Here it is bbs, chapter 5, written by PWTF and betad by me!

PWTF: So...do you think they've abandoned us by now?

LL: Mmmm..no I think they want to hear what Edward says. I know if I was them and didn't already know what was going to happen, I would be on the edge of my seat

PWTF: Heh. I know what's going to happen and I'm STILL on the edge of my seat.

LL: ::Smirks:: Do you know what's going to happen?

PWTF: Oh, crap! You're writing the next chapter. I've now fallen off of my seat!!! But first they've gotta get through this chapter...

Disclaimer: We unfortunately do not own anything in the Twilight universe, that is all Smeyer's doing. We do however own our random chapter titles and love them like our own little babies!

Slowly walking into our hotel I followed behind my friends, who talked animatedly. Jasper had qualified for the next round, although his time had been beaten by Cullen with a new world record.

It didn't particularly matter, though, because there were still two more rounds before the medals were awarded. A win in the preliminaries meant nothing for the finals. Winning then was all that counted.

Rubbing my eyes, I was already exhausted from my nearly sleepless night last night. I was fighting the urge to fall asleep with every blink. Once I made it to my room I knew I would collapse.

This was actually a good thing, because my first race was tomorrow morning. I couldn't afford to be tired tomorrow. While the preliminaries didn't decide anything, I couldn't slack off. I still had to be in the top sixteen.

A lone figure was sitting on one of the bright red couches in the lounge area. Focusing on the figure I realized it was Edward Cullen.

He was sitting there with an upset and seemingly resigned expression on his face. He had just set a new world record, what did he have to be upset about?

He had a newspaper in his hand. It must be the paper I saw this morning. Maybe he was upset about the article, or perhaps about something his coach had said to him.

I noticed him look up and meet my eyes. I gave him a sad smile, letting him know I felt bad for how the article bashed him.

Wait! What? Feel bad? What am I thinking? Sure the article bashed him, but hadn't I decided this morning that I didn't care? He got enough positive attention from the media.

One little article was not going to kill his reputation. How could I feel bad for the media's poster boy? Besides, he had Tanya waiting for him upstairs.

She'd erase any negative thoughts he had running through his mind. I bet he couldn't wait to get upstairs to fuck around with Tanya, celebrating his victory.

My slight smile disappeared as I began to glare at him instead. My mask was set in a face of hatred. I wanted him to know that he could fuck Tanya all he wanted, but messing with me or my friends was against his best interest.

In a few seconds, we were past him and my face relaxed. Why did hating him take so much effort? It should be easy, but somehow it drained me.

Luckily I would be asleep soon and I would be re-energized for tomorrow. We headed up to our rooms and I headed to bed with none of the ritual from last night.

I merely changed into pajamas and collapsed on the bed, falling into a deep dreamless sleep.

The next morning, I woke up feeling refreshed at six-thirty. As I prepared for the day, I knew I had to be at the pool by eight o'clock to prepare for my race at eleven.

I decided to grab some breakfast now so it could wear off before the race. Knowing not to wake my friends, as the other events were also beginning and we were going to be splitting up today.

Pulling on some clothes and brushing my hair, I didn't bother to make myself look perfect since I'd be jumping into a pool in just a couple hours.

Instead of heading out, I decided to stop at the hotel buffet. I walked in by the tables, and it was packed! Granted, there wasn't a huge amount of space, but there hardly appeared to be any open seats.

Hope I can find a place to sit, I thought to myself. Heading over to the buffet I grabbed a plate and loaded on some eggs, sausages and toast.

I wanted enough food to give me energy for the race, but not enough that it would affect my swimming. I'd gotten pretty good at finding a balance.

Once I'd grabbed my food and some orange juice, I began wandering, looking for a seat. I looked and looked until I finally spotted one open seat at a table for two. As I rushed over, I hoped no one was already sitting there.

About ten feet from the table I realized who was sitting at the table. Oh no, I groaned to myself. How could I be so unlucky?

After briefly contemplating eating while standing or waiting for another spot, I despairingly passed on those ideas. I really needed to get eating.

