Carter's POV:

It's official!

I look at the list of swimmers from tonight and even when the official states that I've qualified for the quarterfinals of my best event, the 100 butterfly, I'm still thrilled. It was a rough meet, and I'm absolutely exhausted, but I achieved what I said I was going to achieve!

My teammates all hug me, and I'm even more thrilled when the official says that my medley relay team qualified as well! Thankfully, I only qualify for the two events because any more than that and I'd have been worried.

That means I can just focus on the butterfly and not on freestyle. It's a bit relieving, and I look up at the crowd that is here to support us, and I see Jeremy, Amanda, and Janelle sitting with my dad, all of them grinning and clapping when they continue to announce the names of my teammates who made the quarterfinals with me.

Well, Dad just looks gruff and kind of tired, but he gives a nod of approval when he makes brief eye contact with me. Even though I know he's proud of me, it's still nice when he showcases his approval by nodding or clapping me on the shoulder.

When the names of those who qualified have been fully read, my team heads to our locker room and rinses off before we change into our sweats and head outside to the bus. We're all talking excitedly, cheering together.

I see Jeremy, Amanda, and Janelle standing outside the building, a few feet away from the bus. I'm pretty sure my dad has already gone home because he works early tomorrow, but I understand and I'm happy that he came to support me.

The bus won't leave for a few minutes since the girls on the team have to take off a whole swimsuit instead of just trunks, so I run over to my friends.

Jeremy launches himself into my arms, not that I'm too surprised because he's been more affectionate with me lately. He's all smiles and I extend my available arm to receive a hug from Amanda and Janelle as well.

"Congratulations!" Janelle exclaims. "You kicked ass!"

Amanda pats my back. "Good job, Carter!"

Jeremy finally lets go of me and stands in front of me. "You smell like chlorine."

"Wild concept," I respond, running a hand through my still-wet hair. "The locker rooms were crowded so I just got to rinse off and couldn't do a whole shower."

Janelle giggles, getting our attention. "I'm sure you could help him clean up, Jeremy... Carter would probably enjoy that."

Jeremy scowls. "Shut up," he mumbles, averting his eyes from mine.

"We're going to pick you up at the school," Janelle says, since I'm required to take the bus back. "We're going to go celebrate!"

"My relay team said they wanted to go out," I warn her.

My relay team has been working impossibly hard to get into the quarterfinals, and it's difficult to get a relay team through to a final. There's more people and all of us have to be on point.

"They can come with us," Janelle says simply. "We're going to go get drinks and fries."

There's only one place we go for that, and that's the diner in the historic downtown district that serves the best fried food and great cream sodas. They have alcohol, too, which my teammates will probably drink, but I'm not an obsessive drinker and if the soda is better then I'm taking that.

"Amanda, are you coming?" I ask, since she's been a bit flakey with our hang outs in the last few weeks.

"I can't, I have a test tomorrow and I need to study."

Jeremy frowns and they seem to have a silent conversation, but he seems dissuaded after a few seconds and sighs.

"Carter!" my medley teammate, the freestyle swimmer, Ben, calls. "Let's go!"

I bid my friends a brief goodbye and head to the bus and sit next to my three medley teammates. Ben swims freestyle, Wesley swims breaststroke, and Leighton does backstroke. I tell them my plan with my friends, and they all agree to go with us to celebrate.

"Is Jeremy that twink that you've been hanging out with?" Wesley asks, as I've run into some of my teammates while hanging around campus with Jeremy.

I scoff. "Call him a twink and he might cut your dick off." I take a drink from my water bottle. "But, yeah."

Trenton, one of my biggest personal competitors, and someone I really don't get along with, leans over the back of the seat.

"You guys are going out?" he asks, wiggling his eyebrows. "It's pretty rude not to invite your fellow butterfly swimmer."

There's no smile on my face, as I'd much rather he leave us alone. It's not like he's a horrible guy, he's just annoying and thinks he's better than everyone. He'd fit in really well with Jeremy's parents; they all live under the ideology that they're the best thing on earth and were sent here to be a gift to the world.

However, he's bisexual, so they probably wouldn't like him that much. There was a period time when he wouldn't leave Akira alone, which was irritating for my poor friend. Not that I got involved, because Akira can definitely handle himself.

"That's because we didn't intend to invite you," Leighton says, rolling his eyes.

"You can come," I offer, and Ben elbows my side discreetly.

Trenton grins. "Good."

'Thank you' would have been a more appropriate, but alright.

When we get to the school, I get into Janelle's car where she and Jeremy are waiting. Trenton and Ben follow me since there's five seats, and Wesley drives himself and Leighton separately.

Trenton and I are sat on either side of Jeremy, since he's the smallest so he's in the middle, and I'm irritated that Trenton decided to strike up conversation with him. It's not like I can tell him to shut up, though, since he's just being a normal person making conversation.

It's still annoying.

It's even more annoying because I know that Trenton is bisexual and Jeremy is super cute so obviously he's going to be flirty.

Jeremy taps my arm as I'm glowering and looking out the window.

"You haven't said much," he comments, and I find it hard to be annoyed when he's talking to me.

