Post by veronasage on Mar 18, 2006 23:12:01 GMT -5
Author's Note: Thanks to all of you have left feedback from chapter 1 of my story. I'm glad you enjoyed it, it's totally inspired me to continue writing. Hope chapter 2 suits you just as well. Remember to leave feedback after you read this!! ~Enjoy
Chapter 2
“I guess you can stay in my room.” I couldn’t believe I had put myself into this situation. What was I thinking telling her to stay with me. Am I even allowed to do this?
“Are you allowed to do this?” She looked around my room taking in the atmosphere.
“What, you have somewhere else to stay?” I really shouldn’t be doing this. I could get in so much trouble. What the hell…
“You know what I mean.”
“Here are some blankets. You can stay on the couch, it’s a pull out bed. Now, I really need to go take a shower so just… you know, make yourself comfortable.” I was just about to get through the door when she stopped me.
“I really can’t do this. I mean, I don’t even know you and now I’m moving in with you. This is crazy. I can’t… I shouldn’t…” Danni continued mumbling under her breath shaking her head.
“Hey. You really want this don’t you?”
“More than anything.”
“Than don’t question it. If I get in trouble then I guess I’ll get in trouble. But what can they do right? Like you said, I am THE Apolo Anton Ohno.” I smiled trying to comfort her to the best of my abilities.
“Apolo… thank you. I really mean it. But you know, my dad is going to be so pissed. If he finds me here scratch that, when he finds me it’s going to be very bad. But he doesn’t understand.” I was just about to question her when she demanded that I take a shower. I was supposedly stinking up the whole room.
When I came out I saw her staring intently at my medals, my Salt Lake Gold medal, just to be specific. I stood still at the doorway and continued to observe the range of emotions on her face. She lightly grazed her fingers across the engravings and sighed. The sight was slightly depressing, I decided to intervene.
“And the gold medalist, representing the United States of America, Danni Lee!” She looked at me slightly embarrassed while I started clapping feigning victory. “And the crowd goes wild a cheer ripping through the stadium. The ground rumbles, the skies part, and for a moment in time you stand among Gods…” I grabbed the medal from where it was hanging and slowly let it slip over Danni’s neck.
“Is that what it felt like? Standing among Gods?” She held the medal in her hands beaming.
“Honestly? I don’t quite remember what happened.”
“What?! How can you forget a moment like winning the gold.”
“Uhh… it’s hard to explain.” I laughed, but I really don’t quite remember what happened. “All I remember is feeling every single emotion that was possible. It was surreal. I didn’t really know how to react so all I could do was just stand there and smile. I can’t understand why people do drugs. Cause I’m pretty sure that was better than any high than drugs can give you.” She hung the medal back on the wall and sat down on the couch.
“I can only imagine.” We were both silent for a moment when there was a knock.
“Chunkie! Dinner! Now!” I bolted off the couch and ran to the door before Shani could open it. I actually slammed the door back in his face successfully slamming the door on his nose. I don’t think I’ve ever heard so many curse words come out of his mouth. Now I was just afraid to go outside. As I leaned against the door I started to hear incessant giggling coming from the couch. I opened eyes just to see Danni fall off the couch from laughing.
“I really think you should check on your friend before he runs out of things to say.” I slowly turned the door knob only to find myself flying backwards and landing hard on I disagree.
“That’s what you get for slamming the door on my nose! Why would you…” It was then that Shani noticed Danni in the room sitting on the floor with a smirk on her face. “It’s you, that girl. What are you? Apolo?” I stood on my feet and brushed myself off.
“Uhh, Shani… this is Danni. Danni Shani. And I didn’t mean to slam the door on your nose. Why’d you come up here anyways?”
“Man I got worried. You’re never late to dinner, especially when they have fresh tuna.”
“They have TUNA?” Shanni ignored my last comment and walked towards the couch.
“So Danni, what brings you here?”
“Uhh, Apolo?” That’s great, now I have to get Shanni involved. He gave me a questioning look.
“So… where do I start.”
