Post by veronasage on Mar 16, 2006 18:27:29 GMT -5
Warning: This story is rated PG-13 be aware.
Authors Note: This is my first Apolo Fanfiction. I hope all of you enjoy it and please leave feedback after you've read the story. I'd love to hear from my readers, but no flames please!! Note: I really have no idea how the sport works in terms of getting on the team, training environments, and coaches. Everything is just my take on it so please don't be angry if my interpretation of it is wrong. Enjoy!
Chapter 1
“I’m a hard worker… and I’m really good. I saw you watching me and I know when you look at me you see talent. A little messy yea, but I’m sure if you help me out, I could be the best.”
My coach looked at her and shook his head. I had no idea who she was but she had come in to the training center in a storm, eyes blazing with desire and energy so strong that if you where there, it would have consumed you. It’s hard to believe that there was so much energy coming off of such a small girl. I stopped pedaling on my bike to listen in on the conversation that had grabbed all the athletes attention. My coach sighed out of frustration and spoke.
“Look I’ll admit that you’re good but I have no idea who you are. I’ve never seen you at an event and I’m sorry but I have another athlete that I have to watch over right now.”
He turned his head and looked at me. I could see it in his eyes, he was tired. I gave him a slight smile for encouragement and nodded my head in the direction of the girl indicating to my coach that she was still standing there looking as defeated as ever.
“What do I have to do to prove to you this is what I want? That I’m good enough? Hell I could even be great. If I can’t do this, if you tell me I can’t, then I have nothing left.”
My trainer continued to look at me and I turned away. The hurt and desperation were so apparent in her voice. I could never imagine how she felt like, sure I had experienced a couple of moments where people said no or you can’t but I always had my father to help me out, but she… she just looked… alone.
“Do you know what it’s like sir? Don’t you remember? Where do you start? Who do you turn to, to reach a dream that no one else can see but you? I mean I traveled all the way here, just give me a shot.”
My trainer finally turned around and I almost felt sorry for her. Who was she? Where did she come from? What was she trying to prove by coming all the way out here?
“Look, I’m sorry. I just can’t. Go back home, find another trainer, work yourself up and enter some races. I’m sure a scout will find you along the way and you’re going to be good.”
“I don’t want to be good, I want to be great, and I want to learn from someone that trains the best.” She shouted and then stared straight at me. Her eyes were a piercing chocolate brown and all I could do was just stare. I couldn’t break away from her eyes. The voice of my coach finally took her eyes off of me and all I could think about was what I saw in those eyes.
“I’m glad to see that you’re determined but you don’t have that much experience. Most of my athletes are all inline skating champions they know what to do. I just can’t take you on. But good luck to you and your future.” My coach walked away as quickly as he could into the office and barricaded himself in. I glanced over my shoulder and turned to once more look upon the girl, she was staring at me again. After a few moments she quietly walked out the doors of the training center. Shani who was training here at Colorado Springs for a couple weeks sighed.
“man, that sucks. I guess I should be thankful for being spotted at the race way back when.” He continued to peddle and the other athletes continued along with their training as well. But I didn’t, I don’t know why but I followed her out.
I ran as fast as I could and saw her walking out towards the parking lot. “Hey…hey wait up!” She stopped and turned around. She looked at me like I was some sort of a lunatic and I immediately had second thoughts and started reprimanding myself for even following her out.
“Hey… I’m Apolo.” Her right brow went up and she gave me a quick roll of the eyes and continued on her way. I didn’t know whether to feel bad or feel angry at what she had just done.
“I know who you are. I’m pretty sure the whole world knows who you are.” I shook my head and caught up to her. “Would you please stop following me. I already feel stupid enough as it is coming all the way out here and the last thing I need is some boy following my every step.” I was so frustrated I just grabbed her shoulder and turned her to the side so I could finally take a good look at her close up. She was quite… pretty. She was some sort of Asian not quite sure what but what struck me were her big wide eyes. She had flowing dark brown/black hair, full lips, a straight but small nose, and she only came up to be about five one or five two give or take.
