I was so determined to get this chapter done before the opening ceremony starts. Now I can sit back and relax. The response from the last chapter was great. It gave me a real confidence booster. Thanks to people who followed favourited and reviewed. Hope you like this next chapter.

Chapter 2: New Meetings

One day before Opening Ceremony

Brittany's POV

The sun sets through the window as I sort through my clothes. I find my lucky pair of socks and set them down with the jacket and pants I'm wearing to the opening ceremony.

In 24 hours, the world will be watching.

I lock the door behind me, and make my way to the cafeteria. I pass other athletes without making eye contact – I didn't want to be spooked, and honestly, they scared me.

It's been a problem of mine ever since my first swimming meet at 8. I've heard of trash talk and syking out the competition, but this one particular girl intimidated me. She said I wasn't good enough and should go back to the farm I was raised from.

Needless to say, I spent the entire race locked in the change rooms crying my eyes out.

Ever since then, I try not to let people's comments get to me. It's worked, and here I am.

Rounding the hallway corner, I show security my pass and walk into the cafeteria. I spot Quinn playing pool at the end of the building.

'Hey Q.' I greet her with a wave.

She looks up, putting her cue down. 'Hey Brit.'

'Are you winning?' The other player gives me a look.

'Hmm no I'm not.' She says with a grimace.

The white ball knocks the 8 ball in the hole as the other player smiles. 'Damn,' I hear Quinn saying under her breathe.

They shake hands and Quinn rounds the table to retrieve the balls. 'Fancy a game?' She says looking at me.

'Sure, but I'm gonna kick your ass so maybe it's not fair.'

She laughs while handing me the other cue. 'We'll see. You break.'

Santana's POV

I flop on the bed and stare out the window at the green grass courtyard. Damn, London sure know how to keep up appearances.

My phone rings, snapping me out of my trance. Puck. He wants the team to meet at the cafeteria for a dinner and discuss tomorrows setup.

I show the burly security guard my pass and stroll to the team sitting at a table. As I sit down, I catch sight of a blonde haired girl, but her back was turned to me.

'Hey Puck.' He hands me a plate of chicken parma as he sits down across from me.

Everyone was eager to find out exactly how close we'll be to the action.

'Well, the board of directors for the games said we have a row of seats in the first row, so you can't get any closer than that.' Puck says grinning and high fiving a colleague.

The rest of dinner was pleasant and we parted ways at 10pm, the blonde haired girl already gone. I sigh sadly and take a banana split to go.

Brittany's POV

'YES! Suck on that Q.' I say fist pumping. My last 3 shots have resulted in a landslide, and I watch as Quinn prepares for her next shot.

She sinks the 8 ball.

A smile slowly spreads across my face, her muttering to herself.

'Better luck next time.' I pat her on the back and set the cues away.

'Why do I suck at pool?' She ponders.

'Dunno. Guess I'm just better.'

We grab dinner and head to a back table.

'Is Sam joining us?' I ask curiously.

'Nah, his busy preparing for tomorrow, something you should be doing also missy.'

I laugh. 'It's a walk across the stadium Quinn. Nothing major.'

'Are you nervous? The whole worlds gonna be watching.'

I shake my head. 'Great, thanks for making me more nervous Q.' I slap her on the arm and she doesn't flinch.

Sometimes I forget she's my fitness coach.

We leave 10 minutes later. I go to open the door back to the dorm and I hear it. Laughter. I turn around and zone in on the source.

A table of what looks like a close group of friends. 6 men, 1 woman. The woman had her back turned to me, but her raven hair and laughter was hypnotising.

'Oi come on, no late nights for you Miss Brittany Pierce.'

I sigh as I follow Quinn back into the dorm.

Opening Ceremony, Friday 27th July 2012
8:30pm

Santana's POV

A loud noise signals the start of the ceremony, as the flame is carried from the gates to the centre of the stadium.

The whole reporting team is in full swing. We know we got our work cut out, snapping pictures and filming performances.

The dancers come out next and the crowd is abuzz, watching them go through their routines in reptile and harry potter outfits.

The spotlight is shone on U2 as they belt out their classics, the surrounding makeshift stage donned in British flags.