Later in the evening…
“You comfortable? Need extra blankets?”
“I’m fine thanks. Who lives in there?” I saw her looking at the door on the other side of the living room.
“Oh, just a roommate, he’s back home visiting family or something. He won’t be back to train for a while, so it’s just you and me.”
“Oh. So, about tomorrow…”
“Right, well I have to get up at nine in the morning and go to the rink. You could follow me and watch us practice. Sit near my coach so he notices you, and when we go train, go crazy. Make sure he sees you though.” She looked worried.
“Hey. My coach has a soft spot for struggling athletes. You’ll get to him, just wait. Tomorrow’s a new day.”
“You know, I started out as a figure skater.” Finally, she talks about herself. I decided to sacrifice my sleep to get to know Danni a little better. Other than her name, I really had no idea who she was.
“You’re kidding? A figure skater?”
“Yep. My mom used to be the manager at our local ice skating rink and she signed me up for as many figure skating classes she could get me into.”
“What happened? You’re obviously not here trying to pursue a figure skating career.” She ran her hands through her hair and looked me straight in the eyes. Her delicate features defined by the moonlight streaming through the windows.
“I didn’t feel pretty enough.”
“What? Why? You’re pretty…”Did I just say that?
“What?” Why do I suddenly feel like I’m a twelve year old kid? “What did you say? You were mumbling.” Say something, say something!
“Who are we talking about?” Great Apolo, that’s real nice.
“You’re weird. Anyways…what were we talking about? Oh yeah, I mean, like… how do I explain this… Okay take Michelle Kwan. When she’s on the ice she just has a presence, a delicate elegance and grace that I felt like I was missing. Plus, there was no way in hell anyone could make me get my toe to touch my head, it never got close enough.”
“So you stopped.”
“Basically, broke my mom’s heart. I mean, I started figure skating when I was five and just stopped at thirteen. I was nothing like the other girls that were skating.”
“So how’d you get into speed skating?”
“That would be my dad. He took me to Korea to visit some relatives, and you of all people should know that the South Koreans thrive on short track speed skating and soccer. Well, I followed my cousin to the ice skating rink cause he was training at the time and I fell in love. That’s where it all started.” Ah yes… Korea. Media says they’re my greatest enemy, but I try not to believe that. Honestly, if there wasn’t such a language barrier I might actually be friends with the people on the South Korean team.
“So you’re Korean?”
“Sort of.”
“How are you sort of Korean.”
“My family tree is freakishly complicated, gives me a migraine even thinking about it.”
“Now I’m just confused.” She sighed.
“There was an intermarriage on my mom’s side. I think a part of me is Polish? I don’t know. The fact of the matter is, my mother is mixed but partially Korean, she married my full Korean father. So, yea. I don’t really know what all that means. I’m a mutt… but I identify myself as Korean just cause I look a bit more Asian than anything else.”
“I can understand that.” Being half Japanese myself.
“I’m not even supposed to be here. I promised I would go to the airport and get on the first plane to South Korea to intensify my training and hopefully qualify for a spot on the Korean team for Torino.” I was shocked.
“Then what the hell are you doing here?”
“I don’t want to skate for Korea. I mean I love my country. But I was born on U.S. soil you know.” Now I definitely admired her.
“Isn’t that a big risk? Defy your father and compete against a fellow Korean?”
“I suppose. They could call me a traitor but… I try to look at the brighter side. If I were to win an Olympic medal, not only will I be the first Asian American to win it for U.S.A. and I can try to stop the South Korean sweep. Not only that I’d be representing all Koreans in the U.S. not to mention the Polish.” She broke out into laughter.
“Wait… if you’re this experienced in speed skating how come you haven’t been in any competitions.” The smile disappeared. I instantly felt bad for asking. “Sorry… I didn’t mean to…”
“No, it’s a justified question.” She paused, “I never entered any competitions because no one ever believed I could.”
“I don’t understand.”
