Olympic Love (Abby Dahlkemper/You)

Chapter 4: Meetings

(Info: From this time on I will use " for everybody because is becoming messy. Sorry about that!)

Y/N POV

Following Sam Mewis' directions, we showed our badges to the staff, and once they were sure we were on the list, they let us pass. Going through the same tunnel as the players was truly something unique, almost magical: all pre-game anxieties were discharged there and thoughts of any kind left space for concentration and giving the best.

Crossing the tunnel, I tried to identify with a player and passing by Jamie and Tom, I imagined them as members of the opposing team, ready to make me lose my temper and make me understand that they would not go light on me. It really had to be frustrating ...
Once we arrived at the meeting point, we began to take a look around so that we could temporize while we were waiting for Sam.

"Look! They forgot the ball here... " Tom said, starting to approach it, as if to retrieve it. The action was certainly not stopped by Jamie, who incited his idea until, tempted as I was, I decided to make my opinion heard.
"Guys better not to overdo it ... we are guests ..."

Just then a voice behind us took the floor and answered us.
"Jamie, your friend is not entirely wrong...you are my guests after all"

At that voice, all the three of us turned around and Jamie with a smirk on his lips spoke.
"And just because we are your guests, shouldn't we feel at home? We could test the ball after all... "
Sam, keeping a serious face, observed my best friend and then answered him, giving us a vision of her smile "I see that your sarcasm did not leave you in England ..."
Jamie decided to keep his expression, answering her sassily.
"Never. It's always ready in the suitcase ... "

At that statement Sam laughed, shaking her head, and then approached Jamie hugging him.
"I missed you Weirdo ..."
"Me too Tower of Power..."
"I had no doubts...but now you have to introduce me to your friends!"

In their way of approaching and talking to each other, Tom and I looked at each other pleased, finally able to see that they were really friends, but also they had this strange chemistry...Was there something between them? Or there was?

"Right... this is Tom. He also practices Modern Pentathlon..." Tom meanwhile greeted her, smiling and waving, which Sam returned.
"...while this is Y/N, my best friend, partner in sports and adventures..." at that statement I looked at my friend smiling and then offered my hand to Sam.
"I finally get to know you! Jamie does nothing but speak well of you and how far he thinks you will go in these Olympics! I really wish you that, even though I honestly don't really know anything about Modern Pentathlon..." the Tower of Power spoke, shaking my hand. Her words flattered me, so much so that I smiled in satisfaction and replied.
"You flatter me Sam. Who knows how it will go. It's enough for me to give my best, even if after the misfortune in Rio, I really hope to be able to redeem myself and maybe win some medal..."
"You know, you kind of remind me of Christen...she also has the same goal as you..." Sam said smiling, as she looked around, as if looking for this Christen girl, even if a voice disconcerted her from her goal of finding her with her gaze.

"Sam, here I am, sorry I'm late..."
"It took you some time...come on, I'm kidding...guys this is Abby, my best friend and teammate..."

At their voice, all three of us turned our attention to the two girls.
At that moment, time stopped for me as if to give me time to express my thoughts: observing her from top to bottom I noticed her beauty, but above all I realized that Abby was the number 17, the girl who had engaged during the match but she continued to feel responsible for that goal, that failure. Now I was sure I could talk to her, tell her that she had really given everything and that was not her fault.