Mia's POV:
I slide out of my shorts, feeling the sting of the cool air on my bare thighs. I unzip my jacket and shrug it off my shoulders, before placing both neatly into my gym bag.
After drawing my blonde hair into a low pony tail, I turn and let out a startled gasp as Coach Brennon stood there, a lazy smirk on his face as he watched me.
"Coach?" I asked slowly, a little uneasy that he is standing there, watching me undress from my casual clothes, into my swimmers.
"Mia," he smiled back. "How are you?"
"Good," I replied curtly, meeting his eyes a little nervously. "Can I help you with something?"
"Yes," he smirked, his eyes dipping down to my legs. I feel the hairs on my arms bristle under his intense gaze. "Just not right now."
As I was about to ask what he meant, I heard footsteps, knowing that the rest of the team were arriving. I pride myself in being the first here every morning. It proved to myself, my parents and the Coach that I'm dedicated to swimming.
Pulling his bottom lip into his mouth seductively, he winked at me before he sauntered out of the room.
"Morning," I heard him murmur.
"Good morning, Coach," the voice chirped back, as Carrie rounded the corner, her dark eyes meeting my eyes. "What are you looking at, Mia?"
"Nothing special," I muttered, grabbing my towel and stomping past her. I head out to the locker room where I line up.
Coach Brennon's eyes linger on my mind as I thought about the way he looked at me and the way he stood there, silently watching me undress...
"Hey Mia," Hayden greeted and I felt the thoughts of Coach Brennon disappear from my mind as my stomach fluttered.
"Hayden," I beamed. "How are you this morning?"
"Good," he replied, tossing his bag onto the bench. "Mike coming today?"
"Not sure. I texted him last night and he was still sick."
"Hope he's alright," he frowned and I watch, lips parted, as he shrugged out his jacket, having no shirt on underneath.
Hayden is by far the hottest guy in school. He is gorgeous and that smile... That smile made my entire day.
He stepped out of his track pants and I look away, feeling a blush kiss my cheeks.
"Not even first period and I've already got your pants off," her annoying voice smirked as she brushed past me like I wasn't even there, zeroing in on Hayden.
He rolled his eyes. "Hello to you, too."
Carrie wrapped her arms around Hayden's neck, before placing a sloppy kiss on his lips. They began openly making out and I cringe, looking anywhere but at them, feeling sick.
I hate that he can't see the other side to her. She acts so nice to me when he is around but when we're alone, she is horrible.
I turn my head and watched Coach Brennon. His eyes are focused on them and they are narrowed.
"Break it up, love birds," he snapped. "We have a swim practice to get on with."
Carrie stepped back with a smirk on her lips. Their eyes met and she gave him a small, coy smile.
I frowned. What the hell is that about?
"Morning Mia," she sang in a warm, polite tone as she noticed me staring.
So fake.
"Morning," I muttered with a frown, looking to the front where Coach is standing.
"I want us to start with some laps before we work on times. This afternoon we will be doing work outs in the gym. Any questions?"
We shook our head in response.
"Good, get to it."
I begin to walk out, when I heard him speak again.
"Carrie, a word?"
I glance over my shoulder as she hung back, a playful smile on her lips.
Is it just me, or does it really seem like something beyond Coach-student relationship is going on there?
"That is awful," I heard my mother say with a frown, drawing me from my thoughts, as she read an article in the newspaper.
"What is?" I asked, glancing down at my untouched breakfast, unable to stomach any food since I found out Grace was attacked and Hayden was arrested for it.
"That poor girl in your class being attacked," she said with a sigh, shaking her head, before taking a sip of her morning coffee. We have discussed this topic multiple times in the past two days. "You've never known Hayden to be aggressive, have you?"
"I fucking hate your guts, Mia." His words rang in my head for the thousandth time.
I can still hear the distinct sound his fist made against the metal of the school locker beside mine.
"No," I replied even though my mind is repeating the very scene of him screaming at me and punching the locker beside my head. "Not that I can recall. I don't think he is the one who hurt her."
She peered at me over the newspaper. "You don't?"
"No," I shook my head. "I really don't."
"Guess you never know the full story," she said softly, taking another sip of her coffee.
I push back from the table, feeling sick.
"Mia," his voice said, making me jump. "Have I done something to upset you?"
I look up at Coach Brennon as he leaned against the door frame. I was halfway through undoing my jacket.
"Why do you ask that?"
"You have been very quiet in practice. Almost like you're avoiding me?"
"Why would I?" I asked, trying to keep my voice relaxed as my heart began to frantically beat inside my chest.
He stepped closer and I instinctively took a step back.
"Mia," he frowned, noticing, coming closer. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," I whispered as he stood in front of me.
"You can talk to me about anything, you know that, right?" he asked me, his voice low and sensual as his eyes darkened, dipping to the exposed skin on my shoulder.
I nod weakly, feeling my eyes become wet.
He leaned over, running his finger down my cheek, his eyes never leaving mine.
"I'm here for you. For anything."
"Good to know," I whispered, my mouth feeling hot as I held back tears.
He gave me a slow smile, before he turned, leaving the room. I let out an exhale, leaning against the wall for support.
Coach Brennon is seriously starting to scare me.
"What's up with you?" Carrie's voice pulled me out of my thoughts. "Looks like you've seen a ghost."
"None of your business," I snapped back.
"Prissy bitch," she muttered, shredding her clothes confidently. "Oh and while I have you here, back off my boyfriend. You pining over him is embarrassing to watch."
