One-A-Days

         Breathe in.

         The air rushes in, thick from the humidity; a pleasant guest in her body. Her eyes open for a moment, catching only glimpses of the surface, of the air, of the impending roadblock.

         Dive.

         The water surges around all of her thin, but strong, extremities. The fluid fins faults in her skin and caresses all lines and folds.

         Gasp.

         The surface is broken, water lifting with each inch she flies. Her hands fling forward, reaching for the one thing that can make it all mean something.

         The the buzzer sounds.

         Her hands slap against the tiled wall of the high school pool seconds later. Sighing,  this girl tilts her head back, only allowing the tip of her forehead to tickle the water's surface. She pulls herself forward and out of the temperature controlled pool; the water dripping off of her body in a melodic nightmare. Each footstep she took splashed water onto the cool tile, adding to the ever growing rivers and lakes. She bent down to grab the awaiting, gray towel at the bench along the side wall and wrapped it tightly around her torso. Wringing her brown hair in her wrinkled hands, the girl skimmed the pool area; debating whether she should get dressed or stick around. The small pool area was vacant other than the girl and one other swimmer. He continued laps while she pondered; unfazed.

         She found no reason to stay.



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         15.40.2.

         The click reassured that her memory served her right. A mirror hung square on the metal locker door. Nikki tossed her blonde --curly today-- hair over her shoulder and inspected her lipgloss. There were no books in her locker; she had the underclassmen for that. The underclassmen followed her to classes and did her homework. Nikki didn't have time for that. Between socializing regularly, cheerleading, and attending parties, she barely had any time for her boyfriend, Scott the captain of the football team. But she had a reputation to uphold.

         After all the tests were passes, Nikki notices a folded slip of yellow paper resting carefully in the empty space inside her locker. Opening it slowly she was soon aware of a new gathering she must attend. It entailed the usual; drinking, sex, and mayhem. She was in.

         As the high school's reigning Queen, Nikki had to keep up with the world. She had to have the boyfriend, drive the car, look that way, and she did. Her father was a single dad working two jobs and Nikki worked at the nursing home in the next town over, but she couldn't let them know that, she'd be ruined. So, she played the role, acted the part, and got her dream life.

         Nikki once again perfected and polished her features in the dingy mirror. Sighing quietly, she softly closed the blue metal gate and listened to it click closed; the gears slowly resting back in the right places, ready and able to do their jobs, wherever needed.



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