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She shouldn’t be there. Not in the slightest. For she knew, if her father found out, he literally would kill her. But for the blonde, it was a good thing this was her first Olympics. It meant she was a nobody. It meant, nobody knew who she was. So she was perfectly fine, to be sitting there at the bar, drinking a light beer. She didn’t often drink light beer, and by often, she meant, never.She never drank light beer. But she had to be on her best game tomorrow. Even though her father had pushed her to be the best, she was going to achieve greatness tomorrow because of herself. It was her legs that were running after all.
But, the blonde athlete still had worries about tomorrow’s race. Yes, she had worked her ass off to even get to the Olympics, but she was still second guessing herself. Which was, once again, thanks to her father. Every morning for the last couple of years, he would wake the blonde up every morning nice and early just to tell her that she wasn’t good enough. And, for her to be good enough, she’d have to win gold. Even then, she’d still never be good enough. Not for him at least.
Letting out a soft sigh, Maya ran her fingers through her hair as she looked down at the ring on her finger. It was a ring given to them by the American Olympics committee, that in itself said you’d made it. From the committee. So in their eyes, she’d made it. In the eyes of her friends back home, she’d made it. But in the eyes of her father and her own by default, she’d yet to make it. She was representing her country at the god damn Olympics, how could not of made it or be good enough?
Feeling movement beside her, Maya kept her gaze focused on her beer at hand. Needing to be alone in her own thoughts but the voice beside her still managed to go through one ear and stay in her head. The voice had an Italian accent to it and it was heaven. If she weren’t in London, she would’ve thought she’d be in heaven instead. She looked out of the corner of her eyes, casting her gaze on the figure before her. A brunette. A gorgeous one at that. Was seated beside her and had just ordered a glass of wine.
But that’s not what caught her attention. No, what caught her attention was the fresh light beer that had been placed down on the bar in front of the blonde. Looking up, she caught the bartenders gaze as he indicated towards the brunette beside her. Turning on the bar stool slightly, the blonde shifted so she was facing the brunette before her.
“You seemed like you were caught up in your own world, but I also wanted to see those pretty eyes. Thought it’d buy a you a beer, because you seem so caught up in that one.” the brunette remarked, indicating towards the beer in hand.
“How did you know it’d have pretty eyes? They could’ve been hellish which is why I was off to the side by myself?”. the blonde questioned, raising her eyebrows slightly in response.
“Pretty eyes to match the rest of you. I’m certainly not blind.” the brunette questioned before narrowing her eyes “Although, I do have to say, you don’t have an English accent. In town for the Olympics?”.
Maya licked her lips as she took a sip of her beer before nodding “Mhm, you could definitely say something like that.” clearing her throat, Maya held out her hand in the brunette’s direction “Maya Bishop, American. Just visiting the city.”
The woman before her took a sip of her wine before returning the hand and shaking her own “Carina DeLuca, Italian American, currently working in London. Picked probably the best time to do so. Get to meet many people.” Carina couldn’t help but smile as she looked the other woman up and down.
If Maya wasn’t so caught up in her thoughts, in the many different things swirling around, she would’ve returned the flirt with one of her own. But instead, she just smiled and nodded her head. “And, what is it, that you do for work?”.
“I am a doctor. Or rather a surgeon. I work on tiny bambinos and their mother’s, bringing them into the world.”
“Definitely sounds like a rewarding job. Certainly one of a kind Doctor DeLuca.” Maya offered the brunette a small smile.
Carina eyed the blonde before her. She wasn’t completely oblivious that something was going on in the blonde’s head. She hadn’t even known the woman for more than two minutes and she could already tell there wasn’t something right. Taking a look around the bar, Carina took note of the room starting to fill up, knowing it was going to be hard to finish off this conversation in public and actually hearing one another.
“Do you want to get out of here and you know, just go for a walk and talk?”. Carina spoke softly as she finished off her wine, waiting for the blonde’s reply.
Maya knew this could go one of three ways. She could either sit there in this bar, wallowing in her own self doubts, she could go with the brunette on the walk or she could return back to the Olympics Village. Finishing off her beer, Maya placed a couple bills down on the bar before turning towards Carina “Let’s go for that walk.”
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As they walked through the city, Maya hoped Carina knew where she was walking because she certainly did not. She hadn’t managed to spend any time out of the Olympic Village since arriving, and if she were the one leading them, yeah, it’s safe to say they would be completely and utterly lost. So, that would be interesting as to where she would lead them.
During their walk, the duo only seemed to shift closer together, their hands touching every so now and then but Maya didn’t even need to know her long to know they already had some sort of a a spark. That much was clear.
“You know..I know you’re not just visiting the city.” Carina spoke up from her spot next to Maya.
“Oh is that so. What makes you say that?”. Maya can’t help but question, stuffing her hands into the pocket of her jeans as they walked..somewhere.
“Well for starters, that ring on your finger is only given to Olympian’s. The other doctors at the hospital have been raving about all of the athletes they’ve met and they’re all describing that ring down to a T.” Carina spoke as she lifted up the hand that was closest to her “The same ring that you have here.” Carina ran her thumb over the ring on the blonde’s hand. “I noticed it earlier when you shook my hand.” Carina continued as she dropped the hand back down to their sides but didn’t let go of it.
“So, that brings to me think, why didn’t the beautiful blonde in the bar boast about being an Olympian just to get into my designer jeans?”.
That was a good question, a really good one. But Maya couldn’t help look down at the hand that was holding her own. It felt so nice and soft in her own hand, it just felt right. Letting out a soft sigh, Maya used her free hand to run through her blonde tendrils as she shrugged her shoulders. She could tell this woman that she’d just met the truth, or she could completely lie about it. She was stuck in two minds.
