The Rose

The beginning to the end

Competitive and beautiful and talented. Its hard to find a girl this anymore. Every other girl is cocky and wants something else from me. I didnt know her yet. Her wet sliced back hair was tightly wrapped into a braid while she dove into the water from amazing heights. I couldn't keep my eyes off her. Each dive she brings something new to the table, something I have never seen before. Well diving is a new sport to me but she makes me sit here and want more from no one else.
Her name is called and I automatically jump out of chair wondering what's to come. The meet ends an d we wait for results. She joins her friends laughing and having fun. Her dryer off thing was always over her shoulder while she spoke and sometimes she played with it when she was nervous. Her brunette hair still shocked me as it was stunning even wet and droopy at the top. She stood in row with the teams, they were all by these tents. I didnt understand why but how could I? The announcer came over the loud crowd and began announcing awards backwards. She stood hand and hand with her teammates waiting anxiously to hear one of their names.
"And in third place Bailey Knott." Her teammates jump up and down as she grew a smile on her face. Her friend jumps up and receives a metal and stands with a huge grin on her face, while she stands hand and hand with another one of her friends. A boy, a handsome boy who seemed to be really close to her, closer than any other friend.
"In second place Alexandria ColeMicheal." I jumped out of my seat cheering as loud as I could. She was so happy. She jumped and hugged her friend so hard I thought he was going to explode. She went up and got her metal. People took pictures and her coach also took pictures.
I knew I would have no chance with her. I was the all famous Dani Lucas, I got every girl to like me but it would be this one that didnt care and didn't want me. In my disguise that I didn't think I needed I walked down the stairs and I pulled my hood down. I was devastated, I wanted to speak to her, but how do I start a conversation with someone I didnt know? I don't know but I knew I would never see her again as long as we come from two different worlds.
Then while walking down the stairs with her bag on her back, we bumped into each other. Her bag opened and dropped her dryer thing and her towel. I helped her pick everything and i got a close look at her. She was beautiful.
"Sorry." I say handing her her stuff.
"Don't worry about it."
"I am Dani." I hold out my hand nervously. I didnt know if she would take it or just walk away.
"I am Munchkin, but my real name is Alex." She takes my hand firmly and shakes it. She was polite and beautiful. She is everything I could ask for.
"Oh congratulations on the victory."
"Thanks are you a diver? I didn't see you around." She stops and turns towards me.
"No I am in the royal industry."
"Aren't you like 15?"
"Yeah."
"Ok well nice to meet you Dani." She walks away from me. She seemed weirded out by me and who I was. I intended to change that.

Dani? I didnt understand why he was keen on knowing who I was. But who cares. I walk past him and to the bleachers where my parents sat cheering me on and screaming when I got the metal. They hugged me and smiled and congratulated me as everyone walking by did. I had another meet in two days and I was staying three days after that , but I had to prepare for my meet. It was my favorite board and I intended not to screw it up.
I go back to the hotel room and laugh all the way from my dad making jokes. This is my nineth year diving and my like fifth year competing USA diving. I loved all the friends I had made and all the more improved everyone is each time I see them.
"Your back one and a half was amazing and then your gainer was iffy n your inward saved you."
"I know dad, I dove those dives. So what is for dinner or I need a snack because I am starving."
"Ok, there is some candy in the fridge."  My mom says laughing and smiling as a knock comes to the door. I open the fridge door and grab a kit Kat when my dad opens the door.
"Can i help you?" My dad begins to sound angry and full of wonder.
"Yes I am looking for Alexandria ColeMicheal."
"How do you know her?" I came to the door and stood on my tip toes and noticed that it was Dani.
"Dad it's ok I know him. Hey Dani what are you doing here?"
"I was looking to speak with you Alexandria." He paused and looked at my dad again. My dad had a terrifying scowl on his face and it frightened Dani.
"How did you find out where I was?"
"I asked your friend Mini."
"Come in wait i will come out there. I say placing a kit kat bar in my mouth and closing the door behind me as I walked out. He looked at me funny, like he knew me. He was another guy to charm his way to my center.
"I am sorry I am being so direct I just want to get to know me."
"I have a meet in three days and I am not looking for some guy who is going to be a pain in my ass or I don't need any distractions." I quickly grabbed the knob and began to turn it when he placed his soft hand on mine.
"I promise I won't be a distraction I just want to get to know you and if anything be your friend."
"You don't know me."
"Thats the point, I want to know more."
"No."
"Please."
"Why do you want to know me anyway? I don't mean anything to you and i am not a prize for you, so what is it?"
"You entice me."
"I have practice in the morning and after that my mom will take my dad to the airport that's our gate way. Don't be late." I open the hotel door and walk back in. I see my dad sitting on the bed and watching tv while my mom looks at me with the tell me later look.
I sit next to my dad and watch cartoons. He doesnt say a word, he doesnt ask, he just keeps his eyes forward and didnt say anything about it. I am kind of glad, because i dont know how i would explain it.
MORNING PRACTICE
"Munchkin! Tighten your legs on the bottom and do the same thing, it was really good." My coach wasnt there in the morning because he had something to do. None of his divers dove for a little while so he went home and worked. So coach Mark coached me from the American fly.
"Ok." He walked in to the bleachers. He sat down with a man next to him in some sweat pants and a strong coat. Dani was trying to know what he was doing and i guess that was attractive but it made for amazing humor.
i got back up to the board and dried the last parts of my legs off and went onto my gainer dive. I dove and it went short but i didnt think it was too bad. Mark told me it was ok but to jump higher and wait a bit longer.
practice ended early because i had done everything i needed to. So i gestured to him to come to the railing. It took a minute but he made it to the railing.
"We ended early so my dad will be here. Wait in the bleachers and i will come text you when they are gone."
"I dont have your number."
"Then i will come and find you. Go before he sees." He walks back into the bleachers and i sit on a bench with my bag and mini.
"Who's that?" He asks placing his elbows on his elbows and leaning into them.
"Some guy who i am getting to know."
"Yeah getting to know him how?"
"Stop it. He is just a potential friend who is here to cheer me on."
"A friend with a body guard?"
"What?" I look up and see him sitting with a strong man next to him. "I think thats just a friend or its a coincidence."
"Ok be careful."
"You be careful." We push each other and laugh, having fun.
i visit my dad before he leaves and my mom leaves me to be taken home by Mini with the team. But instead i decided to grab Dani and his weird friend. I took them to my hotel room and dried off and got into more presentable cloths.
After i was ready he grabbed my arm and ran with me into the car. He tried to sit close to me but I scooted over. He took me to a restaurant and then to a museum. After a short museum trip he took me to his home. We were definitely not in America anymore.
"So this is where you live. It is so big, and it looks almost like a palace."
"Its not, it was given to me by my parents. They thought that i was old enough to have my own place." He sounded excited. He wanted to tell me everything about his life, he wanted me to tell him everything but i dont know him. I didnt know what he was like but for some reason i want to find out, i want to be able to trust him. I just dont know if i can.