Estelle Bronwyn 

With a deep breath I let out all the pent up rage, 

"Who the fuck do you think you are?!" 

Many heads whipped to watch me. Theo's gloomy onyx eyes latched on to me, not wavering away for a single second. Good. If I was going to cause a scene I best win shouldn't I? 

"The name's Theo" He said deeply. We were face to face; it didn't help how tall he was either and I thought being 5'7 was an advantage. It also didn't help that his friends watched for my every move obviously stunned by my sudden outburst

"I meant what makes you think you're above everyone else?!" His eyes slowly searched my face like all my deepest secrets were spluttered on my face, it quickly scanned my clothes too flickering from one body part to the next; having that scrutinizing observance. It was unnerving. 

His pink lips lengthened into a smile, "You mean little Levi?" 

"Yes! But it doesn't mean you can go around harming my brother" My eyes narrowed, I slowly started to fade everyone out until one of his three friends got into the conversation. 

"He knows it's just  jokes," The one with the manbun snorted, playfully punching Theo in the arm. I took notice to one of them who helped me today whilst waiting for Levi, Tyson, biting his lip. 

"So injuring your teammates is part of swimming now, isn't it?" I glared at Tyson. "And will you stop biting your lip towards me?"

"Stop what?" He blinked, realizing the situation he was in. 

"Biting your lip,"

"At you? Trust me I got too many girls to be looking at you" His mates whistled and laughed at the remark except from Theo who seemed deep in thought yet had a content grin plastered on his face, drinking out of his solo cup.

He unfortunately continued, "Yeah you might have a pretty face but- "

"What's your name?" Theo suddenly asked. I raised my head,

"It's-" 

"Estelle! Just stop. Please." Said Levi, with his hand on my shoulder. I've already gone this far, what's the point in stopping now?

"You never told us you had a sister" Said another one, with a mullet,  who finally decided to say something.

Incredulously he said, "You never game me the chance to"

"Touch him again and you'll see" I said.

"You threatening me?" Theo spoke up, keeping his mouth open slightly.

"You wanna hear it again?" 

"You like challenging people like this?" 

I pretended to think, "No, but I'll make you an exception"

"Making me feel special, Estelle" He touched his chest, that same smile brewing into a playful smirk. I hated it. Was he finding this funny? Annoying? Draining? 

"Let's leave Estelle, I'll call Dad" Levi suggested as he tugged on my arm, and no matter how much I wanted to teach this guy a lesson, there was no point. He looked like the ignorant type anyways. Just a pretty face. Levi and I backed away, if I looked at him or any of his friends I'd probably do something I'd regret. 

"Yeah run off like you always do" Was the last words from Theo.

 I threw Levi's arm away and without warning shoved Theo into the swimming pool behind and he crashed deep inside; his friends quickly scattered away from the pool, bellowing in surprise.

Theo emerged from the pool; his once dark tousled hair became a wet mop, his tight compression shirt he wore became even tighter hugging onto his chest and abs like a lifeline and through all of that he still mustered a stupid grin and a  deep laugh, 

"Fiery aren't you?" 

I scrunched my face and spat out. "Stay away from us"

"What do you mean?" He teasingly licked his lips, "Can't get enough of you now"

Shaking my head, I  scoffed at him. Like I would ever be charmed by  him or anyone like him. His friends speaking among themselves with also large sets of toothy grins. For a moment, Theo and I  stared at each other although no words was coming out you could tell he was enjoying this. Maybe it was because of the wrinkles near his eyes and here's me thinking I've won this dispute. 

 No, I have won. He won't talk to me again, I'm sure of it. 

Levi and I left the backyard as I felt those dark eyes on me. Glaring. Who knew your time at a party could finish so quickly over one person?  

***

The following days past by normally and drama-free. Levi told me to not create another scene like that as it didn't really help the situation and only made it worse. I respected his decision and chose to stay away from Theo, much easier than I thought it would. 

In the corner of my room, I studied for my physics test that was approaching. My phone was on Do not Disturb and I took away any distractions from my desk. Just me, my physics textbook and laptop. It's all I needed in my life to be honest. I didn't usually smile whilst studying but with physics how could I not? It's so interesting; the only barrier that stops people from liking it is the math. Everyone hates math. 

The sudden knock on my door made me look up. I paused in silence, hoping Levi would leave me alone if I didn't respond. He was persistent and knocked three times like he always does. 

"Levi, I'm not doing your homework again," I called out, groaning. 

"No, no it's just me," my Dad said, opening the door cautiously. 

My annoyed face fell quickly, "Oh, uh, come in I guess" 

My Dad wasn't extremely tall, neither was Levi. He had some good muscle on him and a prominent beard he'd usually scratch for a while; brown hair that started to look grey and patchy from a few angles and a very unique sense of fashion. 