I switch over to my Pentium 580 camera when the athletes start walking out. We wait in anticipation for USA, clapping the countries that walk through.

After what seems like an eternity, the first glimpse of the USA flag sends my colleagues scrambling, and I start recording their entrance.

They wave at the crowd, dressed in red, white and blue, some holding their own cameras, eager to capture this special moment.

The swim team head the front, each more younger than the next. My eyes set on the blonde haired girl I saw in the cafeteria. She looked really nervous, but with a smile gracing her face.

I knew in that instant that was Brittany Pierce.

Don't ask me how I know, just something about her body language screams 'Rookie Olympian.'

The last country strides through and I place my camera down, flipping through the last pictures I took before switching it off.

The seats start vibrating as everyone cheers for the cauldron being lit.

Let the games begin.

Brittany's POV

The swimming team assemble under the loud noise erupting from outside. The ceremony has begun, and I'm a bundle of nerves.

I wish Sam or Quinn was here to calm me down. I feel like I'm going to faint from the nerves and excitement.

I sit down on one of the chairs lined in the hallway and ring my hands.

Somehow, I get through the next hour, thinking about everything but what's outside.

A voice booms through the hallway, sending waves down my spine. 'USA, get ready.'

Shit, here we go.

The team gets into position, the men's basketball captain our flag bearer. I run my hands through my hair and clutch my pass dangling from my neck.

Next thing I know, I'm standing on the lit path, thousands of people screaming. One foot at a time I say to myself.

I shyly wave to the crowd, trying to calm my nerves. Flashes of camera follow us around the stadium.

I get out my camera my mum gave to me for my 15th birthday, and capture the dancers dancing through the rings in the centre of the stadium.

We stop 5 minutes later. The ground shakes as the cauldron is lit.

Here we go.

Sunday 29th July 2012

Santana's POV

Puck and I line the pool, setting up for the 100m women's butterfly. I get out the camera we're going to use, cleaning the lens.

'Will is impressed of our coverage of the opening ceremony. This head assistant smells a promotion.' He says pointing to him and grinning.

'Cocky much?' I laugh.

He goes to reply but is interrupted by the entrance of the swimmers.

'In lane 1…'

I zone out, not really interested in listening.

'In lane 4, from USA, Brittany Pierce.'

My head snaps up to see Brittany giving a little wave to the crowd.

'She's hot.' I hear Puck say next to me.

'Nice Puck, hit on the swimmer we are most likely interviewing.'

'Even better.' I shake my head.

Beep Beep BEEP. They're off.

Brittany takes an early lead and keeps it as they turn for the last 50m

I find myself internally cheering for her to win, watching every stroke closely.

She touches on the wall first and I give a little fist pump, not unnoticed by Puck, who smirks.

I watch as she surfaces and celebrates at the result.

She promptly gets out, swinging off her cap, and fist pumping the air.

We gesture for her, and she walks over with one huge grin.

'Gold in 100m butterfly. How does it feel Brittany?' I say with a smile.

'It feels awesome. This is a huge win for me, being my first Olympics. Ahh.' She sighs happily and with the biggest dopiest smile.

Her eyes were sparkling with pride and triumph. I found myself mirroring her face.

'You were the fastest to qualify for the games. Did that add extra pressure?'

'Yeah it sure did. I was the favourite to take out gold, so I just blocked out all the talk and focused on my strokes and I couldn't be happier.'

'Well this reporter is proud of you.' Oh crap, think think. 'Uhh I mean it's always good to see an American win.'

Puck shakes his head at my slip up.

Brittany smiles wider.

'Well congratulations, you go enjoy it.'

'Thanks.' She says, then proceeds to hug me. It caught me off guard, but I return it.

She skips off and I'm left with my mouth open in shock.

She stops and walks back to me.

'What's your name?' She asks shyly.

I recompose. 'Santana Lopez.' I say in my best reporter voice.

She giggles. 'Nice name. Are you staying at the athletes village?'

'Uh yeah, but not in the main dorm.'

She looks like she just put two and two together and smiles.

'Maybe I'll see you around.' She says, and walks away.

Up next, Brittany's gold medal ceremony and more brittana friendship.