Post by veronasage on Apr 8, 2006 2:49:15 GMT -5
Authors Note: Chapter 11 is up. This was a tough one to write. It seems to be getting harder and harder. Oh well. Enjoy...
Chapter 11
Three miles. I was completely out of breath. I slowly came to a stop as the training center came into view. I barely spoke to Danni anymore. Sometimes I would watch her train, I would get worried, she was working herself so hard. I never saw her take a break, not a single moment to rest. I wish I could tell her that she didn’t need all of it, I wish I could just comfort her. But of course, I’ve been wishing for a lot of things lately pertaining to Danni, but they were hopeless wishes. I sat on a bench in front of the dorm structure and took a deep breath. Maybe once the Olympics were done and over with we could both have time to just chill out. There are moments in the day when my mind would drift to the few spectacular moments that Danni and I had shared. They were few and far between, but they were moments that were deeply embedded into my mind, my heart. I cradled my head in my hands trying to get my breathing under control when I felt someone sit next to me. Danni? No…
“Hey.” It was Allison.
“Hey Allison.” I sat back on the bench and looked out over the rolling Colorado Mountains off in the distance.
“You okay?” Okay being the operative word of course. I looked at Allison for a moment and looked out to the scenery once again.
“Yeah…why?”
“You just don’t seem like yourself, ever since you got back to Colorado with her.” I could feel my chest tighten as she mentioned Danni. “It worries me to see you like this.” I laughed.
“You don’t have to worry about me Allison.”
“I just wanted to let you know…that I understand how you feel.” I looked at her out of the corner of my eye.
“You do? How am I feeling?”
“I understand how it feels to truly care for someone and not have that person return those feelings. Let me tell you, that it hurts even more when the person you care about starts to care for somebody else, and that somebody is not me.” I was beginning to understand.
“Allison…I…” She shook her head and gave me a sad smile.
“Danni may not be so open to you anymore Apolo, but if you ever need someone to talk to, I am always here.” Don’t do this Apolo, not now, it’s not right. Allison was just about to walk away when I stopped her.
“Hey Allison…”
“Yeah?” Think about it Apolo, forgotten Danni already?
“You want to go catch a movie sometimes this weekend?”
“I’d like that.” Okay…so maybe it was a bad decision on my part but what can I say. I’m human. Time seemed to fly by. World championships came and went, World Cup came and went as well. I did well, just as I had hoped and so did Danni. The media was already talking about this unknown female skater that might possibly bring gold at Torino. In the mean time Danni and I grew farther and farther apart, while Allison and I got closer. Although Allison and I didn’t really act like we had anything. I could only have so much feelings for her, but she was someone I could talk to, and that comforted me.
But now…this was it.
“Okay ladies and gentlemen. You know how this works. Top six skaters for both male and female will have a guaranteed spot on the U.S. Olympic Team. Now the Olympic committee has offered the U.S. two spots in each race. So in order to qualify for a spot in an individual race you will have to be in the top two positions in each race. Everybody skate clean and good luck to all of you.”
We were all getting ready for our heats in the warm up room. I saw Danni sitting on the floor stretching out, I decided to approach her.
“This is it huh?” She smiled.
“This is it. I can’t believe it’s actually here, the Olympic team…Did I tell you thank you already for all that you’ve done?” I was just about to sit down next to her when she stopped me. “I think your girlfriend needs more help than I do Apolo.” I looked up to see Allison staring at us.
“She’s 26 Apolo, her dream is Olympic Gold, take care of her, because as long as I’m here, I’m going to make sure that never happens for her.” My jaw dropped. Did she really just say that? Was that her competitive nature talking, or was that jealousy? But why be jealous, she’s the one that didn’t want the relationship. She had her eyes closed with a big smirk. “Good luck Apolo.”
“Right.” I walked towards Allison. “You okay?”
“I’m fine. Butterflies in my stomach but nothing too bad…How is Danni? She nervous?” I glanced back up to see Danni stretching out and listening to her i-pod.
“I think we’re all nervous Allison. You have nothing to worry about okay. You’ve raced against Danni before, just try and sit on her.”
“Apolo…you don’t have to keep talking to me.”
“It’s fine.”
“Apolo…really. Concentrating time.” I nodded my head and tied my bandana around my forehead. I started stretching. Apolo this is your second chance. You’ve put in four years for this and everything starts now.
