Tiana's POV

Signing up for the swim team was my only escape from all the hurt, sadness and jealousy I was feeling. I loved to swim and I was very good at it. Probably the only thing I'm good at. Hated to admit but, I kinda liked Joel. I was basically the only guy I probably actually liked. But, I obey only Ciara. Ciara tells me what to do and I do it. Ciara knows what's best for me.

Right?

I entered the in door swimming pool and saw other students that were ready to sign up having their seat on the bleachers so I did the same, my phone in hand. I was still typing away when someone came before us to speak.

"Hi guys. I'm Tyler Adebiyi-Williams and I'm your Sport prefect boy as well as the captain of the swim team."

I looked up at that introduction to see who it was and my eyes met the guy I've always been bumping into. My eyes widened in shock and I saw his lips stretch in a lopsided grin. He already knew I'd be here and he's definitely going to make this extra hard for me. After all, I've been really mean to him.

Fuck me.

He knew he was getting to me. He could see it but I wasn't going to give him that satisfaction. I scowled at him and he looked away from me to the rest of the students, putting his straight face back up and began to talk again.

"I'm glad you all signed up for the team but unfortunately there are only fifteen slots available on this team so fifteen of you will not to be picked, I apologize in advance." I stated. Suddenly, a groan was heard, a groan that caught everyone's attention that everyone looked to the direction it came from.

Me.

That's all it took for me to actually realize I was the one that let out that bored groaned.

"Is there any problem?" He asked me calmly and I found myself rolling my eyes at him, giving him a bored look.

"Can we skip the boring sermon and get on with the tryouts. I have places to be." I stated rudely, eliciting murmurs from the other students.

"Actually no,  we can't skip the boring talk. You have to seat and listen to this talk." He told me matter-of-factly and I frowned, shocked at his boldness.

"And I would do that because?" I sassed, giving him a one over. He squinted at me in return and he looked extremely annoyed.

"Because I'm your team captain and if you really want to be on this team, you will do as I say. Kapish?" He deadpan and I became awestruck at his mini outburst. No one has ever talk down on me like that and I felt extremely embarrassed. I looked away from him, not missing the smile that quirked at a corner of his lips.

"Now that we have settled that minor disturbance..." He continued, indirectly throwing shade at me and I glared at him in return. "Let's move on to how we are going to go about this try outs" he said

He spent another five minutes talking to us about the dos and don'ts before asking us to go change to our gear in the locker room. I followed the other students there because I was new and I didn't know the routes.

Getting into the Locker room, I realised I was the only SS3 student and that alone made the nervous but I decided to mask that nervousness with a lot of confidence. Holding my nose and chin to the air, I changed to my swimming gear and walked out of the room with the other students, trying not to feel self conscious about my body.

I wasn't fat or anything. I just had more curves than an eighteen year old should and it always had both positive and negative effects on me. Yes I get attention from guys because of it but at the end of the day, they just want me because of my body. Ciara says that's all guys want and I should give them what they want. I believe her. She knows what's best for me.

I could hear whispers when I walked out and I didn't need a soothsayer to tell me I was the topic of discussion. I just held my chin up in pride and began to walk back to the bleachers. I looked to where the Tyler guy was staying and saw he had a partner. I immediately recognized who it was.

Joel Bamidele.

He had his eyes on me as well but his expression was indifferent. I could see him talking to Tyler and I knew immediately that he was talking about me, especially when Tyler looked towards me for just a split second. I became incredibly self conscious and hugged my legs to myself.

He knows who I am now.

"Alright, everyone." Tyler's voice cut through my line of thought and I looked up to see him and Joel right in front of us. "We would be starting the tryouts now. Joel would be taking the Junior team to the other pool while I'd be taking the seniors here. Is that okay?" He asked and everyone nodded or muttered a yes.

"Alright. Juniors, follow me." Joel said, leading them out of the room. My eyes followed him till he disappeared from my vision.

"Tiana." Tyler called me and I looked at him. Other Seniors were already arranged by each section of the pool and I was the only one still seated. "We are waiting for you." He said and I quickly stood up to stay by my section.

I could feel Tyler's eyes on me. Not in the weird way that guys would stare at my body but in a more curious manner. It still made me feel uncomfortable and self conscious.

"I need you guys to put your mind, body and heart in this." He said and I took a deep breath. "Only six people would be selected from the seniors, three boys and three girls, so all of you need to wow me." He added and I stretched my shoulders.

"Once you hear the whistle, you'll dive, take a lap four times. Then we will move on to other things." He instructed and I took a deep breath again.

"On your mark." He called and we got on our knees.

"Set." He called again and we got to position. I heaved heavily the same time the whistle went off.

I dived in.

*****

The List of those that made it on the team came out the week after tryouts and was pasted on the notice board. I rushed over to check  when the crowd wasn't much. Bending a bit, I began to search for my name but I didn't find it.

What?

Thinking it was just my eyes, I went ahead to check for the second time.

Third.

Fourth

Fifth.

Twentieth.

My name wasn't among the list of students that made it on the team. My chest contracted and I felt my eyes well up in unshed tears.

