A/N: Here's the next chapter! It got away from me a bit, but exciting things to come!
Nothing about the day had seemed different. She had gotten up when Aly did and gone down to breakfast with her. They had been planning on attending some of the finals if they could get tickets, and JJ was looking forward to enjoying some other sports for a change.
Until she and Nick had been called to Team USA House for reasons unknown.
About an hour after getting the summons, JJ, Nick, and Steve Penny were walking into a conference room within Team USA House. A number of USOC members were seated within, and JJ suddenly felt very intimidated by the whole thing. Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to radiate the confidence that she knew had blossomed throughout the Olympics.
"Hi JJ, how are you?" asked an older looking man who was dressed more casually than some of the others, in a simple button up shirt and a pair of slacks.
"I'm ok. How are you?" she replied, her voice sounding stronger than she had anticipated.
The man smiled. "Oh, I can't complain. My name is Edward Redgrave, I'm one of Committee members for the USOC. I'm assuming no-one told you why we have you here?"
JJ shook her head.
"Well, JJ, I'm sure you know we've been sending around nomination slips and asking all athletes to nominate someone they think should be flag bearer for the Closing Ceremony"
JJ nodded – she remembered filling out that slip the previous day.
"We have almost all of the slips back, and… even if the remaining slips came back with just one athlete's name on all of them… you have been voted as everyone's favourite choice to carry the flag for the United States on Sunday evening"
JJ's jaw practically dropped as Nick's face lit up in amazement.
"Me?" she asked in disbelief, getting a chuckle from the room.
"You've demonstrated a wonderful level of success here in London, and not only that, you've embodied everything about the Olympic spirit that the USOC strives to achieve in all the athletes. Counting out the swimmers, or counting out Michael Phelps-"
Nick laughed, as did some of the other Committee members.
"-you are the most decorated member of the United States Olympic Team this year, and that is no small achievement. So what do you say?"
JJ exhaled slightly, smiling. She'd always been so proud to wear the USA symbol on her sleeve in international competition… to carry her country's flag would be an even greater honour.
"I'd be honoured," she replied happily, accepting Edward's extended hand in a warm handshake.
"Wonderful," Edward said warmly. "We'll get a few photos with you for our official announcement, and we'll be in touch about what will happen on Sunday. Congratulations, and well done"
"Mom?"
"Hey sweetie, what's up?"
JJ smiled, dropping into a beanbag in the main living area. "I have some news… I wanted you to be the first one to know"
"Yeah? What's the news?"
JJ bit her lip, taking a deep breath as her smile grew wider. "I've been chosen to be the flag bearer in the Closing Ceremony"
Her mother let out a shriek. "What?! JJ, are you serious?"
JJ laughed. "Yeah, I am. I was voted in by the rest of the US Olympic team"
"Oh my god, your dad is going to lose his shit!"
At that, JJ had to laugh again. It wasn't often that her mother used curse words in casual conversation.
"He's going to be so mad that he's already left"
"He can watch it at home," JJ chuckled as Aly and McKayla came parading loudly into the room, waving US flags and singing some pop song at the top of their lungs.
"Oh, I know, but still! JJ, this is amazing!"
"Thanks Mom. I'm pretty excited"
"That flag is going to be twice as heavy as you, you realise?" Sandy teased. JJ laughed, shaking her head as she wriggled around in the beanbag to get comfortable. The singing continued to float out behind the girls as they disappeared into JJ and Aly's room, making JJ grin as she spoke to her mom.
"Yeah, I'm a little nervous about whether I'm going to be able to carry it. It's like three times my height as well"
"Ah well, you've got the muscles from all those years of getting here in the first place," Sandy chuckled. "That's seriously amazing Jayje. I'll be watching closely for you on Sunday"
JJ beamed. "I don't think you'll miss me, I'll be the shortest one in the procession"
Sandy laughed. "What have you girls been up to otherwise?"
"Mac and Aly went to the basketball finals today. Kyla is off doing a workout, and Gabby's being pulled in five different directions for photoshoots"
"No photoshoots for the five time medallist?" Sandy teased.
"I had one this morning for the flag announcement. I'm sure there'll be more to come"
A short silence fell between them, during which JJ could hear Aly and McKayla laughing in the room behind her. She shuffled in the beanbag, getting comfortable again as her mom started to speak.
"So what happens now my girl?" Sandy asked gently. "What's the plan from here?"
JJ hesitated for a moment. It was a question that she hadn't really given much thought. But it was definitely one she needed to consider.
