Author's Note: Hey guys so I thought that I'd try to write a Spashley story so here it is. This is my first time writing one of these hope you like. sorry if there are grammar errors. sorry this doesn't have any Spashley yet.
Disclaimer: I do not own SoN or its characters.
Chapter 1
It was the first week of spring. My coach has told me that I had qualified for the Olympics in London at the Olympic Time Trials in my lightweight single. I was astonished, I had only been rowing for five years, and I was finally being able to fulfill my dream of going to the Olympics as a Sophomore at Yale University. Everything was moving so fast paced; I barely had any time to think about myself and what I wanted to do with my life after college To tell you the truth, everything is moving too fast, I haven't thought of a life outside of rowing. I was brought out of my thoughts when I heard knuckles rapping on the door.
"It's open!"
"Spencer, it's me, just wanted to make sure you were all packed and ready to go," my mom said quietly.
"Yeah, I just need to find my sunglasses."
"Oh, they're downstairs on the kitchen table; I'll go grab them," she said as she turned to leave room.
"Thanks."
I finished packing the rest of my warm-up gear, and uniforms, then zipped the red and gold logoed, and walked downstairs, where my mother was standing there waiting. My sunglasses dangled in her other hand, as she grabbed my bag and stuffed it into the back of my Subaru Forrester. This car was my baby, it was a gift my uncle on my sixteenth birthday, and it was a shiny metallic faded teal color, with eighteen inch wheels. I hugged my mother, and quickly hopped into my baby, and headed toward Logan Airport.
It was nice to just have some alone time to think about how I was going to break the new to my mother that I was sick of her trying to set me up with her friends' sons because she thinks I need a man in my life. Well I can't just say 'Mom, I'm gay' she would probably beat me to a pulp. She the very strict religious type of person, she believed that being gay is a sin and will land you in eternal damnation. Yeah, well, sorry mother, I guess I'm going to hell. Ever since I learned I was a lesbian, I figured it was just a part of who I and people should care who they like, whether it was a girl or a boy. Who gives a shit. I told my dad first, because I know that my mother would totally flip and kick me out. Surprisingly he knew I was gay even before I knew I was gay. My brother eventually figured in out when he caught me kissing a girl in the locker rooms. Don't ask me why he was in there, because I have no clue. They told me that they would be there to support me when I told my mother, because they knew how mother would react. A year later my dad died in a car accident driving home from the airport, and my brother started to attend college at UCLA, so he was hardly ever around. It was just mom and I, and I missed the opportunity to tell her. I've just been living a lie, and it's diminishing me every day. I was startled my the ringing of my phone.
"Hello"
"Hey, it's Chelsea. I was wondering if you were off to the airport yet."
"Yeah, I just left."
"Well in that case, can you call me when you land? I need to talk to you," she said, her was a little shaky.
"Of course. Is everything alright?"
"Yes, silly! Good luck! Train Hard!" And with that she hung up the phone. That was odd, she'd usually be the one who could stop talking.
I pulled up into the airport parking garage, and headed into the Delta terminal. It was almost 7:30 am on a Sunday afternoon, the airport was oddly empty, just a few employees at the check-in counter.
"Good morning miss. Will you be checking any bags with us?"
"Yes, just this one," I said, as I placed my red and gold logoed bag on the scale.
"First and last name?"
"Spencer Carlin. C-A-R-L-I-N."
"All right, here is your boarding pass, the gate is to your left."
"Thank you. Have a nice day." With that I walked over the non-existent security line. I placed my North Face backpack on the moving belt, removed my belt and sweatshirt and walked from the metal detector.
It was only 8:00 am. I grabbed a quick cup of Joe from Starbucks, waited at the gate, contemplating how to break the news to my mother.
"Flight 195 to JFK, is now boarding first class."
Oh. That was me. The perks of making the USA Olympic Team, all of your travel expenses are paid for, and you fly first class. After boarding the plane, I located my seat. There was another woman sitting in the seat next to mine. She looked around my age maybe eighteen or nineteen, long brown hair. I pointed to the seat next to her, and she nodded and got up. I quickly sat down and said a 'thank you' before I buckled my seat belt.
"Good afternoon, my name is Anne, and I'll be your flight attendant for this flight. The duration of this flight will be approximately six hours and fifty-five minutes. We will be taking off in a couple of minutes."
We had been flying for about three hours. They started showing Ocean's 12, but I feel sleep half way through. I was awakened by someone gently shaking my shoulder. As my eyes slowly came into focus, I realized it was the brunette sitting next to me along with the flight attendant.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake up but I didn't know if I should get you something to eat or drink," she said.
"Oh. Thanks. I probably would have slept through the entire plane ride. Um…I'll have a water and some pretzels."
Anne tossed me a bottle of water and a couple of bags of pretzels. "Thanks," I said groggily still trying to wake up from my nap.
"So…what brings to you London?" I ask the young brunette.
"I'm training for the Olympics," she told me.
"Wait…really! So am I!"
"What event?" she inquired.
"Lightweight Double, but I don't yet have a partner. I'm supposed to get one at the course."
"Your last name wouldn't happen to be Carlin would it."
"Yeah it would. I'm a little freaked out that you know my last name."
"Well then, Spencer Carlin. I am pleased to tell you that you have been introduced to your pair for the double. I'm Kyla Woods," she squealed as smirk crept up her lips.
The rest of the plane filled with conversation on strategy plans for the race. It turned out we had a lot of things in common. We were both scouted and offered full-rides from Yale and this was our first time attending Olympic Games. I wonder why I never saw her around campus.
