorine, which I’ve missed.Being in here fully dressed reminds me yet again that my time as an active member of the team is over.
The younger kids are in the shallow end, practicing their technique, while my team are, as ever, doing lengths of the main pool.Euphoria rises within me as I see Ms.Cox and Luke walking up and down the edge, urging on Ana, Imogen, and everybody.Luke glances up and a smile spreads over his face as he spots me.
“Olive!”He walks over.“How cool that you’re here.”
“Yeah.”I wave my camera and notebook at him, slightly uncertainly.“I’m here for the school paper.I’m on the lookout for people to feature in the sports section for the centenary special.”
“You’re the new sports reporter?”
I smile despondently.“Well, I’ve got to do something.”
“How’s your arm?”Luke asks, and I wish he didn’t sound so earnest.
“It’s getting better, I think.”
“So will you be back any time soon?”
I swallow, then shrug.“I’m afraid not, not after the skin graft.I’m not allowed in the water properly for ages.”
“Man, that’s so pants.The team keeps losing without you.”
Aye, Luke.I find itso pantstoo, believe me.But I don’t want to come over bitter and crabby to my old teammate, so I force myself to smile.“You’ll just have to work harder, then.”
“You heard it, Luke,” says Ms.Cox, who joined us without me noticing.She smiles as I turn to her.“Olive’s dead right.Off to the starting block with you now.”She waits till he’s gone before she looks back at me.“How are you, Olive?”
“I’m getting there.”My standard answer, which is sometimes true and sometimes less so.
“It’s nice to see you here,” she replies.
I know what she means, because before my accident, I did regular lifeguarding duty during the times that the pool was open to all pupils at the school.When I got back this term, I signed up for library duty instead in the hope of bumping into as few people as possible I know from swimming.And I’m sure Ms.Cox can guess that.
“Yeah, I never really got the chance before,” I say evasively.She doesn’t need to know that I’ve been here by night.“I’ve missed it,” I say in the end, and that’s the truth.
Ms.Cox smiles.“Well, that’s handy.I wanted to ask you if you could see your way to helping me out a bit with the coaching.”
“Me?”
“You know the team better than anyone, Olive.Two pairs of eyes see more than one when it comes to keeping the squad in check and pointing out sloppy technique.”
I hesitate.“Wouldn’t that be weird?I mean, I used to be on the team with them.Why would they let me boss them around?”
“I wouldn’t worry about that if I were you, Olive.You’re highly respected on my squad.”
Present tense.She says it like it’s still true, and for a moment, it’s hard to find the words.
“Just think it over.There’s no rush, not if you’re busy with the newspaper for the time being.We won’t swim away from you, don’t worry.”
I had no idea how much I needed to hear those words.And I nod, almost on autopilot, and say, “That would be great.”
“Wonderful, Olive.”Ms.Cox smiles.“Do you have fifteen minutes?I’ll get everyone together at the end so you can fill them in on your request.I heard what you were saying to Luke about the school paper.”
