The Sea Taketh (Alex Singer) (13 page)

“Stanley, Donald, what do we know?” he asks.

              They shake their heads.

             
The Pedersens give Jen and me the last empty chairs and they sit on the floor. We wait until Dan’s father walks into the waiting room. Everyone silences.

“Sixteen stitches and a concussion,” he announces wearily but with relief. “He’s going to be all right. They’re keeping him overnight as a precaution. We appreciate all your concern, and ask that you post your
well wishes on his Facebook and Twitter accounts to ease the congestion here at the hospital.”

Seniors begin streaming from the building as Mr. White and Coach Jones talk to Dan’s dad.

“Can you guys drop us off at the school?” Jen asks Sven.

“We’re coming to watch the competition,” he tells her.

“Good, then you can give us a ride home afterward.” She stands up. “And just so you know, I’m always starving after a swim meet.”

Sven laughs. “Naturally, maybe we should make reservations right now.”

“No, we can just grab a burger.”

He shakes his head. “No burgers,” he says.

“What are you, a vegetarian?”

“More like fishtarians,” he teases. “You know us Danes, we like our seafood.” He pats his rock hard stomach and smiles.

“Then how about pizza? We could get you some nasty anchovy pizza and Alex and I will get something normal.”

“Normal is all a matter of perspective.” Henrik laughs as he opens the door.

“Sven, Henrik, Christian,” Dan’s dad calls behind us. “Could you wait a minute? Dan would like to talk to you.”

“We really don’t want to disturb him,” Sven says.

“He’s been insisting to see you since I got here.  It would mean a lot to him.”

“Alex and I will wait here.” Jen takes a seat next to the door. I sit by her.

The Pedersens nod and follow Dan’s dad down the hospital hall.

“Why do you keep making plans with them?” I whisper to Jen.

“Girl, what’s your problem?” She frowns at me with that what-are-you-thinking look of hers. “They are great guys and not just because they’re hot. Think of what Christian’s done for you: he takes you to school, picked you up in Portland, pays for everything without complaint, and treats Gramps and Marjory nicely. And those are just the things he’s done for you. Don’t even get me started on them pulling Dan out of the ocean. I think you need to rethink your standards. I totally agree with you on the whole Jackson thing, but the Pedersens are great, and I
like
hanging out with them.”

I can’t argue with Jen on any of her points. She’s right, the Pedersens are nice guys. I just don’t want to date anyone, not even a nice guy.

We both remain deep in thought for several minutes.

“What do you think is taking them so long?” Jen eventually says.

I shrug my shoulders. “Maybe it’s seafood day in the cafeteria?”

She chuckles at my joke. “We better go find them before they empty out the joint.”

Following her out of the waiting room, we turn into the hallway. We wander through the halls with no luck. We come to a divergence in the hall.

“We’ll find them quicker if we split up,” Jen says. “You go left and I’ll go right.”

I turn to the left and continue to wander for several more minutes. I decide to find the nearest nurses’ station and ask for directions to Dan’s room. It will take a lot less time than wandering around aimlessly. I make a turn and hear a heated argument at the end of the hallway. I take a step back when I see Jackson yelling at Christian, who is flanked by his cousins. I hide behind the wall but keep an eye on the argument.

“I don’t know who you think you are trying to make my family look bad! Maybe in your communist country people get everything for free, but in America, people have to pay their bills!” Jackson looks like he’s going to pop a vein in his forehead.

“We aren’t disputing the bill,” Henrik replies, calmly. “We are simply attempting to pay it.”

“You’re trying to vilify my family to Alex, that’s what you’re doing! Everyone knows Dan’s dad was laid off when the garage changed hands, and you’re hoping to make us look like heartless jerks when they receive my dad’s bill!”

Hypothesis # 4 is upgraded to Theory # 7 – Jackson is a meddling jerk.

Observations – He accused Gramps of neglect and is getting involved in
Dan’s and the Pedersens’ finances.

“No, Dan is a friend of ours, and we’re just trying to help him and his family,” Sven inte
rjects.

