DISTRACTION \\ Ashton Irwin [completed]

T E N

Chapter 10 [edited]

February 15th, 2014

“Don’t fuck up like last time, Sophia,” Coach Anthony scolded while making his way to the awaiting skidoo so that he could meet me at the bottom. I nodded my head and flicked the remaining snow off my skis.

Today was my second race here, and I couldn’t be more excited. It was the Super G (Super Giant Slalom for those who don't know) and my favourite race of them all. Of course, the course looked very difficult, but nothing I couldn't manage. 

“Sophia, you’re up,” A person spoke as I shrugged off my jacket and skated up to the starting gate. I sucked in a breath and tightened my boots one last time before leaning back as the countdown started. At the third beep, I took off and skated forward. 

I zoomed around the gates in perfect position and kept my head up, always looking for the next gate while keeping my body low to the ground.

Before I knew it, the race was over. The cheers were deafening as I looked up and noticed that I had just creamed the competition. I got first.

A large smile broke out on my face and I pumped my fists while snapping off my skis and hooking them together before running to my family. The first person I hugged was Kennedy while swinging her around in the air, and then my mom, dad, and finally coach. After handing my stuff to him and receiving my jacket that had been sent down, I went and stood with the other competitors.

“That was AMAZING Sophia!” The girls gushed as I smiled. Then, we all anxiously waited for the other girls to come down. 

There was a close call when a girl almost beat me, but in the end, I beat her by .53 seconds, making me the gold medalist for the Women’s Super G. Bursting with excitement, I hugged the girls on Team Canada and the second and third place girls. We took our places on the podium with me in the middle and received our medals and flowers. Then, we waited patiently as O Canada! played over the loud speaker. 

Tears prickled in the corners of my eyes as I posed with the other girls and fans. Before I knew it, I was whisked off to the change room so that I could get dolled up for multiple interviews set up. 

=+=+=+=

“Because of how proud we are of you and how well your performed, you can have the rest of the day off and have a sleep over or something with any other skiers,” my parents and coach randomly told me as I gaped at them. They were letting me have a sleep over?!

Grinning, I gave them all quick hugs before rushing off to my room to call Ashton. Screw sleeping over with a racer—I'm going to with my friends. 

“Congratulations!” was the first thing I heard as Ashton answered without a hello, might I add.

“Thanks; guess what?!” I smiled while packing my bags.

“What?”

“My parents and coach said I could have a sleep over with a skier because of how proud I am. You guys busy tonight?”

“But I’m not a skier,” he stated in confusion as I giggled at him.

“They don’t have to know that. So can I? I wanna see you guys, it’s been forever,” I groaned while piling my toiletries together. 

“Soph, it’s been four days,” Ashton laughed as I placed my stuff in a bag small enough to take skiing with me. It’s true. As soon as Kennedy and I got back, I had been training all day for four days straight to get me ready for this race so I would get first. I thought the over training was silly, but I guess I was wrong.