The Only Constant Is Change

Messy Hurr, Don't Curr

Black hair thrown up into a messy-hurr-don't-curr updo, face still flushed and sweaty from your work-out, you emerge from the gym and into the central area of the athletics facility. Post-workout and starving, you power walk your way to the entrance, head down and concentrating on the baked salmon salad waiting for you in your fridge. Tasty, delicious, and healthy enough to keep your small frame looking amazing in a little black dress.

Thoughts far too fixated on your dinner, you barely manage a mumbled 'sorry' as you bump into someone, stopping only as their deep voice calls after you, "Wait, you dropped your phone!"

You turn, smacking face-first into a broad t-shirt clad chest and losing your balance. "Oops, sorry! Payback, I guess." he chuckles as he leans over, offering a hand to help you up. As he pulls you up effortlessly, you catch your first glance of his face… and holy crap.

A jolt of shock hits you as you snatch your hand away from his grip, slapping it over your mouth as your hazel eyes widen in shock. Face flushing and nearly trembling from being so star-struck, you manage a strangled, "Ohmygodnathanadrian.I'msosorry." He laughs, a smile lighting up his features, "Um, don't worry about it. It's okay." He's standing before you in a white v-neck, navy cargo shorts, boatshoes, and sporting the criminally cute messy hair he wore most of the olympics. He's holding out your iphone, and before you can realize just how stupid and fangirly you sound, the words come tumbling out of your mouth, "CanIhaveapicture?" you ask, tripping over your words and motioning towards your phone.

He laughs as you sheepishly add a 'please?', nodding and smiling again, perhaps more amused than anything. Wrapping a long, toned arm around your waist, he pulls you to his side as he pulls up the camera app on your phone, holding it out at arm's length.

Gingerly, you rest your own shorter arm around his waist as he counts down, "Ready? 3...2...1!" and you can hear the clicking-shutter sound as your phone snaps a picture. Smiling in thanks, you reach for your phone but he playfully holds it out of your grasp, an easy task considering how his 6'6" frame totally dwarfs your own meagre 5'0". 

 "No I need to see this first… need to make sure I look good, duh!" he teases, grinning down at you as he holds your phone above his head. Seconds later, his face breaks out into another adorable smile as he chuckles softly, eyeing you. After nearly dying under his smiling gaze, you manage a passably believable tone of mock-anger as you challenge him with questioning look, "What's so funny?"

He responds, "You're just really tiny," still grinning as he turns your phone towards you, showing you the picture. You groan to yourself, instantly understanding his amusement. There he is in the frame, cute, adorable face, and beside him, there's the top of your messy bun. Height differences, hello.

"Oh god. Am I really that short? Maybe you're just... a giant…"you sigh, bemused.

"I think everyone's a giant compared to you."

"Shut up! We can't all be model tall and model gorgeous." You flush instantly at your poor choice of words, but he seemingly thinks nothing of it, shrugging and smiling widely. Does he get more adorable? No. No he doesn't.

He hands your phone back, "Here, let's try again." Without warning, he bends down, lifting you into a fireman's carry within him arms. You let a small squeal of surprise as a strong arm wraps around your back while another supports your legs, pressing your side against his chest.

"What are you waiting for? Take the picture!" he laughs, poking your stomach for emphasis. As tempted as you are to hold off on taking the picture forever so you can spend the rest of eternity in Nathan's arms, you scramble to reopen the camera app, clumsily taking a shot of the two of you. When the resounding click of the camera sounds, he lowers you down gently, placing you back on your feet.

"Well, how did it turn out?" he asks, smirking.

Fumbling with your phone, you open the picture and nearly faint as comprehension dawns on what just transgressed. You, silly and inconsequential human-being, just took a photo of Nathan Adrian, swimmer-god and decorated olympian, holding you in his arms…

"I… crap, I look sweaty and super… post-gym-workout like." you grimace, turning your phone towards him.

Once again, his smile melts your heart as you watch his eyes glance across the photo. You can tell he's trying to hold back laughter as he shrugs, "At least we're both in the photo this time, right?"

Unable to stop your own laughter at his comment, you sigh and roll your eyes, putting your phone back into the pocket of your shorts. "Thanks, Nathan. Sorry for being short, but it's kinda your fault for being a tall giant."

"No problem, tiny girl who's name I don't have the pleasure of knowing!" he shoots back at you, smirking.

" Allegra."

His features are once again lit up with a smile, and you can't help but  break out your own beaming smile as he pulls you into a hug. You're wrapped safely in his arms with your face pressed into his chest in a tight hug for the briefest of moments before he releases you.

"Well it was nice meeting you, Allegra. Tweet me that photo, we both look pretty model gorgeous, even if I'm the only one who looks model tall." he winks at you, "see you around!"

And then he's waving and turning, leaving you rooted to the spot and wondering in disbelief just what exactly happened, as the last traces of his warm embrace linger and slowly fade.