Swim Again Read online

  SWIM

  AGAIN

  AIMI MYLES

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  Copyright © Aimi Myles 2016

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any manner, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

  Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is a coincidence.

  Cover: M Blue Designs

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 1

  Two years ago

  Kaz

  “Kaaazzz, bro how are you so awesome?” Dusty said, patting me on my chest. “There’s no way I know a dude who not only went to the Olympics, took all the gold, but continued the same punishment at Worlds. No way.”

  “Way,” I said and took a sip of my drink.

  A few girls in short, black spaghetti and strapless dresses pretended to find a good spot to sit in the living room, directly across from me. One “happened” to drop her purse. Her dress inched up her thighs as she bent over to retrieve it. A table full of guys were trying their hardest to stare but not be as obvious as the rest of us there. When the girl stood back up, she adjusted her dress and slipped me a smile with the toss of her hair. The other girls had their eyes on me already.

  One of the men peaked into the kitchen, to see what the girl was looking at, then whispered to his table full of friends. In seconds, no one was worried about the girl anymore.

  “Man. And you’re in the flesh right now but on my TV in the summer.” Dusty was so amazed; he was smiling at me not only through his grin, but with his eyes. Agh! Mauri. She “forced” me to watch all of those hot chicks on those modeling shows. It was like she had a gift for me to watch every time I came around.

  “Dude,” Dusty said.

  Mauri, I miss her. She would have been good company at the party. After a while, everyone sneaking peeks at me, saying there’s Kaz Nelson, one of the greatest swimmers that ever was, gets a little annoying.

  “That’s how it works,” I said, realizing my wide eyed friend still stared at me, waiting for answer.

  “Yeah… That’s how it works,” he said and threw back some more whiskey.

  Dusty was going to regret that conversation in the morning. His whole goal was to hang out by me to get chicks, or get a photo op by one of the random party goers, not become one of the groupies himself. It also didn’t help that he was a grown man, five years older than me. I smiled, shook my head, and had another sip as I watched out over the crowd from the kitchen.

  I always wondered if I would stay in our little town or move into the lights and action of the bigger part of our nearest city. Would my fame be a lot worse to deal with? I probably couldn’t go to house parties like the one I was at for sure. Growing up, Mauri and I swore to get away. But as I traveled around to several countries, it made me want to stay. Staden was home. There was a joke in there somewhere about Staden forcing you to stay in.

  “Bro, where’s Mauri?” Dusty said. “That chick is hot. But she’s a nerd. But she’s not like.” Half way out of it, he made a waving motion, pointing out the girls, with his hand. “You know.”

  Mauri. I slid my phone out of my pocket with a curled lip. She didn’t want to come to the party. She, in my theory, hated parties. Dusty was right, she was a nerd, and so I had to mess with her. I tapped her name on my phone, and a picture of her lunging toward the camera popped up. Mauri wasn’t quick enough to steal my phone before I got the shot. She answered on the first ring.

  “Hey Kaz,” Mauri said. “Bored already?”

  “It’s been a little over an hour, and no I’m not bored. I’d say you were by the way you answered your phone with quickness. Forget me setting the records. You’re a champion all on your own.”

  Mauri thought she disguised her amusement with a cough. “I’m watching a movie. So no, I’m not bored, but I am surprised you’re not engaged in conversation with one of your new lady friends. The one who has been flirting with you ever since you came through the door.”

  “You’re jealous.”

  “You know I think somewhere in your sick, twisted mind you can’t get over the fact that not every woman on this planet will lay down for you.”

  I chuckled. “I doubt that.”

  “Well, you certainly put yourself out there all of the time. It won’t be long until you have enough significant data to prove or reject your theory.”

  “Yeah, perhaps I will. And you won’t be able to say I’m not generous or didn’t try to help a friend. You’re taking sociology, psychology, women-ology classes right? You’ll have plenty of data for a groundbreaking study. And it won’t be from any mere man. It will be the data of a champion. Olympic at that.” I cracked up at my own joke.

  “You’re sounding like Hometown. Exactly like Hometown.”

  “That was the point.”

  The girls at the party started screaming and ooh ahhing; the crowed shifted towards the door.

  “What was that?” Mauri asked. “Should I have recorded that sound bite for data purposes?”

  “Shhh,” I said.

  “Why did you call Kaz? Get off the phone and enjoy your party.”

  “Did y’all miss me!?” the biggest piece of … well, for a better term, scoundrel, yelled. “It’s not a party until I’m up in it, literally.” That of course spawned laughter. I rolled my eyes.

  “Dude, it’s Hometown,” Dusty said, roughing up my shoulder. “Y’all are cool right?”

  Mauri chuckled. “Hometown? Never mind. Keep me on the phone. Put me on speaker. I’ve got to hear this.”

  “Maureen, I,” I said. “I’m about to be out of here. Wanna come over or something?”

