A/N: Again, I'm so sorry for taking so long. I don't have a good excuse.

Chapter Four

Small Talk

"Ugh," Kelly was saying in the dressing room right before the heats were going to begin, "is it a bad sign if I think I'm about to start my period?"

"Wow," their Canadian guy friend said from behind them, "I so did not need to hear that."

Without blushing, Kelly said, "Yeah, well I didn't ask you to eavesdrop."

Brian shrugged, "I was looking for a song on my I Pod." He sat down next to Kelly, "how many times are you swimming today?"

"I have two heats. Why?"

Brian shrugged again, "I don't know. I only swim once and I was just wondering if I was going to have someone to talk to later."

Ashley, who was watching this, secretly grinned. She knew that Brian and Kelly had known each other for years and swam together as kids. She was never going to say anything, but she hoped that they would start going out. Brian was seventeen, had dark, shaved hair and blue eyes that always flirted with Kelly's soft gray eyes. Kelly and Brian were also two of the youngest members of the Canadian team. Kelly had just turned sixteen the month before. Ashley had known Kelly for seven or eight years, when they started competing against each other. Three years before, they started training at the same facility and became really good friends.

"Well, I really want to watch some of the others swim," Kelly said and she smiled at Ashley, "You're going against Matt McGuire, right?"

Brian tried hard to hide his disappointment, "Yeah, why?"

Kelly shrugged and then smiled again at Ashley, "I don't know. I just think that's fascinating. I've heard some interesting things about that American swimmer."

"Yeah, well I met him the other day and he's okay. Do you like him or something?" He tried to ask casually, but Ashley could hear the hint of curiosity in his voice.

Kelly smiled, "No, I personally haven't met him, but he doesn't look like he'd be my type. Besides, even if I was interested, there's a small chance he might already be taken," she said and she winked at Ashley and smiled.

Brian turned to Ashley and then back to Kelly and then back to Ashley, "McGuire asked you out?"

"No!" Ashley said, "Kelly doesn't know what she is talking about. Somehow, Kelly has decided that Matt and I would be perfect for each other even though I've only said, like, three words to him so far."

"Whoa," Brian said, "three words and you already refer to him by only his first name. That's impressive."

Ashley rolled her eyes, "Not you, too!"

Brian smiled, "Nah, I'm just giving you a hard time. You are both too focused to get interested in anyone, anyway."

Just then, a guy entered and announced that the heats were beginning. Kelly had to go and Brian and Ashley went with her to watch her.

?Media table?

Gordo was writing up a story about the women's freestyle heats and when he looked up, he saw her. The night before, he was fairly sure he had imagined, but then he saw her with her parents. She looked different. She looked like she'd just gotten out of the shower. Lizzie glanced in his direction as she talked to her parents so he quickly turned his attention back to the computer screen and pretended to be distracted by that…when she was the distraction.

After watching several heats, Gordo was really seeing the advantage of doing some of the research he never really got into. He was so distracted by last minute research that he almost missed Matt's heat. He'd sent his second story to his editor when they called his name. "Great," he thought, "Another story." He opened up a new document and typed, "Matt McGuire" as the title. That was the one swimmer Gordo did do a little research on the night before. He'd basically discovered that Matt was one of the most popular swimmers in the world and he really should have been ashamed of himself for not knowing this. How could he not know this about someone he grew up with? He watched the heat and Matt won. He watched Matt get out of the pool and he watched as reporters scrambled over in hopes to get an interview with the guy he grew up with.

"I could probably get you an interview with him, you know," he heard a voice from behind him say. He froze, recognizing the voice immediately. He slowly turned to see the girl who belonged to the voice. She smiled and said, "hi."

"Hi," Gordo said, taking off his headset that gave him feedback.

"I'm not interrupting anything, am I?" Lizzie asked. A fence that kept the viewing audience away from the media area separated them, "I mean, you seemed distracted by my brother, but then again, maybe you were just doing your job."

"I'm doing my job," Gordo said, "I'm actually writing a story about your brother."

"Oh yeah?" Lizzie asked, "What are you saying about him?"

Gordo shrugged, "Not much. Only that he won his first heat. There's not much else to say this early in the race."

Lizzie laughed, "Well, as his sister, I might argue that there is a lot more to say about him, but since you are the media, I'll let you get away with whatever you say."

Gordo turned to look at the pool. He honestly didn't know why Lizzie had chosen to talk to him. He definitely intended on avoiding her if they saw each other again. He wasn't one for awkward reunions and knew that this had potential to be the most awkward yet. He sighed, "Well, unless you know something the stats and books don't cover, I'm not sure how much you can help me. I'm reporting online specifically from the sporting aspect. I don't need to know anything else."

Lizzie shrugged. Obviously, she wasn't going anywhere, "Who said I was going to offer you personal information. I just thought it might help you a little bit and see if you wanted an interview."

Gordo looked over at Lizzie with an annoyed expression, "Why are you over here, anyway?"

