Last Chance

15 - Work for It

Competition was done, I had defeated the beam, the floor routine, the uneven bars and the vault! I competed and won in the all-around, I DID IT! Not only did I medal gold in the all around, Team USA women's gymnastics also won gold for the team event.

I was standing on the podium for the all-around ceremony while I watch the bronze and silver medalist get their medals. They finally approached me as tears filled my eyes. It was now all real, this was happening.

I swore I heard Scott, Lisa and Ally's parents above everyone else. This was what I had been working for. This is what I knew I had to do, this wasn't just for me, this wasn't just for my country, this was for my parents and everything I lost.

The medal was placed around my neck and I stood up straight again and waved at the crowd going crazy.

As I stood there watching them raise the American flag and play the national anthem the tears flowed freely. This was everything. This was the dream everyone aspired to achieve and I finally did.

Once the national anthem was done I waved again. I found Lisa and Scott and just waved, blowing them kisses. I saw Scott on the phone and I knew who he was talking to or FaceTiming with, it was a big secret.

"Pictures!" The photographer yelled and I posed with the bronze and silver medalist.

Everything after this happened so fast my team was joining me and we were all hugging and celebrating. This was all so much. I was whisked away to the back and all I wanted to do was get to Scott and Lisa, I wanted my family.

Later that night I knew I would have interviews to do the next few days but I wasn't giving up going to see my family that traveled here to be with me. I rushed to Lisa and Scott's hotel room since I knew they would wait for me.

I knocked on the door and screamed with Scott when he opened the door and I jumped in his arms and he held on to me.

"Let me hug her!" Lisa exclaimed with a laugh. I let go of Scott and held on to Lisa as she hugged me tightly.

"You did it sweetie! You did it!" Lisa said as we hugged I pulled away and she just smiled. "I'm so proud of you." Lisa said as tears filled my eyes again.

"There are others who want to say something." Scott said and I looked at his laptop since it was a bigger screen and a video chat was up. Chris, Carly, Shanna and the kids were all there.

"CONGRATULATIONS!" They all yelled and then cheered.

"Ahhhh guys! I love you so much!" I said and they all smiled.

"We love you!" Chris said and I smiled.

"When do you get to come home? We want to see you!" Shanna asked.

"I have to stay until the Olympics are over actually so I'm here another week and a half." I said.

"And I'm staying with her. We are going to catch some other events." Scott said and I nodded.

"Ma, are you staying?" Carly asked. I looked at Lisa and she sighed.

"No, I head out tomorrow afternoon." She said and I pouted but then smiled with a nod.

"I understand." I said and she hugged and then I got to thinking.

"Wait, I left Bruno with you...if you're here...who has Bruno?" I asked with a smiled.

"I'm staying at Ma's so I have him. He is also so happy so you. So happy he got sleepy." Chris said taking the laptop they were using to show me Bruno sleeping soundly on his dog bed.

"Poor guy." I chuckled.

"Do you have any interviews?" Carly asked and I nodded.

"Yeah a few here and then I will be doing some traveling before I come home." I said.

"So not a week and a half?" Chris asked.

"No a little longer. I will have to make the talk show circuits." I explained.

"Well whenever you get home, we can't wait to see you and those gold medals!" Carly laughed causing us all to laughed. I blew them all kisses and the video chat ended.

I sat thinking about Chris for a minute and how upset he seemed to know I wouldn't be right back home.

"I can't believe you leave tomorrow." I said to Lisa and she sighed.

"I know but I leave you in the capable hands of Scott." Lisa said. I looked at Scott and we both laughed. "I didn't think this through did I?" Lisa joked.

**CHRIS POV**

I watched her get gold with the team the day before and I was beyond proud for her but today I'm watching her get her own gold medal for the all-around. She did it, she went to Rio and she accomplished what she wanted. I doubted she would ever make it and she has since proved me wrong ten fold and I would also admit this from now on.

Scott had me on FaceTime on his phone so I could watch the tv and the phone, watching her get her medal. Watching her achieve her goal.

I knew I would get to talk to her later, well the family would but I wish I could have a one of one conversation with her, I really wanted to talk to her. I wasn't sure if I still had to stay away though, she was done competing, she was done. We could talk now right?

The video chat in the hotel room seemed to take forever to happen. Soon I saw her face and she looked so happy and relaxed. I noticed under her tank top she did have k-tap on her shoulder. It was flesh colored but I knew she wore it during the competition too but I wouldn't say anything.

Once the chat ended I winked at Aspen as we hung up and I know she noticed since she seemed slightly stunned.

"So, how soon are you going to start trying to win her back?" Carly teased as we sat around Ma's living room.

"What?" I huffed a laugh.

"You know you are going to have to win her back Chris. She isn't just going to come back to you because you say something like you love her or whatever." Carly said and Shanna nodded in agreement.

"You'll have to work for it." Shanna added.

"I really don't think I will. She isn't stressed anymore, she isn't going to push me away..." I said and the girls laughed.

"Chris you royally fucked up with her. She told you she was on break from you, she told you she can't forgive you for you trying to make her choose! You have to win her back Chris! Show her why she fell in love with your stupid ass in the first place." Carly snapped.

I just sat there, there was no way Carly was right. Did I really have to win her back? I needed to know, time to put this to the test. I pulled out my cellphone.

Chris: Hey, whenever you get back I was thinking if you wanted you could come over to my house to get Bruno back...maybe have some dinner with me...

Three dots appeared and disappeared quite a few times. Then there was finally an answer.

Aspen: We can meet up somewhere and you can give me Bruno back. I'm not coming over Chris, that won't be happening. Listen I don't want to talk about this now. I may have won what I wanted but I still have a lot to deal with. I can't think of my personal life at the moment.

I read her response a few times and my sisters were right. I was going to have to work for this.