"I don't pine over him." I retorted, my cheeks reddening, still shaken up with what just happened.
"Pining, obsessing, whatever you want to call it," she replied sweetly. "Enough is enough. Got it?"
I sneer at her, becoming angrier by the second. How dare she speak to me like that when she doesn't treat Hayden anywhere near he deserves. She could also be hooking up with our creep of a coach, to top things off.
Ignoring her threat, I slip out of my clothes and leave the room, wanting nothing more than to be away from her and the Coach right now.
"Morning," Hayden greeted and I hardly met his eyes as I line up.
I'm here to swim. I need to forget about everything else.
I look up, to see Coach Brennon smirking at me.
I feel myself grow pale as I stare back at him.
"Mia?"
I shook my head, clearing my thoughts, looking back at mum. I made it to the kitchen and realised I am leaning over the sink.
"Are you alright?" she asked, a concerned look in her eyes.
In answer, I threw up, my entire body trembling.
Hayden didn't attack Grace.
Ashton did.
***
Letting out an exhale, I lightly knock on the door.
"Come in," a raspy voice called.
Opening the door before I can back out of it, I step inside Grace's hospital room, shutting the door behind me.
"Wow," she said dryly. "Didn't expect you to be on the top of my visiting list."
Walking over to the blinds, I quickly shut them and I heard her let out a slight cough.
"Is this the part where you're going to suffocate me with a pillow or something?" she asked.
I turn to her, facing her for the first time and an audible gasp left my lips. Her face is filled with bruises, lacerations and there are deep, purple bruises around her neck. She looked like hell and her injuries have had two days to heal.
"Yeah, I get that a lot," she said with a sigh.
Blinking, I control my face. I am usually sgood at it but the extent of her injuries took me by surprise.
"Sorry."
She whipped her head to me, her eyes widening. "Who are you and what have you done to Mia?"
I roll my eyes at her and walk towards the chair pulled up near the bed. I take a seat.
"Funny."
"Seriously," she said slowly, narrowing her eyes at me.
"You stood up to Hayden and told him the truth. You could have gotten away with it. You could have said it was Carrie in those photos and thrown me under the bus, but you didn't. Why?"
She dropped her eyes to her hands. "The best thing to do was to be honest. I'd been lying to myself thinking he would be better off not knowing."
"I get why you didn't want to tell him," I murmured, too weak to hold up the cold front I usually would. I am going to have an honest conversation with Grace for the first time since I've met her. I'm tired of the hate, the threats, the competition. She's not Carrie and I have to remember that. "I know what it's like to know how great Hayden is and then not be able to be with him. It's a horrible feeling."
Her eyes are sympathetic as she looked at me and I glance down to my nails, wanting to pick them but I only just got a fresh set put on.
"Yes, it is," she whispered.
"Grace," I started, not entirely sure how to word what I want to say. I take a moment to collect my thoughts. "I'm not going to apologise for the way I've acted because I'm still annoyed at you and we have both done things wrong. That's not why I'm here. But, I am going to be honest. I think Coach Brennon is a child predator. He went for Carrie, he went for you and honestly, I think he tried to go for me too and considering we're the only females on the team, there would have been others if the rest of the team weren't boys."
She sucked in a breath of air as she stared at me with a stunned expression.
"Nothing ever happened, but he used to watch me, make comments, touch my face, run his hands down my arms... Creepy stuff. I was scared to tell anyone because, honestly, who would really believe me? I see this stuff happen all the time. No one ever believes and besides, he never forced himself on me. I knew him and Carrie were having an affair. No one noticed. No one realised. But I did. I had to make it stop."
"So, you took photos," she whispered.
"I thought if they got caught, he would get in trouble. No one would have to know I was involved. But, he didn't... Hayden found out, Carrie moved schools and Brennon acted like nothing ever happened. Then, you came along and it happened all over again."
"You took photos again?" she questioned.
"I should have done more, but I was still in the same situation. Once he had his attention on you, it was off me. I was fine. I focused on swimming, things were back to normal. Until you broke it off with him. Then he started trying with me again, saying these things to me..." I trailed off, my cheeks warming. "Saying I was his number one, he was always here for me..."
I can see her face paling at my words.
"I should have done something sooner but I didn't know what to do. I tried to ignore it." I let out a whoosh of air as I lean back in my chair, lifting my eyes to meet hers once more. "He attacked you, didn't he?"
She nodded. "Yes. He did."
"Shit," I breathed, running a hand over my face. "I should have complained about him. I should have said something."
"Mia, this isn't your fault. I appreciate your honesty, but no one could have predicted he would do this." she assured me, giving me a gentle smile. I blink at her in shock. Carrie would never have said that.
"You don't blame me?"
"Of course not," she replied earnestly. "I got involved with him, knowing it was wrong. I paid the consequence."
"If you're going to testify him in court, I'll make a statement," I said to her, hoping this would ease some of the guilt I was feeling, for keeping quiet about him for so long.
"That would be helpful in the case," she told me. "Thanks."
I nod at her. I got to my feet, running my hands down the skirt I was wearing, attempting to remove the creases.
"Well, I'm going to go now. I just wanted to tell you that."
"Thanks Mia," she said softly. "You didn't have to."
"You didn't have to, either," I said to her, thinking back to when she helped me with Hayden.
She gave me a weak smile as I walk to the door. As my hand was on the door knob, I look over my shoulder at her.
"I still don't like you."
She rolled her eyes. "Whatever you say, Mia."
As I walk out of her room, I am surprised at the genuine smile on my face.