Finally the men were up, and as they called out the names of each skater, different sections of the audience cheered. At last they called Apolo Ohno and both Pua and Bobbi stood up and cheered with all their might in hopes that he might look their way. He did, and added a smile to go along with it. Struggling not to scream with delight they sat down and watched the races.
Apolo Ohno was in three out of five races, and won two of them. The 1500 was the most intense out of all. He had gotten smacked in the back of the leg by one of the other skaters as they fell, and almost fell himself but caught his balance just in time.
After the races Bobbi and Pua waited in a line to get autographs. They had almost run to the designated area to get there before the rush. Just as they got there Apolo Ohno walked in and sat down. They got in line and waited in nervous anticipation. To them the line moved slower then a snail in a wheel chair. Every one seemed to go crazy when they got up to the front, trying to touch his hair or asking him for hugs, which, he as a nineteen year-old-male could not refuse. After what seemed like an eternity they were third in line. Suddenly a large man in a security t-shirt tapped Bobbi on the shoulder.
�Could you two please come with me?�
Bobbi looked at the guard in shock �What? Why? What did we do?�
�Just please come with me.�
Obediently they followed the security guard into what looked like a conference room, where he asked them to sit down and wait.
�I can�t believe this! We were right there and then they just pull us out of line! He�ll probably be gone by the time we get out of here!� Bobbi steamed.
After twenty minutes or so it seemed hopeless that they would get to see Apolo Ohno. About ten minutes later the same guard returned and again, asked them to follow him. Sulking, and both with foul dispositions they trudged down the hallway behind the large man. He led them to another room with two sofas, one on either side of the room, a few chairs scattered randomly about, and a lamp in one corner on a small side table. They choose sofa closest to them, and fell into it, full of despair. Less then a minute later Apolo Ohno walked into the room and shut the door behind him.
�I�m really sorry for the wait,� he said �but I had lots of newspaper hounds to feed.� He had expected them to laugh at his otherwise amusing joke but, they were so in awe that they didn�t know what do say, or do for that matter.
Pua was the first to speak. �You were the one on the rink earlier, weren�t you?�
He laughed, �Okay, you caught me�
�Why didn�t you tell us who you were?�
Apolo gave her an cock-eyed look. �What do you think what would have happened on the ice if any of those girls recognized me?
�Oh, yeah, I would have done the same. I mean we did come here to see you.�
He laughed again. �It�s nice to know I�m loved.�
Finally Bobbi spoke up. �Did you ask that security guard to bring us back here?�
�Yeah�
�Why?�
�Well because, I thought I would be easier to talk in here then in a mob with about a hundred screaming girls trying to rip your throat out cause I�m actually talking to you.�
�Oh,� she laughed nervously �Thank you.�
�You both are very welcome.� They talked for a few more minutes when the same middle-aged Japanese man they had seen Apolo with earlier walked in.
�Hey Dad, I like you to meet�. uh I don�t think I caught your names.�
�I�m Pua�
�And I�m Bobbi�
�It�s an pleasure to me you sir.� Bobbi held out her hand.
�Yuki, the pleasure�s mine.� Yuki turned to Apolo. �Can I talk to you for a second?�
�Sure thing, Dad.� He turned and looked at them �I�ll be right back ladies,� he said cracking a smile.
They walked out of the room, and Pua and Bobbi just stared at each other.
�What just happened?� Bobbi said
� I think�� Pua paused, �I think we just walked into a dream.�
Bobbi squealed �Oh my God.