Lizzie looked surprised at his question, "what do you mean?"

Gordo's eyes widened, "I find it hard to believe that you don't know exactly what I am talking about."

Lizzie shook her head, "I knew that I would regret coming over here, but after I saw you last night, I couldn't stop thinking about you."

Gordo paused, trying to make sure he heard her correctly, "What?"

"I said I couldn't help but think about you."

Gordo sighed. It was the same idea, but it didn't mean the same thing, "What's there to think about?"

"Gordo," Lizzie said defensively, "When I saw you last night, I thought I wanted to avoid you, but when I thought about it, it didn't make sense. It's not like the last time we saw each other we hated each other. We used to be the best of friends growing up and there is no reason for this to be awkward."

While she was talking, Lizzie had no idea what she was saying. When she had thought about their meeting the night before, Lizzie concluded that she didn't really care to run into him again. When she saw him this morning, though, and swore she felt his gaze in her direction, something changed in her. Maybe things between them didn't have to be awkward. Maybe if they talked, they would become friends again. When she looked over at the media table and saw him typing away, she could tell he was lonely. Well, maybe she couldn't tell that specifically, but she could see certain sadness in his eyes and she hated it. He didn't deserve to be avoided. He was only trying to do his job. Maybe this would be a chance to preserve their friendship.

Gordo wasn't responding, and Lizzie wondered if it was because he was trying to work or if it was because he had no idea what to say. Finally, he sighed and then turned his attention back to her, "How soon could I get that interview with Matt?"

Lizzie looked surprised by his words, "Um, whenever is convenient with you. I'll talk to him this afternoon about it."

Gordo nodded, "Okay, well you do that and I'll catch up with you at some point later in the day."

"Okay," Lizzie said, not sure what this meant. Here, she was trying to say something meaningful, and he wasn't responding to what she really was asking. Could their friendship be salvaged?

Lizzie turned and left to sit with her family again. When her parents asked what took her so long, she said, "I was distracted by the media."

"Oh, honey!" Jo said, urging Lizzie to sit down, "What did they say?"

Lizzie shrugged, "Nothing of substance."

Lizzie sighed and turned her attention back to the pool, where women were racing.

"Did you see where Matt's time was first out of all ten heats? It looks like we're off to a good start, so far," Sam said, smiling and putting an arm around his daughter.

"Yeah," she said, "great start."

?Outside the Pool Arena?

After watching all the heats Matt cared to watch, Matt decided to head back to his room. He wanted to rest up later for his warm ups in the afternoon and needed to get away from all the activities. While he was being dropped off at the village, two people he didn't recognize ran up to him. "Hey. Matt!" one of them said. Oh, great, Matt thought, more reporters. He knew he should have taken his parents up on their offer to use one of their rooms.

Matt stopped, "Yes? Can I help you?"

They didn't have cameras, though and they looked too nervous and excited to be actual reporters. It turned out they weren't reporters, though, and they were just two people who wanted his autograph. He signed some program for them and they disappeared. He was about to open the door to the village, when he overheard some voices from behind him.

"I guess it says something when your own family favors its neighbor."

Matt turned to see who was speaking, "Brian Peters, right?" he said, waiting to hold the door for him.

Brian smiled and walked in, "Well, at least its good to know that while the little people walk right past me, you will always remember me."

Matt shrugged, not knowing what to say, "Yeah, well, those guys back there probably had no idea that their countryman, or what was you it you called them, "family," was behind me," he shrugged, "half of whatever I sign ends up on E-bay, anyway."

"Yeah, well, the thing is, those guys back there were my brothers. I highly doubt they would want my autograph unless they did intend on selling it on E-bay."

"Those guys were your brothers? Wow," Matt said, reaching for his wallet to get bottled water from the machine.

Brian shrugged, "Eh, don't feel too bad. Nice swim today, by the way."

"Yeah, you, too."

Brian shrugged, "I suppose seventh overall isn't that bad."

"Are you kidding me?" Matt asked, taking a large sip of the water, "seventh is awesome! Especially considering they have eighty of the best swimmers of the world, and you are, what? Eighteen?"

"Seventeen."

"See? I'd settle for seventh."

"You would?" the girl, who was with Brian, asked.

Matt nodded, "Seventh for the preliminary heats is bad ass. For the other heats, I would be a little more careful, but finishing is what is important to me."

"Dude," Brian said, shaking his head, "You are such a commercial."

Matt laughed and then shrugged, "Yeah, well I guess the air is getting to me a little too much. What I really need is sleep."

"Yeah, this whole thing is kind of tiring," the girl said, and then she stuck out her hand, "I'm Kelly, by the way. I swim with Canada."

Matt smiled and shook her hand, "Nice to meet you, Kelly. I'm Matt. I'm also really hungry and tired, so excuse me while I go to my room and rest for a while."

"No problem," Kelly said and then she waved, "I'll see you around."

"See you," Matt said and then he walked off to his room.