With a sigh, I closed the distance between me and him.

"Is anyone sitting here?" I asked in a perturbed voice.

Cullen looked up at me, a shocked expression on his face. I lost myself in his eyes for a moment before I realized he still hadn't answered.

"Um…are you going to answer?"

"Right," he responded. "I was just surprised you even talked to me. No, the seat isn't taken. Are you sure you wouldn't rather sit someplace else?"

"It's the only open seat," I grumbled.

"Well then, go right ahead."

Surprised at how friendly he actually sounded, I sat down. And how perfectly musical his voice was. No. Don't focus on his physical traits. Even perfection can't excuse a dark interior.

Without looking at him, I began eating. I hoped he would get the hint and not try to talk to me.

Strangely enough, though, it was me that broke the silence.

"So, no Tanya this morning?"

She would be swimming against me in this event and I wanted to know what she was doing right now. I'd even resort to talking to Cullen to discover anything about my opponent.

She was the one that mattered right now. And anyone else I was swimming against. Cullen could wait.

"She's still sleeping, probably. I came down here without her."

He…left her upstairs? Maybe their connection wasn't as deep as I thought. The way he talked about her sure didn't sound like he cared much.

"Oh," I started lamely. "Isn't she swimming today?" That was a stupid question. Of course she's swimming today. I already knew the answer. What was with me?

"Yeah, but I'm not her personal assistant. She can get herself to the pool."

He sounded even more dismissive of her. It seemed almost like he was letting up the façade, just for me.

We lapsed into silence once more as I finished eating my breakfast. It was strangely easy to talk to him this morning, when I wasn't busy trying to hate him.

I'd resigned myself to talking to him peaceably when I sat down at the table. I'd expected some terse conversation, some awkward sentences. Not his easy responses and these seemingly revealing statements.

As I took the last bite, I worked up enough courage to directly ask him about what I was suspecting.

"So how much do you care about Tanya?"

He sighed and looked down, like he was contemplating how to respond. Was he asking himself whether to tell the truth or to lie? I could only guess.

"It's…complicated." Oh, thanks for that. Clarifies so much.

"Care to elaborate?"

"Not right now. You should probably be going soon anyway. But if you'll meet with me tonight, I'll explain everything. For whatever reason, I know you seem to hate me. I don't want that.

If anything I can say will help you understand me a little better, I'll say it. Just not now. Later."

What was he getting at? Why would he care if I hated him? I didn't see how he could change my opinion of him, but I was strangely curious as to what he wanted to say. But I was skeptical about his intentions.

"Like a date?"

"It'd be whatever you want to call it. Gathering between friends? Fellow athletes?"

I could live with that.

"Fine. I'll talk. Not promising anything, though. Where do you want to meet?"

"Meet me in Hyde Park. At the fountain near the main entrance off of Bayswater Road, near Lancaster Gate. This afternoon at say, four o'clock?"

I'd been meaning to explore Hyde Park anyway, so this was a perfect opportunity for me to see part of the park.

"It's a deal."

"Until then," he concluded as he rose from the table and strode gracefully away and out of the buffet.

I let out a breath I hadn't known I'd been holding. This felt strangely significant. Though I hadn't agreed to like Edward or anything, this felt like a turning point.

I hoped he didn't get the wrong message from my agreeing to meet with him. This didn't change anything between us. This was merely a way for me to find out some dirt on my greatest competition for the breaststroke.

As I stood up to leave the table, I sighed. I decided to stop pondering the implications of this agreement for the sake of my race. I needed to focus now. Edward could wait until later.

Heading back up to my room briefly I had to grab my swim bag. I'd had it already packed since before we even arrived in London, so I didn't need to spend time checking to make sure I had everything I needed.

Walking the short distance to the pool, I breathed in the London air. It smelled fresher today and it appeared that the sun might poke through the clouds later. Actual sunshine in London? It must be a sign of something good.

Entering the pool complex, I made my way to the locker rooms. Since I didn't have a need for a locker, I took my bag into one of the changing rooms. I threw on a basic swimsuit for my warm up.