  “So we’re being all formal now? Do I need to bring my own entertainment?” she said. “It’s not going to be me feeling out of place with women hanging, springing out of everywhere— jumping up on top of bars, swinging from the chandeliers, will it? Like last time. Because—”

  “Just meet me at my house in about twenty minutes.”

  “K.”

  I lowered my voice and curled away from Dusty. “And wear that violet swimsuit that you know I like.”

  “Kaz!” Mauri said.

  I hung up and laughed to myself.

  “Ladies and gents!” I heard Hometown—my biggest rival, always second to me, a best friend in previous times— say.

  “Hey, Dusty,” I said. “Thanks for inviting me but I gotta go.”

  “The lady calls?” he said.

  “Yeah, something like that.”

  I should have sprinted out of there because I was too late. Normally, he wouldn’t faze me but that day I wasn’t in the mood to threaten or fight.

  “Well, look who I haven’t seen since Worlds,” Hometown said. “The champion. Our hero.” He was ridiculous with his panel of supporters behind him. And to think Maureen had teas
ed me for taking advantage of my situation.

  “Hey,” I said.

  “That’s all I get?” Hometown said. “For all of the things we went through together.”

  “I’m leaving.”

  “That’s fine, but where is your little sidekick, Maureen?”

  I inhaled sharply as flames shot up through my body. I clenched my fist but remembered he was nothing but a pest. The worst kind. The kind who knew almost everything about you and wasn’t afraid to use his info. The fact that made him even more intolerable was that he would not be dissing Maureen if she was there. He suffocated her space whenever she was around.

  “Talk about her one more time,” I said.

  “Chill. I’m simply asking how she is,” Hometown said. “And where she is.”

  “Thanks again Dusty,” I said.

  “What?” Hometown said. “No goodbyes for me?”

  “Just be ready next summer,” I said. “Until then, go take a seat and think about how embarrassed you’re going to feel when you lose to me again. After all, you were supposed to be our hero. Too bad I closed that door for you. But hey, maybe you’ll win gold when I retire.”

  Hometown’s face scrunched up before he laughed. “You were always funny Kaz.”

  I nodded and headed out the other exit to the kitchen. The girl from before along with a member of Hometown’s entourage had slipped away from Hometown’s circus and blocked me from the door. I had made it into the dark dining room. The two hot women got into my personal space and stood before me. A breath of air slipped out. That wasn’t like me at all. Normally I had more control.

  “Want us to go with you?” the girl who bent over, the one on my left, said. The other giggled and left no secret to what she was thinking about as her eyes slid down my body. Lefty pressed herself against my torso and whispered, “I’ve dreamed of meeting you for so long. Ever since you were in that little swimsuit on TV.”

  “The speedo,” I said.

  “Mmm,” the other woman said.

  “Come with us?” Lefty said. “Or we can go with you.” The woman’s hand slid down my chest and straight for my pants. I caught it before things got hotter.

  “Maybe another time,” I said.

  The second woman frowned and embraced my shoulder. “You sure? We can do some amazing things together.”

  “I have to go,” I said and freed myself from their grip. “Ladies, it was nice meeting you.”

  “It will be nicer next time,” Lefty said.

  After slipping away, I sprinted for the door. The last thing I needed was another set of women trying to grip and grab me everywhere. I could only hold up for so long. And Maureen didn’t deserve that. I stood her up a few too many times in exchange for a stranger.

  I climbed up into my black pickup truck and headed home, out to the edge of town. Mauri once asked why I opted to live in the wilderness. I joked that I liked living on the edge. Truth was if I wanted to stay in my town, I couldn’t be in town. I had to keep a good distance. I needed peace every once in a while.

  Mauri, however, didn’t seem to like the idea. Every time she visited, she appeared to be a little frightened—scanning the place for random people, jogging into my house. That was why I knew she’d be late as always. There was no way she’d sit waiting on me to get back home.

  Almost there. Hmm. That light is usually on. The last street light, next to the road I used to get to my house, had never been out before. Mauri was going to be creeped out even more. I should call her about this. Yeah, I’ll just wait until I get inside.

  Instead of parking in the back, by the garage, I stopped in the curved drive way in front of my house. The chance of me escorting Mauri down the driveway was high.

  I got out of my truck and fished through my pocket for the keys as I walked to the door. About thirty seconds later, I felt a surge of pain across my lower right leg accompanied by the sound of a pipe. As my instincts bent me down to embrace it, I heard another pop. That time pain surged across my arm. I was being attacked!

  I yelled in agony and turned around quick enough to catch the bat that the person had hit me with. I struggled to take it away. He, I assumed, was too strong. The guy wore all black and hid his face with a mask and hair with a hat. He swung again.

  As I focused on holding the bat, I was kicked in the stomach. I groaned, bent over, but my hand stayed fixed to the weapon. The next blow was coming for my face. I shielded it, with my hand, but got swept to the ground, and lost my grip on the bat. Then the man repeatedly hit my right leg again a few times before he paused, seeming to hear something.

