As always thanks to my reviewers. I had a bad week and got a few bad comments on this story and was tempted to drop it, but then I looked at all my amazing reviews from the best readers in the world, and wrote a super long chapter. A SPECIAL THANKS to LiveLaughLoveSwim, who coauthored Edward's race for me. Hugs to her. Anyway aiming for 20 or more reviews. By the way, I am closing the poll tomorrow, and if you still want a say vote.
XOXO,
Meg
Bella Pov:
"Oomph!" I fell again.
"Again, try arching your back more."
I got back to my feet and tried the mount combination again.
"Oomph!" This time I made the mount, before falling off on the combination.
"Oomph!"
"Oomph!"
"Oomph!"
I laid on the mat for a moment before picking myself up for the billionth time. It was about an hour after the long team practice had ended. Bela had thought that I could work on a change in my beam routine to get a higher start value. Now he was having me put it in action after his normal crazy, but effective, conditioning exercises.
"Let's try it again on the floor beam," Bela was persistent, no matter how many times I fell on this combo, he wouldn't let it go. Normally I was the same, but this move was insane! True if I nailed it, I would go down in history and the move would most likely be named after me, but there was a reason these moves weren't done in combination.
Well, I thought as I walked obediently over to the floor beam, at least it's less distance to fall.
An hour and countless falls later, Bela finally let me go.
"You almost have it perfect," he told me, as I attempted to pull my warm-up suit gingerly over my many, already forming, bruises. "All you need is to get it consistent and I think you will be able to use it in the Individuals."
I didn't mention that if I kept attempting this trick, I might not be alive for the Individual All Around. Instead, I nodded, grabbed my stuff and ran out of there before he could call me back to 'try it just one more time.'
I figured I had just enough time for a quick dinner and shower before Edward was back from his meet. Hmm maybe I could even surprise him this time.
I made it to the hotel and was immediately grateful for the security that kept the media and the crowds at bay. There was always a crowd out front, but there seemed to be a lot more today.
I smiled and waved cursorily as I walked quickly to the door.
"Bella Swan!" A little voice shouted out above the sounds of the reporters and the cheering crowd.
I looked around. There, through the crowd was a tiny little girl of maybe six or seven. She was wearing a home made shirt that said:
'Bella Swan: Dreams of Gold.'
On the back, which I saw as she began jumping up and down waving at me, it said:
'Dreams Do Come True!'
I walked over to her.
"Hi," I said, waving the security guards back as they moved in. "What's your name?"
She giggled, bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet. "I'm Bella too, well, Arabella Hunt. I'm your number one fan! I want to be a gymnast just like you when I grow up. Can I have your autograph?! And a picture?!"
I smiled at her enthusiasm, touched. "For my number one fan, sure, anything."
She squealed and her mom pulled out a pen and a camera. We posed and then I pulled out my own camera.
"Do you mind," I asked her mother. She agreed and we took another picture before I signed her shirt.
"That's a really cool shirt," I told her.
"Thanks, my mommy made it," she told me proudly. I leaned down and gave her a hug.
My phone buzzed in the pocket of my warm-up suit, but I ignored it as I signed a few more autographs.
Finally I had to pull away. Smiling I walked into the hotel, thinking that I could still surprise Edward. I got into the room and looked through the menu for room service. Finally I decided on a whole-wheat grilled chicken and ranch wrap with lettuce. Placing the order, I went and got in the shower while I waited for my food.
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Edward Pov:
I was slicing through the water confidently in the warm up pool. I didn't even realize how fast I was going until my coach yelled out to me.
"Edward, what the hell do you think you are doing?! It's just warm ups and you are swimming fast enough to break World Records!"
"Sorry, Lucas, I didn't even realize how fast I was swimming."
"That's ok, just save some energy kid, you still have a ton of races to get through. go get a massage, you have half an hour until your race."
I nodded and pulled myself out of the pool. I put in my I-pod and got a massage, relaxing until the first call for the race rang. I kept my I-pod on as I walked to the starting block.
I felt eyes glaring into my back as I began to stretch. I glanced up. Ah, Jacob Black. One of the only real contenders that I had in this race. The weird thing though is he was standing next to the British swimmer and my only other threat, Mike Newton. The two of them were almost as big of competitors as Jacob and I. Well it seemed that they had found a common enemy to unite against; me.
I looked away and tried to focus on the race again, but out of the corner of my eye, I saw Mike mouth the name Bella. Jacob nodded in agreement to whatever Mike had said. I had a feeling I wouldn't like what they were talking about, so yet again, with an effort, I pulled my concentration back to the race about to begin.
