Things only continue to go downhill for Rory as practice progresses. He just can’t seem to get back his game. The moment Coach Sweeney moves him to the second starting block, he doesn’t win a single heat. None of the other swimmers come near his time, but try as he might, he can’t seem to overtake Chase for the lead position.
Which means he won’t start in Saturday’s competition as he expected. And the more he dwells on it, the worse his performance gets. He just can’t seem to catch a break.
When he realizes he isn’t going to win back his spot on the team, he hangs around the coach’s office, waiting for practice to finish. Finally Sweeney calls it a day, and as everyone files back towards the locker room, Rory waits by her door. She glances up from her clipboard to see him standing there
