Rating: PG-13

You wouldn’t believe how the years fly by; here I was, year 2004, finally taking a break from the pressures of speed skating.

I strolled through the airport, searching for my dad. He and I were going to see the Olympics live in Athens Greece. Personally, I wasn’t to psych. I just wanted to lie down and take a breather, but my dad talked me out of it.

“Hey, Apolo! Over here!” I scanned the crowd to see Henry, a good friend, jumping up and down to get my attention. My dad stood by his side, eyeing him like, “I don’t really want to be seen in public with this clown.”

I’ve known Henry for a few years, now. He was tall and lanky, his hair short and spiked. He recently got married to this really sweet girl, Ashley, a while ago. They’re expecting a girl in December.

“Oh-my-gawd! Aren’t you Apolo Anotn Ohno? You are like, such a babe!” Henry teased in this high pitch voice.

“Knock it off,” I replied, rolling my eyes.

“Well, if you have your stuff, we’ll head out to the car,” my dad intervened.

While my dad went to get the car, Henry and I went to fetch my luggage.

“How’s Ashley?” I asked.

“Good,” Henry said. “Cranky, but good. Do you have any idea how hard it is to try to please your pregnant wife? I’m usually up at the middle of the night going out to buy Chinese food.”

“Sounds ruff, glad I’m still single.”

“What happen to Veronica?”

“Fell for another jock.”

“Darn,” Henry said sarcastically. “And I really liked her, too.”

I smirked. My cell phone rang. “Crap!” I said, setting down my duffel bag. “Don’t hang up!” I pleaded as I dug for it, a few of my belongings falling out. “Dangit,” I grumbled, when I finally found it. One missed call. Oh well, I’ll get back to them.

“Hey, what’s this?” Henry asked, holding up an old white bandana with writing all over it.

I took it out of his hands and for a brief second saw Christine, “Who knows, maybe the next time you see us is on the Summer Olympics…”

“Nothing,” I said, shoving it back in my bag. “A fan gave it to me,” which was partially true. Christine was a fan, but unique. We use to email each other, but that was a while ago.

“Come on you guys,” my dad said, interrupting my thoughts.

We grabbed my stuff and left.

* * * * *

“To be single again…” Henry sighed as we watch the girl’s Japanese volleyball team practice, about a week later into the Olympics.

“I heard that,” Ashley grumbled. Henry gave a cheesy smiled and kissed her on the cheek.

“I’ve never had it so good. Not many men end up marrying an asylum escapee,” he teased. Ashley rolled her eyes.

Suddenly, on the other court, walked out the American team, followed by a man and a woman. “Okay, Liz, Janice, Casey, take the back. Chrissy, you and Liz grab some volleyball and spike them over. Ladies, I want to see bump, set, spike.”

“Don’t call me Chrissy, coach,” the girl warned, pushing a few strands of brown hair out of her eyes.

I was smitten.

The same girl picked up a volleyball and hit it over, catching one of the girls off guard. She tried to hit back with one hand, but it went flying the opposite way, landing next to me.

“Go shag your ball, Chris,” the man said. The girl started to jog towards me. I picked it up and handed it to her.

“Thanks,” she said. I gasped.

It was Christine.

She probably recognized me too, judging by her gaping mouth, but the coach called her back.

That can’t be Christine, I thought to myself. That fun loving sweet girl I knew. I couldn’t help but stare at her, the memories of meeting her two years ago. I was 19 and she was 17, she asked the most bizarre questions, my favorite had to have been “If President Bush stopped prejudice by coloring the world rainbow style, what color would you be?”

An hour later, their coach finally begins to wrap up things. I headed to the double glass doors to wait for her.

I notice her hair was shorter and layered and she was thinner. Her eyes were still a beautiful hazel, her smile still perfect.

“Christine?” I asked as she passed by.

She turned from her friends to face me, she was still my height. “Apolo?” She said softly. “Congratulations on your season, you were great.”

“Blue,” I replied. “I would want to be blue.”

Her face was blank, then she broke out into a grin, “I will have to agree.”

“Hey, Chris,” Liz called to her. “We’re heading to that one restaurant with that babe waiter, lets go girl!”

She looked at me for a second, then turned to Liz, “Alright I’ll be there in a second.”

“I would like to see you sometime,” I replied.

She looked shocked, but quickly regained her cool. “Sure,” she squeaked.

“Ahem,” Henry said.

Oops, “This is my friend Henry and his wife, Ashley,” I said, stepping aside to reveal the couple.

