No Turning Back

by Casey Peeler

  “Okay, how would they know Dylan though? I mean it’s not like he went to school here. Heck, I didn’t know I was going to school here until last minute.”

  “Charley, I don’t know, but one thing I keep thinking about is recruitment. Didn’t he visit schools? Maybe they met that way? Let’s just keep working on it. How’d the project go?”

  “Awesomesauce! Well, except for me having a million butterflies, but the movie was a hit. I’d hate to go after us. Oh, and I don’t think you have to worry about Joe. He used the word friend in his speech in class. You don’t think he’s gay do you?”

  “I seriously doubt that he’s gay. The fact that he has called you friend makes me happy just so you know, but it’s okay to be friends. Maybe that’s why he’s there. If it was more than friends, things could get cloudy. He wouldn’t be able to look out for you.”

  “That’s true, but why give up all his free time to protect me? I mean most guys our age are on the prowl for a piece of fresh meat. I guess Joe’s not like that. I guess I better get off here. I gotta get to practice. Love you.”

  “Love you, too. I’ll see you Saturday.”

  I hang up with Cash, grab my bag and go to practice. The remainder of the week is routine. Wake up, practice, class, practice, go to bed. By Friday afternoon, I’m getting antsy. My parents, Tessa, Cash, and Joe will all be here tomorrow to see my debut at Southern. I can’t help but feel ecstatic.

  Friday after supper in the café, we decide to have a girls’ night in since we have curfew and have to be well-rested for tomorrow. Georgia, Tori, Anna, Caroline, Hayden, Sarah, and I all pile into my room to watch a chick flick and eat popcorn. At 11:55, everyone goes back to their room to make curfew. I wonder what would happen if we were still in my room. I doubt she’d care. As I’m thinking those exact thoughts, Emily and Mallorie, our team captains, knock on my door.

  “Hey, y’all! I’m here.”

  Mallorie looks at Emily before pushing on the door. What is she doing? “You alone, Charley? We know that Joe stays with you.”

  “He’s not here. Actually, I haven’t seen him since this morning even though that’s none of your business.”

  “Just remember he can’t be in here after we leave. Got it?” I shake my head yes and close the door. I mean really… I can follow the rules.

  I text Joe not to come by and go to bed. I toss and turn for over an hour. All I can think about is getting in that water tomorrow and kicking some ass. I have missed this sport, but if I’m truthful with myself, I know that this is a milestone for me. I am going to actually start to put Dylan behind me.

  I wake up early Saturday morning. We don’t have to be at the pool until ten, but it’s eight thirty and I’m wide awake. I throw on a pair of yoga pants, t-shirt, and flip flops and make my way to the café. As I walk down the stoop, I’m completely taken off guard when Joe is walking from the café with his arm around some girl. I mean I know we aren’t together, but it stings just a little bit. He sees me and drops his arm fast as lightening. Obviously, he hadn’t planned on seeing me this early and my conversation with Cash is confirmed. He’s not gay. Makes me wonder how many other girls he has been putting moves on? Oh well, I shake it off and walk with my head held high.

  “Hey, Squirrel! You’re up early.”

  “Yeah, couldn’t sleep. Guess I’m just anxious about today’s meet.”

  “I bet so. Word around campus is that you girls are going to open a can of whoop ass on them. And I can’t wait to watch!”

  “I sure hope so. My parents, Tessa and Cash are coming. I think Cash is even going to Hank’s tonight. You want to go with us in the Love Machine?”

  “You know I might as well. Who knows that ride might help me pick up a chick or two. Well, I’m going to head to my room. I need to call my grandma. Something’s not right at home. When I talked to her yesterday, I could just tell. “

  “Joe, let me know if I can help you. I’ll see ya at eleven.”

  “Oh and Squirrel, good luck!”

  “I don’t need luck, Jackalope Joe, ‘cause I swim like a fish!” I continue to walk to the café and eat a waffle, fruit, and Diet Coke for breakfast before making my way back to Kluft. Georgia, Caroline, Tori and Anna are all awake by the time I get back, but they skip breakfast. I go to my room to get ready to head to the pool when I hear Tori in the hallway. She is singing at the top of her lungs. I swear that girl doesn’t give two shits what people think about her. I walk into the hallway and see Georgia doubled over laughing.

