Nola Scott
I was thankful that the first two faces I saw this morning were my mom and dad. They looked like angels with halos over their heads, smiling down at me. My nerves had been prickling at me all night and I barely got any sleep. Waking up and seeing them was the best gift I could have asked for.
"We're here to take you to the airport!" Mom said. Ember slipped in front of my parents then. "I'm coming too!" They were all too cheery considering it was three in the morning. I looked around for my siblings who were always grumpy when woken up but they were nowhere to be found.
I would have hoped to see them here but I guess I'll see them in a couple of days. "C'mon, Granola. We're picking up some food before we drop you off. We already packed your stuff into the car," Dad says. I look over to where my suitcase used to be. "Thanks, guys, let me change really quick."
As I get out of bed, Mom and Dad exit the room. Ember's arms wrap around my shoulders as she pulls me in for a hug. "I'm so proud of you! You're going to do great and I can't wait to see you." Her words come out in a muffle. My heart warms at her sentiments. I so wish she could have gone. It would have been nice having my figure skating bestie by my side.
"Don't forget to watch. I know you're not asleep at one am," I remind her of the time difference. She finally pulls away from my hold. "Oh, I'll be watching. You bet your ass I will," Ember says before proceeding to smack my butt. I laugh, shaking my head. "Change, c'mon! Your flight leaves in two hours!"
She finally runs out of my room after that allowing me to get the rest of my little things ready. I don't take any longer than ten minutes and Ember, Mom, Dad, and I are out of the house shortly after that. We decided to go straight to the airport and get some food there since everything in the city is pretty much closed.
I get something light since I'm about to be on a plane for ten-plus hours and don't want my stomach to get messed up. After we eat, Coach Laurel texts me that she's waiting with the other girls and their coaches at the gate. Mom, Dad, and Ember walk me to my gate. "Keep your head up, kid. You're going to do great things," my dad says, wrapping his arms around my shoulders and pulling me in for a hug.
I let myself fall into him and bask in the comfort he gives me. He's one of my best friends. Always has been. "Not that you already aren't. This is just a bigger step to your greatness. Call me if you need anything. It doesn't matter the time or if you think I'm at work, call me," he reiterates. My emotions try to get the best of me but I hold back the tears.
Mom takes Dad's place soon enough, hugging me for the longest time. "Ugh, I love you so much. You don't know how proud of you I am, Nola." She pulls away quickly to kiss my forehead but pulls me back in. I laugh. "I love you too, mom. Thanks, I couldn't have done any of this without you and Dad, honestly."
Tears well in her eyes which make the ones I was holding back come forward. "You're going to absolutely kill it. We're so proud of you. All of us," she adds. The tears don't fall as I try to keep my emotions at bay. I'm already a mess and I haven't even got to Stockholm.
After Mom lets go, Ember steps up and hugs me. She's a bit shorter than I am so she pulls me down, rocking me back and forth. "I'm so excited for you, bestie. I know how much you've wanted this for years. I'll be watching you the whole way, I promise," she says into my ear. It would have been amazing to have Em with me. I still wish her schedule wasn't as busy as it was.
"Thanks, Em. I love you," I say. We pull away and a smile crosses her lips. "I love you too. Also, I know you have to leave and I don't think he'll make it but Ja-"
"Nola! Oh, thank goodness you haven't left!" Ember's words are cut off by a familiar voice. All of our attention goes toward the tall, blonde boy who runs in our direction. I'm not even smiling fully before he wraps his big arms around my shoulders and hugs me. "I had to say good luck to my bestie before she left to go be an Olympian," JT says. His hug is warm and comforting and I take in all the comfort I can get.
"Excuse you." Ember tiptoes to smack Jay lightly on the head.
"Ow!"
"She's not your bestie, Jason. She's mine!"
"Mine too, we can share!"
"Absolutely not!"
"Guys!" I interrupt and chuckle at their little disagreement. They both turn their head toward me and I hug the both of them at the same time. "I love the both of you. Please just hug me before I pass out from fear," I joke. Both of their holds get tighter around me. "You'll be great, Nola. Don't stress!" JT encourages. "Agreed. You got this, girl."
When we pull away, I can't help but look behind JT. "How'd you get here?" I ask. He doesn't have a car. "Oh, I Ubered. Stupid Uber took forever," he tells me. Disappointment churns in my belly.