Tossing my bag over my shoulder, I strode out of the locker room and onto the deck of the warm up/cool down pool. It was huge, as was necessary for so many swimmers to all be loosening up at once.

After setting my bag on a chair I swiftly pulled my hair back into a ponytail. I didn't bother putting on a cap; I didn't need it for simply warming up and my hair, while long for most swimmers, wasn't much of a burden to me.

It only reached down to my mid to upper back. I figured, while it slowed me down slightly in warm ups, it was worth it to not have to wear the tight and constricting cap.

Jumping into the pool I tread water for a moment to allow myself to get used to the temperature.

The pool was already crowded, but there was still enough room for me. Luckily I was good at blocking out sound and focusing on what mattered – my swimming.

I alternated between all the strokes before focusing on my breaststroke some. Once I was warmed up, I hopped out of the pool, checking the clock.

It was now about ten o'clock. I noticed my coach, Leslie, standing over by my bag. I went to check in with her.

We talked for a few minutes. It basically consisted of her telling me to remember everything she'd taught me in these years of training. She was a fairly easy coach, letting me know she had faith in my own responsibility.

She helped me in the pool during training, but when it came to the actual races, she didn't put more pressure on me like some coaches would.

I toweled off and headed back into the changing stalls. After a few minutes of struggling, I'd finally managed to get myself into the U.S. swimming bodysuit.

My eyes began to tear up as it suddenly hit me; I was going to be swimming in the Olympics, representing my entire country.

Blinking back my tears rapidly, I smiled brightly; I was ready for this. I'd been ready for four years. I could finally complete my dream of swimming in the Olympics.

With my head held high, I threw on my team warm ups and a pair of flip flops before heading out onto the pool deck.

As I sat on the deck I pulled out my ipod. I wanted to attempt to forget the huge crowd watching.

Before long I had I lost myself in the music and soon they were calling warnings for us to prepare. Having the poor luck of being in the first head, I immediately took out my headphones and stripped down to my suit.

I put my hair up into a bun before putting the cap on over it. After I made sure my goggles were appropriately tight, I stood up, shaking my arms and legs to make sure I was still loose.

Blocking out my surroundings, I didn't think about Tanya or any of the other competition. I merely focused myself on making sure I performed to my best. I knew that if I did my best, everything else would fall into place.

The first heat was called to the blocks and I headed up to my lane. As one of the fastest swimmers at this event, I was in the best lane, number four.

As I stepped up to the block I let myself feel the confidence that came with that positioning. I was here for a reason; I was good. And now I could show the world just how good I was.

I crouched down at the call and then tensed.

I focused intensely on the impending buzzer. It buzzed, and I was off the blocks immediately, diving powerfully into the water.

My strokes cut through the water, gliding long distances with each pull, reveling in the feel of power and strength that I enjoyed every time I swam.

All 200 meters I pushed myself hard, until I touched the wall after the final length.

Lazing around on my bed I thought back to my day. I had won my heat easily. Going into the semifinals I had the third fastest time.

I was fine with this. Being in the first heat was tough. The faster times generally came in the later heats, when the bar had already been set. I was glad to just make it to the next round.

But right now, I had something other than swimming on my mind. It was three-thirty. Only a half an hour before I was met Edward.

I wasn't even dressed yet, I was still wearing the sweats I had thrown on after I had finished cleaning up after the race. Why was I agonizing so much over a simple meeting?

It. Doesn't. Matter. What. He. Thinks.

I was trying to pound that into my head, but it never seemed to sink in. Finally I gave up and just threw on jeans and a v-neck T-shirt. Simple and comfortable, but a little more stylish than just a basic crew neck T-shirt.

Grabbing my discarded jacket off the chair, I slipped it on and threw on my tennis shoes. I took one final glance in the mirror before heading out the door.

This was it. I was off to actually meet with the man I hate, Edward Cullen.

Well? Leave us some love! Up next is the meeting with Edward written by moi!!