"You should stop looking for your name." I heard a voice behind me and I turned to see Tyler walking towards me. "Its not there." He said when he reached me. I pushed the tears back in and folded my hand across my chest.

"And why is that? My name should be on this team. You said I was good, the best even." I snapped. He actually told me that after tryouts. He just mentioned it like it was nothing but those words meant everything to me.

"Yes, and I meant it. But..." He paused, not looking away from me. I felt hot under his scrutinizing gaze but I made sure to hide it.

"We are looking at other factors as well. You are in SS3 and you have a lot of things going. School work is piling up and Coach says it would be too much for you." He explained and I scoffed.

"What? That's impossible because you are the team captain and I even see other SS3 students involved in sporting activities." I complained, feeling that they are being partial. He sighed.

"It's easier for us because we have been in this school before. You are new, you still have stuffs to catch up on. I'm sorry." He said, ending with a shrug. I scoffed again, feeling the tears coming up and this time I didn't force it down.

"This isn't fair." I muttered but Tyler obviously heard me.

"I know and I'm sorry about it. If there was anything I could do about it, I would. But coach has the final say." He said again and I glared at him.

"You know what. Fuck you!" I spat out and walked away, intentionally butting my shoulder with his. I rushed up the stairs of the class and saw Zaria carrying a pile of books.

I suddenly felt mischievous. I've always yearned to pick a fight with her and with the mood I was in, I felt the need now more than ever. I stretched my leg on the way and tripped her. She fell, the books shattering and she grazed her knee on the edge of the staircase. I saw her skin peel off and I smirked. She looked up and her eyes met mine. A menacing grin spread across my lips.

"Ohhh I'm so sorry. I didn't see you." I feigned regret for my action. She rolled her eyes at me and got up from the floor, dusting her skirt.

"You saw me, Tiana and you did that on purpose." She folded her hand over her chest and I smirked, shrugging.

"Maybe, maybe not." I said, that grin still playing on my lips. She sighed and massaged her temple.

"What exactly do you want, Tiana, because I'm pretty sure you didn't bump into me for no reason." She said, a bored expression on her face and I scoffed at her audacity. She didn't seem fazed by my action and that alone irritated me.

I gave her a one over.

"Nothing, actually." I said, giving her another one over and chuckled. "I seriously can't believe Joel replaced me with...with you." I added with so much disdain. If she was affected by my words, she didn't show it.

Instead she smiled.

"You are wrong sweet heart. I am not a replacement. Never was, never will be." She simply said and I scoffed, rolling my eyes.

Who does she think she is?

"Oh puleez! Joel has not gotten over me. I was his first everything. You know what they say about first loves right. You are smart." I smirked, seeing that my words definitely got a reaction from her. But the reaction left just as fast as it came.

"Fine, agreed. He told me about all your little escapades. You never regarded him as something important, Tiana. He was just another guy for your little 'conquest'." She flipped her finger when she said the last word.

Her words hit deep but I tried not to show it, especially when I could see that some of our mates were watching. I opened my mouth to speak, to talk back at her but she interrupted me.

"Just like he took you as his priority and broke a lot of rules for you, you never did the same for him. He was just another guy you wanted to go to bed with and honestly, that's low." She deadpan and the words did a number on me. There were mocking snickers from our mates that were watching us.

OUCH!

"I mean," She wasn't even done. "Really, what the hell were you trying to prove? That you were a boss lady at breaking hearts?" She threw her hands up emphatically and my face contoured in anger. I could see her lips twitched in a small smile, knowing her words were hitting me hard.

"Joel never actually meant anything to you, Tiana and that's where I come in. He means a lot to me, more than you know and I mean a lot to him too. He doesn't see me as a replacement." I scoffed at that but no words came out of her mouth. I knew she was right. She was not a replacement.

She was the main.

And that shit was painful.

"He sees me as something priceless, like a gem. I'm so lucky to have him. He might have been your first everything, I'm pretty sure he remembers that, I mean, who forgets their first 'everything'? But I'm 100% positive he doesn't have feelings for you anymore, I mean, He told me himself." She said and I let out a strained laugh, trying to mask my hurt.

"And you believe him?" I smirked and she shrugged.

"Yeah. I trust him." She smiled, picking up the books from the floor before looking at me, giving me a one over a genuinely sweet smile on her lips.

"One more thing, Tiana. You don't want to accept the fact that Joel is so over you. Let me remind you about something. He isn't one of those guys that would do anything to kiss your feet. He is different. The earlier you understand that, the better for you." She winked at me then walked away. The guys around hooted after her and I felt extremely embarrassed.

Her words hit me like a tug. She was absolutely right.

I was no body.

Not to Joel.

Not to this school.

Not to anyone.

I meant nothing.

A/N

Yehh!!! My chest oo. 😣😣😣

Zaria gave Tiana gbas gbos 🤣. Who told Tiana to go and look for trouble when Zaria has always been the Queen of savage. I promised that things would get more interesting and they are getting more interesting.

Who is pained on Tiana's behalf? I pity her small sha.

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