Post by snmphotography on May 23, 2007 23:03:49 GMT -5
I'M ON A FREAKING ROLL TODAY WITH THE CHAPTERS. THREE IN ONE DAY. I THINK IT'S BECAUSE I'M UBER-NERVOUS ABOUT STARTING COLLEGE (AGAIN) TOMORROW. 4 HOUR LONG CLASSES. WISH ME LUCK. 
:::6:::
ANOTHER TRAGEDY June was a trying month for the twosome. They struggled in multiple ways: separation, getting to know each other, the media, competitions. Thalia was not a fan of talking on the phone, but she didn't exactly have time to sit down at a computer to email either. Apolo had the same excuses and yet once they got into an argument about never talking on the phone or contacting each other. It didn't take long to get over the fight after they realized they were in the same places and on the same page with each other and their lives.
They were both very passionate people. Whatever they wanted or were doing, they went in head first and with such vivacious intensity that at times it bordered pure insanity. When she wasn't training and competing, Thalia was being an activist. She was a member of multiple organizations for human and animal rights, she helped with the US Goodwill. She even spoke with Angelina Jolie about campaigning together for th UNHCR which Thalia was interested in. In a way, she paralleled the actress in their personal choices. She was a super woman entity in the publics' eyes; able to do everything at once and make it look so easy.
If only they knew how stressful and agonizing it could be at times.
On the flip side, Apolo was equally dedicated to his charities and his sport. It was because of that fact, that one day at a practice, Apolo's good friend, Shani, nervously brought up the subject of their blooming relationship.
"Hey man," Shani said. "Listen, I don't mean to bring you down or anything. You know that. I just wanted to ask how things are going with you and Lia."
"Fine," Apolo answered, tightening his skate. "Really."
"You sure? 'Cause you've been looking a little ... I don't know ... pissed. I mean, you were really into being single until you met her and now you act like you want to do this, but it is worth all of this mess? To you, is it worth it?"
Apolo stopped to think about the question for a minute. He really wanted it to sink in and to give to fair consideration. Finally, he replied.
"Yeah, it is."
That was it. The short answer was all he had to offer up. Shani grinned out of habit and nodded, "Ok, man. I'm behind you one hundred percent. Now get on that ice and show me what you workin' with!"
Apolo laughed with his friend as they stepped on the ice.
As practice was coming to its end, a door opened and a calm-looking Thalia walked through the door with Jenna. She was wearing big black sunglasses even inside and she was dressed in practice clothes. Truth was, this was a time when their paths were crossing for only 24 hours. The speed skating team had a competition in a few hours, between their practice and competition, Thalia and one other skater were granted practice time.
Jenna was speaking to her, but Thalia's eyes were glued to Apolo as he raced around the rink.
"Lia, are you listening to me?" Jenna asked.
"Yes," Thalia answered. "Look at him. He's really great at this. He loves this."
Jenna glanced at the rink and back at the girl she'd coached for an entire decade already. This is was something she'd never witnessed before. She was witnessing a guarded, rebellious, dramatic girl let herself feel for someone she barely knew. She was watching Thalia fall in love.
"Lia," she spoke up. "How serious are things between you two?"
"Not very," Thalia answered. "Why?"
"I know I'm always saying let down your guard to people, but you do you not to leave yourself without any emotional protection, right?"
"Why are you saying this?"
"I think you're falling in love with Apolo and I want to jump up and down and scream with happiness for you, but Lia remember Stephen?"
Thalia couldn't forget him. she had been with him for two years and he broke her heart. Over an email it took her two weeks to get to after unreturned calls and ignored dates Stephen had broken up with her. Without feeling and without sympathy he only wrote "I cannot do this anymore. Good luck."
Thalia gulped and cleared her throat. She replied, "I remember who he was. Apolo's not like him. He's better than Stephen was."
"Was?"
"I don't know how he is now. I hope he's changed, become better."
Jenna sighed and wrapped an arm around Thalia.
