I glanced at Samantha but she looked away frowning.
‘You think I should go back and train properly?’ I asked Mum.
‘Yes, I do.’ Mum sighed. ‘Look, I’d hate for you to have worked so hard and then give up just because something might go wrong. You’re stronger than that, sweetheart.’
Mum and I were looking directly at each other by now, connected by the goal we used to share. For a moment it took me back to a time when Mum was my hero and we both shared an amazing belief . . .
You’re capable of great things, Supergirl.
I smiled, surprised at the strength that she was giving me and scared that I’d let her down.
‘I don’t just believe in you, Jade. I know that you can do it.’ She said her words slowly, as if pronouncing them clearly would make me believe that they were true.
‘I . . .’ But I couldn’t find any more words. A small smile. ‘Thanks, Mum,’ I mumbled.
That’s when I heard Samantha take a breath. ‘There’s no reason to rush back until you’re ready, Jade,’ she said, then glanced down at her bowl when Mum and I looked at her. She opened her mouth as if she wanted to say more, but Mum started talking first.
‘We all deal with things in different ways.’ Mum was looking at me, making a point of ignoring Samantha. She lifted her glass and took a sip. ‘You can do it, Supergirl . . . onwards and upwards!’
Samantha was fiddling with her pasta, obvious creases on the fair skin of her forehead. She looked up at me and shrugged, as if apologising for the things that Mum had said.
I looked back at Mum. ‘I don’t . . . Sam’s right, I don’t have to rush back . . .’ Then I looked down at my bowl and stabbed a piece of chicken. ‘For now, I’m going to keep swimming.’
It took me two weeks to swim a lap as fast as Levi. Not that it was an even competition. He was tired and at the eighteen-minute mark; I was ten minutes in and feeling fresh and feisty. Still, achieving goals had been pretty rare for me for a few weeks, so I took what I could get.
‘Why are you so happy?’ Levi asked when he stopped at the end of the lane and saw me touch, and give a little cheer.
I shrugged, squeezing water out of my ponytail. ‘Aw, nothing really. You know the dumb stuff you aim for to keep motivated.’
Levi was smiling at me. I liked the way I never had to explain the beauty of competition to him. ‘So you beat the clock, eh?’
‘Nope. Swam as fast as you.’ I didn’t try to hide my glee.
‘Did you now?’ He glanced across at a swimmer in the next lane, then back at me. ‘And it means nothing that I didn’t even know we were racing?’
‘Well . . .’ My shoulder was tilted forward a bit. ‘That’s the next challenge isn’t it.’
It was another cold afternoon, with dark clouds and a stillness in the air that promised rain. But I didn’t want Levi to get out of the pool just yet. Maybe I could challenge him into staying.
He shook his head, the same look on his face that I’d seen before, as if calming a cute, yapping puppy. ‘You do realise that sport’s not a level playing field, Jade? I mean, girls can be doctors and lawyers and stuff. But with sport, it’s different.’
I rolled my eyes. ‘Now you’re sounding like Marco.’
‘No, I’m serious,’ said Levi, watching me closely. ‘Think about it. Why do they have men’s and women’s swimming events? Men’s and women’s everything. It’s because we have different bodies, different muscle structures . . . It wouldn’t be fair.’
The surface of the pool was mottled with raindrops, changing the mood. For a moment, we looked at each other while Levi’s words hovered around us. Different bodies . . .
I should have started swimming again, but I stayed and stared. Somehow the rain made it seem as though we were alone.
‘I know, of course,’ I said. ‘Yadda yadda yadda . . . But it still bugs me, you know? No one ever thinks to challenge that rule. I mean, why can’t they have some events that are mixed – lacrosse maybe, or table tennis? You know, just to keep it interesting.’
At least Levi was smiling. ‘Have you ever looked at the hundred metre freestyle world record times? Men are always faster.’
The rain was getting heavier. A few lap swimmers were climbing out of the pool – frogs who didn’t like getting wet.
‘Yeah, but life isn’t a level playing field is it?’ I said. ‘I mean, I bet you’re naturally stronger than Marco, but you both play on the same footy team.’ And Monique has a stronger, tighter body than I do, so she’s better suited to gymnastics . . .