He only wore checkered shirts. 

I don't hate him of course. Just would rather be somewhere else than near him. 

"Still studying?" He slid his hands inside his jean pockets. I faced him on my seats bearing a small smile, 

"Yup." I cleared my throat. "It's not that hard to study for this long when it's something you love" He nods in agreement and there is a clear silence in the room and suddenly my makeup desk was so interesting to look at. 

"I just wanted to see how you were getting on, you know with the moving, with your mother, new friends," He went to sit on my bed, sinking into the mattress "And of course positives like maybe a new crush or something?" So this was going to become a deep conversation. Great. Just what I needed on a Wednesday afternoon. 

 "I mean there is not much to really say but to just do. I'm glad I made new friends," I smiled "They are amazing. I'm still getting used to obviously everything changing and having a different lifestyle I guess and considering my mom-" 

"You still haven't got over her have you" He said, cutting me off. I quickly furrowed my eyebrows, confused with that strange ultimatum. 

He continued to run his mouth, "Out of you and Levi I can tell you're affected the most. You barely speak to me and well I understand that" 

"Do you understand?" I questioned. "We're both affected. It doesn't matter who's been affected the most, what matters is we are trying to get on with our lives. I'm trying." He gave me a sympathetic look, I didn't reciprocate it. He's just waltz into my life claiming he's my father yet did not call us, come for our birthday or for those 5 Christmases I wished Santa clause to bring him to our house. But it's not only his fault, but hers as well. Leaving Levi and I all alone without any warning. What mother does that? 

He shook his head,"I just want to make sure I'm not the problem."

"Please let me revise in peace now," I said, defeated. He tilted his head and his eyebrows was raised to the point wrinkles formed on his forehead,

"Let's fix this now, Estelle,"

"Maybe Later, but now's not the time" I turned back to my desk, resuming my studying with determination. Now my mind and thoughts was filled with my mom, her bright smile and kind personality. Why now did this have to happen? I didn't even realize the door closing as he left. 

Just my thoughts and my vision blurred. Yet I didn't allow that to get in my way of studying for this test.

***

After school the next day was Levi's first swim meet, and a perfect chance to see him and the 'Son Of Neptune' in action. I already forced all my friends to come with me, none of them minded anyways. But the whole conversation was mainly about Theo and the damage I caused since that party. 

"Like I said Rio, I don't care" I rolled my eyes as we found places to sit on the bleachers. I was quite happy with the view and being so high. 

"It was recorded," He pointed to his phone as he sat next to me. "On Instagram."

Julia kissed her teeth, "People will forget it by October" 

"It is October...?"

"Exactly," Julia deadpanned, flicking her hair. Walker was on his phone detached from the conversation.

The audience abruptly roared and clapped when our swimming team came out of the locker room. It didn't help how there was an echo too due to the auditorium being so big. From where I was, it seemed like the whole school came to watch. 

Most people probably came to watch Theo who had the biggest grin of all. Levi crept closely behind his teammates with a frown, somewhat afraid. 

My eyes then followed a black haired girl giving Theo a long kiss on the lips, standing on her tiptoes. 

"Who's that near Theo?" I asked. Realizing it, maybe I've been staring at them for a bit too long.

"You mean the girl making out with him?" Rio ridiculously asked. I stopped myself from replying sarcastically.

"That's Blair,"  Walker spoke, looking up from his phone, "Theo's ex. But where they stand now is a bit complicated."

Rio snorted, "It's not complicated. They are just on and off."

"Then explain his other relationships with Autumn and Kayla." Walker challenged, narrowing his eyes. The announcer with the microphone then called out the first event: 200m medley relay

"There's nothing to explain about them two. Theo dumped them publicly and they were so ashamed they moved schools"

"Really?" I asked in unbelief. I understand breaking up with Theo but moving schools because of the shame? What kind of sick monster is he?

"So the moral of the story is to stay away from Theo, got it." Julia concluded. She took the words right out of my mouth; it was a good thing I was ignoring him. 

Just in time, the 7 swimmers from other schools crouched on their individual starting boards at the edge of the pool. Theo, suavely, walked to his. There was something funny about him wearing that swimming cap and goggles. 

The referee sharply blew his whistle, Theo instinctively leaped into the pool first without a noticeable splash like the others and graciously soared ahead. From here, you could see his body rippling smoothly under the water, only popping his head up for some air. The audience never allowed silence, clapping and screaming for the independent swimmers but Theo's name was mostly chanted. 

Got to hand it to him. He was really good, I couldn't keep my eyes off him. 

His soon flipped as he got close to the other side of the pool and plunged himself back the other way without any effort. All the other swimmers struggled to keep up but I don't think they knew there was an insane swimmer far ahead of them. 

