golden girl (b.t.c.)

chapter eighty-four

"how you feeling today?" peter asked. eliana set her bag down and gave him a look. "are you gonna ask me that every morning?"
"is it a crime to want to know how you're doing?"
she shook her head. "no. thanks for asking. i'm good."
"good. let's warm up."

eliana let out a breath as she swung a giant before releasing into her twists. she held her breath when her feet hit the ground, then paused before breathing again. "i did it!"
"you stuck it!" peter yelled.
"yes!" she jumped into his arms and grinned. "i can do it at trials!"
"hell yes you can! olympic team here you come!"

"and then i just stuck it!" she smiled. ben grinned. "that's awesome, ellie."
"i'm just glad it paid off in time."
"i have some good news too."
"what is it?"
"i'll be able to make it to day two of trials!"
her eyes widened. "really?"
"yeah! i have an audition the morning of the first day, but my dad and i are flying out the next morning."
"where are you sitting?"
"by some stroke of luck, i got us seats in the second row right next to where the bars are gonna be."
"oh my gosh, no way!" she gasped.
"i'm so excited, ellie. i get to watch your dream come true"
she smiled. "i love you."

by the next morning, eliana's smile was still permanently stuck on her face.
"okay, guys." peter looked at her and lola. "only one-el, why are you smiling like that?"
"like what?" she said.
"like, i don't know, like you're getting married or something."
"i might as well be." she sighed happily as she stared off into the distance. peter looked at lola.
"ben's coming to day two of trials." lola said. "she's been smiling like this since last night. you get used to it."
"o-okay." he said uneasily. "anyway, like i was saying, one week until olympic trials. you guys are obviously ready, and i'm super proud of you. this next week won't be super intense, we just want to solidify everything." he raised his eyebrows, and looked over at eliana again. "she is seriously freaking me out. let's just get practicing."