‘Well, are you going to keep swimming in this weather, or stand around and talk feminist stuff all day?’
I shrugged. ‘Dunno. I . . .’ Somehow my last few laps didn’t seem so important.
‘Good, because I have another idea,’ Levi said and looked me up and down. ‘Fancy a spa?’
I was disappointed to find two other swimmers in the spa – glassy eyed and staring from opposite corners. They didn’t move when Levi and I climbed in, which meant that we had to share a seat.
My skin was stinging with the heat of the water, almost too much, but the bubble massage on my calves and back felt awesome.
Levi and I sat in silence. It was too weird to talk with the others so close. But I could sense that we were both aware of each other. In some ways, the other people were invisible to us.
At one point, Levi shifted a bit, then came to rest with one leg leaning against mine. Automatically, I moved my leg away – following the spa etiquette of woops, sorry about that and sensed an immediate tensing in Levi beside me, as if something had changed between us.
I glanced sideways at him. Levi was staring into nothing with a face I couldn’t read. Then it dawned on me – that leg brush hadn’t been an accident.
Hidden, secret, under the cover of bubbles, Levi was making a move.
My heart started beating faster in a combination of excitement and panic as I thought this through fully . . . I had just moved my leg away. Did Levi think that I had rejected him?
The other two people hadn’t moved. But they could have been sitting on the moon for all I cared at that point. I settled back. Two can play at this game Levi. Then I shifted a bit, ignoring my racing heart, and rested my leg against Levi’s.
Once again, I felt a subtle shift in Levi’s body, so close to mine. He responded with a clear press from his leg. Yes, I did mean that. Hello, nice to feel you.
I couldn’t believe we were doing this with the two geriatrics in the spa with us. But at the same time, the secrecy and sheer cheek of Levi made my body tingle and melt for more.
Soon his leg pushed again, moving just slightly. I could feel his skin and the muscle beneath it. From that one small place where his thigh touched mine, waves of electricity spread through my body.
After a while, he leaned his shoulder against mine so that we were connected by the length of our bodies. I rested my forearm along the length of his, keenly aware of the size of his arm compared to mine.
One of the geriatrics stood, dripping, and climbed out. But Levi and I didn’t even pause. By now I was totally gone.
Kissing Levi might feel absolutely amazing. Not kissing him was totally out of this world.
CHAPTER 8
‘Marco’s a swimmer, too,’ Rene said, pulling her hair out of its ponytail and combing it with gentle fingers. ‘Did you know that?’
We were sitting under our old pine tree, four days after my steamy spa with Levi and about a nanosecond less than four days since I’d told Rene every detail.
‘Really? I’ve never seen him at the pool,’ I said, leaning back on my elbows and playing it cool about our sudden trip into the danger zone that was Marco. I was still counting down the days until he messed up everything and Rene decided to dump him. But at the same time, I didn’t like such a big part of Rene’s life being off-limits between us. Even a part as annoying as Marco.
‘Well, he’s in our school swim team,’ she said. ‘I think
they train at the Bayside College Pool.’ Rene’s voice was warm and eager, but I knew she was treading carefully by the way she stopped combing her hair. ‘Sometimes I think he likes it even more than footy.’
‘Well, then!’ I said happily. ‘You should start swimming too, Rennie.’
That gave Rene the giggles. ‘What! And let Marco see me in nothing but a swimsuit? I’d absolutely DIE!’ Her cheeks were pink at the thought.
She tied her hair into another ponytail and leaned back on her elbows just like I was.
‘So, Marco’s never seen you . . . well, you know . . . with not many clothes on?’ I asked.
I loved the way she looked at me, as if all her thrills and hidden secrets about Marco were clamouring around in her mind, desperate to escape and be shared.
‘Gosh, no! I’m more a touch-but-don’t-look kind of girl,’ she said with a shy glance my way. She was totally bright red.
‘You’ve got a gorgeous body, Ren,’ I said. ‘There’s nothing to be shy about in that department.’