“My coach at the time trained me. He said I was good but he always said I was never ready. He said he was protecting me from a loss. He denied me every competition officially destroying my shot at becoming anything in this sport. It’s hard enough as it is… training but, to work with someone that never believes in you…” I didn’t know what to say. How could I understand all the things that she’s been through? It amazed me that she still had the courage to keep going even though knowing she might never get her shot.
“So you got away.”
“I had to. He was never going to let me prove myself. I had to get out while I still could. I mean I’m twenty years old and I’ve never competed in an international race, let alone a race and sending me over to Korea I would never have gotten a shot at the team. I would be too old for them to even consider me to go on. The average career span of a South Korean skater is two Olympics, by the time they hit twenty to twenty two, they have to retire. So I’m here now. It’s going to be hard I know that. No one knows me around here, but I’m sure as hell going to try and make them see me. Thanks to you.” She was holding back tears and at that moment looking into her eyes I got her. I simply understood. I can’t really describe what that means but I just did. She suddenly shook her head and laughed.
“Sorry, my life is hideously mellow dramatic.” I laughed.
“No, but I can say it would make a really good Olympic movie…you know like Cool Runnings.”
“Shut up. Now you’re just making fun of me. I mean what about you. Apolo Ohno, fastest man on the ice. What’s your story?”
“What… like you didn’t read it in the bio on all those websites you visited online.” Her face turned a bright red and I nearly suffocated from being unable to breath through my laughter. “Oh man, you should see your face!”
“I can’t believe you actually know about your fansites.”
“Of course I do. I love my fans. I mean who else would cheer for me if I fell on my butt, slammed into the wall, and crossed the line last?” I looked at the clock and yawned. It was late and I had to wake up early tomorrow for practice. “I better go to sleep. You should too. Big day tomorrow! First impressions mean a lot around here.”
“Will do.” I was just about to get off the coach bed when I felt arms embrace me from behind. She rested her chin on my shoulder and I could feel her breath graze my neck. The smell of her hair was intoxicating and I was lost in thought as I felt her presence surround me. Chills went up and down my spine when she lightly whispered two words in my ear.
“Thank you.”
Authors Note: Hope you like it so far. Please leave feedback!!
Chapter 2
“I guess you can stay in my room.” I couldn’t believe I had put myself into this situation. What was I thinking telling her to stay with me. Am I even allowed to do this?
“Are you allowed to do this?” She looked around my room taking in the atmosphere.
“What, you have somewhere else to stay?” I really shouldn’t be doing this. I could get in so much trouble. What the hell…
“You know what I mean.”
“Here are some blankets. You can stay on the couch, it’s a pull out bed. Now, I really need to go take a shower so just… you know, make yourself comfortable.” I was just about to get through the door when she stopped me.
“I really can’t do this. I mean, I don’t even know you and now I’m moving in with you. This is crazy. I can’t… I shouldn’t…” Danni continued mumbling under her breath shaking her head.
“Hey. You really want this don’t you?”
“More than anything.”
“Than don’t question it. If I get in trouble then I guess I’ll get in trouble. But what can they do right? Like you said, I am THE Apolo Anton Ohno.” I smiled trying to comfort her to the best of my abilities.
“Apolo… thank you. I really mean it. But you know, my dad is going to be so pissed. If he finds me here scratch that, when he finds me it’s going to be very bad. But he doesn’t understand.” I was just about to question her when she demanded that I take a shower. I was supposedly stinking up the whole room.
When I came out I saw her staring intently at my medals, my Salt Lake Gold medal, just to be specific. I stood still at the doorway and continued to observe the range of emotions on her face. She lightly grazed her fingers across the engravings and sighed. The sight was slightly depressing, I decided to intervene.
“And the gold medalist, representing the United States of America, Danni Lee!” She looked at me slightly embarrassed while I started clapping feigning victory. “And the crowd goes wild a cheer ripping through the stadium. The ground rumbles, the skies part, and for a moment in time you stand among Gods…” I grabbed the medal from where it was hanging and slowly let it slip over Danni’s neck.