“Look, I just wanted to say that I’m sorry. I know it’s hard but you have to keep trying.” She cut me off before I could continue.
“Oh please, cut the psychobabble crap. It’s not going to make me feel any better. And no, you don’t know what I’m feeling, I mean who has ever said no to you. I mean, you’re THE Apolo Anton Ohno.”
“Hey! It was tough for me at the beginning all right. You think all of this just came to me, I gave away my life for this sport, so don’t tell me I had it easy. You have no idea.” Now I was just pissed. Why the hell did I follow her out again and how was it possible that I was arguing with a complete stranger.
“Give me a break. You didn’t even want to be in this sport at the beginning. Skipping out on practices chillin at pizza hut, I mean your father had to drop you off in the middle of a mountain for you to figure out if you wanted to be a part of this sport. Well, for your information hotshot I have always WANTED it. I was born with skates on my feet and it’s not fair that bastards like you who barely wanted it get a shot at the gold and I can’t!” We were both fuming.
“Ok first off you are horrible at making first impressions, secondly… how the hell do you know all of this information?” Her face scrunched up and turned red. It finally dawned on me
“Somebody’s been surfing the web… checking me out huh??” And just like that my anger was gone. If you could believe it…I actually felt flattered that she would go on a website dedicated to me and find out some facts. She sighed and shook her head.
“I’m sorry… I didn’t mean the things I said. It’s just… it’s been a long day. I guess, you just happen to be hear so… Well, thanks for being my anger reliever. I feel much better now that I’ve vented.” I stood in shock. That was quick.
“Uh… your welcome?” She had the most brilliant smile, a million dollar smile, amazing.
“Let’s just start from the beginning. Hi, my name is Danni Lee.”
“Apolo Ohno. Nice to meet you. Sorry about my coach. You know… with competitions coming up and only 2 years 5 months 8 days and 15 hours until the ’06 Olympics. You know, he’s just a tad bit stressed out.” She started laughing, it was infectious I couldn’t help but smile myself.
“Whatever, I thought it would be worth the try. Well, it was nice meeting you. I really should be getting back. I never exactly told my father that I would be coming here so yea. Good luck, you know with your races.” She was walking away, was I really going to let her go. Something in the back of my mind didn’t exactly agree.
“Wait up. Can I walk you to your car?”
“uh… no don’t have one.”
“Wait you walked all the way over here?”
“No silly, I walked all the way from the bus station. Then I have to get to the bus station which will take me to the grey hound which will then take me home.” I couldn’t believe she rode on a grey hound bus all the way to Colorado Springs just to get turned away by my coach. I never thought he could be a jackass but… dang.
“Where’s home?” She continued walking straight ahead never glancing back at me.
“The ice.”
“Can you say cliché?”
“Oh man. Now I’m going to tell all the girls back home that Apolo Ohno is a meanie.”
“Break my heart. No really, where are you heading?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know. We’re far too sober to be having a conversation like this. Now I really have to get going.” I can’t let you go. Why can’t I just let you walk away?
“Wait… you said you wanted to train.” She stopped in her tracks. Dear God someone stop me now. “well… I guess I can pull a couple strings.” Oh crap… stop me seriously. “I can try and get you a membership to train in the facilities.” Apolo you are digging yourself into a deeper hole. “I’ll show you a few pointers. I mean I can’t spend all my time with you obviously I got myself to worry about but who knows. Maybe if you keep showing up at the training center some of the coaches around here just might get annoyed enough to want to train you. It’s a long shot but hey, I’ve seen underdogs get their shot a couple of times.” Perfect Apolo your coach is going to kick your ass.
“Really? You would do this for a complete stranger?” Screw it all to hell. I can’t say no to her.
“Sure… why not.” It was back again, that fire that I saw when I first laid eyes on her. I had never seen her skate, but something was telling me she had a lot of potential.
“You know…you’re not that bad.”
I guess you can say… that’s where it all started.
