“…I think you should just start stalking this girl.”

“I don’t stalk,” Aaron replied, sounding offended.

“You could start,” Michael suggested, leaning down to touch his toes.

“What are you doing?” Aaron questioned, crouching down to his eye-level.

“Toe-touches,” Michael replied in a “duh” kind of voice. “Ian said they help stretch out your torso.”

“Ian lied,” Aaron stated, straightening up and laughing.

Michael scowled and said through gritted teeth, “Do you know her name?”

Aaron nodded. “Yeah.”

“So look her up.”

“Look her up?” Aaron repeated blankly. “I don’t think she lives here.”

Michael shrugged. “Hey, man, I didn’t say it was a good idea. It’s only an idea.”

Aaron rolled his eyes. “You’re so helpful.”

“I know,” Michael stood up again, leaning back slightly. “I’m starved.”

“Surprise.” Aaron cleared his throat. “You know, maybe I should just camp out outside the Aquatic Center holding a sign that says “JULIET!” on it. Maybe that’ll work.”

Michael looked doubtful. “Sure.” He raised an eyebrow. “You don’t know her last name?”

“No….”

“Why didn’t you request it?”

“I don’t go around ‘requesting’ last names, Mike. I’ve only met her twice.”

“Well, wait and see if you meet her again, then.”

“That could take awhile.”

“Yeah,” Michael replied wisely. “But where’ve you got to go?”

Aaron smacked him (not hard) on the back. “Good point, dude. Good point.”

“I’m going to get some food,” Michael announced, grabbing his bag. “You coming?”

“Nah. I’ve gotta swim some laps. I’m all cramped up.”

Michael smirked at him. “Ah. Romeo.”

Aaron rolled his eyes. “Shut up, Phelps.”

“Where did you meet her the first time?” Michael asked, even though he already knew the answer, having heard the story a few minutes before.

“Getting water in the middle of a stampede of tourists.”

“And the second time?”

“In the stands,” Aaron replied, monotone.

“If she was in the stands, chances are she’ll be there again.”

Aaron smiled. “You are wise beyond your years, Mikey.”

Michael shrugged. “If sitting in the stands all day doesn’t work, I suggest you get a bullhorn and just start yelling out her name all over the Village. She’s bound to hear you.”

*

“What are you going on about?” Ella asked, running to keep up with her two friends as they strode along the road into the Olympic village. “I haven’t had any coffee yet, I can’t operate properly under these conditions.”

“Pick up the pace, Thomas!” Ava called over her shoulder, beginning to speed walk.

“AAAAAAVA,” Ella whined, panting. “It’s eight in the morning! This is cruel and unusual punishment!”

Juliet yawned from the middle of their slow progression. “We could stop and get sustenance, Av. Ah, look. A fruit stand.”

Juliet started walking toward it, but Ava steered her around quickly and continued walking at a brisk pace, far too fast for the other two, and for the heat that was already flowing over Athens. “She’s gone into Sergeant mode,” Ella said, sounding worried.

“Everybody look out,” Juliet put in, then glared at the back of Ava’s head. “What IS the rush?”

“We don’t want to be late for the first events!” Ava yelled happily, bouncing along the road while the other two fell further behind.

“What’s gotten into her?” Ella questioned fearfully, starting to run again.

Juliet began jogging. “I don’t know, but I’m scared.”

*

“Ah!” Ava breathed in slowly, and loudly. “Here we are again. At the lovely Aquatic Center.”

Juliet put her palm to Ava’s forehead. “No fever.”

Ella looked concerned. “Maybe dehydration.”

“That’s not the answer to everything.”

“It might be in Greece,” Ella retorted, settling into a hard seat.

“I have to go to the bathroom,” Juliet announced, setting her purse down in an empty seat. “I’ll be back in a half hour…or before Christmas.”

“The line is rather long,” Ella laughed. Once she was gone, Ella turned to Ava, who was peering through her camera’s zoom lens at the pool. “So, why are you so gun-ho about the early events all of a sudden? Yesterday it took us six hours to get you out of bed.”

“I believe it was more like six minutes, but honestly, can’t a girl just want to come to some early events for once?”

Ella considered this briefly. “No.”

Ava stuck her tongue out, and Ella laughed; Ava often did such juvenile things and it made her face look hilarious.

“If you don’t want to tell me the truth, that’s fine,” Ella said after a moment or two, settling back in her seat and looking around the stands.

There was a huge sigh, a little bit of a groan and then Ava was sitting sideways in her chair, peering at Ella intently. “Do not tell Juliet.”

Ella’s eyes widened. She had never been instructed to not tell Juliet anything…except that one time when Ava ate her last apple (Juliet was obsessed with fruit). “Okay.”

“Promise?”

“Yes. Goodness, Ava. You act as if you’re a spy for the CIA.”

Ava raised her eyebrows mischievously. “Perhaps I am.”

“Oh, dear God,” Ella moaned, covering up her face with her hands. “Just tell me, okay?”

“I want to meet a swimmer of my own. Or a celebrity. Either way. You and Jules both met a celebrity of your own…and I think it’s my turn.”

Ella snorted. “Oh, is that all?”

“Yes,” Ava replied angrily, frowning at her friend.

“All right,” Ella said, feeling guilty for not taking her seriously in her…quest, “well, who did you have in mind?”

“I don’t know,” Ava said, settling back in her seat again. “Michael Phelps, maybe.”

“A bit hard to arrange a meeting with him.” She pointed down to the pool, where he was stretching. “He’s almost always surrounded by people.”

“Lenny Krayzelburg?”

“Oooh I love him!” Ella coughed, seeing Ava’s annoyance written clearly on her face. “I mean, yes. He’s attainable?”

Ava nodded. “Yes, I thought so. Maybe Ian Crocker.”

“Probably more attainable.”

“Exactly.” Ava paused momentarily. “I’d really like to meet Pieter van den Hoogenband, though.”

“OOooh me too!” Ella squealed. “If only to call him Hoogie.”

Ava laughed. “You have lost your mind.”

“Greece does that to you,” Ella replied haughtily.

“No, Ian Thorpe does,” Ava teased, poking her friend in the side