  Tori stops and looks at me, “What?! I mean I’m just getting pumped for the meet today. Hey you got a permanent marker in your room?”

  “Yeah, but I already have one in my bag.” I smirk. It is a well-known fact that as swimmers we have suits, caps, and goggles, but no way to identify us. That is unless we write our name down our leg and pick our own number.

  “See I knew I like you! Let’s roll out girls. I’m ready to swim some laps and take some names!”

  Georgia and I look at each other, shake our heads, and smile. Just gotta love her ‘cause I sure would hate to have her on my bad side.

  We get to the locker room and dress out. I take the Sharpie from my bag and look at Tori. She knows what I’m thinking.

  “Alright y’all, I’m not captain, but we gotta make marks. Anybody else wanna join in?” Tori grabs the pen and walks over to Georgia.

  “Georgia, what you want on yours?” She shrugs her shoulders. “What about Shorty?” We shake our heads no. That’s not original enough. “What about Shorty-Do-Whop?” I say. “You know Georgia loves some rap music and is short.” I look at the girls and they agree. Tori writes Shorty-Do-Whop on the side of Georgia’s right leg and the number ten above it.

  “Charley, your turn. What is it that Joe calls you?”

  “Squirrel.”

  “Squirrel it is! Now what number?”

  “Easy, Double Zero.”

  I take the pen from Tori and proceed to mark her with the word Loco and the number four twenty. Tori is crazy without drugs, but that is her… making people think.

  We make our way out the locker room doors into the pool area. Monroe and Central have arrived and are warming up. The stands are starting to fill. I wonder when Mom, Dad, Tessa, and Cash will get here. I push the thought aside and focus on me, myself and the pool. As we stretch, the stands continue to fill. Where the heck is my family? As I begin to roll my shoulders backwards to loosen up, I see Mom, Dad, Tessa, Cash, and ohmygosh there is Piper! Yay! I throw my hand up to wave before sliding on my goggles and jumping in to warm up. The water is calling my name, in fact, I feel like I’ve never left. This and the farm are my home.

  Coach blows her whistle and we huddle up. You can see that she is excited, nervous, hell, maybe both. She gives us a pep talk, tells us to kick some ass and take some names. We do our team cheer, and it’s time for the first event. Georgia is up. It’s the 200 meter breaststroke. With there being an exhibition meet, there aren’t as many events, but the hype is still there. We have seats along the edge of the exterior wall that is a complete window. The start gun sounds, and Georgia is in the water. For her to be so freakin’ short that girl can move. Tori and I jump from our seats and move to the bottom of her lane. We hover over the end of the lane as Georgia reaches with the tips of her fingers before turning to head back down the lane.

  “Goooooooooooooo GA!” We yell. “Push hard! Let’s go!”

  Georgia is neck and neck with the girl from Monroe. We follow her down the length of the pool and once she hits the flags, she gets an extra burst of energy and pushes to beat the girl from Monroe by a fingertip.

  “That a way, Shorty-do-whop!” Tori yells.

  We chant our team cheer, and the events roll by. I start to have a little nervous energy as the 200 meter backstroke approaches. I know I have this, but I just can’t help it. It’s like waiting on a new album to be released by Luke Bryan. The anticipation is killer. With two events before mine, I start to loose
n up and walk toward the starting blocks. I look up at my family and friends. My mom is totally decked out in Southern apparel; Dad in his Carthartts and Drake Waterfowl t-shirt. Tessa and Piper look like they just stepped out of Forever 21, and Cash looks like he’s ready for a night out. Jeans, button up, and boots. Completely yummy. I look up and throw my head back. Tessa, Piper, and Cash all do the same. Joe is sitting with the lacrosse guys and looks confused by the body language going on between the four of us. He just doesn’t understand this goes way back. I look at Joe and notion to my leg. He glances and smiles.