"I'm going to trust your judgment. I know you're a smart woman."
"Thank you."
The practice ended with Apolo crossing the finish line first.
"Alright guys! Go rest up. Don't eat anything heavy. You know the spiel." their coach said.
"I'll get us set up." Jenna said, standing up. "Stretch good. How's your knee?"
"Fine," Thalia swore as she stretched a calf.
"We're not gonna push it during practice today."
Thalia waved her on as the speed skating team walked passed her and saying hello. She smiled at them all, her newest friends. Apolo rounded out the bunch with a pat on the back from Shandi who disappeared behind the doors leading to the locker room.
"Hey beautiful," Apolo said. Thalia rolled her eyes at the line and continued to stretch.
"Don't bend over in front of me." Apolo said quietly, with just a hint of blushing creeping to his face.
"Don't think such perverted thoughts and my work won't be such a problem for you." she replied looking at him from between her legs.
"How's your day been?" he asked, changing the subject to something less exciting.
"Had ballet practice earlier. You know, I think after this Olympic business is over in a few years I'm going to become a great prima ballerina on the Russian stage."
"Nah, you wouldn't like that?"
"Why not?"
"Too much cold weather. And not just any cold weather, probably the coldest aside from, I don't know, Antarctica."
"I've been on the ice everyday for 14 years. You think I couldn't handle Russia?"
"Russia's ice is very different."
She smiled and leaned over the partition, giving him a kiss. "I guess you're right."
"I'm all gross." he said.
"I don't care. Athletes are suppose to be gross after a practice. Otherwise, they didn't really practice."
"I'm gonna go shower. Care if I stick around and check you out?"
She bit her bottom lip and pretended to weigh the pro's and con's on the subject. He laughed, "I'll see you on the ice."
He gave her a quick kiss and disappeared behind the doors. Jenna called her over to finish her stretching and lace up.
When Apolo appeared again Thalia was skating to her music for the short routine. He set his stuff down next to Jenna who gave him a quick hug and kiss on the cheek, her usual hello gesture.
"How's our girl looking?" he asked.
"She's doing good. She won't admit it, but her knee's bothering her again. I still say it's too soon for her to do triples. She's still doing physical therapy for crying out loud."
"I didn't know that."
"That's because she thinks she's indestructible. I get this sinking feeling in my gut whenever she's on the ice now. You know when she was still healing she was told she was the fastest healer the doctor had ever seen with a torn knee ligament. The next day I found her on the ice attempting doubles. I could've killed her. Months of therapy and she was on the brink of ruining herself forever. She will not let herself slow down and one day it's going to really do her in."
As if a cue from fate, Thalia took a flying leap and landed on her ankle wrong, crashing to her knees. She let out an angry scream, but when her face was visible and she grabbed her knee to her chest, it sank in that she had hurt herself. Jenna and Apolo ran across the ice as fast as they could in their tennis shoes. Jenna, a licensed physical therapist, was looking at her knee while Apolo cradled her head in his lap.
"Tell me if it hurts." Jenna instructed. She touched Thalia's knee and she bolted upright with pain and a curse.
"I just landed on it wrong," Thalia said. "There's nothing wrong."
"We need a doctor, Lia."
"I just need some ice. It'll swell up and then it'll be fine by tomorrow."
"We need a doctor. Apolo, keep her here. Don't let her move."
Jenna took off to find the nearest phone to call the hospital.
Back on the ice, Apolo struggled with Thalia to keep her lying down.
"Lia, stop it." he said.
"I'm fine," she kept saying through gritted teeth. Already her knee was swollen to twice it's normal size and she had broken out into a sweat. Apolo held her face to his chest and said, "You will be."
At the hospital Thalia lay in the bed, staring at the ceiling while the doctor told her, Jenna and Apolo that she'd not be competing in the next four competitions, at least. He recommended she be flown back to Colorado or San Francisco and admitted into an intensive physical therapy program. He said with how hard she landed on her knee, one more blow could be the deciding factor in her future. Hearing this, a single tear crept out despite her best effort to hold it in.
