Thank you for reading! On to the chapter :)
As much as I love gymnastics I'm really hungry right now. We've been practicing for the past three hours and I really just want a nice hot meal as well as a foot rub. Luckily we get the rest of the day off so the girls and I are going to head off to do some sightseeing.
"Good job girls" Aro says as we put our sweats back on.
Aro won the men's all-around twenty years ago, and he's given up the sport to do intense coaching. He's half-Russian, half-Italian, and 100% hardcore about the sport. Our assistant coach is Heidi, who is pretty much like a second mother to all of us.
"Gosh, I'm so hungry" Alice complains, and the rest of us are quick to agree with her.
"Let's opt out of the village cafeteria and take a look around the city to see what we can find" I suggest.
"Yeah!" Jessica says enthusiastically.
We have to take public transportation to get where we want to go, which makes me a bit sad because I really hate public buses. There is also a subway system but none us really know how to navigate the French Subway system so we climb into a free bus and see where it takes us.
We end up at a small café close to the Eiffel tower. Perfect. It's a small stone building and I can see a few people eating under umbrellas outside. A delicious aroma floats towards us and this is definitely the place I want to eat at.
"Bonjour et bienvenue madames" Our waiter says as we sit down.
"Uh…Bonjour" I say awkwardly. The rest of the girls mumble out a hello.
"Alors, qu'est-ce que vous voulez manger aujourd'hui?"
"Uh…oui?" Jessica pipes out?
"What would you like?" He asks again, this time in surprisingly good English.
"Can we have a few minutes?"
"Yes"
I thank the heavens that there are pictures in the menu because I can't understand a single word on the page. Except for escargot, but there is no way I'm letting a snail into my mouth. Eventually I decide on a creamy looking soup and French fries. It's an odd combination but it's definitely the safest.
Rosalie, on the other hand, decides to get a traditional fish dish and Jessica and Lauren are all over the Foie Gras. Alice plays it safe like me and gets a hamburger.
"Good job at practice today girls" Rosalie says after the waiter has left to put in our orders.
"Yeah, there weren't any fatal errors so I say that if we multiply today by ten, we'll qualify for the team finals and the all-around" Alice adds.
"That's so exciting!" Jessica says, "There is no way we won't qualify for the teams. I mean, taking a look around, I feel like there are only a few hotshots we have to worry about."
"Russia and China" Lauren says.
"Yeah, especially that Irina girl from Russia. Did you see her on the uneven bars? Holy shit" Jessica says, "She's hot on the beams too. I only saw her take one balance check. One!"
"Girls, just relax" Rosalie says, "We have a few more days before quals and I'd like to not be stressed about the competition before it begins"
Nobody talks about Irina from Russia after that. But they are right. I saw Irina today and I feel like she's a pretty big threat. She also looks like a major bitch but maybe that's just me judging a book by its cover. We'll see.
Soon our food comes and it's delicious as expected. We finish eating quickly because we're all excited to climb into the top of the Eiffel tower.
We leave the café just as a group of guys is leaving. I'm shocked and excited to see one who I recognize immediately. It's Adonis, and he's even hotter up close. My group of girls and his group of guys are awkwardly standing in the doorway, waiting for somebody to make the first move to leave.
So I check out Adonis more.
He's wearing a blue sweatshirt and jeans that make his butt look freaking amazing. His eyes bore into mine and he gives me a crooked grin. I melt under his gaze and I feel my heart start alerting me to the fact that it's beating. I don't think I've ever seen anybody so gorgeous before.
"Ladies first" I hear one of the boys say.
I take a look at the other guys. The burly one from this morning that Rosalie thought was hot is here. Next to him is a guy wish messy blonde hair and blue eyes. He's lankier than Mr. Burly, who has curly black hair and probably the most muscular arms I've ever seen. The last guy has spiky blonde hair and is wearing sunglasses indoors.
"Thanks gentlemen" Rosalie says, looking Mr. Burly straight in the eyes.
"Are you guys athletes?" I blurt.
"How'd you know?" Messy blonde hair asks.
"Just guessing"
"Yes we are, and I assume you ladies are as well? I'm Jasper"
"Alice!" Alice says, bounding over to him to give him a firm handshake. She looks absolutely smitten with him already.
"This is Emmett, Edward and Mike" Jasper introduces us. Emmett is Mr. Burly, Edward is my Adonis and Mike is the one with spiky hair.
"US?" I ask.
