Post by veronasage on Apr 25, 2006 18:56:34 GMT -5
Authors Note: Yes, Chapter 14 is here. I didn't want to leave you guys hanging for so long. Enjoy!
Chapter 14
“Where the hell are you taking me? Why can’t you just leave me alone?” I knew I was complaining a bit much but could you blame me. I was having a tough day and the last thing I wanted to do was go out and show my face in public. Danni stared at me intently and let go of my hand.
“I don’t know about you, but I’m going for a run, it’s such a nice night.” She started at a slow pace as she began to move away from me. “You don’t have to come, you can go back into your room and sulk in your own misery for all I care.” I stood still in the middle of the Olympic Village watching her get further and further away from me. I sighed in frustration and wrapped the bandana around my forehead. I took off into a sprint to catch up to her. Once I got by her side we simply jogged. No words, just silence. About twenty minutes later Danni slowly came to a stop. It was cold out, the icy wind was making her cheeks rosy as she took deep breaths of air. I looked around and noticed we had run out of the Torino village and were now standing near the mountains covered in white snow with nothing but a star filled night above our heads. I was overcome by the sheer beauty of my surroundings. I was looking towards the sky when I heard Danni’s voice.
“You know what they’re saying about you Apolo?” I gave her a skeptical look. Do I really want to know? “They’re already saying that you’re an Olympic failure. That you’re just another athlete that has failed to meet expectations.”
“Why are you telling me this?” It was hard for me to swallow as I was once again reminded of my inability to win a medal in the 1500 meter, supposedly my best event.
“What happened to you? Aren’t you the one that always says ‘it is what it is’?”
“It’s not that easy. You don’t understand, I’m one of the only athletes in this sport that even has a fighting chance to get a medal for the U.S. I mean what I put in these past four years…and I know I say it’s about the journey but…sometimes it’s easier to say that then to truly believe in it. Especially in times like these. I just feel like I can’t…” I felt her hands cup my face as I looked into her eyes.
“You can Apolo. Isn’t this what the Olympics is all about, to overcome this? I know I don’t know exactly what you’re feeling but from what I can tell, you are still in the game. For you, Torino…is far from over.”
“But…”
“Apolo you really want people to believe your just another American failure? Because I know you are far from that. You are no failure, in any shape or form, and I know in my heart that all of this is just a stepping stone to something greater.” I was so full of emotion I didn’t know what to say. It was so easy to forget the true fundamental reasons when you’re so caught up with the numbers and figures of winning. It was so simple.
“I made a pretty stupid mistake out there though, you got to admit.” Danni smiled and leaned in towards my ear.
“Never make the same mistake twice.” She wrapped her arms around my neck and I closed my eyes.
“Thank you.”
“What are friends for?” It wasn’t long before we both realized we were about to freeze so we decided to head back. I felt settled, the kind of relief you get when you know something is done and over with. As we walked side by side I glanced over at Danni. I couldn’t even talk to my team, my dad, Allison but Danni. It was easy with her. My attraction for her was still there, it would always be there. I don’t think I’ll ever get rid of it, that feeling when I look into her eyes, but like I always end up telling myself, its better this way. It used to be difficult to be near her without going insane. But it’s something that I worked out to be a minimum problem, hopefully she has the same problem as me.
“What?” Her voice pulled me out of my thoughts.
“What?”
“You were staring.” Hurry Apolo say something.
“Who are we talking about?” She burst out into laughter. Music to my ears.
“Hot shot aren’t you going to ask me how I did. I had my 500 meter preliminaries tonight you know.” I realized I had completely forgotten to ask how she had done. I immediately felt guilty.
“Oh God right…how did that go?”
“You know Apolo, I bust my butt to watch you race and then I embarrass myself by singing in front of your door, and you can’t even remember my race?” She said all of this with that million dollar smile.
“Hey cut me some slack.”
“Yeah Yeah.”
“So…”
“I did fine. I mean, I’m going to the semi-final. So, so far so good.” I nodded my head.
“How is the competition?”
“They’re fast. South Korean and China…can’t get them off my back.” She seemed worried suddenly.
“You’ve beaten them before.”
“That gives me no comfort. Thanks for trying.” It wasn’t long before we found ourselves once again in the middle of the Olympic Village. “We better go to bed. Take a warm shower, don’t want your muscles freezing on you.”
“Thanks mom.” And so we stood. “We’ll both be okay.”
“Yes. That we will.” I leaned down and let my lips gently graze her forehead. I could feel the heat of her warm breath float over my neck.
“Goodnight Danni.” She gave me a slight nod and started walking away towards her building. I silently stood back watching her make her way to her building.
“Apolo, you go out there and you show them who you are.” It was the last thing she said to me before she went inside.
Authors Note: Whoever reads this please please review. Thanks to all of thos faithful readers that pull through time and time again. You inspire me to continue reading. So by now you know the drill. Leave feedback por favor! Oh by the way? Did you like it?
much love.