“Apolo you have once again made it onto the Olympic team and qualified for all four races. Do you already feel pressure to bring home gold?” It was over. I had just come out of the 500 meter final and I had come out on top. I tried to catch my breath to answer the reporter’s question.
“You know…I think there will always be pressure to do well but whether I bring home a gold or not is not really dependent on me. You know all I know is that I feel like I’m in the best condition in my life, I’ve been training hard, I’m prepared mentally and physically, and I hope that I’ll be blessed at these next games to do well.”
“Well Apolo you’ve already come so far and you make all Americans proud.”
“Thank you.”
“Good luck at Torino.” The next thing I knew Danni flew into my arms. I couldn’t breath she was holding onto me so tight. She jumped back.
“Apolo I shall show you my happy dance.” She started spinning, jumping, and laughing hysterically from sheer joy of making it. “It’s happening Apolo. I’m on the freaking Olympic team, TEAM USA BABY! Allison!” She started running towards Allison and attacked her with a hug as well. Well at least they were on good terms. “It’s you and me Allison, we have to hold it down for U.S. yeah?”
Allison gave her a smile, “Yep, you and me.” Danni noticed Allison looking at me and let her go. “Congratulations.” I gave Allison a hug. “You’re all sweaty.”
“I know you don’t mind.” She was beaming. Allison didn’t come in first, but she did come close enough to Danni to at least qualify for a few individual events. It was Danni that qualified for all them. “See, I told you, you would do well.” We both started walking to the locker rooms when I noticed Danni talking to a reporter. She was going to be big at Torino, I hope America was ready.
“Now Danni you’ve been able to come out of no where and you’ve been very successful here how do you feel about what is to be your Olympic debut?”
“I’m so excited I think I might just throw up. I mean, I’ve been through so much these past few years and this just makes all the stuff I’ve been through worth it. I’m prepared and all I can say is that I’m ready to kick some ass. I’m pumped and I’ve been waiting for this my entire life. No way I’m going down without a fight.”
Authors Note: Well how was that? As long as you guys keep reviewing and continue enjoying this story I shall carry on. You know what to do, don't be lazy, leave feedback por favor. Much Love!! ;D
Chapter 11
Three miles. I was completely out of breath. I slowly came to a stop as the training center came into view. I barely spoke to Danni anymore. Sometimes I would watch her train, I would get worried, she was working herself so hard. I never saw her take a break, not a single moment to rest. I wish I could tell her that she didn’t need all of it, I wish I could just comfort her. But of course, I’ve been wishing for a lot of things lately pertaining to Danni, but they were hopeless wishes. I sat on a bench in front of the dorm structure and took a deep breath. Maybe once the Olympics were done and over with we could both have time to just chill out. There are moments in the day when my mind would drift to the few spectacular moments that Danni and I had shared. They were few and far between, but they were moments that were deeply embedded into my mind, my heart. I cradled my head in my hands trying to get my breathing under control when I felt someone sit next to me. Danni? No…
“Hey.” It was Allison.
“Hey Allison.” I sat back on the bench and looked out over the rolling Colorado Mountains off in the distance.
“You okay?” Okay being the operative word of course. I looked at Allison for a moment and looked out to the scenery once again.
“Yeah…why?”
“You just don’t seem like yourself, ever since you got back to Colorado with her.” I could feel my chest tighten as she mentioned Danni. “It worries me to see you like this.” I laughed.
“You don’t have to worry about me Allison.”
“I just wanted to let you know…that I understand how you feel.” I looked at her out of the corner of my eye.
“You do? How am I feeling?”
“I understand how it feels to truly care for someone and not have that person return those feelings. Let me tell you, that it hurts even more when the person you care about starts to care for somebody else, and that somebody is not me.” I was beginning to understand.
“Allison…I…” She shook her head and gave me a sad smile.
“Danni may not be so open to you anymore Apolo, but if you ever need someone to talk to, I am always here.” Don’t do this Apolo, not now, it’s not right. Allison was just about to walk away when I stopped her.
“Hey Allison…”
“Yeah?” Think about it Apolo, forgotten Danni already?
“You want to go catch a movie sometimes this weekend?”