  It’s time to rock ‘n roll. I adjust my cap, put my goggles in place, and shake my arms back and forth while I jump up and down to loosen up. The official calls for my event, and I stand beside the start block. “Event 200 meter backstroke, swimmers enter the water feet first.” I take a deep breath before jumping in and grabbing the bars on the start block and placing my feet on the wall. I take another deep breath, and it’s time. The official preps for the race, “Swimmers take your mark, set,” and the gun fires. I explode off the wall and streamline past the flags and continue before taking the first stroke. The water is cool, and I know it’s time to pace myself. I can see the flags in my peripheral vision, I start to count. One, two, three, four, turn on five and flip turn and push off the wall with all my might. I repeat this process for two more laps, and then on the final lap, I turn up the heat and try to push past my previous times in practice. I see the flags and hear the stands and team cheering as I touch the wall. I glance to the board and see the time. Oh. My. Gawsh. Best time ever! And this is just an exhibition meet!

  I get out of the pool and remove my goggles and cap. Then I am greeted by my teammates. We huddle and do our team cheer again. I glance to the stands and see my parents hollering at me, Piper and Tessa proceed to do the cabbage patch. Like really, we did that in middle school. Cash is standing there with his hands on his hips sporting a crooked little grin trying not to laugh at Tessa and Piper. He gives me a high five in the air, and I return the process. That’s our thing. The lacrosse guys and Joe have come up with their own cheer for our team. “Who loves the girls of Southern? Lax Boys do!” Tori, Georgia, Sarah, and I all laugh. We cheer on our teammates until it’s time for relays. I’ve been waiting for this event since like forever! The official calls 4 X 200 meter Individual Medley Relay. I look at Tori, Georgia, and Brittany. “Let’s do the damn thing y’all!” We have created our own warm up moves for everyone to know who we are. Brittany takes the iPod and plugs it into the speaker. Miley Cyrus’ “We Can’t Stop” blares through. We all walk in a line with an arm on the person in front of us as we step and roll to the sides and make our way to our lane. The Lax boys go crazy. We give them a hard time most days, but boy do we love to have fun with them at Hank’s. Needless to say, they are in for it tonight. Minus me ‘cause I’m with Cash tonight. We laugh, bump hips and take places. Brittany turns down the music as the official gives her the evil eye then begins, “4 X 200 meter Individual Medley Relay, Backstrokes enter the water feet first.” I adjust my cap and goggles and jump in. There is no nervous energy this time. Instead, I’m elated to be in this event and kick some ass. I grab the starting block, place my feet on the wall, take a deep breath, and wait for the official. “Swimmers, take your mark, set…” I pull myself up into position, and the guns sounds.

  Just as in my individual event, I explode off the wall and kick with all my might. Then it’s gravy. I’m at the flags before I know it, count, flip, and turn, and make my way back for Georgia. I’m pushing myself to the limits. I see the flags and push harder. I count my strokes and after number five, I kick with all my might. I touch the wall, and Georgia jumps over me into the water. I pull myself out and cheer her on. As she makes her way back to us, Tori steps on the block to prepare for her butterfly leg. I pull Georgia out of the water, and Sarah gets on the block. She’s the final leg of the relay, and I know she will continue to increase the distance between us and every other lane. I am right. Brittany touches the wall, glances over her shoulder, and realizes we are half a lap ahead of the competition. She pulls herself up without help, and we cheer “Southern” then we take our index fingers, make a sizzle sound, and put it right on our butt cheek before making our way to our teammates. Again, the lacrosse guys go bananas. The stands are going nuts, and there is no doubt in my mind that Livestone doesn’t stand a chance against us!

  After the meet, I eat with Mom, Dad, Tessa, Piper, and Cash before my parents head back to Grassy Pond and Cash and Piper stay for the night. We go to eat at a little burger joint named Sally’s. It looks like it was built to resemble a red barn. It is old and worn out, but we have come to realize this is the best food around. I eat a bacon cheeseburger that is close to the Burger Shack at home, but nothing will beat that place. We laugh. My parents ask how things are going. Piper is same ‘ol Piper. Cash is the perfect gentleman, and Tessa can’t wait to get back home to go out with Dustin. We finish eating and say our goodbyes, and Piper and I ride with Cash back to campus.