"I… I really don't know," she said softly. "I've… never considered life after the Olympics"
"You're still young. You could have a few more years in gymnastics and figure it out later," Sandy said, and JJ could hear the smile in her voice. "You don't have to have it figured out now. I only asked because I wondered if you had already given it some thought"
"Well, whatever comes next is going to be amazing, right?"
Sandy chuckled. "Where you're concerned? Without a doubt"
JJ's phone buzzed against her ear, making her pull it away. On the screen was a text from Will.
Can I call you?
She put the phone back to her ear. "Hey Mom, Will wants to talk to me. Can I call you back later?"
"Sure honey. Tell your boyfriend I said hi"
JJ's face flushed pink, her cheeks growing warm. "Mom, he's not my boyfriend"
Sandy laughed. "I know, I'm just teasing you because you make it so easy"
"You're mean," JJ said, even as a smile crept onto her face. Her mom laughed again.
"Alright, I'll let you go. I love you!"
"I love you too Mom"
Bidding goodbyes, JJ hung up the call with her mom. As she was typing out a response to Will to say he could call her, Aly and McKayla burst back into the room, both laughing hysterically.
"What are you doing?" JJ asked through laughter as she watched her two friends falling about with the giggles.
"McKayla's being inappropriate again," Aly choked out, her face red as she tried to stop laughing.
"Why does that not surprise me?" JJ giggled. Her phone rang, Will's name lighting up her screen. As the girls continued to carry on in front of her, she answered the call, bringing the phone to her ear.
"Hey. What's up?"
"Hey beam queen," Will replied, making her grin. "Not a whole lot, I'm just bored, thought we could chat if you were free"
"You're getting very needy, you know?" JJ teased.
"I'm always needy. It's my best quality. Actually no, my best quality is that I'm really funny"
JJ snorted. "Sure you are buddy"
"I always make you laugh"
"Am I laughing with you or at you though?"
"Will, JJ thinks you have a cute butt!" McKayla suddenly shrieked from across the room. Aly burst out laughing as JJ lifted her hand and flipped McKayla off while staring daggers.
"Don't listen to her," she said hastily, her cheeks growing warm. Will was laughing on the other end, but JJ wasn't sure if it was a good or a bad thing.
"I'll take it as a compliment. I do think I have a pretty nice butt"
JJ laughed. "You're so full of yourself"
Will sighed dramatically. "Well, when you work out all the time…"
"I would still beat you in a physical abilities test"
Will laughed, shuffling around and making something rustle. "I don't doubt that for a minute JJ. But anyway, enough sledging… how has it been since you finished competing? Done anything exciting?"
"We went and watched one of the water polo finals yesterday, so that was interesting. I'll be honest, it never even occurred to me that water polo was a real sport"
Will laughed. "Here we go again, you gymnasts thinking your sport is above all others"
"I did something exciting this morning though"
"Yeah, what's that?"
JJ took a deep breath, smiling as she played with the tag hanging off the side of the beanbag. "I went to Team USA house for a meeting, and… I've been chosen to carry the flag in the closing ceremony"
There was a short silence, before Will spoke, his voice filled with surprise. "Seriously?"
"Yeah"
"Jayje, that's awesome!"
JJ grinned. "Not if I drop it because it's twice my height and three times my weight"
"Hey, you'll be fine! This is an awesome opportunity, and you're going to kill it"
She bit back a smile. "Thanks Will"
"Hey Jayje, we're gonna go down for some food, do you wanna come?" Aly called from the other side of the room. McKayla was still pulling faces, making JJ giggle as she nodded to her friend.
"Hey Will, I'm gonna go, the girls are going for some food and I'm kinda hungry… but I'll see you when I get home"
"Ok. Not long now until you get home. I've missed having you around, it feels like you've been gone for ages"
"Yeah, I'm missing everyone back home too," JJ said softly. "Only another two weeks or so, and I'll be back"
"Alright. Go have fun! I'll be watching for you in the ceremony!"
Unable to fight off her smile, JJ said goodbye and ended the call. She sat for a moment, looking at the phone as Aly and McKayla walked up to her.
"You have it so bad," Aly teased lightly. "There was so much flirting in that call"
JJ let out a deep breath. "I'm going to tell him. When I get home. I'm going to explode if I sit on this any longer"
Aly beamed, giving JJ a quick squeeze, before pulling her to her feet.
As nervous as the thought of telling Will how she felt made her, JJ couldn't help but feel a little invincible as she followed her rambunctious friends down to the dining room. She could do this, she knew that. Besides, she had already tackled the Olympics… how hard could it be to tell her best friend that she liked him as more than a friend?