It's Complicated

Chapter 1: Earth to Julianna

January 9th is a day I'll never forget. I received my lowest AA (all-around) score I've ever gotten. I couldn't help but run out with tears streaming down my face. Why am I still doing gymnastics if I can't even place? I'm so frustrated & I just want to quit! I let out a loud shriek & a sobbing cry "Why!? I should just give up!" I throw my head down in shame.. I can't deal with this anymore.
"There's no need to quit", I can't make out who it is, I don't recognize the voice. "You did great out there, the judges are blind & are obviously playing favorites. You kicked everyone's ass, you should've won!" I look up & see a guy standing above me with his hand extended out. I shook his hand & realized he had rips & callouses, it was weird holding a hand that was rough like mine.
"Hi, my name is Daniel, but you can call me Danny if you'd like. You're a great gymnast, no matter what the scores say!"
I've never seen a guy so handsome! he's 5'9", with a nice body, dark brown shaggy hair that reminds me of a surfer & blue eyes. He reminded me of one of those boys you see in movies, the ones that end up being jerks, but he seemed different.
"Sorry Daniel, my name is Julianna, but I go by Annie. I'm just frustrated because no matter how hard I work, I can't win."
I don't know why i keep talking, words are spilling out of my mouth like word vomit. I can't stop myself from speaking, it's like I have no control over myself. What the hell is going on!?
"You seem pretty great to me, mind if I sit down right here next to you?"
Why would I care if he sat next to me? It's not like I own the convention center. All I want to do is go home & eat a honey bun, but Liv is my ride home & she made it to event finals.
"Sure, you can sit here. It really hasn't much effect on me."
I rolled my eyes & opened my gym bag looking for my headphones, who is this guy & why won't he leave me alone?
"You're a feisty one. You remind me of someone I know very well. I think you may have competed against her today too!"
Ugh, why do I care? What's he up to? There's like a billion seats in here & of course he wants to sit near me.
"I promise you'll love me once you get to know me, sit with me during event finals & lets get to know each other? What do you say? & if you're not impressed with me by the time they compete beam. I'll leave you alone, promise!"
I nodded my head, hopeful that I wouldn't care enough to pay attention to him, but I did. I felt my heart beating fast & my stomach is full of butterflies, but why? I've never been boy crazy so why now? Besides, I didn't even really care for him. He's too arrogant & reminds me of someone I once knew.
The more we sit there we talk about gymnastics & our personal lives, I found out a lot about him & we actually have a lot in common. Daniel is a high school senior, he lives a couple of hours away. Of course, it's always my luck that the ones I have things in common with, always live so far or aren't looking for relationships.
I catch myself zoning out, staring at him. He's so beautiful, his bone structure is amazing & his body is so defined.
"Earth to Julianna," I zone back into reality & smiled at him, "event finals are over & as much as I'd love to stay here forever & talk with you, I've got to leave. Here's my number, text me soon!"
It didn't even feel like we'd talked that long, time felt like it stood still & we were the only people in the room. I've haven't felt like this in forever, last time I experienced this feeling I had a crush on my brothers friend Austin, but that's another story for a different time. I can't wait to tell Syd, Katie & Liv about Daniel. I know they'd love him if they knew him!