“Is that what it felt like? Standing among Gods?” She held the medal in her hands beaming.
“Honestly? I don’t quite remember what happened.”
“What?! How can you forget a moment like winning the gold.”
“Uhh… it’s hard to explain.” I laughed, but I really don’t quite remember what happened. “All I remember is feeling every single emotion that was possible. It was surreal. I didn’t really know how to react so all I could do was just stand there and smile. I can’t understand why people do drugs. Cause I’m pretty sure that was better than any high than drugs can give you.” She hung the medal back on the wall and sat down on the couch.
“I can only imagine.” We were both silent for a moment when there was a knock.
“Chunkie! Dinner! Now!” I bolted off the couch and ran to the door before Shani could open it. I actually slammed the door back in his face successfully slamming the door on his nose. I don’t think I’ve ever heard so many curse words come out of his mouth. Now I was just afraid to go outside. As I leaned against the door I started to hear incessant giggling coming from the couch. I opened eyes just to see Danni fall off the couch from laughing.
“I really think you should check on your friend before he runs out of things to say.” I slowly turned the door knob only to find myself flying backwards and landing hard on I disagree.
“That’s what you get for slamming the door on my nose! Why would you…” It was then that Shani noticed Danni in the room sitting on the floor with a smirk on her face. “It’s you, that girl. What are you? Apolo?” I stood on my feet and brushed myself off.
“Uhh, Shani… this is Danni. Danni Shani. And I didn’t mean to slam the door on your nose. Why’d you come up here anyways?”
“Man I got worried. You’re never late to dinner, especially when they have fresh tuna.”
“They have TUNA?” Shanni ignored my last comment and walked towards the couch.
“So Danni, what brings you here?”
“Uhh, Apolo?” That’s great, now I have to get Shanni involved. He gave me a questioning look.
“So… where do I start.”
Later in the evening…
“You comfortable? Need extra blankets?”
“I’m fine thanks. Who lives in there?” I saw her looking at the door on the other side of the living room.
“Oh, just a roommate, he’s back home visiting family or something. He won’t be back to train for a while, so it’s just you and me.”
“Oh. So, about tomorrow…”
“Right, well I have to get up at nine in the morning and go to the rink. You could follow me and watch us practice. Sit near my coach so he notices you, and when we go train, go crazy. Make sure he sees you though.” She looked worried.
“Hey. My coach has a soft spot for struggling athletes. You’ll get to him, just wait. Tomorrow’s a new day.”
“You know, I started out as a figure skater.” Finally, she talks about herself. I decided to sacrifice my sleep to get to know Danni a little better. Other than her name, I really had no idea who she was.
“You’re kidding? A figure skater?”
“Yep. My mom used to be the manager at our local ice skating rink and she signed me up for as many figure skating classes she could get me into.”
“What happened? You’re obviously not here trying to pursue a figure skating career.” She ran her hands through her hair and looked me straight in the eyes. Her delicate features defined by the moonlight streaming through the windows.
“I didn’t feel pretty enough.”
“What? Why? You’re pretty…”Did I just say that?
“What?” Why do I suddenly feel like I’m a twelve year old kid? “What did you say? You were mumbling.” Say something, say something!
“Who are we talking about?” Great Apolo, that’s real nice.
“You’re weird. Anyways…what were we talking about? Oh yeah, I mean, like… how do I explain this… Okay take Michelle Kwan. When she’s on the ice she just has a presence, a delicate elegance and grace that I felt like I was missing. Plus, there was no way in hell anyone could make me get my toe to touch my head, it never got close enough.”
“So you stopped.”
“Basically, broke my mom’s heart. I mean, I started figure skating when I was five and just stopped at thirteen. I was nothing like the other girls that were skating.”
“So how’d you get into speed skating?”
“That would be my dad. He took me to Korea to visit some relatives, and you of all people should know that the South Koreans thrive on short track speed skating and soccer. Well, I followed my cousin to the ice skating rink cause he was training at the time and I fell in love. That’s where it all started.” Ah yes… Korea. Media says they’re my greatest enemy, but I try not to believe that. Honestly, if there wasn’t such a language barrier I might actually be friends with the people on the South Korean team.