“Hello,” Christine said politely, shaking their hands.

“I was just thinking,” Henry said. “That maybe we could all head out to eat tomorrow night.”

Ashley’s eyes lit up, “Yeah, than we could hear more about the famous Christine.”

“And to celebrate the reuniting of two friends, how about we take you out to lunch today?” Henry added.

They tried way to hard.

“Sure,” Christine said smiling, looking slightly overwhelmed. “Let me go clean up.”

“We’ll wait outside,” I said, glaring at Henry, pushing him outside. Ashley cracked up.

“You think this is funny?” I exclaimed.

“Y-you looked s-s-so funny, blushing t-the whole time,” she gasped. “Red is real your color!”

I gave a weak smile.

Christine walked wearing a black t-shirt that said, “Amateurs made the Ark, professionals made the Titanic” with faded flair jeans and a plain black belt.

“You look good,” I choked out.

She gave an amused smile, “Thank you.”

We hoped in Henry’s rental car and headed out to eat. After that we went for a short walk to see the sights.

I overheard Ashley and Christine’s conversation; it was quiet entertaining.

“What shoes should I wear with my black dress?” She asked Christine.

“How about opened toed shoes?”

“Okay, but I’ll have to paint my toenails.”

“I’ll have to paint my nails, because I don’t own gloves.”

“You’re kidding, right?”

Christine kept a straight face, “About what?”

“About your nails and gloves.”

“I don’t own gloves, but I have nails. Ten of them.”

Ashley cracked up.

We dropped Christine at her hotel and I walked her to her door. “It was great seeing you again,” I said.

“Same here,” she replied.

“We’ll pick you up tomorrow around seven?”

“I’ll see you then.”

I couldn’t wait.

* * * * *

“Bump, set, spike,” Liz yelled, looking frustrated. It was the finals for volleyball, USA vs the Aussies.

The Australians hit over and Janice bumped it to Ginger, who set it perfectly to Christine. She jumped up and slammed that ball over the net for an ace.

The score was 29 to 28; the USA needed three more points to win.

They rotated and it was Sam’s turn to serve. She hit over perfectly and they returned, this went on for a second. Then one of the girl’s from the other team spiked it over. Christine and Lacey jumped up and blocked it, but it landed on their side.

The Aussie girl received the ball from the ref, hit it a few times, and then serve it over. Christine dived into the ground to hit up; it flew towards Janice who was obviously unprepared. It hit her in the face and fell to the ground.

Christine, who was getting up, saw what happen and collapsed to the floor in defeat.

Final score: 30 to 28.

They reluctantly lined up to shake hands with them, saying good job, but if looks could kill…

“This sucks,” Henry grumbled.

“It was a good game though,” Ashley replied.

My cell phone rang, “Hello?” I said into it.

“Son? Uh, I’m at the airport,” said my dad.

“Why?”

“I’m buying tickets to return to the country. There has been a slight problem and, we need to head back. Pronto.”

“What? What problem?”

“We leave tomorrow morning,” my dad continued, as though I hadn’t said anything.

“But, dad,” I replied.

I heard voices in the background, “Son, I’m sorry. But I have to go. And I’m sorry we have to cut this trip short, but we need to head back and talk to Sam. He’s threatening to quit.”

“But-“

“Son, we have to do this. I’m sorry. Look, we’ll talk later, but we’re leaving, tomorrow morning, in fact. Good-bye.” He hung up.

I slam my phone shut, totally pissed. I couldn’t believe this.

“Hey, Apolo,” Christine said to me.

I looked up at her. Her knee was red from a rug burn, she was sweaty, but still manage to look cute.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m leaving tomorrow,” I told her sadly.

She looked upset, “Oh, you are?”

I nodded.

She fiddled with the medal around her neck, “Maybe we should cancel tonight,” she said softly.

NO! I thought.

“Goodbye, I’ll miss you,” she said softly, turning to leave.

Then I did a retarded thing, I let her go.

* * * * *

“Son, we have to board,” my dad said, shaking my shoulder slightly.

It was early the next morning; I guess I kind of dozed of it the chair at the airport. “Can’t we wait?” I asked, hoping to see Christine.

“Come on,” he replied.

I grabbed my duffel bag and slowly made my way towards the plane, repeatedly turning around hoping to see Christine run towards me for one last hug and goodbye.

The airport was empty.

I handed the stewardess my ticket and was seated. A few minutes later the plane took off.

I felt like kicking myself, I should’ve stayed instead of hoping she would show. I let her slip threw my fingers…