I catch Trenton's eye and see he's obviously frustrated that he's not the center of attention. It makes me feel a bit better.

"What about it?" I ask Jeremy, ruffling his hair.

Take that, Trenton.

He doesn't let just anyone touch his hair; especially not you. Jeremy doesn't even know you so you can fuck off, asshole.

"Well, usually I can't get you to shut up," Jeremy says, and I can tell he's joking.

"Apparently miracles can happen," Trenton comments, and Jeremy chuckles.

Fuck you, Trenton.

Don't make him laugh; that wasn't even a good joke.

"Haha, you're so funny," I say dryly as Janelle parks the car.

I try to put myself between Trenton and Jeremy, but unfortunately we end up seated just like we were in the car. Wesley ends up on my other side so Jeremy and I are stuck in between them and I keep glaring at the table as Trenton keeps talking up Jeremy.

Janelle kicks my leg under the table and nods at my phone.

J: Are you okay? You've looked pissed all night

Me: trenton keeps flirting w jer >:(

J: Flirt w him first? Jeremy probs wants your attention but you're too busy glaring at the table

Me: how do you know?

J: Uh... it's fucking obvious? He likes you? You like him? Start dating?

Me: ...idk bro

J: Whatever, let flirty Trenton ask him out first and fuck him and date him and you can be sad and watch Grey's Anatomy in your room.

I glare at her across the table and look to my right to see Jeremy taking part in a conversation with Trenton, but the asshole is really just talking about himself and his swim success.

He didn't even qualify last year and this year he barely made the cut.

The waiter brings us our drinks, and I notice that everyone's gotten sodas except for Trenton, who ordered some kind of alcohol. What irritates me even more is that he keeps trying to encourage Jeremy to try it.

"I don't really drink," Jeremy assures him, sipping some of his soda. "And I'm only eighteen."

Trenton grabs his wrist, and I see Jeremy tense up a bit since it's the wrist that he used to abuse with his rubber band.

"Come on, no one's going to tell on you," Trenton says, and I pull Jeremy closer to my side, dislodging his wrist from Trenton's grip.

"Or, you can leave him alone because he doesn't want to drink," I deadpan.

Trenton scoffs. "What's up with you? You've been glaring at me all night."

"Nothing's up with me!" I snap. "Just leave Jeremy alone."

"He can tell me himself if he doesn't want me talking to him," Trenton responds, a self satisfied smirk on his face. "Don't be a dick because he's not into you."

Jeremy seems a lot more tense than he should be, and I try to pat his shoulder, but he shoves past myself and Wesley and heads toward the bathroom.

"I'll go check on him," Janelle tells us, and from the look she's giving me, she's clearly annoyed with me.

Trenton scoffs. "It's the boy's bathroom. I can go-"

"He doesn't know you well enough and a fucking sign isn't going to stop me," Janelle snaps, cutting him off and heading to the restroom.

"Why'd you have to interrupt me talking with him?" Trenton asks. "He's single and he doesn't have a boyfriend so what's the damn problem? If he liked you he'd have gotten with you by now."

I scowl. "He's shy, dipshit. And you're way too self obsessed for him."

"Both of you need to calm down," Leighton scolds. "We're at a fucking diner."

"Yeah, and jealously is an ugly look on you, Carter," Ben adds as Janelle comes back to the table with Jeremy and makes him sit across from me instead of in between Trenton and I.

I give a dirty side eye to the asshole who's trying to snatch the guy I have a crush on before I text said guy who I have a crush on.

Me: i'm sorry if i upset you :((

Jeremy: If you don't want to ask me on a date why are you trying to intervene with someone else?

I look up to see him staring at me with narrow eyes and I've never seen him look that scary before.

Me: who said i didn't want to ask you on a date?

Jeremy: Well, you haven't! And you told me, like, a month ago that if you wanted to ask someone out you would! Plus, we kissed three weeks ago on Xmas and I assumed that would lead to something but you didn't ever ask!

Me: ... do you wanna go on a date?

Jeremy doesn't respond and I see him still glaring at me. He grabs his soda and drinks it before engaging in a conversation with Trenton about his event at the quarter finals and I feel like a massive dick.

Yes, I did tell Jeremy that if I wanted a date with someone that I'd ask them, but I didn't ask him because I didn't know if he was ready! Maybe I should have asked... because now Trenton's flirting with him and that irritates me to no end.

Jeremy's too good for him!

He's too good for me, honestly, but I can treat him better than Trenton could.

"Jeremy," I announce, getting the entire table's attention. "Do you want to go on a date with me?"

Jeremy's eyes widen and I can tell he wasn't expecting that.

Ha.

Bet Trenton couldn't surprise him like that.

Jeremy nods slowly. "Yeah, I will," he agrees, and I can see that he's fighting back a smile, which is adorable.

"Great, let's go."

He gapes at me. "Right now?"

"Yes."

I also really want to get him away from Trenton.

Jeremy nervously follows me and I grab his hand as I throw down cash for his and my share of the drinks and snacks.

"Have a good time!" Janelle calls as we leave through the front door of the restaurant.