CHAPTER ELEVEN
Competition
"I hear Donna LaDonna is seeing Sebastian Kydd," Lali says, adjusting her goggles. What? I dip my toe into the water as I tug on the straps of my Speedo, trying to compose myself. "Really," I say casually. "How'd you hear that?" "She told the two Jens and they're telling everyone." "Maybe she's making it up," I say, stretching my legs. "Why would she do that?" I get up on the block next to her and shrug. "On your mark. Get set. Go!" Coach Nipsie says. As we're both airborne, I suddenly shout, "I went on a date with Sebastian Kydd." I catch a glimpse of her shocked expression as she belly flops into the pool. The water's cold, barely seventy-five degrees. I swim one lap, turn, and when I see Lali coming up behind me, start pounding the water. Lali's a better swimmer than I am, but I'm the better diver. For almost eight years now, we've been competing with each other and against each other. We've gotten up at four a.m., swallowed weird concoctions of raw eggs to make us stronger, spent weeks at swimming camp, given each other wedgies, made up funny victory dances, and painted our faces with the school colors. We've been screamed at by