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Seventeen Days of Gold Chapter 6 “Apolo!” I knocked on the door again, harder this time. “Apolo, get up already!” The door finally opened and he appeared, rubbing his eyes sleepily. I wasn’t entirely awake yet myself, and the phone call I had just gotten from Chuck had me more confused than I usually am in the morning. “What?” Apolo yawned. “It’s only five. It’s not time to get up yet.” “I just got a call from my lieutenant.” I explained. “He sounded pissed. Said for me to bring you to his office immediately.” Apolo looked surprised, then concerned. Maybe more concerned than he should have. Something wasn’t right. “Apolo…what did you do?” ****************** I stood silently, staring at the wall behind Chuck as he raged. I had started to put everything together when I saw Yuki exiting Chuck’s office as we walked up, despite Apolo’s apparently guilt-ridden silence the short cab ride there. Our fight had initially shaken Apolo up enough that he called his father last night about it. In turn, Yuki called my boss. So now, here I was, getting ripped a new asshole. I could feel the resentment boiling up inside of me again. I yes-sir’d and apologized to Chuck, who was trying to get into my head by threatening me with a demotion if I didn’t shape up. “I don’t know what the problem is with you and this kid, but get it straight now!” He ordered. “I told you in the beginning this was a serious assignment, and I’m not tolerating any of your personal shit getting in the way. You know better than this, so I don’t want to hear any more of this crap. Understand?”  I nodded. “No, I don’t think you do.” He said, standing up and glaring down at me. “Understand?” He repeated his question. I felt a momentary panic, as if back in boot camp with Sergeant Black. I looked at Chuck and snapped to attention. “Yes sir!” I saluted. Yeah, I get it now. I’m not risking my career over any of this bullshit anymore. He sent me out and asked for Yuki and Apolo to enter. I caught the remnants of an argument brewing between the two of them as I stepped out the door. Apolo glanced at me apologetically, and I glared back, making him look away. Wonderful, we’re right back where we started. I sat outside the office and brooded as they had their brief conversation inside. I could just imagine it: “Oh, don’t worry, she won’t give you anymore trouble. Blah, blah, blah.” I was so embarrassed. I think the embarrassment was what was killing me the most. Like when Apolo had me out on the dance floor, only this was worse, this was too personal. I’ve been bitched out before for screwing up, but think getting my feelings involved in this whole mess was the problem. I picked at the chipping polish on my nails. Fuck it. If a little tin solider is what they want, then that’s what they’ll get. I stood up as soon as they all came out. I saluted Chuck again and gave a stiff greeting to Yuki, avoiding Apolo as much as I could. The three of us caught a taxi to the Ice Center just in time for Apolo to make practice. I caught Yuki regarding me out of the corner of his eye like I was some sort of maniacal time bomb just waiting to go off. I spoke only when I had to, my words clipped, but chosen carefully. I didn't want to give him any more reasons to call the lieutenant again. And although I knew Apolo was feeling guilty and there was a tension between father and son at the moment, I still felt this need to twist that thorn in Apolo's side a little more. I stood in my customary position at the side of the ice, scanning the scene and thinking things over in my mind. Perhaps I shouldn't add to his guilt. He was having a shitty practice this morning. I tugged at my necklace, thinking about our talk last night--it was nice to finally be on civil terms, for a few hours at least. I found myself thinking more about the whole day yesterday. The impromptu kiss, feeling his body pressed against mine, the smell of his cologne, the touch of his hand, the look in his eyes. I rubbed my hand over my face. Shit, I can't handle this. I wasn't even mad anymore, not really. I felt more like...sad. I wanted the boy, badly, but I'll be damned if I'm going to touch him after what Chuck said today. "This job is going to kill me someday." I whispered to myself, still twisting my necklace nervously in my fingers. My eyes followed Apolo's last lap around the ice before the end of practice, when suddenly the chain broke off in my hand. I pulled it off my neck and looked at it, sighing. This is definitely not my day, I