Chapter 11

   It was Saturday morning, December 8th, Mike and Megan woke up early and headed to the pool while Apolo was sleeping on the bed-couch and Christine was at her room. About 11:30 a.m. they both woke up and after they went to the bathroom, they headed to the kitchen. “Good Morning” he reply as he saw Christine coming out of her room, “Good Morning, How are you feeling?”. “Actually good, thanks to you...”he said with a smile on his face, “well I’m glad, that’s what friends are for...”. The both sat in front of the tv and started eating breakfast. After two hours Megan and Mike came up to the apartment. “Hey dudes” said Mike, “we missed you out there.”. “Sorry, but I was tired”, said Christine “Me too, I fall asleep late, I couldn’t sleep”, exclaimed Apolo from the balcony. “What?, the ex again?” Megan said whispering to Christine, “Um huh.”. “Oh darn it!” Megan reacted.

   “So what are we going to do today?” Mike asked, “I don’t know, can we actually stay here all day and order pizza and play games or something like that?” Megan asked. “Sure that’ll be great!” Christine and Apolo said at the same time. “Well ok, then is settled then.” Mike said before he went to the bathroom to take a bath. With a devilish look Mike stopped his way to the bathroom turned around and looked at Megan, “Hey baby, are you coming?”, “Of course.”. “Do you think they might be doing something nasty in there?” Apolo asked to Christine “I hope not. I cleaned that bathroom.” They both looked at each other and started to laugh hysterically.

   The night arrived we were all sitting on the living room carpet and we started making jokes, “...and the mushroom man said: ‘Why not, I’m a 'fungi’, Got it? Fun-guy” said Christine. “Christine you are out, that is so over used” said Megan, “I know, but is the one I know the best...” she explained. “Ok heading on...” said Mike changing the subject, “How about if we do something different this time and we tell each other what we wished for Christmas, so we can help each other make our dreams come true?, So how about it?”. “That’s a good idea” Megan agreed, “In fact I’ll start, ‘I wished to be forever with you Mike...”, “Really, I wished the same thing except that me having you forever in my arms...”. “Oh, you guys, will you stop being sweet in front of me. Get a room”, said Christine on a joke sort of way, “Actually later, we will.” claimed Mike. “Oh, do you had to tell us that?” asked Apolo, also on a joke way tone. “How about you Christine what you wished for?” Mike asked, “Well it doesn’t matter is not going to happen...” she said as she looked at Apolo and then turned her head down “How do you know?”, Mike started questioning. “It’s just, it ain’t going to happen, that’s all. For what I want I might need a miracle”. “Ok, How about you Apolo?”, Apolo was starting at Christine but as soon as Megan finished the question he looked at Megan “well I don’t know, I exactly didn’t made a wish - wish I just wanted to be happy this year, and I don’t know maybe find true love or something like that, but don’t pay much attention remember I’m still under the effects of a heart that is broken...I guess I’m finding someone to fix it. Somehow.”

   After talking till it was 1:30 a.m. Mike and Megan decide to call it quits and go to bed. “Well guys this is all for us, we’re going to sleep, see you guys tomorrow” Mike said while heading with Megan to the room. “So want to hear music like yesterday?” Apolo asked Christine, “Yeah that will be good...”. The started to pick songs. Yes we did here’s the list of songs we put, that is that I remember:

1. Boyz II Men - Pass You By
2. Destiny’s Child - Emotions
3. Destiny’s Child - Brown Eyes
4. Brian McKnight - Back At One
5. Usher Ft. P.Diddy - U Don’t Have To Call Me

   And so on... we were both outside, on the balcony of the house, laying on the floor looking at the sky. We were side-by -side, too bad nothing happen. “So what are you thinking?”, Christine asked Apolo while listening to “I Need A Girl” by Usher. “Nothing much, just about what can I do to work my heart out of this damage. It feels really bad, is like if I can’t stand it. Do I sound like a wimp?, Please be honest.” he said looking at Christine. “Actually, yeah.” he looked at her with a doubtful look, “Nah... Just kidding, you are not wimp is just that... oh well...” she stopped, “What?, tell me?”he insisted, “face it boy, you...like me, we were condemn with a good heart.” “Yeah, I guess is that.” he said agreeing with her.

   “Well skater-boy, is 4 am I guess we should be off to bed”, she said as she was standing to head of to her room. After a few steps she turned “are you coming?”. “yeah in a minute”, he reply “ok”, before Christine closed her door, Apolo head off to her and kissed her cheek, “what was that for?”, she asked, “Just for everything...thank you, goodnight.” he said to her as she head to her room and him to his bed.