"Yep. And I'm guessing from your accents you guys are too?"
"Yeah"
"Hey ladies!" Emmett shouts flirtatiously, "I'm Emmett, the best diver in the world! Jasper is my synchro diving buddy. I'm the hot partner"
"Yes you are" I hear Rosalie mutter.
"And Edward here is my brother. He's a swimmer. Didn't want to go into diving like me. Eh, disappoints me, but he's good at what he does. He's just too sissy to jump off a 10 meter platform."
"Shut up Emmett" Edward says and I feel my heart start to race at the sound of his voice. It's smooth and velvety and makes me want to jump him and sex him right now. I'm a virgin though, so I can't imagine things turning out well if I actually did that.
"Oh come on, little bro. Admit it, you're scared of heights" Emmett says teasingly. Edward scowls and hits him on the arm.
"Don't listen to that idiot. I'm not scared of heights." Edward says, "I'm Edward Cullen"
"Oh I know" Jessica says dreamily.
"Yeah, we saw you in Sports Illustrated" Lauren adds, batting her eyelashes at him.
Sports Illustrated, huh? Maybe I should check it out knowing Edward is in it.
"I'm Mike" The last guy says, "It's very nice to meet you" I notice his emphasis on 'you' and his look directed at me. Eck. He's cute but pales in comparison to Edward and his hair looks like it'd fall out from over-gelling.
"Mike plays beach volleyball" Edward says, "His partner, Tyler isn't here right now."
"Well I'm Rosalie" Rosalie pipes up, "This is Alice, Bella, Jessica, and Lauren. We're the gymnastics team"
"Oh yeah, I heard about you guys!" Emmett booms, "The lucky five! Weren't you two in a tampon ad or something?"
I blush. Oh gosh, if he saw that then Edward probably did too.
"We're going to the Eiffel tower, would you men like to come?" Jessica asks.
"Why not?" Jasper responds. I see Alice grin at this fact.
We head out the door in a big group and it looks like Jessica and Lauren have taken a huge liking to Edward. Just great. Because the Olympics isn't competition enough, and now I have to fight for a boy. He probably won't even give me a second glance though after Jessica and Lauren. Frankly, they're pretty hot.
"Edward, your arms are so strong. It must be from all the swimming" Jessica says as she strokes his arm.
"I love men with muscles" Lauren says.
Could the two be any more obvious?
Ok, but seriously. I'm really jealous right now because Alice is flirting with Jasper, and Rosalie is talking to Emmett, and Jessica and Lauren have stuck their claws into the man I want who is flirting right back with them.
This is just great.
I trail behind the rest of them with Mike by my side as we take a short walk over to the tower. It's beautiful and a lot larger than I expected it to be. Pictures really don't do it justice. I pull my camera out and start taking pictures.
"Want me to take one of you next to it?" I hear a smooth voice ask in my ear. I blush a bit when I notice it is Edward right next to me. I look to see where Lauren and Jessica are, and they are taking pictures of each other.
"T-thanks" I say with a stammer. Gosh I sound like an idiot.
"Smile" He says, snapping a quick picture, "You have a beautiful smile"
"Er, thank you" I respond.
He grins at me and hands my camera back. His hands brush against mine for a moment and I am stunned momentarily by the warmth that seeps through my arm. I miss it as soon as he pulls back.
"Come on guys, lets go!" Jessica shouts.
I snap out of my Edward-induced haze and follow them.
It's just my luck that the elevator is broken and we need to take the stairs. Call me an athlete and everything but I absolutely hate stairs. They are obnoxious and annoying, and energy draining. Face it, no matter how in shape somebody is, stairs will always wear them out.
This fact does not deter anybody except me.
"Whoop! Looks like a workout tonight!" Emmett shouts as he starts bounding up the stairs.
I don't know if I'm more shocked by his enthusiasm or the fact that he just used the word 'whoop'.
"Ready to climb?" Edward asks me.
"Yeah" I say slowly, "I hate stairs though"
"I could carry you" He offers with a wink.
"No thanks, I don't want you to hurt anything right before the Olympics"
"Edward, lets go!" Jessica shouts.
"Yeah Edward, hurry up!" Lauren pipes.
"Coming ladies!" He says, leaving me alone.
The guy is clearly a big flirt. I'm left wondering whether he was paying me special attention or if he was that way with all the ladies.