Apolo squeezed her shoulder lightly, but she looked away from him. She just wanted to go to sleep, wake up and have everything perfect for her.
:::6:::
ANOTHER TRAGEDY June was a trying month for the twosome. They struggled in multiple ways: separation, getting to know each other, the media, competitions. Thalia was not a fan of talking on the phone, but she didn't exactly have time to sit down at a computer to email either. Apolo had the same excuses and yet once they got into an argument about never talking on the phone or contacting each other. It didn't take long to get over the fight after they realized they were in the same places and on the same page with each other and their lives.
They were both very passionate people. Whatever they wanted or were doing, they went in head first and with such vivacious intensity that at times it bordered pure insanity. When she wasn't training and competing, Thalia was being an activist. She was a member of multiple organizations for human and animal rights, she helped with the US Goodwill. She even spoke with Angelina Jolie about campaigning together for th UNHCR which Thalia was interested in. In a way, she paralleled the actress in their personal choices. She was a super woman entity in the publics' eyes; able to do everything at once and make it look so easy.
If only they knew how stressful and agonizing it could be at times.
On the flip side, Apolo was equally dedicated to his charities and his sport. It was because of that fact, that one day at a practice, Apolo's good friend, Shani, nervously brought up the subject of their blooming relationship.
"Hey man," Shani said. "Listen, I don't mean to bring you down or anything. You know that. I just wanted to ask how things are going with you and Lia."
"Fine," Apolo answered, tightening his skate. "Really."
"You sure? 'Cause you've been looking a little ... I don't know ... pissed. I mean, you were really into being single until you met her and now you act like you want to do this, but it is worth all of this mess? To you, is it worth it?"
Apolo stopped to think about the question for a minute. He really wanted it to sink in and to give to fair consideration. Finally, he replied.
"Yeah, it is."
That was it. The short answer was all he had to offer up. Shani grinned out of habit and nodded, "Ok, man. I'm behind you one hundred percent. Now get on that ice and show me what you workin' with!"
Apolo laughed with his friend as they stepped on the ice.
As practice was coming to its end, a door opened and a calm-looking Thalia walked through the door with Jenna. She was wearing big black sunglasses even inside and she was dressed in practice clothes. Truth was, this was a time when their paths were crossing for only 24 hours. The speed skating team had a competition in a few hours, between their practice and competition, Thalia and one other skater were granted practice time.
Jenna was speaking to her, but Thalia's eyes were glued to Apolo as he raced around the rink.
"Lia, are you listening to me?" Jenna asked.
"Yes," Thalia answered. "Look at him. He's really great at this. He loves this."
Jenna glanced at the rink and back at the girl she'd coached for an entire decade already. This is was something she'd never witnessed before. She was witnessing a guarded, rebellious, dramatic girl let herself feel for someone she barely knew. She was watching Thalia fall in love.
"Lia," she spoke up. "How serious are things between you two?"
"Not very," Thalia answered. "Why?"
"I know I'm always saying let down your guard to people, but you do you not to leave yourself without any emotional protection, right?"
"Why are you saying this?"
"I think you're falling in love with Apolo and I want to jump up and down and scream with happiness for you, but Lia remember Stephen?"
Thalia couldn't forget him. she had been with him for two years and he broke her heart. Over an email it took her two weeks to get to after unreturned calls and ignored dates Stephen had broken up with her. Without feeling and without sympathy he only wrote "I cannot do this anymore. Good luck."
Thalia gulped and cleared her throat. She replied, "I remember who he was. Apolo's not like him. He's better than Stephen was."
"Was?"
"I don't know how he is now. I hope he's changed, become better."
Jenna sighed and wrapped an arm around Thalia.
"I'm going to trust your judgment. I know you're a smart woman."
"Thank you."
The practice ended with Apolo crossing the finish line first.
"Alright guys! Go rest up. Don't eat anything heavy. You know the spiel." their coach said.