Chapter 12

   The next morning the day looked peaceful, everyone was sleeping, the only sound you could hear was the sound of morning. Mike and Megan were cuddling on the bed, while Apolo was holding his pillow tight and dreaming. Christine woke-up and started to make breakfast for everyone. Apolo was the one to first wake up, “Hey morning, Christine.” “Morning, skater-boy.” she said back. “What’s up with the skater thing?, what is it?, because I’m in the team?” “In the ‘elite’ team?” she said joking, “what?” he asked, “nothing, is something I used to had fun around with, is just I joke with that.”. “Well stop it, is making fun.”, “sorry then”. “Apology accepted.”. “So do you want to eat?, scramble eggs, it has cheese in it”, “You don’t have to ask me that twice, I’m hungry” said Apolo with a smile on his face.

   “Gooooooood morning everybody” said a gleefully Mike once he came out of the room. “Ok, something’s wrong with him” Christine said “Is nothing actually, is just that he had some” said Apolo looking at her and laughing at the same time. “For your info yes I had some but ain’t your business, ok?” said Mike while taking some OJ. “So were’s Megan, surviving?” Christine said on a joke-full way, immediately Apolo and she started to laugh. “Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, you are so not funny.” Mike said on a mocking way. “I know, but that’s how people like me.” “Well any ways goodbye you little ones I’m going to my sweety.” said Mike heading to the room.

   “So are you ready to go to work tomorrow, you now after those insomniac nights you’ve had this weekend?”, Christine asked Apolo, “Yeah, I guess so...” he said with a sad look at his face. “What’s wrong skater- sorry, Apolo.”, “Ha, ha, ha, ha, you know that’s the weirdest, but yet funniest, nickname I’ve had.” He said looking at her with a smile on his face. “Well I did it for that...” she said pointing at his face, “For what” , he asked; “For that smile, you look good in it.” “I know” he says with a sense of proudness. “Whatever Apolo.” “Is true.” “Ok.”

   It was 9:00 p.m. as luck would have it they had to leave, Mike and Megan didn’t hesitated, they went off like a thunder hitting, Apolo well he stayed for another hour. They were talking all that time mostly Christine was trying to erase that look of pain from his eyes and was helping him to be the Apolo she knows he is. “Well is 10 p.m. I have to go, is late you have work and I have practice, take care Christine and thank you for this weekend, it was what I need it.” He said as he was walking with her toward the front door. “Sure, always; whenever you need someone...” “I have you here to talk” Apolo said interrupting her “I now know that.” “Exactly” she said agreeing. Well he left, he gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek. What is that?, that you won’t call that amazing?, you guys are crazy, is better have that than nothing people.

Chapter 13

   Well it was already December 17 a week has passed, what can I tell you of last week?, well I got a message from Megan and Mike, that they are flying today, Monday, to Washington to Mike’s mom and dad’s house to spend the holidays there. I heard that this week also Apolo, was flying to Seattle to his dad’s house and spend time with him. So this means it seem like another Christmas by myself. That’s Christine’s thought, but what she doesn’t know is the radical turn destiny was about to make, a turn no had ever imagined; but still it was the one it should have been done a long, long time ago.

   Apolo arrived to is house in Seattle, his dad waited for him at the airport. “Hi! Dad” he said as he kissed and hugged him. “So where’s Heather and Pat?” “Oh they’ll meet us at home” His dad Yuki said looking at his son. “Oh, Ok”, “So son” his dad said, “how’s everyone back on Colorado?”. “Pretty Good.”. “How’s L..” His dad started to ask, when he noticed he was going to mention his ex’s name, he immediately interrupted with a... “Dad she and I broke up.” “What happen?” he asked with a concern look, “She cheated on me, can we talk about something else.” “Sure, Boy” his dad said hugging him. “I’m so glad you are home.” They kept walking to the baggage claiming area. After picking his bags, they headed home. “Oh, I almost forgot...” he exclaimed. “What?” His dad asked “I told Christine I’d call here when I get here.” “Oh”. He dialed Christine’s number and waited four rings on the fifth the machine turned on: Hey this is Christine, if you are listening to this is because I’m out working or maybe because I’m tired and I don’t wanna pick the phone, So leave a message after the beep a I’ll get back to you...Bye-Bye. BEEEEEEEEP..., the phone beeped. “Christine, is me Apolo, it seems you are out working I just called to tell you I’m here in Seattle, Dad says hi, um if something happens call me, anything, ok? See ya’ dudette. Oh! And maybe if I can I’ll call you later, bye.” he hanged the phone. “So, you and Christine are still Best Friends for what I can see. “ said his dad very happy, knowing he had a best friend always there for him besides his teammates. “Yeah, she still the great Christine, she’s always been, specially this days after... well this” He said thinking of the weekend he had at her house with Mike and Megan. “That’s great”. “Why didn’t you asked her to come, so she wouldn’t be alone this Christmas at Colorado?” His dad asked “Well Dad, she had work to do.” “Oh, I understand, hard working girl, that’s the kind of girl you ought-a look for son, don’t always go for the one with the looks, they’ll end up breaking up your heart.” “I know that, too bad I’m agreeing with you, because of a personal experience.”