Chapter 14
“Where the hell are you taking me? Why can’t you just leave me alone?” I knew I was complaining a bit much but could you blame me. I was having a tough day and the last thing I wanted to do was go out and show my face in public. Danni stared at me intently and let go of my hand.
“I don’t know about you, but I’m going for a run, it’s such a nice night.” She started at a slow pace as she began to move away from me. “You don’t have to come, you can go back into your room and sulk in your own misery for all I care.” I stood still in the middle of the Olympic Village watching her get further and further away from me. I sighed in frustration and wrapped the bandana around my forehead. I took off into a sprint to catch up to her. Once I got by her side we simply jogged. No words, just silence. About twenty minutes later Danni slowly came to a stop. It was cold out, the icy wind was making her cheeks rosy as she took deep breaths of air. I looked around and noticed we had run out of the Torino village and were now standing near the mountains covered in white snow with nothing but a star filled night above our heads. I was overcome by the sheer beauty of my surroundings. I was looking towards the sky when I heard Danni’s voice.
“You know what they’re saying about you Apolo?” I gave her a skeptical look. Do I really want to know? “They’re already saying that you’re an Olympic failure. That you’re just another athlete that has failed to meet expectations.”
“Why are you telling me this?” It was hard for me to swallow as I was once again reminded of my inability to win a medal in the 1500 meter, supposedly my best event.
“What happened to you? Aren’t you the one that always says ‘it is what it is’?”
“It’s not that easy. You don’t understand, I’m one of the only athletes in this sport that even has a fighting chance to get a medal for the U.S. I mean what I put in these past four years…and I know I say it’s about the journey but…sometimes it’s easier to say that then to truly believe in it. Especially in times like these. I just feel like I can’t…” I felt her hands cup my face as I looked into her eyes.
“You can Apolo. Isn’t this what the Olympics is all about, to overcome this? I know I don’t know exactly what you’re feeling but from what I can tell, you are still in the game. For you, Torino…is far from over.”
“But…”
“Apolo you really want people to believe your just another American failure? Because I know you are far from that. You are no failure, in any shape or form, and I know in my heart that all of this is just a stepping stone to something greater.” I was so full of emotion I didn’t know what to say. It was so easy to forget the true fundamental reasons when you’re so caught up with the numbers and figures of winning. It was so simple.
“I made a pretty stupid mistake out there though, you got to admit.” Danni smiled and leaned in towards my ear.
“Never make the same mistake twice.” She wrapped her arms around my neck and I closed my eyes.
“Thank you.”
“What are friends for?” It wasn’t long before we both realized we were about to freeze so we decided to head back. I felt settled, the kind of relief you get when you know something is done and over with. As we walked side by side I glanced over at Danni. I couldn’t even talk to my team, my dad, Allison but Danni. It was easy with her. My attraction for her was still there, it would always be there. I don’t think I’ll ever get rid of it, that feeling when I look into her eyes, but like I always end up telling myself, its better this way. It used to be difficult to be near her without going insane. But it’s something that I worked out to be a minimum problem, hopefully she has the same problem as me.
“What?” Her voice pulled me out of my thoughts.
“What?”
“You were staring.” Hurry Apolo say something.
“Who are we talking about?” She burst out into laughter. Music to my ears.
“Hot shot aren’t you going to ask me how I did. I had my 500 meter preliminaries tonight you know.” I realized I had completely forgotten to ask how she had done. I immediately felt guilty.
“Oh God right…how did that go?”
“You know Apolo, I bust my butt to watch you race and then I embarrass myself by singing in front of your door, and you can’t even remember my race?” She said all of this with that million dollar smile.
“Hey cut me some slack.”
“Yeah Yeah.”
“So…”
“I did fine. I mean, I’m going to the semi-final. So, so far so good.” I nodded my head.
“How is the competition?”
“They’re fast. South Korean and China…can’t get them off my back.” She seemed worried suddenly.
“You’ve beaten them before.”
“That gives me no comfort. Thanks for trying.” It wasn’t long before we found ourselves once again in the middle of the Olympic Village. “We better go to bed. Take a warm shower, don’t want your muscles freezing on you.”
“Thanks mom.” And so we stood. “We’ll both be okay.”
“Yes. That we will.” I leaned down and let my lips gently graze her forehead. I could feel the heat of her warm breath float over my neck.
“Goodnight Danni.” She gave me a slight nod and started walking away towards her building. I silently stood back watching her make her way to her building.
“Apolo, you go out there and you show them who you are.” It was the last thing she said to me before she went inside.
Authors Note: Whoever reads this please please review. Thanks to all of thos faithful readers that pull through time and time again. You inspire me to continue reading. So by now you know the drill. Leave feedback por favor! Oh by the way? Did you like it?
much love. 