But look at him, Bella. He's the hottest thing walking the planet. Of course he's this way with all females. He could probably turn my grandma on. Ok, that's just nasty. But still…
It feels like hours before I'm finally at the top of the tower, squeezed into the space with everybody else.
"Edward, take a picture with me!" Lauren says, "I want to tweet it to my fans!"
"Sure" He says.
They lean in together while Lauren snaps a shot. Lucky. I want a picture with Edward, I'm just not as forward and gutsy as Lauren—or Jessica for that matter, who is currently clinging onto Edward's arm in fear. She's so totally pretending.
Why can't the two of them go for Emmett? There is no way they would be able to compete against Rosalie.
"Do you want to take a picture together Bella?" I hear Edward ask. I turn to him quickly.
"Sure"
He pulls out his own camera and pulls me close to him. I hope he can't hear my heart suddenly take off at 500 miles per hour. I can smell him and he smells way too delicious to be legal. His left arm is around me and his right arm is holding up the camera.
"Smile that pretty smile!" He says before clicking the button.
I hope the camera didn't pick up my blush and I hope I don't look like a tomato right now.
After looking around a bit at the scenery we begin the trek back down to the ground. I'm stuck with Mike again as everybody else has paired up. Except the group of three that consists of Jessica, Lauren and Edward. Mike keeps shooting me flirtatious grins and its making me uncomfortable because I'm not exactly interested in him. Edward turns around and notices me uncomfortably walking with mike so he trails back a bit much to Jessica and Lauren's dismay.
"Keep the ladies company Newton" Edward says, pushing Mike forward, which is fine by me.
"Hey Bella" He says.
"Hi Edward"
"Tell me about yourself"
"Huh?"
"You seem interesting. Tell me about yourself"
"What should I say?"
"How old are you?"
"Eighteen"
He pauses for a moment then grins.
"Well I'm nineteen. Looks like we're almost the same age"
"Yeah" I say.
"So…you're a gymnast?" He asks.
"Yeah"
"That's cool. Gymnastics gets just about as much attention as swimming does. Looks like we're both climbing the ladder of athletic fame."
"I guess so"
"How long have you been doing gymnastics?"
"Ever since I was six"
"What got you into it?"
"My mom signed me up for lessons to encourage me to learn how to balance. I was a clumsy child. I guess I stuck with it in respect for my mom…after she…died. I learned to really love it though."
"Oh, I'm sorry…about your mom." Edward says solemnly.
"It's not your fault. It was a long time ago so too. What's with the Spanish Inquisition anyway?"
"Like I said, I think you're interesting. And now I know you have an intriguing back story. All good athletes have one"
I scoff, "What's yours?"
"I'll tell you someday. I think we'll get to know each other very well over these next few weeks" He flashes me his crooked grin that never fails to make my heart race, "We'll talk again right?"
"Uh-huh"
"Great. But right now I need to head back to the village. I'm doing an interview soon."
We exchange numbers and the boys wave goodbye to us and then climb into a large van. I'm so glad we all have phones that work in foreign countries. They cost a lot more but are so worth being able to have 3G and communication in foreign places.
"Oh my gosh!" Jessica shouts as soon as they are gone, "Edward is so hot!"
"I know right?" Lauren says.
"If either of us gets him, lets promise to share" Jessica offers.
"Agreed" Lauren says.
I can't believe they are willing to share a guy. There is no way that could end well.
"Isn't Jasper just the most adorable?" Alice asks, "He's from Texas and goes to university with Emmett. They're roommates as well as diving partners."
"Well Emmett is the hottest I think" Rosalie says.
"Edward" Jessica and Lauren say.
"Jasper" Alice says.
"Emmett" Rosalie looks at me.
"What do you think Bella?" Jessica asks
Are we really having a conversation about which guy was the hottest? I'm not really comfortable sharing this information. I've never been the type to divulge my crushes to my friends or anything.
"Is the Mike?" Lauren asks, "He seemed to really like you"
"Oh this is perfect!" Jessica squeals, "Rosalie can have Emmett, Alice and Jasper, Lauren and I will share Edward, and Bella can have Mike!"
"No!" I say quickly, "Not Mike!"
Alice and Rosalie shoot me a sympathy look but Jessica and Lauren don't hear me over their cries of excitement. Oh shoot me now.
"I know it's Edward" Rosalie whispers in my ear, "And you have a heck of a lot of a better chance with him than those two"
I give her a thankful smile and then we start heading back to the village.
We have an interview tonight.
Mike Newton the beach volleyball player? I couldn't resist.
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