“Yeah, so he can brag to Alex about how generous he is to get her to date him!” Jackson points at Christian, looking condescendingly at his clothes. “I don’t know where you’re getting the money
, but don’t think that the little you’ve scraped together can compare with my family’s sound investments!”

Sven and Henrik begin to laugh like Jackson has said the funniest thing on earth.

“Jackson, believe me when I say that Alexandra will not find out about us paying the bill unless you tell her because Dan’s family has already assured me that they will speak of it to no one,” says Christian. “You underestimate Alexandra if you think she is impressed by wealth. I’m sure you’ve noticed that she hasn’t looked twice at either of our cars. She’s not shallow enough to worry about things like that.”

Theory #3 is upgraded to Fact #8 – The Danes are hot.

Proof – Thick shoulders, handsome faces, hot accents, speak French, nice to Gramps and Marjory, saved Dan’s life, trying to pay Dan’s medical bills, and see me as more than a silly girl.

Jackson takes a step forward, which is a very brave thing to do as the Pedersens are enormous. “No matter how hard you play the game, I will be playing harder.”

“That is where you’re wrong,” Christian replies. “I’m not playing a game, and Alexandra isn’t some kind of trophy to be won. Now, we’ll excuse ourselves to go pay Dan’s bill so his family can enjoy peace of mind.”

I duck behind the wall as the three turn around. I hear them take a couple steps before they stop.

“By the way, Jackson,” Christian speaks in an intimidating tone. “If you ever lay a finger on Alexandra against her will, as you did today at the beach, you will live to regret it.”

“Are you threatening me?” Jackson asks.

“No, I am warning you.”

“Alex doesn’t belong to you!”

“I never said she did. However, I will not stay my hand the next time.”

*     *     *

Taking long, even strokes, my body slices through the water. The sound of cheering is muffled by my ear plugs and swim cap. My body and mind are on autopilot. I stay right with Jen, and we make the final turn. Jen quickens her pace, and I quicken mine. We have swum together for so long that we easily mirror each other’s movements. Stroke after stroke, we stay together. We both hit the wall. The audience goes wild.

I pull out my earplugs.

“Jenifer Marsh comes in first, closely followed by Alexandra Singer!” the loudspeaker announces.
              “We did it!” Jen screams and throws her arms around me. “Now we just have to do it for the relay!”

Couch Jones throws us towels as we get out of the pool. Jen eagerly waves to her large cheering section of brothers. I smile at Gramps. He points to the Pedersens who are cheering so loudly from the top bleacher that the fans around them are plugging their ears and shooting them dirty looks.

“Go get ready for the relay!” Coach says.

We join the rest of the team in the trophy room, receiving celebratory pats on the back as we go. We pace the wall to keep our bodies limber for our next swim.

“Alex, I just want to apologize again for my poor behavior earlier.” Jackson walks next to me. “I was a thoughtless jerk and would like to make it up to you. I would really like for you to join my family for dinner after the meet. My earlier invitation still stands.”

“We already have plans.” Jen stretches her arms above her head.

His brows furrow. “Don’t tell me that you’re going on a date with that German,” he says to me.

His tone irks me, especially after what I overheard earlier.

“First off, they’re Danish,” I say. “And second, they’re our friends, nothing more. I already told you that I don’t have time to date anyone.”

“You seemed pretty cozy on the beach,” he says
, accusatorily.

“So what if they were? It’s not like it’s any of your business!” Jen snaps.

“I’m just a concerned friend…”

“Girls relay, we’re ready for you!” Coach Jones calls into the room.

“Sorry Jackson, we’ve got to go.” Jen smirks as she pulls me from the room.

*     *     *

              “That was a great meet!” Sven exclaims as he turns into the pizza joint. “I loved it when your relay team came in a half a pool’s length ahead of everyone else.”

             
Jen laughs from the passenger seat. “That was pretty awesome, but I liked being on the podium with Alex, over and over again.”