Authors Note: So how was it? Please leave feedback if you want me to continue! Much love!!!
Authors Note: This is my first Apolo Fanfiction. I hope all of you enjoy it and please leave feedback after you've read the story. I'd love to hear from my readers, but no flames please!! Note: I really have no idea how the sport works in terms of getting on the team, training environments, and coaches. Everything is just my take on it so please don't be angry if my interpretation of it is wrong. Enjoy!
Chapter 1
“I’m a hard worker… and I’m really good. I saw you watching me and I know when you look at me you see talent. A little messy yea, but I’m sure if you help me out, I could be the best.”
My coach looked at her and shook his head. I had no idea who she was but she had come in to the training center in a storm, eyes blazing with desire and energy so strong that if you where there, it would have consumed you. It’s hard to believe that there was so much energy coming off of such a small girl. I stopped pedaling on my bike to listen in on the conversation that had grabbed all the athletes attention. My coach sighed out of frustration and spoke.
“Look I’ll admit that you’re good but I have no idea who you are. I’ve never seen you at an event and I’m sorry but I have another athlete that I have to watch over right now.”
He turned his head and looked at me. I could see it in his eyes, he was tired. I gave him a slight smile for encouragement and nodded my head in the direction of the girl indicating to my coach that she was still standing there looking as defeated as ever.
“What do I have to do to prove to you this is what I want? That I’m good enough? Hell I could even be great. If I can’t do this, if you tell me I can’t, then I have nothing left.”
My trainer continued to look at me and I turned away. The hurt and desperation were so apparent in her voice. I could never imagine how she felt like, sure I had experienced a couple of moments where people said no or you can’t but I always had my father to help me out, but she… she just looked… alone.
“Do you know what it’s like sir? Don’t you remember? Where do you start? Who do you turn to, to reach a dream that no one else can see but you? I mean I traveled all the way here, just give me a shot.”
My trainer finally turned around and I almost felt sorry for her. Who was she? Where did she come from? What was she trying to prove by coming all the way out here?
“Look, I’m sorry. I just can’t. Go back home, find another trainer, work yourself up and enter some races. I’m sure a scout will find you along the way and you’re going to be good.”
“I don’t want to be good, I want to be great, and I want to learn from someone that trains the best.” She shouted and then stared straight at me. Her eyes were a piercing chocolate brown and all I could do was just stare. I couldn’t break away from her eyes. The voice of my coach finally took her eyes off of me and all I could think about was what I saw in those eyes.
“I’m glad to see that you’re determined but you don’t have that much experience. Most of my athletes are all inline skating champions they know what to do. I just can’t take you on. But good luck to you and your future.” My coach walked away as quickly as he could into the office and barricaded himself in. I glanced over my shoulder and turned to once more look upon the girl, she was staring at me again. After a few moments she quietly walked out the doors of the training center. Shani who was training here at Colorado Springs for a couple weeks sighed.
“man, that sucks. I guess I should be thankful for being spotted at the race way back when.” He continued to peddle and the other athletes continued along with their training as well. But I didn’t, I don’t know why but I followed her out.
I ran as fast as I could and saw her walking out towards the parking lot. “Hey…hey wait up!” She stopped and turned around. She looked at me like I was some sort of a lunatic and I immediately had second thoughts and started reprimanding myself for even following her out.
“Hey… I’m Apolo.” Her right brow went up and she gave me a quick roll of the eyes and continued on her way. I didn’t know whether to feel bad or feel angry at what she had just done.
“I know who you are. I’m pretty sure the whole world knows who you are.” I shook my head and caught up to her. “Would you please stop following me. I already feel stupid enough as it is coming all the way out here and the last thing I need is some boy following my every step.” I was so frustrated I just grabbed her shoulder and turned her to the side so I could finally take a good look at her close up. She was quite… pretty. She was some sort of Asian not quite sure what but what struck me were her big wide eyes. She had flowing dark brown/black hair, full lips, a straight but small nose, and she only came up to be about five one or five two give or take.
