Michael was sitting beside her, leaning against the headboard with his long legs lain out in front of him; a plate of Sydney’s fattening breakfast, plus pancakes, was on his lap, and was quickly disappearing.

The two of them were watching some Gymnastics coverage in companionable silence…that is until Carly Patterson came on.

“You know, Carly Patterson has a huge crush on you. She said so in an interview the other day,” she said as if she were announcing that it was sunny out.

Michael chewed on his pancake contently. “Yes. I heard that.” Sydney raised an eyebrow. “I think Amanda Beard is in love with Ian.”

“No, no. Grant Hackett is. You keep mistaking the two.”

“They are so alike,” Michael remarked wryly, rolling his eyes.

Sydney snorted. “Amanda is hardly bald.”

“Grant had long luxurious hair for a while.”

“I know, but then he shaved his head and it was all down hill from there.”

Michael shrugged. “I wouldn’t know as I’m not attracted to guys.”

“I don’t know why not, since you’re surrounded by fine specimens EVERY single day.”

“I know why,” Michael commented lightly. “It’s because I’m not gay.”

“Oh, is that it?” Sydney, for her troubles, got a pillow in the side of the head. “Hey! I almost lost a piece of sausage on the floor!”

“Don’t waste perfectly good food,” Michael admonished, trying hard to hide a grin.

Sydney stuck her tongue out at him. “Who needs Adelaide when I’ve got you to annoy the crap out of me?”

Michael frowned. “I know you miss her, and you only just saw her. I do know how best friendships work, you know. I have two older sisters.”

Sydney sighed. “I know.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“Not particularly.”

“Okay, but when I’m racing later, you should sit with her.”

“Why? And, also, what makes you think she’ll be there?”

“Because Ian said he’d watch me and cheer me on and I said he’d better…so he’ll be there, and so will she.”

Sydney chewed thoughtfully for a moment. “I’m not sure I want to see her, to tell you the truth.”

“I know, but wouldn’t you rather be friends with her again? I know I would, if it were me and my best friend fighting.”

“You wouldn’t be in the first place, because you’d never make your friend steal Ian Thorpe’s underwear.”

“You’ve got me there,” Michael stated, laughing.

*

Michael left Sydney at the entrance to the changing room several hours later; they’d spend a very leisurely and fun day together in the hotel room, and around the Village, and Sydney was in a much better mood for it. He gave her a kiss on the forehead, and she wished him good luck, and then wandered off to find a seat. Preferably one far away from the Australians.

She was wearing a t-shirt of Michael’s (due to the fact her clothes were in her hotel room) that was given to him in his plethora of Team USA garments…this one was a women’s shirt, luckily, and it had the American flag on it. In addition to that, she’d bought an American flag at a stand outside, and then purchased an Australian. If she couldn’t yell and cheer for the same country at the same time, at least she could cheer for America and wave the Australian flag. And vice versa.

Of course, it might just look like she was cheering for America, but didn’t know what the American flag looked like.

A tall blond man wearing sunglasses appeared beside her. “Nice flag.”

“Flags, plural,” she corrected, looking up at him and shielding the sun from her eyes. She really wished she had her sunglasses, but they were back at the hotel room in her suitcase. “Hello, Ian.”

“Hi. You wanna sit with us? I don’t think you’ll be plummeted if you’ve got our flag.” Ian pointed across the way to a sea of blue. “I’m sure Adelaide would like it if you did.”

“I’m sure she wouldn’t,” Sydney answered in the same voice.

“She’s been a bit of a wreck all day, not that I’m supposed to tell you that.”

“So why are you?”

“As the boyfriend, I feel it’s my duty to stay out of it…but as I’m not likely to do that…” He chuckled, glancing down at her. “What do you say?”

“I didn’t know you called yourself her boyfriend.”

“It’s been discussed today,” Ian answered.

Sydney nodded, feeling happy for them and also sad that she wasn’t there to share in the squealing that Adelaide must have done earlier. “I think I’ll just sit on my own. But thanks, Ian.”

Ian nodded. “Okay. It’s up to you.” He squeezed her shoulder briefly, and then disappeared into the crowd.

*

Sydney was waiting outside the changing rooms after the race, randomly waving her two flags and looking around at the sea of people. She felt a tap on her shoulder just as a pack of Japanese supporters wandered by, grumbling about that damn Michael Phelps. She was laughing when she turned around, but she stopped abruptly when she saw who was behind her.

“Hey,” Adelaide said, smiling softly; Ian was standing behind her, pretending to admire a stand of Great Britain merchandise.

“Your boyfriend is about to purchase a really tragic British hat,” Sydney replied, nodding in the direction of Ian, who was trying on said hat.

Adelaide laughed. “Yeah, he’s pretending to be occupied.”

“Ah,” Sydney replied lightly. “Well, he’s good at it. I think.” She narrowed her eyes as Ian busied himself with a poster of a surly looking swimmer. “Anyway. Hi.”

“I saw you waving both flags,” Adelaide laughed a little. “That was inventive.”

“I do try,” Sydney said, not looking Adelaide in the eye.

“Michael did fantastically. You probably heard Ian cheering for him and then having to cough and start cheering for Australia.”

“Oh, was that what that was?” Sydney laughed. “I did hear that. I wasn’t sure what to make of it.”

“The other Australian supporters were looking at him maliciously. He was quite scared.”

“Shitless,” Ian put in helpfully.

Sydney and Adelaide laughed, and then turned to look at each other. “I’m really sorry, Syd.”

She shrugged in response. “I don’t want to do this anymore. This apologizing and being upset and all that. It’s not fun, and we’re in Athens, for God’s sake. I refuse to be depressed here.”

Adelaide nodding knowingly. “Okay. Well. I should go…” she gestured to Ian, who was looking longingly at a restaurant across the street. “He’s going to eat his shirt, I think.”

“I’m really happy for you, Ad,” Sydney said suddenly, her voice squeaking slightly with emotion.

Adelaide grinned and reached out to hug Sydney very quickly. “Thanks,” she whispered. “I’m happy for you, too.”

Sydney cleared her throat as they pulled away. “Go. Have fun.”

“I will. You too.” She started to walk away, but turned around. “You can sleep in the hotel room tonight, you know. You don’t have to stay away.”

“We’re having a trial separation,” Sydney remarked. “It’s best if I’m not around. And, anyway, I didn’t stay away last night on purpose. I got drunk and slept with Michael.”

Adelaide’s eyes widened and she stepped back closer to Sydney. “You never get drunk.”

“I’m aware of that fact,” Sydney replied, glancing as a group of giggling girls walked past them. “I was a bit upset, if you’ll recall.”

“Yeah, Ian told me.” Adelaide looked like she wanted to say more, but she stopped herself. “I’ll see you later, yeah?”

“I think so, yes.” Sydney offered her a tight smile before Adelaide drifted off towards Ian.