"So do you know anything about how they interview each athlete?" I asked thinking that I could use this as an opportunity.
"Yeah, they usually have each athlete for about five to ten minutes where they drill you with question."
"Any question in particular?"
"Just the general one, they usually have a unique one that they ask each rower."
Now was my chance to come out, I was sick of living this lie. My mother could not touch me, until I got back from London, and by that time things should be settled.
"Ladies and Gentleman, we will be landing short. Please put your seats and tries in the upright position," Anne said over the intercom.
When we landed we took our bags from the baggage claim and hailed a taxi to take us to The Ritz hotel in London. As we entered the hotel, and elderly man in a suit bustled over to us.
"Woods? Carlin?" he asked. We nodded our heads. "Okay, excellent, here are you room keys, Woods 456, Carlin 455. There will be a meeting at seven o'clock in the dining hall, please dress in your warm-up gear, seeing as interview will take place."
We nodded our head in compliance, and headed towards the elevators.
Our rooms were separate, but conjoined by a door, that we left opened. I took a shower, trying to get the feeling of jet-lag and airport germs off. After shaving and moisturizing, I laid on the nice king size bed, and watched Law & Order until it was 6:30 pm. I rummaged through my bag looking for the warm-up gear they had sent us the week before. I opened the package, and out came navy blue Under Armour mesh pants with white strips going down either leg or USA written in red near the pocket and with the embroidery Carlin above. A white t-shirt with USA written in red, white, and Under Amour warm-up jacket same as the warm-up pants. In other package there was the splash-jacket and hat, they were my favorite. It was navy blue and red, with TEAM USA printed on the back, and Carlin embossed in white on the left-breast, and left shoulder. The hat, made by JL was a classic red, with strips of navy blue and USA and my name on the front and back. Everything seemed to fit perfectly, my hazelnut hair and green eyes, brought out the athlete in me. I heard a groan from the other room. I peeked my head through the door conjoining our room, and couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Kyla was decked out in what appeared to be clothing that was either too big or too small. Her pants were bundled up around her Nike's and her jacket seemed to be a little small, the only thing that looked like her was the USA t-shirt. She turned and glared daggers at me.
"What the hell am I supposed to do now?" she shrieked.
"Wow, Kyla calm down, just where the t-shirt, I don't think anyone will care that much. As for everything else, I think they might have mixed up the order."
"How do you know that?" she said annoyed.
"Last time I checked your last name wasn't Harrison or Keefe," I said pointing at the name embroiled on the pants and jacket.
"Damn it!"
"Chill Kyla, we'll go down and find them in the dining hall."
We took the elevator to the lobby; Kyla began to fidget with her uniform. I smacked her hand away. The dining hall was filled with about a dozen people dressed identically to us. Kyla found Harrison and Keefe, and changed into clothing that actually fit her. There was an audible grumble of someone clearing their throats to try and get our attention.
"Good Evening, My name Pete, I'm coach of the USA Olympic women's team. I so glad that your travels were safe. Alright now, time to get serious. As you know each other you have qualified at the Olympic Time Trials, but due to the number a boats we enter head of time, we will be combining people from the lightweight category to row in larger boats. I'm going to read off a list of names and which boat you will be placed in. Alright in the eight, Harrison, Keefe, Smith, Charter, Schmidt, Williams, Alex, and Willis. In the four, Oliver, Kendall, Wilson, and Avery. In the pair, Whitney and Garcia. And Finally in the double Woods and Carlin."
Chairs rustled as everyone went to go sit with their boat for a boat meeting. Since we already discussed our plans on the airplane, we just engaged in simple conversation until it was broken again by Pete.
"Alright ladies, as you know, we will be doing personal athlete interview in a moment. Each of you will be called in for a five to ten minute interview, you are dismissed after. Oh. Tomorrow morning I want everyone down in the lobby at four o'clock in the morning for practice. Bus leave at 4:15 am. Have a good night ladies. Carlin, you're up."
Wait what? What am I up for? I glance at the at the man who stood in the corner as he beckoned me to come into the room next to him. I stood up and walked into and studio step up for the interviews. Shit. This was it. I'm going to tell my mother, let alone the world, that I'm gay. Breathe Spencer. Breathe. I was greeted by a middle-aged woman. "Hi, I'm Jo."
"Spencer. Pleasure to meet you."
"Alright shall we get started."
I took a seat as an assistant pinned a microphone to my uniform, and informed me that when the red light turns on, we are on air. Oh there it is. Okay be cool Spencer. This isn't anything new.
"Good Evening America. I'm Jo Forest and I'm here with Olympic Rowing athlete Spencer Carlin. So Spencer, how does it feel to have come this far, all the way to the Olympic Games here in London."
"Thanks Jo. It feels great that I have able to come all this way. I was actually shocked to hear that I qualified. This has been a dream of mine since I started. And I wouldn't be here without the support of my friends and family how gave me that extra push to get here," I chuckled trying to make myself sound better than I actually am.
The interview continued like this for several minute, as Jo asked the basic of who, what, where, when, and how. It had been almost eight minutes and I was getting a little annoyed by all the question, when she asked the question that I had waited for.
"Spencer, what is something that defines yourself? Something that makes yourself unique. Oh my god, is this really happening. Did she just ask me that? Now's your chance Spencer, take it!
"Well, that's an interesting question Jo. Well I'm gay, and I think that is a huge part of someone's identity. They shouldn't hide it, because when hiding it you're hiding a piece of yourself." Holy shit!