She sighed. ‘I know . . . love the skin you’re in and all that. But, I could never do the stuff you got up to in the spa with Levi. I mean, you were practically naked together!’
I flashed her an isn’t-it-amazing! grin. ‘I suppose it’s different for different people.’ At school Levi and I had been talking more, but nothing else had happened – he hadn’t asked me out or anything. Yet . . .
For a while we were quiet. Rene started breaking pine needles in half.
I wanted to ask her about the things that Marco had been saying to her – to make sure that he wasn’t putting her down to feel good about himself. But we had already covered too much ground today to toss a grenade in carelessly.
‘So, how’s it going with Marco?’ I said, as if asking about the weather forecast.
Rene smiled. ‘Good. He bought me this amazing arrangement of gerberas for our one-month anniversary.’
‘Oh, yeah?’ I said, swallowing my mistrust of old-fashioned stunts like that. I’d given up being annoyed at Rene’s sudden inability to carry her own books. ‘And . . . he still makes you happy, Ren?’
‘Yeah.’ Her voice was clear, with a hint of old annoyance. ‘Of course he does, Jade.’
I smiled and nodded, trying to show that I was glad.
Rene settled back on her elbows and sighed. ‘It’s his dad who’s the biggest problem, really. He’s tough on Marco. Treats him like . . . I don’t know.’ She looked sideways at me. ‘You’ve got to see it to understand.’
‘Mmm?’ I kept my voice even, but this news explained a lot. I started making bets with myself that Marco’s dad was sexist too.
‘He gets stuck into Marco, saying that he spends too much time with me when he should be training. Or if Marco only kicks three goals and not three hundred.’
I put an arm around Rene’s shoulders and squeezed. ‘Guys sometimes have weird relationships with their dads,’ I tried, not that I knew much about dads.
‘Yeah.’ Rene took a breath and smiled. ‘So maybe we should all go out for coffee one day?’
I made a freak-out face. ‘Yeah, I’m sure Marco would love that.’
Rene sighed. ‘Well, at least can we see them at lunchtimes now? It seems such a waste . . .’
‘Okay.’ I wasn’t too keen on becoming a football groupie. But it had been so good to tiptoe through dangerous territory today and come out the other side holding hands with Rene.
Besides, watching Levi while he did the thing that had earned his reputation? Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad.
‘Yeaahhhh, Marco! Woo hoo!’ Rene clapped with straight hands and leaned forwards in her seat.
Marco had just kicked a long torpedo but, as I quickly discovered, Rene was much more interesting to watch than the footy boys. My sweet, calm, shy best friend turned into a demon on the sidelines – cheering like a true believer whenever Marco got near the ball.
‘Top kick, Marco!’ called Rene, with even more clapping. She stood up to call, then sat down.
‘So, Rene, I’ve been wondering . . .’ I paused until she stopped clapping. ‘When you go to watch Marco play on the weekends, do you get into any brawls with fans from the other team?’
Rene cracked up. ‘Nope. But there was one player a couple of weeks ago who was playing really dirty . . .’ She scrunched up her sweet face and punched a fist into her palm. I think it was the first time I’d ever seen Rene punch anything. ‘I started wishing that someone would hurt that guy.’
I rolled my eyes and laughed.
Thump went the ball, rising from someone’s boot as the cluster of guys at the other side all raced in, pushing and clambering for position. For a moment, the ball arched in the air, then gathered speed on the downward curve . . .
With perfect timing, Marco jumped from the crowd and snatched the ball above their heads.
Of course that set off another round of clapping and hooting from Rene. But this time, I kept watching the oval.
Now that Rene had told me that Marco was a swimmer, his body shape made sense. He was lean and fluid in a way than none of the other footy guys were. Marco was way faster than the whole lot of them.
And Levi . . . I’d never seen anyone like him, not that I’d watched much footy before. He wasn’t fast like Marco, especially with his healing knee. But Levi didn’t need to be fast. He was so freakishly precise. Somehow he seemed to know before everyone else where the ball would land. He’d get there without even seeming to try. And he was strong. Anyone who charged in after Levi would just bounce right off him – anyone crazy enough to take him on.