  My phone rang with Mauri’s tone as I coughed, feeling like I was going to bled onto my pavement. Not willing to be caught, the man took off sprinting into the woods, back towards the town. Moaning, I tried to push myself up, but the pain in my leg was too great. My arm was too sore, so I laid back down in misery. I screamed for help and saw headlights through the trees. The vehicle was headed to my house.

  “Mauri! Help!” I screamed.

  The car came into sight seconds later, and Marui must have seen me because she flew down the driveway, nearly jumped out of her car when it was still running, and dashed to my side.

  “Kaz!” she cried. “Oh my God.” She called 911 as she examined me.

  “On foot,” I said.

  “What?” she said.

  “My attacker. He’s going back to town.” I gasped. “It could be a strong woman. Tall, 6’2” at least person… Wore all black and a mask.”

  Mauri relayed the information to the dispatcher and we waited. The pain became more excruciating when I tried to move, but I was able to at least get my head onto Mauri’s lap. We both waited, worried, terrified that the guy would come back, although we knew it was unlikely.

  “You’re early,” I said and winced. “It’s a miracle.”

  “I know, but don’t talk,” Mauri said. She placed her hand gingerly on my shoulder.

  “Thank you.”

  Red flashing lights grew larger and the sirens got louder and louder as they came to our rescue. Mauri joined the paramedics to help lift me up onto the stretcher. She climbed into the ambulance after me. I tried to keep my eyes open, but I had to close them.

  Maybe I had passed out at the party, and it was just a horrible dream. I hoped so for the next few minutes until I fell asleep.

  ---

  But it wasn’t a dream. Through the police investigation, we found out that whoever beat me had a plan. It started with eliminating my security system. Two hours of prior footage didn’t exist. Neither did the attack or the events after. And the suspect had to have parked somewhere close because police were dispatched, and no one was found running anywhere. No one found meeting the description.

  Hometown had an alibi. He had been at the party the entire night. His and my parents were investigated too; they weren’t guilty. Even my swim coach, Mark, and former other coach, Dakota, had to prove their innocence. Other than a couple of guys I hadn’t gotten along with in high school and some more of my competitors, no one else was examined therefore no suspect was found. That was the second part of my nightmare. The one that tried to drown me in fear day after day. The attacker was so good that they left without a trace.

  Chapter 2

  Present day

  Mauri

  “Help! Somebody help us!” I screamed. Kaz was lying in my lap, coughing up blood, and moaning in between coughs. I called 911 again and got another dead line. “Help! Please!”

  “Mauri,” Kaz said, looking up at me, his lip curled.

  “What?” I said with a softened voice.

  “I love you.”

  Tears welled up in my eyes. “I love you too but you gotta hold on. You can make it.” I waited for Kaz’s response but he took two breaths and was gone. “Kaz?” I said. My voice shook. “Kaz?” I shook his shoulder and began crying again. “Help!!!!” The last street light went out, and I heard rustling in the trees. He came back to get me too. “Help!” I couldn�
��t hear myself scream. Kaz squeezed my hand.

  I gasped and my eyes flung open. I threw off my comforter and stayed still while my pajamas clung to my sweating body. Two deep inhales calmed me. That was the fourth time I had the same dream about Kaz. Each time my ability to help him was a little different but they all ended with terror. I had no idea what the dreams meant. I hadn’t seen Kaz in over a year.

  Rolling my head, I saw that the clock read 8 a.m. It was close enough to go ahead and get ready for the day. Usually, I liked to sleep in on Saturdays, but I needed to get going to shake the nightmare off. I hopped up, jumped in the shower, then fought back tears as I pulled on some jeans and a long sleeved t-shirt. I was so angry at Kaz, but still I felt like I should have tried harder. Not want to banish him; not let him leave because it left me to watch his entire career from afar—what we dreamed of when we were younger.

  I sniffled a few times then grabbed my backpack, hoodie, and keys to my little studio apartment. The coffee shop in our bookstore was the first place I planned to study.

  Outside, it was a bit frostier than the day before. Depending on what type of weather you liked, we were lucky or unlucky to not get snow yet. Even if it had come, our “snow” was more like a sample or suggestion. Most of the time, it melted not much longer after hitting the grass. That or it would be gone in the morning.

  Every now and then we had to deal with ice. A touch of it would make everyone go crazy, shutting down schools and all. The great part was a day off from school; the drawback was being quarantined to home. No one knew how to drive on ice, so it was more dangerous outside.

  The coffee shop/bookstore was a couple of blocks over from where I stayed, so my walk wasn’t bad at all. I had been able to find an apartment close to school, within walking distance, but also in the vicinity of life outside of it. Living one hundred percent on campus as a senior was a no, no. We had to have some freedom and not feel stranded. But I preferred to be close so those early mornings weren’t so much of a drag.