  “Y’all, I can’t wait for Hank’s tonight. Y’all are going to love it!” I squeal.

  Cash laughs as Piper starts to get as excited as me. What am I going to wear tonight? Hummm, it’s getting cold, so definitely pants of some kind, but I gotta have a cute top. Cash stops at the gas station to get a can of dip and some snacks before heading the two- minute drive to campus.

  “Hey, Char, while Cash ain’t in here. Where the hell am I staying tonight? I mean, I don’t want to intrude on y’all.”

  “Piper, you can stay in there because you know as well as I do nothing is going to happen.” She looks at me like whatever.

  About that time Cash opens the truck door and climbs in. We make our way to campus, up the stoop, and into Kluft. I am exhausted and need a shower to recoup before Hank’s tonight. As we reach the top step, I can hear Caroline, Tori, Georgia, Jenny, Anna, and Cassie in hall. They are singing to “Thrift Shop” blaring over the radio and dancing like fools in the hallway.

  Cash glances at me, “Oh lawd, what have I got myself into?” I just shrug my shoulders and pull him down the hall. All the girls take their turn putting moves on him, and of course, Anna has something to say. “Hey, Cowboy, I ain’t ever rode a cowboy before.” With a wink Cash answers back, “Sorry, Sweetheart, but I ain’t a cowboy. I’m a homegrown country boy that only has eyes for one little lady,” as he stares into my blue eyes.

  I make it to my room and open the door. Piper throws her bag on the futon, and Cash puts his in the corner.

  “Y’all, I gotta get a shower, but if y’all wanna drink tonight make sure you place your order with Caroline. She’s got the hook up.” Piper jumps up and hollers at Caroline down the hall. Cash just stares at me.

  “What?” I say with my hands on my hips.

  “You really think I’m drinking tonight when someone is out there watchin? I’m gonna be ready, and I will beat the shit outta him. I promise ya that!”

  “Calm down, Cash Money. He’s not gonna show tonight; he’s too chicken to show his face. Let’s just have fun.”

  “Speakin’ of fun. Um, how much fun is it going to be if I have to share you with Joe?” Cash pouts. I walk over to him and give him a soft, quick peck on the lips before walking out of the room, shower caddy in hand. I giggle as I leave.

  I finish my shower and make my way back to my room only to find it empty. Wonder where they went? Then I hear Piper’s voice in Georgia’s room. I make my way over in my robe and my hair still in a towel.

  “I almost thought y’all left! But then I thought better!” Cash isn’t there which stumps me. As if Piper and Georgia can read my mind, they answer in unison. “He went over to Joe’s.” I smile. I’m glad they met before today even if it wasn’t under good circumstances. I send Cash a quick text and tell him to be back at Kluft no later than an hour from now. There is some major pre-gaming going on tonight.

  Piper and I make our way to my room, and we begin to get read
y. I pull out my jeans and hot pink top that crisscrosses and ties in the back. I add my boots, and I’m set. Piper looks at my outfit, and I know I’ve made the right choice. She has hoochie written all over hers and I laugh.

  “Piper, this is Hank’s, not a fancy club. You might want to take it down a notch.”

  “Well, what do you suggest?” She says with her hand on her hips. I know this look, and I might as well have let her go with the outfit she brought.

  “Nevermind, Pipe. It’s fine. I’m just saying this place is Hank’s. It smells of must, mold, old men, and stale beer. It’s not like a club in Charlotte or something.”

  “Alright, but I’m still wearing this top.” She point to a one-shouldered glittery top. I smile and grab a pair of jeans from the closet. She pairs it with wedge heels. We look at each other and smile. We turn on the iPad and place it on the speaker. We turn up a little Florida Georgia Line and break out in song. We go ahead and slide on our clothes then do our hair. We start our makeup, taking a little musical break to sing “Party People” with our hairbrush microphones. On the last verse, the door bursts open and Cash starts to sing. We jump out of our skin, turn around and see Cash and Joe. Joe is at a loss for words. I don’t know if it’s Piper, me, our beautiful rendition, or what, but that poor boy can’t say a damn word.