"I'll get us set up." Jenna said, standing up. "Stretch good. How's your knee?"
"Fine," Thalia swore as she stretched a calf.
"We're not gonna push it during practice today."
Thalia waved her on as the speed skating team walked passed her and saying hello. She smiled at them all, her newest friends. Apolo rounded out the bunch with a pat on the back from Shandi who disappeared behind the doors leading to the locker room.
"Hey beautiful," Apolo said. Thalia rolled her eyes at the line and continued to stretch.
"Don't bend over in front of me." Apolo said quietly, with just a hint of blushing creeping to his face.
"Don't think such perverted thoughts and my work won't be such a problem for you." she replied looking at him from between her legs.
"How's your day been?" he asked, changing the subject to something less exciting.
"Had ballet practice earlier. You know, I think after this Olympic business is over in a few years I'm going to become a great prima ballerina on the Russian stage."
"Nah, you wouldn't like that?"
"Why not?"
"Too much cold weather. And not just any cold weather, probably the coldest aside from, I don't know, Antarctica."
"I've been on the ice everyday for 14 years. You think I couldn't handle Russia?"
"Russia's ice is very different."
She smiled and leaned over the partition, giving him a kiss. "I guess you're right."
"I'm all gross." he said.
"I don't care. Athletes are suppose to be gross after a practice. Otherwise, they didn't really practice."
"I'm gonna go shower. Care if I stick around and check you out?"
She bit her bottom lip and pretended to weigh the pro's and con's on the subject. He laughed, "I'll see you on the ice."
He gave her a quick kiss and disappeared behind the doors. Jenna called her over to finish her stretching and lace up.
When Apolo appeared again Thalia was skating to her music for the short routine. He set his stuff down next to Jenna who gave him a quick hug and kiss on the cheek, her usual hello gesture.
"How's our girl looking?" he asked.
"She's doing good. She won't admit it, but her knee's bothering her again. I still say it's too soon for her to do triples. She's still doing physical therapy for crying out loud."
"I didn't know that."
"That's because she thinks she's indestructible. I get this sinking feeling in my gut whenever she's on the ice now. You know when she was still healing she was told she was the fastest healer the doctor had ever seen with a torn knee ligament. The next day I found her on the ice attempting doubles. I could've killed her. Months of therapy and she was on the brink of ruining herself forever. She will not let herself slow down and one day it's going to really do her in."
As if a cue from fate, Thalia took a flying leap and landed on her ankle wrong, crashing to her knees. She let out an angry scream, but when her face was visible and she grabbed her knee to her chest, it sank in that she had hurt herself. Jenna and Apolo ran across the ice as fast as they could in their tennis shoes. Jenna, a licensed physical therapist, was looking at her knee while Apolo cradled her head in his lap.
"Tell me if it hurts." Jenna instructed. She touched Thalia's knee and she bolted upright with pain and a curse.
"I just landed on it wrong," Thalia said. "There's nothing wrong."
"We need a doctor, Lia."
"I just need some ice. It'll swell up and then it'll be fine by tomorrow."
"We need a doctor. Apolo, keep her here. Don't let her move."
Jenna took off to find the nearest phone to call the hospital.
Back on the ice, Apolo struggled with Thalia to keep her lying down.
"Lia, stop it." he said.
"I'm fine," she kept saying through gritted teeth. Already her knee was swollen to twice it's normal size and she had broken out into a sweat. Apolo held her face to his chest and said, "You will be."
At the hospital Thalia lay in the bed, staring at the ceiling while the doctor told her, Jenna and Apolo that she'd not be competing in the next four competitions, at least. He recommended she be flown back to Colorado or San Francisco and admitted into an intensive physical therapy program. He said with how hard she landed on her knee, one more blow could be the deciding factor in her future. Hearing this, a single tear crept out despite her best effort to hold it in.
Apolo squeezed her shoulder lightly, but she looked away from him. She just wanted to go to sleep, wake up and have everything perfect for her.