Thump went the ball again – rising off one of Levi’s runners with just enough force and easy precision to land thud on Marco’s ready chest.
Beside me, Rene bounced a little but at least she didn’t clap.
I kept my eyes on Levi. It was good being able to watch like this – to stare without him being fully aware that I was watching the slope of his thighs, the bulk and curve of his muscles . . .
That body out there had been so close to mine. Those muscles weren’t mine and yet, I felt almost proud of them doing their stuff.
Marco dove on top of the guy with the ball and wrestled him to the ground.
I glanced at Rene who giggled and rolled her eyes. She looked so happy and alive. I shook my head and smiled back.
‘They weren’t weak, you know,’ said Rene, tucking her skirt neatly under her legs. ‘The womenfolk in the ancient tribes, I mean.’
‘Oh . . .’ I wasn’t expecting that, but I knew exactly where it had come from – the first day we’d hung out with the guys. Rene would have been waiting for exactly the right moment to speak up – even if her moment took weeks to arrive.
‘Really?’ I asked, keeping my voice even. ‘This is what you’re studying in history, isn’t it?’
She nodded, staring across the oval but not reacting when Marco caught the ball. ‘If the hunters didn’t catch anything, it was the womenfolk who fed everyone. So they were vital to the tribe’s survival.’ She turned to watch me closely.
I nodded. ‘Oh really . . . well that’s pretty cool . . .’ I tried to think of something intelligent to add, but nothing good popped into my mind.
Rene beamed and started clapping again.
Marco was jogging our way. ‘All good, baby doll?’ He jumped the fence with only a slight push from one hand. Then he snuggled up next to Rene.
I had to stop watching when his arm went around her waist and his slimy lips slobbered all over her face.
‘Your shoulder’s not giving you any trouble?’ Somehow Rene managed to escape the octopus tentacles to hand Marco a water bottle.
‘Nah, it’s fighting fit,’ Marco said between gulps.
I kept my eyes on Levi who was climbing over the fence in a way that made it rattle and threaten to bend.
‘Hey,’ was all Levi said to me – always a guy of few words. Then he was sitting close, his leg touching mine. Sitting beside him was becoming
totally addictive.
‘How’s your knee?’ I asked.
‘Okay,’ said Levi. ‘Aches a bit when it gets tired.’ He leaned back, reaching an arm along the backrest behind me.
Marco stood up, wiped his mouth with the back of a hand and leaned on the fence. ‘So, Jade, I hear you’ve been doing a bit of a swimming?’
I shrugged and glanced at Levi. ‘Yeah, well, rehab and all that.’
‘You should join the school swim team,’ said Marco. He didn’t even sound sarcastic. ‘From what I hear you’re not going to drown, and the team is always looking for decent swimmers.’
‘Yeah, maybe,’ I said warily.
‘I’ve nearly talked Levi into joining,’ Marco said, jerking his head in Levi’s direction.
I turned to him. ‘Really?’
Levi snorted. ‘No. Not really.’
‘Aw, c’mon mate,’ pleaded Marco.
Levi just shrugged, and gazed out across the oval.
‘So when do you train, Marco?’ I asked.
‘Well, the guys train Tuesdays before school, but you would have to train with the girls on Thursdays.’ Marco sniggered at Levi and winked. ‘There aren’t any mixed events at the school swim meets.’
I frowned at Levi who just shrugged and put on his poker face. I shot Marco a look that meant don’t start with me, then peeked at Rene, hoping that she hadn’t noticed.
She looked like a school teacher who’d been out of the room and come back in the middle of a spit-ball fight. ‘What do you mean “mixed events”?’ she asked slowly.
‘Not sure exactly,’ said Marco with a mock frown at me. ‘What are they again, Jade?’
A few weeks ago I would have been loading my gun and aiming happily at Marco. But now? I frowned and started mumbling, ‘Aw, it’s nothing really. I was just thinking it might be fun seeing guys and girls in the same events sometimes. Just a dumb idea . . .’ I glanced at Rene, worried that she’d be annoyed with me, but she was smiling and nodding.
What Supergirl Did Next Page 6