Chapter 3
Allie dropped her bag onto one of the beds in
her Olympic Village room. Her roommate wasn't due in until next Tuesday, so she
had little over a week to herself. And, she planned to enjoy it.
She quickly decided to unpack later, moving her suitcase to
over by her closet. Then, she started wandering around.
The beautification of the Village wasn't fully finished, so
workers filled the walkways. There were also plenty of people there saying
welcome to her and wishing her luck.
She somehow ended up at the Olympic pool. She fondly
remembered sitting poolside at Sydney, being only 16. She remembered cheering
people on, sitting with the other members of the gymnastics team. They had been
the ones who talked her into going and watching.
That had been when she had first seen Aaron. And, as much as
Jules loved to rib her about it, Allie had admitted even then Aaron was cute.
But, she quickly decided her was just too cocky. He even walked like someone who
was cocky.
She also had seen him at things over time. The University of
Texas and Boston University would often play each other, and whenever Allie was
allowed to tear herself away from training, she went. The few times she and
Jules went to visit Jules' fiancé, Nate Miller in Minnesota, Allie always
checked to see if the swimming team from the University of Texas was going to be
there.
But, she still swore Aaron Peirsol was cocky. No matter what
anyone said, how nice they swore he was, Allie just wouldn't believe it.
Allie sat down on one of the very first rows of seats. In her
hands were her pass and badge, and she was fiddling with both of them. Her mind
was just picturing the cheers and yells. She was picturing all the swimmers,
lined up on their starting blocks.
She smiled to herself, excitement starting to flow. She was
ready to feel the mat or beam beneath her feet. She was ready to stare down
Svetlana Khorkina again. She was ready for the Olympics to begin.
She sat on the bench, just daydreaming. She didn't have and
events until the 15th, so she was thinking of what she could do for training.
Things like push-ups to work her upper body strength; walking out her floor
routine to make sure every flaw could and would be fixed. There was no room for
error. She would not accept failure, not this time.
She noticed some of the swimmers come, taking in the sight.
For ones like Michael, this was one of their first major
roles in the Olympics. They may have gone to Sydney, but either didn't place, or
qualify or spent all their time warming the bench. For some like Gary Hall Jr.
and Aaron, this was old, sort of routine. Many had done this before, been in
front of the crowds. For others, this was new. They had never been in this sort
of a place before. Nothing could beat being able to say that they had been to
the Olympics, at least in their mind. Not one thing could compare to competing
in the Olympics, in anyone's mind, whether it was their first trip or tenth.
Allie got up, taking in the pool and the arena one last time.
And then, she headed back to the Village.