Orange Cable Dreams

Marcus stood at the edge of the pool, clutching his vitamin D supplement like it was a lifeline. Coach had started the whole team on them last week, claiming they'd help with energy and mood. Marcus just felt like a fraud every time he swallowed one, pretending to be this serious athlete when really he was just the kid who'd joined swim team because his crush thought speedos were cute.

The pool lights flickered—again. Someone had tripped over the cable running along the deck, same as yesterday. Marcus's orange towel lay tangled in the mess, a bright splotch against the wet concrete. Everything about swim practice felt performative: the way they all stretched in unison, the synchronized dives, even how they complained about the chlorine.

"You're overthinking your strokes," said Chloe, the senior who'd basically adopted him. She was treading water nearby, her orange cap glowing under the underwater lights. "You're swimming like you're apologizing for existing."

Marcus reddened. "I'm not—"

"You are. Who cares if you're not the fastest? Who cares if you joined for the wrong reasons?" She did a lazy backstroke. "My first year, I pretended to be this badass competitor. Truth was, I was terrified. I still am sometimes."

"You?" Marcus snorted. "You're literally team captain."

"Exactly." She grinned. "Total bull, right? But that's the thing—we're all just pretending. Might as well pretend to be confident instead of pretending to be humble."

The pool lights steadied. Someone had fixed the cable. Marcus looked at his orange towel, then at Chloe, then at the vitamin in his hand.

"Hey Chloe?"

"Yeah?"

"I joined because Jessica Martinez said swimmers have good arms."

Chloe cracked up. "Dude, Jessica graduated last year."

"I KNOW." Marcus groaned, hiding his face. "I'm an idiot."

"You're not an idiot," Chloe called, swimming toward the wall. "You're just teenage. We've all been there. Now get in the water and stop apologizing to the pool."

Marcus dropped the vitamin in his bag. He'd take it later, but right now, he was done with the performance. He dove in, and for the first time, he didn't think about how he looked. He just swam.