   When they arrived home, Heather, Apolo’s agent and Pat, Apolo’s other coach, where awaiting for him on the porch. “Heather!” he screamed as he saw her “Hey, I missed you. Hello Pat, how’s it going man?” he said hugging both of them. “Hey Apolo, you owe me a game in Play Sation.” Heather remember him, “Heather, sorry but, you are suppose to be my agent, don’t you think that is so childish of you?” He said looking at her. “With you? no.” “Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, you are so funny.” “I know”. They all headed to the living room and started talking. “So Apolo, were is L..” she was interrupted by his dad when she saw him doing signs, so she won’t ask him about her. “I know what you were going to ask, we broke up. She played it bad., it was her lost.” he said very calmly, “That’s true, you are better off without her, So when are we eating?”, “Actually...” Yuki started to talk, “I was thinking since we are all together for the first time after some time, I was thinking going out for dinner and besides I’m tired to cook today.” “Ok, that’s fair enough” everyone agreed.

   After dinner they got back home. “That was a great dinner, but now I’m off. I’m going to my hotel, goodnight Yuki, Apolo...” Heather said “Goodnight both”, Yuki said to Heather and Pat as they both headed out. “Well, I’m going to unpack, goodnight Dad.” Apolo said “Goodnight” he reply “Hey Apolo” Yuki said “I’ll be at your room in a minute. “Ok, dad.” After making sure that everything was properly locked he headed to Apolo’s room.

   Yuki walked up to Apolo’s room. “Looks like the last time you were here.” he said helping his son unpack. “Yes it does, it even smells like the old times.” he said looking at his dad, “Well it feels like that also, listen son, I know that maybe you are starting get over this relationship, but I want to tell you that girl didn’t deserved your love, if she treated you like that.” he started talking as the both of them were sitting at his bed. “I know dad, you are right.”, “Look it on this way, you still have me, your family that will never turn you down, you have your teammates that well, they are brothers to you including Mike, and you have Christine a best friend that has always there for you whenever you need her. You are blessed to have such great support, you should thank the Lord we are with you.”. “Dad” he said looking at him “I’m truly am, I do feel blessed.” “I know you are”. “Dad”, he said while looking down “can I ask you something?”. “Sure you can ask me anything.” he said as he lifted his son’s face. “I’m having this great sense on my heart whenever I talk with Christine, what can that mean.”, “Well son you appreciate her love and concern toward you, she’s been there thru hard times, maybe you feel like left her out by coming here and not bringing her.” “No dad that’s not it, is just that this weekend, while we were talking, everything she said eased my pain, like when you do when I’m feeling down.” He noticed the look on his son’s face, he knew he was feeling something for her, but what?, that was something he had to find for himself. “Well Apolo, maybe you feel something for her.” “How can that be?, we are best friends. No is probably nothing, and any ways why ruin a perfect relationship of friendship for a feeling that maybe someday or in a minute, it would go away.” “Everything you said is ok, I agree with you, but there are times that is better risk it. That’s how your... well forget it, but relationships between people start as best friends, and end up being each other’s everything.” “Aw, dad that’s sweet, you are not gonna make me cry, aren’t you?”. “No, well I’m leaving, if you want we can keep talking tomorrow, but now I’m off to bed.” “Ok, dad” he said as he hugged him. “Oh dad!”, he said, Yuki stopped at the door, “Yes?” “I’m glad to be home”. “I’m glad too.”

Chapter 14

   Christine reached her home after a hard day of work, once she goes to the room she can see the message machine blinking, “Who the heck will like to call me?”, she pressed the bottom: You have 1 message in voice mail, and the message started:

   Christine, is me Apolo, it seems you are out working I just called to tell you I’m here in Seattle, Dad says hi, um if something happens call me, anything, ok? See ya’ dudette. Oh! And maybe if I can I’ll call you later, bye.

   What do you know?, Apolo called, gee I wonder what is he doing now...

Back in Seattle...

   ‘Is 10, should I call her?, is kind of late, she won’t mind, we are best buds and besides when I’m on the championships I call her much, much later than this.’ he began to think while unpacking. After putting his stuff in the drawers, he picked the phone on his room and dialed. After a four rings, Christine picked the phone.

