Practice [Veritas Swim team]

[Admin Sydnee]

Jade was often one of the first ones to the locker room. A lot of it was her dedication to the sport. Most people didn't suspect her to be a swimmer and when they learned of it, they were surprised that she was even involved in something for the school, but her teammates had become her friends along with the swimming pool.

She tied her long black hair into a high ponytail after she's changed into her one-piece swimsuit. Her sister had faded away when she'd entered the locker room, but had been with her during the entire walk down the Veritas hallways, since the moment she'd left her dorm room. They'd chatted, mostly about everything and nothing at all and Lanie asked Jade a billion questions, most of which Jade answered, not forgetting her sister's curious nature.

It became natural to have Lanie around and it was as if she was actually there, living and breathing alongside Jade, even if she wasn't. The presence of her sister put her at ease just as much as swimming did. It was when other unwanted spirits invaded her life that she found her power to be a burden.

She slammed her locker door shut, smiling as she heard the door to the locker room open and voices of her other teammates.

[Admin Courtney]

Aura sped through the hallways until she reached the ground level of the school and the corner that held the athletics area. The doors at the end of the hall led to the Soccer team changing rooms that led outside to the soccer field, but Aura did not so much as glance at those. She turned left and through a door marked 'Swim Team' and didn't look back as the door swung shut behind her.

"I thought I was going to be late," she breathed in relief when she saw fellow team mate Jade still getting ready. Aura smiled as a hello and opened her locker, pulling out her swim uniform and stepped into one of the few stalls. The changing stalls were necessary mostly because the entire swim team shared the locker room, and that meant the boys, too. While Aura knew them well enough and had no problem stripping completely to change in front of the girls on the team, she was still shy enough to step into a changing stall to shield her body from the eyes of the guys.

"I had some stupid nightmare that made me sleep in," she told Jade conversationally as she stepped into the black one-piece swim suit with curved orange stripes that served as the Veritas Swim Team uniform. "And for some reason I couldn't wake up from it. Has that ever happened to you?" she asked casually, though she was really badly hoping it had. The nightmare had been terrifying. She tried not to remember it, but bits and pieces came flooding back as she gathered up her clothes and stepped out of the stall. She had been using her powers in her dream and enjoying it. It was the scariest thing she had ever dreamt, and it was recurring. She had had it at least once a week so far this year.

[Lux]

Somehow Skylar managed to actually get up on time. Punctuality really wasn't something that she prioritized very often, but when the coach told her if she didn't get her act together soon, she was off, Skylar decided it was time for a change.

Rushing through the hallways as fast as she could (Which wasn't very fast to begin with), Skylar made her way to the Veritas indoor pool. Sometimes she wished that she would actually put on her swimsuit before she even got to practice, but when she would wake up, she could care less. Honestly, all she wanted to do was sleep.

But as much as she wanted to sleep right now, swimming was everything to her. It was the reason it kept her sane. Feeling as if she could float away from her problems was the best feeling in the world. Well actually, being able to speed through the water faster than any spiritus student and win the meets was the best feeling in the world. And when she didn't, she would hate herself for quite a while. Winning was everything to Skylar. Everything.

Bursting through the doors that lead to locker room, she instantly stripped her clothes off, not caring who really saw. It was mostly her team in there anyway. She quickly slipped on her swimsuit, which in all honesty, she loved. The simplicity of the swimsuit was pleasant. Most of the other girls seemed to hate it, and she couldn't imagine why.

Once she had put on her uniform, everyone seemed to still be gathered in the locker room. What time was it?? Grabbing her phone, she was shocked at what she saw. It was 10 minutes before she had to be in the pool. Insane... She thought before bounding over to her team mates. " Guys. Big news! I'm early!" She gasped, placing a hand on her heart before diving into conversation with them.

[Admin Sydnee]

"Well, you're on time," Jade said, offering a smile at Aura. "Now we just have to see if Skylar shows before we're in the pool." She sat down on the bench that divided the rows of lockers as she waited for Aura to change, listening to her tell about a nightmare. She nodded in reply. "Yeah, I know what you mean. It's like it's so bad, and so real, that you can't pull out of it, because it no longer feels like a dream." That happened sometimes when spirits visited her in her sleep. Things could get bad unbearable and she hated when the spirits were angry at her for being able to communicate with them. "Have you heard of that freshman boy that's a dream walker? Maybe he could help." She shrugged, not really knowing the extent of the boy's powers. She'd only heard about him in fleeting conversation.

