A Passion Too Strong
Swimming was Gabby Walkers life. She ate, breathed, and slept swimming. She loved going to meets in the early morning and spending time with her team. They were like family to her. Everyone got along, and that's the way it should be.
One day, Leah, one of Gabby’s teammates, came over and started talking to her.
“I heard you aren't swimming today,” she said concerned.
“What do you mean?” Gabby said panicked, “Why would I not swim?”
“Well, Brianna said you were ineligible,” Leah said confused.
Gabby tried to think of everything she had done recently. Then she stopped and realized she would never do anything bad because she loved to swim way too much.
"Where is Brianna?" asked Gabby. She was having mixed feelings of being mad and nervous at the same time.
"She's talking to Coach right now," Leah said with a wavered voice.
Gabby set out to go find Brianna. She found her talking to the coach in her office.
"Hey Brianna, can I talk to you for a second?"
"Sure! What do you need?" asked Brianna.
"We are a team. We need to stick together and tell each other everything. I heard you are spreading a rumor about me," said Gabby getting a little teary eyed.
"I'm so sorry, Gabby! Chase told me you went to his house this weekend and got wasted. I wanted Leah to tell you because I thought she was closer to you than I am. I never meant for this to happen."
Chase is Gabby's ex-boyfriend. They talk from time to time, but mostly they act like complete strangers around each other.
"Why would I go to Chase's house?" asked Gabby.
"I was kinda wondering the same thing, but then Chase told me that you two got back together. Then it made more sense,"
"So, Chase is lying to everyone? First, he cheated on me! And now he is lying to my friends? He is going to ruin my life. I've worked way too hard to throw my swimming career away. I need to talk to him. NOW!" Gabby thought.
"Thanks for talking with me," said Gabby as she walked away.
As she walked away her coach stopped her.
"Gabby, I heard you were out drinking last weekend and I'm sorry to inform you but you are suspended from the team for a little while."
"But Coach," complained Gabby, "I didn't even drink! I have never drank alcohol in my life. I would never do that. Swimming means way too much to me. I can’t throw it all away. I'm in love with the sport. You would know that."
"Gabby, I'm sorry but I have no choice. You will be suspended for two weeks."
"Two weeks! But nationals are in two weeks. I can't miss nationals. Please, Coach. There has to be another option," begged Gabby.
"I'm afraid not."
"I'll prove it to you that I didn't do it," yelled Gabby as she walked away wiping tears from her eyes.
When she woke up the only plan for her day was to find Chase and get him to confess that he was lying. She loved to swim and she would do anything so she can swim at nationals.
She found Chase by his locker. He was around his buddies but she didn't even care. This was important. She needed to talk to him.
"Chase, can I talk to you?" she asked.
His buddies all started to laugh and make jokes about them. He grinned and looked back at them as if he wanted them to laugh more.
"Yeah, I guess we can talk," he said grinning because he knew exactly what she wanted to talk about.
"Why would you tell everyone that I got wasted at your house last weekend? You know how much swimming means to me and now I can't swim at nationals. Will you please go tell my coach that it was all a big misunderstanding?"
"Let me think. No."
"Why not? What have I done to you?"
He had to think about it for a little bit. He was speechless.
“I. I don’t know,” stammered Chase.
“Exactly! Can we please go talk to my coach. This means a lot to me.”
“On one condition,” Chase said, “You need to go on a date with me.”
“H*LL TO THE NO!” There was no way Gabby was going to go on a date with Chase. She tried to compromise with him. She offered to give him money, to drive him to school, even to do his chores at his house. He refused. He wanted a date with Gabby Walkers and she wasn't going to give him one.
Finally, she agreed. Swimming meant so much to her that if she had to go on a date with her ex-boyfriend, then, I guess that's what will have to happen.
“So, when and where?” Gabby asked disgusted.
“This Saturday, at 6:00,” Chase said excitedly.
“Fine. When are we telling coach that you lied?”

“Right now if you'd like,” he said.

They went to talk to Gabby’s coach. Coach said that Gabby’s parents explained that Gabby was home on Saturday so she couldn't have been with Chase.
“Oh my goodness,” Gabby said relieved, “I’m so happy this all blew over.”
“Me too! Gabby, I’m so sorry that I lied. I made a big mistake by breaking up with you. I just wanted another chance and I didn't know how to ask. Could you ever forgive me?” Chase said hopeful.
“I suppose,” Gabby said smiling.

On Saturday Chase and Gabby went on their date. Gabby actually enjoyed herself. Her and Chase started going on more dates, and before they knew it they were inseparable again.

The two weeks went by so fast. Nationals were here and everyone was super nervous.

“I’m so nervous,” said Leah shaking.

“I think we all are!” Gabby said.

Nationals was a great experience and their team ended up getting first. Gabby also won two more races individually.

Gabby ended up getting a scholarship to an amazing swimming college and she ended up swimming for the Olympics.
If she wouldn't have taken that date with Chase she would have never swam at nationals and she would have never played in the Olympics.

When you love something you do crazy things to make it happen.