"Swimmers take your mark."
I stepped up onto the starters block.
BEEP!
SPLASH!
We were off!
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Bella Pov:
It took awhile to scrub all the chalk off me, but eventually I was squeaky clean. Drying myself off, I pulled on a pair of Soffe shorts a tank and an oversized hoodie. I finished French braiding my hair just as my food came.
Ravenous from practice, I dug in and practically inhaled the chicken wrap. Glancing at the clock I realized I still had a little time since Edward's race had just ended and it would take him awhile to get through the crowd, so in an uncharacteristic move I added a little bit of makeup. Digging in my bag I found an eyeliner and some mascara.
When I was satisfied with the results, I grabbed my stuff and headed to the elevator. I was so lighthearted as I waited for the elevator to reach the 123 floor. I was like a little kid, giggling and smiling. I loved the change he had on me. I was like a totally different person, but in a good way.
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Edward Pov:
I did dolphin kicks until I started to feel my air supply decreasing. I pulled my arms back and gave a powerful dolphin kick. I shot forward. As soon as my hands were at my hips, I heaved another huge dolphin kick, and shot forward more. Over and over and over again. I was at the wall three meters ahead of anyone else. I turned and went into the part of the race I dreaded. Backstroke. I was on my back, kicking and kicking with all my might. I swung my arms back, pulling myself through the water as hard as I could. I could see some other guy inching towards me and it made me drive harder. My muscles whined in protest, but I couldn't think of the pain. I could only think of Bella's face. The sooner I finish this race, the sooner I can see her. I thought. I kicked even harder. The all came way sooner than it would have if I hadn't been thinking of Bella. I was eager to get into the breaststroke, and I kept my lead. But I could think of the gold. Just Bella.
I kicked harder, forcing my strong muscles past their limits. Setting new limits. For Bella. The wall is coming. Closer, closer... yes! I turned and sprinted toward the other end. With every stroke I chanted 'Bella'. Bella. Bella. I forced myself harder and I hurt so hard but it did not matter. I saw the flags. It was going to be close, both Jacob and Mike were less than a length away. Five meters left. Four. Three. Two. I began to pull slightly ahead. One. Yes, Yes! I stopped and smiled. It was the second best feeling in the world. Being with Bella being the first. The applause was deafening. But yet again, as I went through the medal ceremony, above the proudness and the feeling of knowing that all my hard work had paid off.
As soon it was all over, I changed and showered as quickly as I could and then took a back exit to avoid the crowd and the reporters.
I tapped my foot impatiently as I waited for the elevator to reach my floor. 121, 122, 123, finally!
I opened the door to my room, and smiled. All the lights in the room were off, but there was a glow, as dozens of candles were spread throughout the room. The only other thing I had time to notice was that Clair de Lune was playing in the background, before two small hands covered my eyes and warm lips were on mine.
We were moving towards the bed and something about Bella's kissing was different, but I couldn't place just what it was.
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Bella Pov:
I got to the room and found the door partially open. Awww, how romantic. There were candles placed throughout the room. I pushed the door the rest of the way open and…
"Edward," I gasped in disbelief.
Edward and Lauren were making out on his bed.
"I knew it! I knew I shouldn't have trusted you," I screamed before running out the door.
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Edward Pov:
"Hmm, Edward."
" Lauren!?"
I knew something wasn't right. I tried pushing her away, but she was on top of me and at the moment had the advantage.
"Edward," I heard Bella gasp.
"I knew it! I knew I shouldn't have trusted you," Bella screamed before running out the door.
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Bella Pov:
I bypassed the elevators in favor of the steps. They would get me out faster.
" Bella!" I heard Edward call out to me. I just ran faster. Straight through the front doors of the hotel without thinking.
He caught up to me just as I made it to the sidewalk.
"Bella, stop, it's not what you think."
He grabbed me and kissed me.
FLASH.
The reporters were still there, but at that moment I couldn't care less. I pulled back and slapped him as hard as I could. I turned and tried to keep running, but he still didn't let go of me so I drew back my elbow and jabbed it into his stomach. ( AN: sorry I didn't like hurting Edward, but we had a self-defense assembly today at school and I thought it would be funny.)
"Oomph." This time he let go.
I continued running and made it to the gym in record time.
Pausing only to pull my sweatshirt off and to make sure I was warmed up- I was upset, but not stupid. I walked over to the beam.
I was done with falling.
Wow, just hit word count and without the Ans, I wrote 2000 words in an hour. Yay! R and R.
Meg