But it wasn’t her. I was already in my head. Coach didn’t want me to swim all four races and I couldn’t stop thinking about how DJ said my persistence was frustrating. How Coach probably felt the same way. He didn’t even want me to stay late at practices anymore. He’d never said anything when I’d stayed late before.

Up in the stands my dad called my name. He stood and waved when I looked. I waved back and noted my mom next to him talking on the phone. I really should’ve worn my headphones right up until I had to swim. Michael Phelps used to do that at the Olympics to stay in the zone or get pumped up or something. If he’d done it, it couldn’t have been a crutch like Coach implied. I took a deep breath of chlorine-filled air, then stood. I jumped up and down a few times, then stretched out my shoulders. “Here we go,” I said when the announcer called out our race.

Coach was beaming when he stood in front of us after the meet. “I’m so proud of all of you. We had an amazing meet today. Next Saturday is the finals. You are to stay all day to support the whole team no matter when you swim. After that, as your coach I require one more commitment from each of you. In two weeks there’s the awards banquet. I expect you all there. I don’t want to hear about other plans. This will be your one and only if you expect to swim on my team next year. This is as important to me as any meet has been the whole season. Understood?”

“Understood,” we all echoed back to him.

“Okay. Go enjoy your Friday.”

The other swimmers filed away. Amelia left too, knowing my habits. This would normally be the time, after performing so well in my races, where I would pester the coach about letting me swim more. Even though I was sure he wouldn’t let me swim the butterfly for the final meet of the season, I still had my senior year ahead of me. I wanted all four races next year. But over the coach’s shoulder I saw DJ, and between the two of them, and my throbbing shoulders, I couldn’t do it. Coach obviously didn’t want it to happen. I spun around and left.

Amelia, who hadn’t made it far, tilted her head.

“What?” I asked.

“Nothing,” she said. “It’s nice that Heath Hall didn’t show up today. Turns out you’re intimidating, after all.”

“I guess so.” My dad stood off to the side, waiting for me. “I’m riding home with my parents. See you tonight.”

She gave me a side hug. “Don’t give up on the four races.”

“What’s the point?”

“The point is that you’re amazing.”