“I’d like that.” Okay…so maybe it was a bad decision on my part but what can I say. I’m human. Time seemed to fly by. World championships came and went, World Cup came and went as well. I did well, just as I had hoped and so did Danni. The media was already talking about this unknown female skater that might possibly bring gold at Torino. In the mean time Danni and I grew farther and farther apart, while Allison and I got closer. Although Allison and I didn’t really act like we had anything. I could only have so much feelings for her, but she was someone I could talk to, and that comforted me.
But now…this was it.
“Okay ladies and gentlemen. You know how this works. Top six skaters for both male and female will have a guaranteed spot on the U.S. Olympic Team. Now the Olympic committee has offered the U.S. two spots in each race. So in order to qualify for a spot in an individual race you will have to be in the top two positions in each race. Everybody skate clean and good luck to all of you.”
We were all getting ready for our heats in the warm up room. I saw Danni sitting on the floor stretching out, I decided to approach her.
“This is it huh?” She smiled.
“This is it. I can’t believe it’s actually here, the Olympic team…Did I tell you thank you already for all that you’ve done?” I was just about to sit down next to her when she stopped me. “I think your girlfriend needs more help than I do Apolo.” I looked up to see Allison staring at us.
“She’s 26 Apolo, her dream is Olympic Gold, take care of her, because as long as I’m here, I’m going to make sure that never happens for her.” My jaw dropped. Did she really just say that? Was that her competitive nature talking, or was that jealousy? But why be jealous, she’s the one that didn’t want the relationship. She had her eyes closed with a big smirk. “Good luck Apolo.”
“Right.” I walked towards Allison. “You okay?”
“I’m fine. Butterflies in my stomach but nothing too bad…How is Danni? She nervous?” I glanced back up to see Danni stretching out and listening to her i-pod.
“I think we’re all nervous Allison. You have nothing to worry about okay. You’ve raced against Danni before, just try and sit on her.”
“Apolo…you don’t have to keep talking to me.”
“It’s fine.”
“Apolo…really. Concentrating time.” I nodded my head and tied my bandana around my forehead. I started stretching. Apolo this is your second chance. You’ve put in four years for this and everything starts now.
“Apolo you have once again made it onto the Olympic team and qualified for all four races. Do you already feel pressure to bring home gold?” It was over. I had just come out of the 500 meter final and I had come out on top. I tried to catch my breath to answer the reporter’s question.
“You know…I think there will always be pressure to do well but whether I bring home a gold or not is not really dependent on me. You know all I know is that I feel like I’m in the best condition in my life, I’ve been training hard, I’m prepared mentally and physically, and I hope that I’ll be blessed at these next games to do well.”
“Well Apolo you’ve already come so far and you make all Americans proud.”
“Thank you.”
“Good luck at Torino.” The next thing I knew Danni flew into my arms. I couldn’t breath she was holding onto me so tight. She jumped back.
“Apolo I shall show you my happy dance.” She started spinning, jumping, and laughing hysterically from sheer joy of making it. “It’s happening Apolo. I’m on the freaking Olympic team, TEAM USA BABY! Allison!” She started running towards Allison and attacked her with a hug as well. Well at least they were on good terms. “It’s you and me Allison, we have to hold it down for U.S. yeah?”
Allison gave her a smile, “Yep, you and me.” Danni noticed Allison looking at me and let her go. “Congratulations.” I gave Allison a hug. “You’re all sweaty.”
“I know you don’t mind.” She was beaming. Allison didn’t come in first, but she did come close enough to Danni to at least qualify for a few individual events. It was Danni that qualified for all them. “See, I told you, you would do well.” We both started walking to the locker rooms when I noticed Danni talking to a reporter. She was going to be big at Torino, I hope America was ready.
“Now Danni you’ve been able to come out of no where and you’ve been very successful here how do you feel about what is to be your Olympic debut?”
“I’m so excited I think I might just throw up. I mean, I’ve been through so much these past few years and this just makes all the stuff I’ve been through worth it. I’m prepared and all I can say is that I’m ready to kick some ass. I’m pumped and I’ve been waiting for this my entire life. No way I’m going down without a fight.”
Authors Note: Well how was that? As long as you guys keep reviewing and continue enjoying this story I shall carry on. You know what to do, don't be lazy, leave feedback por favor. Much Love!! ;D
But Apolosgal is right, it would be nice to see it in print.