             
I take the medals from around my neck and throw them in my swim bag.  “Frankly, I liked seeing Vanessa trying to worm her way to dinner with us, and Henrik telling her to go eat a steak. It was funny watching the gears churning in her brain as she tried to decide if he was complementing or insulting her.”

             
“That is unusually spiteful for you,” Christian says.

             
“Yeah, I might be more sympathetic if she hadn’t filled my swim cap with Crisco before the meet.” I throw my bag on the floor between my feet.

             
“That’s why you were washing it out?” Jen turns and looks at me. “That little monster!”

             
“What do you expect? She can’t beat you in the pool so she lashes out in the only way she knows how.” Sven puts the car in park. “Guys do the same thing. I’m expecting something terrible from Jackson anytime.”

             
“Let him try.” Jen jumps out of the car. “I’ll deck him if he does anything to you.”

             
Sven laughs merrily as Henrik gets out of the car.

             
“Alexandra and I will be just a moment,” Christian says to his cousins.  They frown at him.

             
“We’ll order and save you a place.” Jen opens the door and pulls them into the pizzeria.

             
“What’s wrong? I haven’t even complained about you guys buying pizza,” I say in confusion.

             
“I noticed that. What brought about this sudden change of heart?” he asks in his beautiful accent.

             
“I just decided that I’m not opposed to us being friends. The five of us get along really well, and it is more fun when we hang out together.”

             
“You and I are more than just friends.” He pushes the button to release my seatbelt.

             
“No, we’re not.” I change the subject. “Is that all you wanted to talk about?”

             
“Actually, I wanted to ask you a question. I want to know why you let Jenifer win every time you race against her.”

             
My eyes open wide, and I put a hand over his mouth. “Shhh, keep your voice down!” I growl.

             
He gently removes my hand from his mouth. “Your actions just confirmed my suspicions. Why do you do it? I know my friends wouldn’t want me to purposefully lose to them.”

             
“It’s none of your business, and if you say anything to her, I will deny it!” I snarl.

             
“How can you deny it? Your relay times are faster than hers. There is nothing incompatible with being intelligent, beautiful,
and
athletic.”

             
“I never said they were incompatible. I really wish you would mind your own business.”

             
He raises an eyebrow, and I know he’s not going to let it go.

I grumble, “You will never, and I mean
never
, speak a word of this to anyone.”

He waits silently for me to continue.

I take a deep breath. “I’m already receiving academic scholarship offers. I have been ever since I took the SAT last year. Even though Gramps and I don’t have any money, I’ll be able to pick and choose where I’m going to college. Jen’s only chance at college is an athletic scholarship. Her parents have seven children, and her dad is a teacher. There’s no way they can pay for her to go to school. I already know I’m going to college, I’m just trying to make sure she makes is there, too.”

             
“What if she isn’t good enough for an athletic scholarship and you’ve done all this for nothing?”

             
“I’ve kept up with the state records and standings for the past three years. Jen is so competitive that she swims slightly ahead of me during practice. I’ve gradually increased my speed, and she’s now breaking records every time we swim together. She will have schools knocking at her door before the end of the season.”

             
“You are a very good friend,” he says, quietly.

             
I shake my head. “No, she’s the good friend. You saw what she did for me today at the beach. She’s always there when I need her, no questions asked. Getting her to college is a very small thing compared to what she’s done for me.”

             
He is silent.

“Remember that you promised you wouldn’t tell anyone,” I demand.

Christian tenderly lifts my hand off my lap and takes it in his. The warmth emanating from his white glove surprises me. The fact that I don’t pull away surprises me even more. There is something comforting about his hand surrounding mine.

“I promise not to tell,” he says.

“Hey, are you two coming?” Jen yells out the door. “This nasty seafood pizza is getting cold!”

I pull my hand away, and he follows me into the restaurant.

5

Grounded

Monday morning begins normal enough. I ride to school with the Pedersens and train with the swim team. It is on my way to first period that I first became aware that everyone is whispering as I walk by. I keep my head down as I walk into Calculus. The room silences the moment the other students see me.