Olympic Love (Abby Dahlkemper/You)

Chapter 9: wanting is power

July 26th, 2021

Y/N POV

As usual, once ready, Jamie and I left our room ready to start the usual not too intensive training with the other members of the team, plus Marian.

"So what do we have planned today besides team training? Let's hope we do some shooting with the laser gun... "Jamie asked bringing a hand to his mouth trying to hide his yawn.

"Post training we have Tom and Matty's competition..." I didn't have time to finish my statement that Tom came out of nowhere.

"Couldn't have said it better Y/N! Matty and I need all the support we can get! Take your time anyway ... first we have the qualifications, but I'm sure we'll be able to take a medal home..." he said sincerely and then turned to the other now familiar figure.

"If Tom says so, I believe it...
Anyways, let's go Tom, we can't be late...
See you later guys! We count on your presence" Matty said smiling and then dragged Tom out the door.

Jamie and I looked at each other for a moment til my best friend spoke up.

"I would love to have their confidence..."
"Come on, don't be so melodramatic...wanting is power, but above all, hope ..."
"...is the last to die, yes I know ..."
"Here, come on, let's go and earn our future medal too ..."

(...)

Once we finished our semi-intensive training, focused on precision pistol shooting and some exercises, we approached our coach as the others.

"Great job guys. Of course I would like to see more concentration and less chat sometimes, but I know very well that training can sometimes be cumbersome and boring, but I don't want you to get lost right when almost arrived at the finishing line... you have done a beautiful path and now you are just a few meters from your victory. Regardless of how it goes, you have to be proud of yourself, because I am guys..." she said happily, almost moved, consequently receiving a super hug from all of us.

"Thanks Coach"
"Awww"
"Coach! You can't make us cry right now! I don't imagine post the match knowing the results... " Kate said stealing a general laugh.

"You're right...pretend I didn't say anything...
but anyways please go and take a shower... " she said wrinkling her nose and then parting from all of us.

"At your behest, Big M" Jamie said beckoning me to follow him, but I decided to stay a few more minutes.

"Yes Y/N?"
"Can I steal 5 minutes from you, coach?"
"Sure! Tell me everything"
"I wanted to point out that Jamie, Tom and I, today and in the next few days we will go to see the games of the USWNT and also of the Diving team since they are our roommates... like, not Tom, but mine and ..." I tried to explain myself better, even if I was interrupted again.

"Thanks for letting me know Y/N. I do not deny that I would prefer to see you guys at work, especially Tom and Jamie, but I will not stop you. You are three...two conscientious guys... " she said making me laugh as soon as I realized that she was referring to Tom "... and you know very well what your physical condition is. If you feel ready even without extra afternoon workouts, I am more than happy knowing you guys aren't at the gym... especially you dear. You need it... you're always training... you have the reverse problem of your teammates " she said sincerely.

This statement caught me off guard, so much that my eyes blinked for a few more moments: I mean coach, are you complaining that I have no social life outside of Modern Pentathlon?

"Coach, you know I want to win. I trained hard for this, regardless of the pandemic and every possible commitment, including university. I want to take that medal home. I want to see my efforts pay off, but above all I don't want what happened in Rio to happen again... "
"And trust me Y/N. It won't, ok? You'll do great. If anyone here can win, that is you.
... Now come on, don't waste more time with me and go out with Jamie. That poor guy was pawing... " she said with a hint of a laugh, which, however, was not reciprocated by me since I was still thinking about those words.