You're not afraid!

Of course, I’m beaming with pride that I made the team. I didn’t last five minutes before I texted Sophia everything that happened. Now keep in mind, Sophia is still coming to terms with the idea of me willingly putting on a swim suit. I’d honestly pay good money to see her eyes pop out when I said I made the team. Shut the door, girl, she texted back. You voluntarily put a swim suit on AND you made the team? Yes, I made the team. It’s not that surprising. You know I’ve always been good at sports. She tells me to send her proof or she’ll never believe me.

Despite what it looks like, this is Sophia’s way of saying she’s proud of me. It’s just not her personality to get all lovey-dovey. She doesn’t have to say anything. I know what she means. Nevertheless, I opted not to get her input on this mysterious initiation. I can only imagine the bombardment of questions to which I obviously have no answers to. All I know is, Charlotte said don’t be late, and attending the initiation sounds about as optional as the suit regulations.

It’s 7:50 p.m., and as you might have guessed, I’m in the girl’s locker room. I actually ended up getting here a little early and I realize that I'm alone, but I don't have to wait long until I see Julia and Isabella. I almost don’t recognize them in their everyday clothes, as until now, I’d only seen them in suits and caps. I check out Julie first, whose most striking feature is her gorgeous, chest-length brown hair. She’s wearing a chic button-up blouse, white blazer, and casual jeans. Her outfit says, I’m elegant, but I know how to let my hair down. Isabella on the other hand comes off more like a tomboy in a motorcycle gang. She has short, platinum blonde hair and a variety of piercings in her ears. She’s wearing shiny leather pants and a crop top, which shows off what is likely her most prized feature. She’s ripped, okay? I’m trying to say she’s got a six-pack.

“Hey, Kelsi. Glad you made it! Nervous?” Julie asks.

“Of course,” I say. “Aren’t you? Charlotte seemed pretty tight-lipped about this.”

“I’m sure it’s just an ice breaker to introduce us to the team,” Julie replies optimistically. “Don’t worry.”

Julie’s smile puts me at ease.

“Doubt that,” Isabella replies coldly. “I bet they’re going to haze us.”

“Hazing is illegal,” Julie says matter-of-factly.

“That’s why they don’t tell you about it ahead of time, Nancy Drew,” Isabella replies.

“But it’s against the rules. They can’t do that,” I argue. “Any organization caught hazing is subject to penalties and possible disbandment.”

I know this because there was a big scandal about hazing only a few years ago. It was all over the news. Surely Isabella is wrong. There’s no way such a prestigious swim team would risk everything for a stupid hazing tradition. But Isabella shrugs and doesn’t reply. Before I can say anything else, the doors burst open and I see the swim captain confidently stroll in with a group of five or six senior girls following closely behind her.

“Let’s get this party started ladies,” Charlotte says with a powerful, booming voice that echoes through the locker room. “Are you ready to join the team, Kelsi?”

She steps up to me, her voluptuous chest coming right up to my face, the difference in our height stark.