thought, stuffing the necklace in my pocket before climbing over the pads to take my laps around the track. Desperately wanting to clear my head of all the frustrations, I rushed headlong into my skating, picking up speed at every turn. I generated all my concentration into my skates. Faster still, and such a rush I felt, no thoughts...just me, the ice and--the black and red blur of Apolo's skinsuit flying by me. I slowed and stood straight. Apolo came back around and sidled up next to me. I looked at him blankly. "So are you gonna accept an apology from me this time or not?" He asked. I frowned, then grinned. He cocked his head quizzically. I snagged someone's helmet from the top of the pads as I skated by and strapped it on my head. "Let's see what happens, shall we?" I challenged, stopping and assuming the starting position. Apolo smiled broadly and chuckled, moving in beside me. I counted to three and we took off. My speed had improved with every day of skating that I had done. The things my father taught me had come back quickly, and I felt confidant on the skates again. I can't believe I just challenged one of the best skaters in the world, nor could I believe I was now ahead of him. But I knew he was just behind me, pacing me. I put on more speed, pushing myself hard, my legs were starting to burn, but I gathered a little more distance between us. I sailed around the curve, running my hand over the ice to steady myself. In the straightaway, I could see Apolo's shadow behind me once again, and on the next curve, he was past me as if I was standing still. I growled and dug in harder, swinging my arm with my hand now in a fist. In those short couple of seconds, he was already too far ahead of me. And almost as if my feet accepted the defeat before my head did, my blade caught on one of the markers and I skidded on my ass into the padding. I rolled off the pads, uninjured, and laid on my back on the ice. I stared up at the lights, too winded to get up at the moment. Apolo appeared swiftly by my side. "Are you OK?" He looked down at me, his face showing concern. “Yeah.” I breathed, blinking up at him. “I think I’ll live.” “Just like Shani.” He admonished, grinning. “Spending all your energy in the beginning. Didn’t your dad teach you anything?” "Oh give me a break, hot shot, it wasn't a fair race anyway." I complained. "It was your idea." He laughed, extending his hand to help me up. "So then....?" "So then," I repeated, finally catching my breath, "I think we need find another way to settle this." "Cheater." He pouted. I laughed, then realized we were being watched closely by Yuki. Remembering my lesson from this morning, I straightened up and got serious. “Sorry about that, Apolo.” I mumbled. “I forgot I need to be on my best behavior.” He rolled his eyes and sighed, and I turned away before he could say anything else, gesturing for him to lead the way back off the ice. The rest of the team jibed me and Apolo as we approached. He laughed with them, and I offered a half smile at Yuki. He simply nodded. Back at the hotel, I opened Apolo's door and entered before him, as usual, to investigate the room for any suspicious signs. I could hear Apolo and Yuki talking low behind me, Yuki telling him to call later. "Everything seems to be clear, sir." I spoke unemotionally. "I will meet you for lunch at 1100 hours." I turned to leave, but Apolo grabbed my arm. "Look, you don't have to act that way around me." He said. "And for Christ's sake, don't call me sir." "I don't need any more problems, Apolo." I said after regarding him for a moment. "And I'm sorry if I've caused any between you and your dad." "Don't worry about it." He let go of my arm. "If we weren't arguing about this, it would be something else." "I thought you two got along famously?" "Oh, we do, but we're just different, ya know?" He smiled. "Besides, he's just got to get used to you. You're a lot different than other girls I know." "Oh? How many female bodyguards have you had?" "Just you." Apolo giggled. "Well, I suppose I've never met anyone quite like you either." I admitted. He smiled, but was that a hint of a blush I saw there? "Hey, now, don't be getting your hopes up...you're still in the doghouse." "Shit." He pouted. I laughed. "Get cleaned up. I feel like something different for lunch besides that crap downstairs." I said, and headed for my room to clean up myself. Scene music: "Lay it On the Line" by Triumph Copyright material TMS2002 Chapter 6, pt. 2 Return to Home Back to Chapter 5, pt. 2   page created with Webpage Designer (NS)