   “Hello?”, she said. “Hi!” a male voice sounded at the other side of the phone. “Apolo?” she asked, “Yeah, were you sleeping?, cause I can call tomorrow.”. “No is ok, I was just watching tv.” “So how are you?”, he asked; “Pretty good, you?, how’s everyone?, how’s everything?” she asked enthusiastically. “Everything is great, at some point it all feels the same. By the way, you got my message right?” “Yeah I did”. They kept talking for an hour and half, but because of the time difference they had to hang up, since Christine had to go to work. “Hey Apolo in here is like 12:30 a.m I’m sorry to cut you short but I have work tomorrow.”. “No problem, is just that I don’t have to go to practice tomorrow, maybe that’s why I didn’t hanged up.”, “No problem, well goodnight.” “Night to you too.”. After they hanged up Christine fall fast asleep and Apolo just kept watching the ceiling, wondering why he had such an urge to hear her voice.

   The next morning Apolo was the first to wake up, so when he noticed it he decided to make breakfast for everyone. The smell of scrambled eggs, bacon, french toasts, and orange juice woke his dad up. “Good morning son.” Yuki greeted his son, “Hey dad, wanna eat?”, “You don’t have to ask me that, it all smells good.”. “Well I learned from the best.”, “You are a good son, but remember always I’m the best here.”. “Ha, ha, ha, ha dad you are so funny. Um. I called Christine last night”. “You called her?, how is she?” “Well when I call she was watching tv, probably she was tired, we hanged up after a hour and a half because of the time difference and she had to work also so...”. “Oh I see, she still works on the Graphic Designs Dept. of that computer building in Colorado?”, “Yeah. Thou she’s planning on opening her own company when she has the enough money, but while she’s planning on how to start she’s working hard.”. “She’s doing good.”. “Dad you know what I was thinking...” he said while the both of them were walking to sit on the dinner table. “What ?”. “Christine is great on the marketing and management area also, and you know that when Heather and I am off with the team you guys are overloaded with work, I was thinking make her work with us in the Ohno team, you know to help Heather, what do you think?”, “Well Apolo, in my opinion, you are making a great choice giving her the work, she’s over qualified and is someone you trust, plus we like her, I think that is ok. She won’t turn you down, but if you want to keep thinking about it, just remember that you are not gonna find another one like her.”. “You’re right.”. While they were eating, Heather comes in the door, “Morning” she says. “Hey, where is Pat?”, “He woke-up early to go to check some of the things from the competitions in Germany”, “He had to go work today?” Apolo’s dad asked. “Yeah but after today he starts his holiday vacations, so is alright.” “Oh.” Apolo said to Heather.

   After a few minutes passed Heather asks Yuki, “So how’s the salon?”, “Is going great!” , “Damn, Dad you should retire or something.” Apolo said “Let me know take care of you this time, you’ve done so much for me. Is time for me to help out.” His dad reply to his son’s idea. “As much as I love that idea, tell me something what am I going to do, Hang around the house with nothing to do? No... I don’t think so young man. Thank you very much, but I am ok as I am right now” his dad said “but don’t waste those ideas, I might need them later.” They started laughing at Yuki’s commentary. “What?, is true”, Yuki insisted.

Chapter 15

   Well I’m here at home, two weeks had past, in two days is going to be Christmas Day and it looks like I’m going to be spending it along side my cute, yet so lonely Christmas tree and my bed. So it looks like my Christmas wish is not going to be granted. But I’m not worried, I mean my every Christmas wishes never come true. I guess Christine is forgetting to never say never. The phone interrupted her thoughts. “Hello...” she asked, “Christine?, hey ! Is me Apolo.” “Hi! Skater boy, how’s it going?,” “Good you?” “Well I was about to get dressed, you know I still have to go to work.” She said as she was looking for her clothes. “Oh well this won’t take long...I know that in two is Christmas and you are going to be alone there I can’t let that happen, not to my best-friend.”, “Apolo what are you implying?, that I should go to Seattle?”. “Please come... I need you here.” Her heart raced when she said that. Do you think that NASCAR cars are fast?, my thoughts were running more. Did he just said that? “Apolo you do know what you are asking for?... is near Christmas Eve?, is going to be hard get a flight and besides this is an even for family.” “That’s the thing, you are family. Come on...”. Immidiately he heard his dad calling him. “Listen my dad is calling me, please think about it and call me... I really want you here.” “Ok, let me think about it.” “Ok... and Christine.” “Yeah?” “I love you...” he hanged up the phone. Apolo’s thoughts were scrambled, he knew he let his heart speak, not his head. As shocked as he was he headed down to where his dad was. “Apolo?” his dad asked worried, “What’s wrong boy?”, “Dad.... I just told Christine that I love her.”, “Did she answer back?” “No I hanged up before she could say anything.”