“So you’re Korean?”
“Sort of.”
“How are you sort of Korean.”
“My family tree is freakishly complicated, gives me a migraine even thinking about it.”
“Now I’m just confused.” She sighed.
“There was an intermarriage on my mom’s side. I think a part of me is Polish? I don’t know. The fact of the matter is, my mother is mixed but partially Korean, she married my full Korean father. So, yea. I don’t really know what all that means. I’m a mutt… but I identify myself as Korean just cause I look a bit more Asian than anything else.”
“I can understand that.” Being half Japanese myself.
“I’m not even supposed to be here. I promised I would go to the airport and get on the first plane to South Korea to intensify my training and hopefully qualify for a spot on the Korean team for Torino.” I was shocked.
“Then what the hell are you doing here?”
“I don’t want to skate for Korea. I mean I love my country. But I was born on U.S. soil you know.” Now I definitely admired her.
“Isn’t that a big risk? Defy your father and compete against a fellow Korean?”
“I suppose. They could call me a traitor but… I try to look at the brighter side. If I were to win an Olympic medal, not only will I be the first Asian American to win it for U.S.A. and I can try to stop the South Korean sweep. Not only that I’d be representing all Koreans in the U.S. not to mention the Polish.” She broke out into laughter.
“Wait… if you’re this experienced in speed skating how come you haven’t been in any competitions.” The smile disappeared. I instantly felt bad for asking. “Sorry… I didn’t mean to…”
“No, it’s a justified question.” She paused, “I never entered any competitions because no one ever believed I could.”
“I don’t understand.”
“My coach at the time trained me. He said I was good but he always said I was never ready. He said he was protecting me from a loss. He denied me every competition officially destroying my shot at becoming anything in this sport. It’s hard enough as it is… training but, to work with someone that never believes in you…” I didn’t know what to say. How could I understand all the things that she’s been through? It amazed me that she still had the courage to keep going even though knowing she might never get her shot.
“So you got away.”
“I had to. He was never going to let me prove myself. I had to get out while I still could. I mean I’m twenty years old and I’ve never competed in an international race, let alone a race and sending me over to Korea I would never have gotten a shot at the team. I would be too old for them to even consider me to go on. The average career span of a South Korean skater is two Olympics, by the time they hit twenty to twenty two, they have to retire. So I’m here now. It’s going to be hard I know that. No one knows me around here, but I’m sure as hell going to try and make them see me. Thanks to you.” She was holding back tears and at that moment looking into her eyes I got her. I simply understood. I can’t really describe what that means but I just did. She suddenly shook her head and laughed.
“Sorry, my life is hideously mellow dramatic.” I laughed.
“No, but I can say it would make a really good Olympic movie…you know like Cool Runnings.”
“Shut up. Now you’re just making fun of me. I mean what about you. Apolo Ohno, fastest man on the ice. What’s your story?”
“What… like you didn’t read it in the bio on all those websites you visited online.” Her face turned a bright red and I nearly suffocated from being unable to breath through my laughter. “Oh man, you should see your face!”
“I can’t believe you actually know about your fansites.”
“Of course I do. I love my fans. I mean who else would cheer for me if I fell on my butt, slammed into the wall, and crossed the line last?” I looked at the clock and yawned. It was late and I had to wake up early tomorrow for practice. “I better go to sleep. You should too. Big day tomorrow! First impressions mean a lot around here.”
“Will do.” I was just about to get off the coach bed when I felt arms embrace me from behind. She rested her chin on my shoulder and I could feel her breath graze my neck. The smell of her hair was intoxicating and I was lost in thought as I felt her presence surround me. Chills went up and down my spine when she lightly whispered two words in my ear.
“Thank you.”
Authors Note: Hope you like it so far. Please leave feedback!!
lol you really did AMAZING job on this one,keep writing-cant wait for the next one 