“Well, you could say I was at the bar trying to drink away my sorrows before tomorrow’s race, but that would be just admitting to the truth.” the blonde spoke up, garnishing a surprised look from the doctor. “And no, to answer your question that wasn’t asked, I’m not drinking away my sorrows because I plan on losing tomorrow..because I can assure you, I plan on winning.” Maya spoke adamantly. She was determined. She was going to get that gold.
“Then why are you drinking and not admitting that you’re an Olympian?”. As they came to a stop, Maya looked up as a cute town house came into view. She looked over at Carina, tilting her head slightly, curious as to where they were.
“This is my place, thought we could go inside and continue this talk with a drink. I’ve got non alcoholic drinks as well.” Maya nodded as the brunette let go of her hand and made her way up the stairs to the town house, opening the door as she walked in, holding the door open for the blonde.
Maya stepped over the threshold, taking in the appearance. There were photos, many photos. As well as a few art works. Something of which is definitely the complete opposite of to what Maya lived in.
Making her way towards the kitchen, Carina indicated for the blonde to take a seat on the lounge and that she’d return momentarily with more wine for her, and juice for the blonde. Placing both items on the table moments later, the brunette took a seat next to Maya, before opening her mouth to speak “Okay so yes, what were you going to say about drinking alone?”.
Biting her lip, Maya looked down as she reached for the glass, cradling it in her hands as she thought about her question. Why, that was the question on her mind as well. Taking a sip of her drink, Maya cleared her throat before speaking. “I was drinking away my sorrows because I was drinking to drink to fix my problems. Problems that have been caused by my father.” she rolls her eyes before continuing “You see, my father, if you’d so call him that, is also my coach. And boy does he kick my ass. And he hasn’t stopped kicking my ass since I made it to Nationals and then got into the Olympic’s team. He has been riding my ass since dot day.”
Maya couldn’t help but let out a dry laugh as she slipped her shoes off before sitting with her back to the arm of the lounge and focusing her attention fully on the brunette “Since dot day, he’s always told me that I’m...That I’m not good enough. That I’ll never be good enough until I can get that gold at the Olympics. He doesn’t even think of my as an actual Olympian because I don’t have anything to my name.” the blonde spoke softly with a slight shake of her head as she held up her hand to the brunette “This ring, it means nothing to him. He’s been speaking so much that I’ve been trying so hard to not let it become my words as well.”
Placing her glass of wine down on the table, Carina shuffled over closer to the blonde, taking the glass of juice out of her hands and placed it down on the table as well before moving to take both of the blonde’s hands in her own.
“Look, I’ve literally just met you tonight. But, I can assure you, you are not nothing. You are something. And you are something remarkable. Your father clearly has his head so far up his own ass to see what’s right in front of him. And that’s you Maya Bishop. You are enough. You are representing your whole entire country, that in itself should be enough. I know it’s enough for me.” Carina spoke as she took the plunge and leaned forward to close the distance between them as their lips met. Carina placed her hands on Maya’s cheeks to deepen it before pulling away slightly.
Maya licked her lips as she eyed the lips of the woman in front of her. Oh she was definitely right. She’d never had a connection with anyone as she has Carina and boy did she like it.
“We definitely need to do that again.”
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As she was bouncing at her starting position, Maya wasn’t thinking about the race that was moments away from starting. No. All she could think about, was the brunette from the night before. The same one that reminded her, many times last night that she was enough. No matter what was about to occur from this event. She couldn’t stop smiling at the thought of catching up with the brunette after this race, whether she won or not.
She didn’t want to celebrate competing in the Olympics with someone who constantly told her she wasn’t enough, no. She wanted to celebrate whatever came of it with someone who told her she was. Even after only meeting her hours before. That’s who she wanted to spend her night with. Again.
Taking in a deep breath, Maya moved to the starting line, adjusting her athletic shorts as she did, before bending down and getting into position. This was it. This was everything that she had trained for. And it was about to start and be over within minutes. It was now or never. Taking in a deep breath, the blonde got into position. Closing her eyes briefly, she took in a deep breath before opening them. The time was now.
And with that, the starter gun went and Maya was off. Running. She wasn’t thinking about her father and everything that he had drilled into her. Instead, she was thinking about the brunette. About Carina. About how she’d like to spend her extra time with her in London. About how she’d like to extend her trip in London just to spend time with her. She just wanted to spend time with her.
She had been so caught up in her own mind that it hadn’t registered to the blonde that she’d passed the finish line. Looking up at the screen, Maya’s eyes widened as she took in what it said next to her name. First. First Place. She had just won her Olympics Race. She was a gold medalist. Looking around, Maya felt another American coming up to her, hugging her. She knew her father would disapprove of this but she honestly could not care. She was happy. Not for him, but because of her. She’d actually done it. She returned the hug before taking the offered flag and going for a run. She really had done it.
Once everything had settled down, Maya took her photos before heading back to the cool down room to grab her things. She would have to get dressed soon to head for the medal ceremony but for some reason, for some unknown reason, part of her was telling her to look at her phone. She opened it up where she was bombarded with hundreds of messages but that wasn’t the message that had caught her eye. It was the message from Carina. Opening it up, she couldn’t help but smile at the message before her “Congratulations on winning Bella! You were spectacular. I told you that you could do it. You’ve always been enough. I hope you see that now too. Let me know when you’re free so I can congratulate you in person”.
Maya really couldn’t way to celebrate with the brunette now.