Chapter 10
Allie had to admit it, it had been really fun
the night before, just hanging out with Aaron. It had been sort of surreal. She
really had liked that.
She was up early again the next day. She had heard the
swimmers moving around, so she figured they were filling up as much as they
could before they flew out.
But, she was really hungry, so she was willing to brave the
mess of swimmers.
She walked into the cafeteria and quickly grabbed some food,
making her next mission trying to find a place to sit down.
"Allie!" She heard her name being called, and she turned to
where she heard it.
Aaron sat at a table with some of his swimming buddies. He
was motioning for her to come sit with them, so she headed over.
"Allie, this is Brendan Hanson, Ian Crocker, Scott Goldblatt,
Lenny Krayzelburg, and Phelps you already know." Aaron said, as each of the guys
looked up from the food they were eating and waved at her. "Guys, this is Allie
Haywood." Aaron said.
"The gymnast, right?" Ian said.
"Yeah." Allie said, as she took the open seat next to Aaron.
"Everyone's saying you're a good chance for a gold medal."
Brendan said.
"Everyone also says I'm dating people I'm not." Allie
replied.
"But other places than People or Us Weekly have been saying
how good you're doing." Scott said.
"Then I guess it does have a possibility of being true."
Allie said, looking down at her food.
"I watched you practice some yesterday, I'd say there's no
way in hell that you would go home without at least one gold." Aaron said.
"Yeah, but that was when I could stop and start over if need
be. When you mess up in the Olympics, you mess up. There's not starting over."
Allie said.
"But, you're amazing. I saw you at Worlds, and at Trials.
You're amazing. If you don't get gold in all your individual events, I'd lobby a
complaint." Ian said.
"I don't think I'm that good." Allie said.
"Nonsense, you are amazing!" Brendan said.
"Thanks. That really means a lot." Allie said.
"You should come to Spain with us. Take some time from
training." Aaron suggested.
"How many times do I have to say no?" Allie said, laughing.
"Wait, are you two?" Ian started.
"Dude, you wouldn't do that without telling us?" Brendan
said.
"What? Can I not tell a girl I like her without getting your
guy's approval?" Aaron said, laughing.
"You did!" Ian said.
"Apparently not." Allie replied, adding her own laughter into
the mix.
"And I room with you!" Brendan said, as everyone at the table
laughed.
"Okay, can we leave alone the fact that I started dating
someone without telling you guys it?" Aaron said.
"But they're having so much fun!" Lenny said.
"Hey Phelpsy, you're staying silent." Allie said, looking to
the younger man.
Michael looked up from where he was feeding himself to see
what was going on. "Michael's eating. You won't hear much out of him except for
the noise the fork will make or the spoon." Lenny said, as Michael went back to
eating.
Allie smiled, looking over to Aaron. He smiled back at her,
as the guys at the table continued talking. The two just kept smiling at each
other.
Allie had to admit it. She did like hanging out with the
swimmers. And, if every meal ended up like this, she'd want to eat more in the
cafeteria.