November 2024 – Cooper Mountain Big Air Competition Qualifying
"I just need to say it, I need it known here and now that I think this is a terrible, terrible idea." Benny said, holding his mitted hand in the air as he spoke. From the far side of the group, Vlad rolled his eyes as he groaned, the snow crunching under his feat as he shifted his weight.
"Yeah, we heard you the first six times you said it." Katie said letting out a giggle. Seb rolled his eyes from between them. They were all bundled up in their snowboard jackets, even though it was perfect day for a competition, not a good day for standing around and watching. The air was cool, clouds hid the sun making it an overcast afternoon, which meant the sun wasn't going to wreak havoc on the visibility and the snow would stay hard and packed.
"I'm just saying, it's giving me major anxiety." Vlad let out another groan.
"Is that what you're blaming your shitty excuse for a qualifying?" Vlad asked, earning him an elbow from Katie. It didn't hurt considering the layers of jackets and sweaters he was wearing, but he turned her gaze towards her anyways. His eyes narrowed as he spoke. "Ow."
"Oh please," she rolled her eyes, "says the one who blamed his bad scored on his knee." She turned into him, giving him another nudge this time with her fist into his chest. "Then proceeded to complain about it all night." She was giving him a mischievous smile, but it fell into horror as Benny spoke.
"Wait, you're knee is bugging you again?" His tone was concerned, and when Seb glanced at Katie and Vlad he covered his mouth to hide his laugh. Vlad's eyes narrowed further, never leaving Katie's.
"Must be all those extra workouts." Seb said, from behind his hand, biting down on the laughter that was threatening to overtake him.
"What extra workouts?" Benny asked, still confused.
"The horizontal kind." Jesse said from the other side and that was the last straw, Seb exploded into laughter. When Benny looked between the two men confused, Jesse proceeded to use his hands to demonstrate was a horizontal workout looked like. Seb keeled over, slapping his knee.
"Shouldn't you be, I don't know, competing?" Vlad hissed. His words stole the amusement that had been creeping into Katie's eyes, only to be replaced with hurt.
"Low blow dick." She said, her voice low. "I'm going to go grab coffee, anyone want some?" She asked, listening for replies before she turned and left.
Vlad was pretty sure he wasn't getting his.
After the Brazilian Grand Prix
There was a soft groan, petite and innocent, that filled the hotel room as Lando shifted his weight to move the tangle of hair that had somehow found its way into his face while they slept. For a moment, just for a moment, his entire body relaxed into the mattress like a puddle. Every molecule of his being seemed to relax into the memory of waking up with a face full of her hair, the annoyed groans of a stunning creature that had somehow found her way into his bed. The love of his life. A soft and perfectly manicured hand slid over his chest, her body nuzzling closer to him.
Suddenly everything felt wrong. So, so wrong.
"Good morning." Lando's eyes snapped open, and it wasn't dirty blond hair that was in his face, it was brown. A deep chestnut brown. Her voice was annoyed, it was sleepy and sweet. Like she was a cat waking up from a long nap in the sun. He also smelt mint on her breath.
"Morning." Lando responded, trying his best not to sound confused or uncomfortable as reality came crashing back into him.
"What time is it?" She asked, too innocently. Lando turned toward the beside table, catching the time but also his escape route.
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The Teammate
Fanfiction**There will be some edits over the next few months** Arabella Van Dijk is a well-known Dutch snowboarder, especially after taking her place on the podium at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games. As a Red Bull sponsored athlete no less. After her...