As soon as Theo reached the end of his race the side we were on increased in volume to the point I closed my ears in discomfort, my friends also had a similar expression.

 Another swimmer jumped in, after all this was a relay race but my eyes was still glued to Theo, following the way left the pool speckles and droplets of water painting his chest and toned abs. Who knew he had hairy legs too? I mean, it does compliment those defined thigh and leg muscles he got annoyingly got. 

 He took his swimming cap off letting his tousled hair out, pulled it away from his face and grinned ,with his full set of pearly white teeth, at the audiences surrounding him absorbing all the energy he knew he was receiving. 

"What are you looking at?" Rio asked. I shut my eyes for a moment. I think I was staring for a bit too long. 

"At the race of course" I chuckled, not looking at him. 

"Oh ok, I thought you were eye goggling someone" 

"No, eye goggling here. Just my mind boggled, you know from this race" 

He side eyed me, "Right."

"Oh look he's really good" I said successfully turning his attention away from me and thank God for that. Imagine Rio finding out about me checking out Theo; wouldn't hear the end of it. And actually, I don't ever wanna say that sentence again. 

Before I knew it,  Levi jumped into the pool with a loud and big splash. Good start, I guess. At this point in time I didn't know how well the other swimmers were doing due to a certain distraction but I'm sure our school is first. Now it's up to Levi to finish it off. Considering every other swimmer, he had the worse technique. I don't know if he was doing a butterfly stroke or a backstroke, two completely different techniques when one is swimming on your back and another is swimming on your front. 

He continuously swam on his back, using his arms to jerk through the pool. Our school's crowd grew silent as we all watched Levi jerk his hands and legs; what happened to being effortless and smooth? Safe to say he was dead last, whilst the other swimmers were heading back to the starting point, Levi had just flipped himself around. I began to frown deeply as I saw his teammates glaring at him. But what's worse is how hard Levi is going to be on himself after this; he's going to be devastated. 

"It ain't looking good for your brother" Rio said with a worried look. 

"He looks like he's trying his best" I said, offering a more positive approach. 

"Does it?" Walker replied. 

No it doesn't, does it?

After painful minutes, Levi reached the end. Small claps went around in the auditorium after that, probably because he finally finished his race. Fortunately, another race commenced straight after creating a faster pace for the audience. With a towel wrapped around his neck, Levi sat next to his Coach, Mrs Acqua. She had a hand on his shoulder, clearly giving him a talk. 

The swim meet went on for another 30 minutes before it was time for rankings. 

Our team got 3rd place overall whereas individually Theo got 1st place for all his races. Levi only took poot in the relay race and we all know how that went. 

"That's it now," Walker said, standing up for a stretch.

"I feel bad for Levi. Poor guy," Julia said; I nodded.

"I'll meet you guys outside. I just need to talk to him" I tiptoed past the people on my row with many 'excuse me' and 'sorry'. Of course, Theo was surrounded by girls excitedly praising him. Levi was the first one in the team to go inside the changing room, I didn't know if I was able to go there. I couldn't anyways when that Tyson guy came up to me. 

"Hey, Estelle right?" He said with a small smile. 

I crossed my arms, I seriously wasn't in the mood for any shit today. "Yeah, that's me"

"I know your pretty annoyed from that party last week," He awkwardly scratched his curly hair "I was drunk, my head wasn't screwed on properly, I didn't mean anything or whatever my friends said. I'm sorry." 

I agreed with everything he said; at least he was self-aware. I appreciated that. Either way, I don't think he's a bad guy just influenced by his friends and, well, alcohol. 

My crossed arms loosened, "Thanks for apologizing, I forgive you. Also, I didn't mean to throw your friend into the pool"

"That was my highlight for this month," He said, as we shared a laugh.

Then, Theo sauntered over grabbing onto Tyson's shoulder with his usual grin.

"You tryna talk to my Estelle?" I rolled my eyes. 

"No, he's just apologizing for being an asshole," I looked up and down at him, "You should too"

He tilted his head like he had the right to be confused. "You're the one who pushed me into pool. Lucky for you, I didn't drown" 

"We can try again" I argued back, glancing  at the pool behind that seemed to just call his name. Theo moved Tyson behind him. 

"As long as you get in with me," 

I scoffed, "I am not stepping a foot inside that pool" 

He took a step forward, "Why? You scared?" I opened my mouth ready for a comeback but Tyson beat me to it,

"She doesn't need to explain to you Theo, go get changed we're leaving soon" Theo rose his hands in surrender, keeping that grin I was starting to despise. 

"Talk to you soon Estelle," He winked before strutting off. I couldn't help but watch his individual back muscles move around after every step, the veins trickling down his forearms like roots under a tree stopping at his hands. Maybe that's why his nickname is referred to as a son of a God.

No matter how much I tried to deny it; his body was almost perfection. 

Authors Note:

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