I kind of hoped Miles would come with him and wish me luck one more time. It had been a few days since the last time I saw him. We had been texting every now and then but I was so busy. Honestly, I also hadn't talked to many people the last couple of days because all my nerves were catching up to me.
"He had a long day yesterday. I'm sure he'll give you a call later on when you land," JT says when I don't reply. I look back over at him as I realize I looked over his shoulder again like Miles would just magically appear. "Oh, no, it's fine. Just wanted to make sure you didn't steal his car again or something," I mutter a stupid excuse.
I really wish he was here.
A large arm wraps around my shoulder and when I turn, I see my dad. "Nola has to get going soon, guys," my dad tells my friends. I say my final goodbyes to my friends and they wish me more luck before leaving together. Moping like a sad puppy, I walk over to the gate where my parents wait.
"Alright, babe. You got this. We'll see you there, okay? You're not alone." Mom grabs my face in her hands and kisses my forehead. Can I just take her with me in my suitcase? That'll make me feel better. "Stay resilient. You can do anything you put your mind to, kid," Dad adds in. I take their words in and nod. A shaky breath escapes my lips. "O-okay."
They both hug me one last time before I join my coach and the other girls competing. I was surprised that I was able to hold a conversation with them. But as soon as my butt hit the seat on the airplane, I kept to myself.
I slip on my pink headphones and turn on some calming music, letting the rest of the world fade.
***
About 13 hours later, I was shaken awake by the plane finally landing. Everyone is getting ready to finally get off the plane and I turn to look at Coach Laurel who looks like she's just waking up herself. "What time is it?" I ask, my voice still a bit groggy. She looks at her Apple Watch. "A bit past three in the morning."
I internally groan. Who knows how long I've been sleeping but I still feel drained. I search for my phone and turn it back on now that we're on the ground. "We'll get a later start to the day so we all can get more rest. Your limbs need to be stretched out for a couple of hours," Coach says.
Thank goodness.
I'm the last one to grab my suitcases and get off the plane. We make it to our hotel in just ten minutes, everyone getting their own separate room. Coach Laurel tells me we're meeting in the lobby at 12. That's good enough for me to take another Power Nap and shower too.
This would be my first time spending the night at a hotel alone. In my nineteen years of life, I had never stayed at a hotel on my own. Sure I'm not completely alone. Coach Laurel is only two rooms down. But when I throw myself back on the queen-sized bed and look around the room, I can't help but feel lonely.
A sigh escapes my lips as I turn my head toward the nightstand. My phone sits there quietly. I haven't used it since I turned it on at the airport. Curiously, I grab it and unlock it. I'm lucky enough to see plenty of messages from family and friends wishing me luck this weekend.
That feeling of disappointment from earlier comes back when I notice Miles still hasn't texted. JT's words come back to me then. He had a long day yesterday. The season is coming to an end soon and I'm sure Miles is just focusing on hockey.
It just hurts a little that he can't send one text.
I won't give all the props to him but he's one of the major reasons that I'm going to compete at Worlds in a few days. He pushed me to follow my dreams. Miles had been telling me how much he was going to support me and even joked about being overly annoying while I was away at Worlds. Staring at my phone now and not even seeing one text stings.
It's late afternoon in Los Angeles right now but I don't bother texting him first. If he wanted to text me, he would. I'm not going to make myself look desperate. My feelings for Miles are still there and as much as I'd like them to be reciprocated, I fear they never will be.
We're both different people. We're at different points in our life. I also just don't think he could ever like me. I'm too young, too not his type. My heart clenches thinking about it. Being a girl with a crush isn't fun. It's been a long time since I've felt these feelings for anyone and it's scaring me just how much I'm feeling.
Love is a dangerous game to play and I prefer to stay away from things that can burn me.
Things that can hurt me. Especially emotionally. My brain already does that for me occasionally.
I don't need a man to.
It's why I'm keeping the way I feel about him to myself. The fewer people who know the better.
Besides Ember, of course. I'd tell her anything.
I plug my phone into its charger and set an alarm for ten. Somehow even after the sleep I got on the plane, my eyes felt heavy. I need all the rest I can get these next couple of days. Everything else can wait until after Worlds.
It's game time for me.
Now or never.