Personal Best

Jessy Turner was between swimmers when he walked into Jamail Hall at UT, looking for Coach Jeff Samuels.

Jeff had called with ''an opportunity''. It could be anything from a job offer to a lead on a new swimmer who needed a private coach to someone who was looking for private lessons for their tyke; there was no telling with Jeff.

The man's office was empty, so Jessy made his way through the huge complex down to the pool. He was stopped in his tracks by the show going on in the water. The kids were swimming laps, going hard, and lane three was smoking. His form needed work, but fuck, he was flying through the water like a damned fish.

Jessy hadn't seen someone with that much raw talent in too fucking long. He sat in the stands and just watched.

Dark hair, long, long arms and legs -- the kid moved and moved, and fuck if he just didn't keep going, digging up more and more energy.

''Kid's going to burn himself out.'' Jeff's voice sounded at his shoulder.

''I'm surprised he hasn't already. You gonna rein him in sometime soon?''

''Nope. You are.'' Jeff gave him a grin. ''You remember Doug and Jamie Gaulliet? The all-American freestylers that were killed off the coast? That is their son.''

He whistled low. ''Comes by it naturally then.'' He felt that excitement shiver up his spine, the one that said he was onto something special. ''So I am, am I? You offering me a job or handing me the next Olympic champion on a silver platter?''

''I'm handing you the kid. He's got a scholarship. He swims my meets. You get the use of the pool and facilities for training. There are already two sponsors lined up -- good money, but they want you.''

''You okay with losing the coaching opportunity?'' Jeff was a good man. A good coach, but this kid needed one-on-one. Still, Jessy needed to hear it from the man himself.

''Shit, Jessy. This kid? Needs 24/7 care. He's got more energy than anyone I've ever met.'' Jeff nodded out to the water where the damned kid was still going. ''He can do that for hours, then get out, down an entire pizza and 2-liter.'' Jeff chuckled. ''Then he'll either throw up from nerves or get in the pool and do it again.''

''24/7, yeah?'' Jessy nodded. ''I'll give it some thought.'' Like he was going to do anything but jump at the chance to coach this kid. He was already planning to get the kid off caffeine, put that energy to efficient use.

His place was big enough to move the kid in, the pool a good size, perfect for training. They could come into Jamail Hall a few days a week, train with the rest of the UT team.

''If you don't want him, let me know soon. I don't want to lose him to UCLA.''

''Let me go talk to him. I'll let you know before I go.''

''Sure. His name's Mike, by the way. Sweet kid. Don't terrify him.'' Jeff winked and blew the whistle. ''Frank, Aaron. Up and out. To the weight room.''

He snorted. Terror was how you got them to follow the rules.

The kid was the only one left in the pool and he slowly made his way down, crouching at the end of Mike's lane.

A pair of the biggest, darkest eyes Jessy'd ever seen blinked up at him, smiling. ''You lost? Coach is... uh... probably in the weight room.''

''I'm not lost. I'm Jessy Turner. You can call me Coach.'' He held his hand out to the kid. ''You're Mike Gaulliet, right?''

The kid had a strong handshake, firm. ''Yeah. That's me. Nice to meet you.''