Chapter 7

Our Time Apart

The Next Day…

Nadia awoke thinking that it had all been a dream and that she would wake up in her hotel room in Russia. She was sad to find that she was in her dorm room, with everything back to normal. Sally was in the bed next to hers, sleeping still. She woke her up and Sally looked surprised to see her.

"Nadia?" she asked, sleepily.

"Hey Sally." Said Nadia, "How's everything been?"

"Oh, good, good. Everything's been good." She said, "How was Russia?"

"When you wake up I'll tell you everything. About the trips, about the hockey, about Vlad, about—."

"What!" asked Sally, shocked.

"I knew that would get your attention." Said Nadia, "I met a boy in Russia."

"Tell me all about him."

"Okay. His name is Vladislav Tretiak and he is the goalie for the Red Army hockey team."

"I've heard of him!"

"Yeah, well, he's 6-foot-1, he has dark brown eyes and wavy, brown, soft hair, the sweetest kiss and the nicest—."

"Okay! I get it!" said Sally, "So, Where'd you meet him?"

"Well, I bumped into him in a restaurant and he spilled soda on me, then he let me borrow a shirt and I returned it the next day and we went to the park and…"

"Slow down Nadia!" said Sally, "So, do you have a crush on him or something?"

"We love each other." Said Nadia, dreamily, "We had some pretty fun times… at the park, the hockey rink, his room…"

"Ooh, his room?"

"Yeah… that was great," said Nadia, dazed. Nadia was missing him already and couldn't find anything to say to make herself feel better.

Throughout the year, Nadia got a little better. At first, she couldn't go to any of the Russian language group meetings because of her sadness. Mr. Ryan convinced her to come back, though. Nadia often cried during the week, thinking of her long lost love, Vladislav Tretiak. She wondered if he remembered her, or even wanted to see her again. Meanwhile, Vlad was dealing with this his own way.

Vladislav kept going to practice everyday and tried not to think of everything that he and Nadia did together. When he did, though, he became happy and sad at the same time. Happy for the memories and sad for the longing of Nadia. He kept the bear that she gave him in his hockey bag and looked at it every time he opened it. Vlad often thought of going to see Nadia, but was reminded that he had to stay to practice for the Olympics. That's when it hit him like a bullet.

'Nadia and I can reunite at the 1980 Winter Olympics!' he thought, 'But, I don't know how to get in touch with her. I hope she realizes that I'm going to be there!'

November 12th…

"Okay kids." Said Mrs. Hiller, "I have some extra credit assignments that you can volunteer for!"

Everyone sighed.

"Now, now," she said, "These will be fun."

Everyone rolled their eyes. How could extra-credit possibly be fun?

"Okay, I've written them on the board. Please tell me what project, if any, you want to do."

All of the people in the class looked at the board and read the projects. Many of the people wanted to do the "Save the Animal Shelter" project.

Tina and Chelsea, along with their friend Halley, asked Mr. Hiller if they could do the project on the 1980 Winter Olympics, where they would interview some players, watch their strategy, and write a report on the importance of teamwork. No one else wanted to do this because they thought it would be too much work. The three of them wanted this project because they liked the hockey players. Ever since Tina and Chelsea had broken up with their boyfriends, they had been trying to find hot guys to date. Nadia didn't want to do any of them and was too tired to explain why. She and Sally sat in the back of the class, talking, while everyone else got a project.

A Week Before the Opening Ceremony…

Nadia was flipping through TV channels in her room with Sally. They had just come back from walking outside and wanted to rest a little. Nadia had the remote and was quickly flipping through the channels.

"Just pick something." Said Sally.

"Fine." Said Nadia angrily and turned the channel once more.

It was the news and the reporter was giving details on a hockey game that had recently taken place.

"Okay, let's watch something else." Said Nadia, sadly.

"Wait! Lets watch this." said Sally.

"Fine." Said Nadia glumly.

The reporter was talking about the challenge cup game with the NHL All Stars and the USSR team.

"Oh my gosh…" said Nadia.

The TV showed a team of big men in red uniforms winning the game 6 to 0. These men were, of course, the Red Army team that Nadia had spent so much time with.

"Good job Vladislav!" Nadia screamed, "Oh, I love you!"

Nadia suddenly got a thought.

"What if we go to the Olympics?" she said.

"How can we? The Olympics are during the time we have classes and how are we supposed to get tickets?"

"Okay, let me call Mrs. Hiller!" she said excitedly.

Nadia dialed Mrs. Hiller's number and talked to her about the Olympic project. Mrs. Hiller had said there was one opening left for the project.

"Please! Let Sally come too!" she begged, "She and I are best friends and I don't want to be alone with the Terrible Three!"

"Nadia! That's so wrong!" said Mrs. Hiller, "I'll only let her come if you two promise not to get into trouble with guys!"

Nadia laughed and said, "I promise."

"I did have one other ticket, but it was for me," She said, "But, if Sally wants extra credit… she can gladly have my ticket."

"Thank you so much, Mrs. Hiller!" said Nadia and hung up.

Nadia smiled big at Sally and said, "Pack your bags, we're going to Lake Placid!"