“Look, I just wanted to say that I’m sorry. I know it’s hard but you have to keep trying.” She cut me off before I could continue.
“Oh please, cut the psychobabble crap. It’s not going to make me feel any better. And no, you don’t know what I’m feeling, I mean who has ever said no to you. I mean, you’re THE Apolo Anton Ohno.”
“Hey! It was tough for me at the beginning all right. You think all of this just came to me, I gave away my life for this sport, so don’t tell me I had it easy. You have no idea.” Now I was just pissed. Why the hell did I follow her out again and how was it possible that I was arguing with a complete stranger.
“Give me a break. You didn’t even want to be in this sport at the beginning. Skipping out on practices chillin at pizza hut, I mean your father had to drop you off in the middle of a mountain for you to figure out if you wanted to be a part of this sport. Well, for your information hotshot I have always WANTED it. I was born with skates on my feet and it’s not fair that bastards like you who barely wanted it get a shot at the gold and I can’t!” We were both fuming.
“Ok first off you are horrible at making first impressions, secondly… how the hell do you know all of this information?” Her face scrunched up and turned red. It finally dawned on me
“Somebody’s been surfing the web… checking me out huh??” And just like that my anger was gone. If you could believe it…I actually felt flattered that she would go on a website dedicated to me and find out some facts. She sighed and shook her head.
“I’m sorry… I didn’t mean the things I said. It’s just… it’s been a long day. I guess, you just happen to be hear so… Well, thanks for being my anger reliever. I feel much better now that I’ve vented.” I stood in shock. That was quick.
“Uh… your welcome?” She had the most brilliant smile, a million dollar smile, amazing.
“Let’s just start from the beginning. Hi, my name is Danni Lee.”
“Apolo Ohno. Nice to meet you. Sorry about my coach. You know… with competitions coming up and only 2 years 5 months 8 days and 15 hours until the ’06 Olympics. You know, he’s just a tad bit stressed out.” She started laughing, it was infectious I couldn’t help but smile myself.
“Whatever, I thought it would be worth the try. Well, it was nice meeting you. I really should be getting back. I never exactly told my father that I would be coming here so yea. Good luck, you know with your races.” She was walking away, was I really going to let her go. Something in the back of my mind didn’t exactly agree.
“Wait up. Can I walk you to your car?”
“uh… no don’t have one.”
“Wait you walked all the way over here?”
“No silly, I walked all the way from the bus station. Then I have to get to the bus station which will take me to the grey hound which will then take me home.” I couldn’t believe she rode on a grey hound bus all the way to Colorado Springs just to get turned away by my coach. I never thought he could be a jackass but… dang.
“Where’s home?” She continued walking straight ahead never glancing back at me.
“The ice.”
“Can you say cliché?”
“Oh man. Now I’m going to tell all the girls back home that Apolo Ohno is a meanie.”
“Break my heart. No really, where are you heading?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know. We’re far too sober to be having a conversation like this. Now I really have to get going.” I can’t let you go. Why can’t I just let you walk away?
“Wait… you said you wanted to train.” She stopped in her tracks. Dear God someone stop me now. “well… I guess I can pull a couple strings.” Oh crap… stop me seriously. “I can try and get you a membership to train in the facilities.” Apolo you are digging yourself into a deeper hole. “I’ll show you a few pointers. I mean I can’t spend all my time with you obviously I got myself to worry about but who knows. Maybe if you keep showing up at the training center some of the coaches around here just might get annoyed enough to want to train you. It’s a long shot but hey, I’ve seen underdogs get their shot a couple of times.” Perfect Apolo your coach is going to kick your ass.
“Really? You would do this for a complete stranger?” Screw it all to hell. I can’t say no to her.
“Sure… why not.” It was back again, that fire that I saw when I first laid eyes on her. I had never seen her skate, but something was telling me she had a lot of potential.
“You know…you’re not that bad.”
I guess you can say… that’s where it all started.
Authors Note: So how was it? Please leave feedback if you want me to continue! Much love!!!
