When in Sochi

Wake Up Call♡

"Apolo wait!" I yelled as I ran after him. "Please stop! You need to tell me what's going on, please! I... I don't know what's going on!"

I ran to the rink's private loading area to try to catch up with him. I literally had to beg on my knees for him to stop and turn around. He looked at me and smirked; he liked the idea of a girl getting down on their knees for him. That was supposed to be subliminal.

"Tell me," I said breathlessly. "What's going on... between us, the press, JR...? What did you tell them?"

"I told them what they wanted to hear," he said, scratching his head. Then he sadly took off his bandana.

"I'm nothing without the Olympics," he admitted, without looking at me. "I mean, there's my endorsement of Subway, but other than that, nothing. I need something, a catalyst to fame outside speed skating and short track... And nowadays all the public wants to hear is-"

"-useless shit? I get it. We live in a brainwashed generation," I interjected. I didn't realize I was still on my knees. "Apolo, I get it. It was kinda my idea, I used myself as bait for the press, so they wouldn't have to write about JR's loss. I don't want to see him broken."

"He really likes you, you know," Apolo blew out a frustrated stream of air. "He even broke up with his girlfriend yesterday... Right after when you guys... When he told me you had sex."

I gingerly touched my lips and slowly gasped. "Oh my God," I whispered. "Why?"

"I told you... He really really likes you. And I don't think it's fair for me to try ruining anything like that. Yet again, you DID ruin his relationship with his girlfriend back home."

Apolo got up and stretched. "Listen, I gotta go commentate for the upcoming short track race. JR's competing. You should cheer him on."

I nodded. "Ok." Then I got up from my knees and walked over with Apolo to the rink.

The stands were full. It's Saturday, it SHOULD be full. I took a seat near the judges and put my purse down. JR was about to compete.

He did a quick little stretch and lined up on the start. Then he leaned forward and got into position.

"Go Celski!!" I screamed. But when a wave of heads angrily told me to shut up, I turned red and covered my mouth. I was the only one who screamed during that quiet moment throughout the arena. I saw JR give a small smile. My heart skipped a beat.

When the start went off, I saw him dash forward on his skates, breaking into a run and then smoothing out ahead.

Lap after lap, I barely saw him, as the skaters literally just whizzed by at 40-50 to even 60 miles an hour.

Then I realized that's how my life is so far. I was going so fast (good God, I even skipped 10 years!!!) and Gretchen was right: I AM on a crash course. It's only a matter of time before I-

Suddenly I heard the gut-wrenching sound of the blade scraping the ice the wrong way and there was a resounding "Ohhhhh!!!!" that emerged from the crowd. I looked up and immediately covered my mouth in shock.

Two guys were down on the ice. And one of them was-

"-JR!!" I screamed. "Oh my God!!"

I checked to see if there were any blades that cut him like his trials on September 2009 (how do I know that? Gee I don't know, maybe it's because 26 year old Kira is omnipotent?! Whaaaatttt?! JK, it's because I stalked him and searched up everything about him the first time I met him).

JR got up once the other racers crossed the finish line, smiled simply and waved, and walked out to the private loading area at the bottom of the rink. I had to get to him before the press does. They're gonna bitch about it.

As I got up, Apolo held my wrist and looked into my eyes.

"He's humiliated. You'll only make it worse, if you go down there."

"I... I gotta protect him from the press!!"

Apolo shook his head. "That won't do you guys any good. Let him deal with his own problems."

"Let me do my job!" I pleaded desperately. "Come on!"

"Let him be," Apolo said finally.

And so I listened.