It was then that she saw a flash of blonde hair. "Wow, Skylar, you're early." She clapped her hands together. "I'm impressed." She tried to keep the fact that she saw her sister everywhere and that the girl was practically still alive with her to herself. She didn't tell her teammates, or speak to Lanie in front of them. Lanie usually knew not to show up during swim practices. Then again, they did know her power. But Jade didn't share things about her sister with really anybody, so it was to be expected. Maybe she'd tell them at some point.

[Admin Courtney]

"Yes," Aura said, exhaling with relief. So she wasn't the only one with those kinds of dreams. She had been worried that... She shook the thought away. No, her powers couldn't affect her dreams. It was just a nightmare. It was just her subconcious telling her what she was worried about. But Aura wouldn't become the Aura from her dream. She would not allow herself. She would not enjoy inflicting pain.

"A dream walker?" she repeated. "I don't know if I want anyone in my dreams," she said, but Skylar walked into the room, distracting from the conversation. She laughed jovially at the girl's exclamation. "Great, now we can all start practise on time for once," she teased, grabbing her goggles out of her locker and hanging them around her neck before tying her hair into a bun at the back of her head.

[Lux]

"Well, if coach wouldn't make practice so early" She moaned, but there was still a smile on her face. The running seemed to have woken up her body, and she was impatient, wanting to slip into the pool and just swim right there. For once in her life, she wished the ten minutes would fly by.

"So is this what you early birds do while I am not here. Just attempt to amuse yourself with a nice conversation while you wait?" Skylar blinked, tapping her foot unknowingly. The locker room was pretty quiet even though most of the team had already arrived. There was a moment where she thought she might like getting up earlier if there were going to be times like this. Skylar laughed mentally, knowing she would never get up early unless she really had to. Even if she did attempt to get up earlier than she had to, the alarm would go off and she would snooze it instantly. Skylar knew herself well. Why even try?

"So, you beauties ready to get down to business today?" She said with a smile. Coach has them practicing as if they were at meets. She cared about the swim team, and Skylar respected that, even though she had to get up so early.

[Admin Sydnee]

"It was just a suggestion," Jade said to Aura, shrugging her shoulders. "Might provide some insight into your dreams and what they mean." It was all she could really suggest.

She turned to Skylar, smiling as she dropped her goggles around her neck. "There's nothing wrong with being early," she shot back. Besides, when she had her dead little sister trying to wake her up in the morning, there was no need for an alarm clock. Lanie barely let her sleep, just because you didn't sleep when you were a spirit. "We were just talking about Aura having some creepy nightmares."

"Of course I'm ready. I live to swim."

[Admin Courtney]

Aura only smiled as Skylar complained about the early mornings. Aura did not mind them. If it meant she could be in the water, then she was happy. Nothing got her out of bed faster than an early morning swim. They were the Veritas team. They had to win and they would always win. Even if they had to swim all day every day.

She might have replied to Skylar and remind her of this, but she was too rattled at the fact that someone could invade her dreams if they so pleased. She was not sure she wanted to know what they meant, but maybe this Monroe guy could assure her that they were just dreams and nothing else. But what if he realised she was some sort of psychotic freak and she ended up locked up somewhere where she wouldn't hurt anyone? Actually, perhaps that would be better...

[Lux]

"Well, I would think you do. Because if you didn't, I would question our friendship. No friend of mine can hate water!" She said with a smile. Toying with the goggles in her hands, she turned to look at Aura. She was awfully quiet today, and by awfully quiet, she meant that Aura was quieter than usual. Something was definitely up with her today, but she didn't feel like it could be anything she could help with. Skylar frowned for a moment, her hand going limp. The goggles fell out of her hand and hit her foot. She let out a small cry, forgetting they were the goggles, thinking it was some sort of bug.

"I have got to stop scaring myself!" she muttered to herself while retrieving them. Though she had to admit, that little scare had woken her up. "So Aura, I say we have a race today. Actually, us three should have one. How long has it been since one of has been crowned queen of the chlorine pool? Quite a while if I remember correctly." She said, her eyes shining. There was nothing Skylar loved better than a good competition between friends.