"If I see you're not enjoying yourself, you'll have to answer to me."

~•~

Beatrice stood on the banks of the Seine, dressed in an elegant sports outfit designed for the Italian team, waiting for the moment she would board the boat that, along with other Italian athletes, would take her to the Eiffel Tower for the Olympic Games' opening ceremony. The streets of Paris were alive with energy. Spectators lined the riverbank, waving flags and eagerly watching athletes from around the world. The air was thick with anticipation, energy, and hope.

Beatrice felt her heart beating a little faster than usual. This was something entirely different from what she was used to. Training routines, competitions, even the diving board—all were familiar to her, but today, she stood on the brink of something grand and monumental. She felt like a small part of something much larger. The Olympics. It was a word she had heard since she was a child, and now she was part of it. It was overwhelming. She hadn't qualified for Tokyo, but she was determined to savor every moment of Paris. She wanted to remember every little detail of tonight's opening. The joy of everyone around her, all the performances that France had prepared for them.

"Are you ready?" Alberto asked, standing next to her. The coach's voice calmed her a little. She turned to him and nodded with a smile. She was grateful to have her coach there to experience it all with her. Italy had a large Olympic delegation, and only a few select coaches and sports directors were allowed to board the boat with the athletes—Alberto was one of the chosen few.

"I've been looking forward to this day for so long," she replied. "But now that it's here, I feel a little nervous. It's huge, Alberto. I can't believe it."

"It's natural to be nervous on such a monumental day, especially for someone as young as you," Alberto smiled. "But you're here for a reason, Bea. You've worked hard to get here, and now it's time to enjoy it. Tonight is about celebration and acknowledging that you've achieved something amazing."

Beatrice took a deep breath and looked toward the water. The boats were ready, and athletes from other countries were already boarding. In the distance, she could hear music and the distinct hum of the crowd. The first shades of sunset began to appear in the sky, painting Paris in gold and pink.

When it was Italy's turn, Beatrice walked toward the boat with her teammates. She was surrounded by other Italian athletes—volleyball players, tennis players, gymnasts, and others—who shared the same colors and pride in their country. There was a strong sense of camaraderie, shared excitement, and mutual support. As she stepped onto the boat, a wave of excitement washed over her. From the deck, she had a view of both sides of the river, where crowds of people gathered, and the reality of being at the Olympics finally hit her.

The boat slowly began to move, and the crowd on the shore erupted in applause and cheers. Beatrice stood at the edge of the deck, watching as they passed some of Paris's most iconic landmarks. Notre-Dame, the Louvre, and in the distance, the silhouette of the Eiffel Tower. It felt like a dream. She almost had to pinch herself to make sure it was real. The atmosphere around her was filled with joy, and each athlete experienced their own version of this magical moment.

The cameras weren't focused on them just yet; Italy's turn would come later as the boats moved along the Seine. Paris had everything timed perfectly, knowing exactly when to film each delegation to ensure no country was shown arriving at the Eiffel Tower too early.

During the cruise, one of the Italian swimmers joined Beatrice, wearing the same Italian hoodie she remembered from the training day. It was the tall brunette who had caught her attention earlier. He smiled at her, as if he knew she remembered him. "You finally made it, Birdie," he said with a smile worthy of a dentist's magazine cover.

"Birdie?" Beatrice was confused.

"You're Beatrice, right?" he asked.

"That's me, but what does Beatrice have to do with Birdie?" she still didn't understand. She had many nicknames, like Bea, Beats, Tris, Betrys, and sometimes even Bertha by her sisters, but Birdie was new.

"A little nickname that just came to mind," the boy laughed nervously. "I watched some of your tournaments with my mom, and I must say, I'm glad that such a talented and beautiful girl is representing us in diving." Beatrice blushed when he called her talented, but especially when he called her beautiful.

"I could say the same, but honestly, I have no idea what your name is," Beatrice chuckled, trying to hide the embarrassment she felt. If he was truly someone significant, she should be ashamed not to know his name. If he was someone average who made it to the Olympics by luck, she would quickly recover her composure.

"Thomas Ceccon," the brunette introduced himself. "Swimming. Mostly backstroke."

"Since when do swimmers attend the opening ceremony, Thomas?" the brunette asked. She was aware that very few swimmers attend the Olympic opening, as their events begin among the first, usually the morning after the opening. Swimmers typically skip the ceremony to get a good night's sleep and gather as much energy as possible to win medals for their country.

"My events don't start until the afternoon, so I figured I'd come and see what the opening ceremony of the Olympics is like," he replied, "and I'm glad I did because otherwise, I wouldn't have had the chance to talk to you. We wouldn't even know each other."

"We still don't know each other," Beatrice said. He might look like a model, but that didn't mean she would start flirting with him right away. She didn't know him at all and had no idea what kind of person he was. He could be the biggest jerk, pretending to be a nice guy just to get her into bed—she had heard all the stories about the Olympic Village being like Love Island. She didn't want to become another statistic about how many athletes hooked up. Among the Olympic goodies, she had received condoms, but that didn't mean she had to use them right away.

"I'm a swimmer, my main event is the 100-meter backstroke, where I also hold the world record, but I can swim anything if needed," he said. "I'm 23 years old, and I'm from Thiene."

"Diver, main event 10 meters, but I can dive from any height and still win," she told him. "22 years old, from Bologna, but we moved to Rome when I was fifteen."

"You see, now we know each other. Nice to meet you, Beatrice from Bologna," Thomas laughed and extended his hand to her.

"Nice to meet you too, Thomas from Thiene," Beatrice smiled and shook his hand.

"I've heard you're really good," he said, leaning against the railing. He waved at a few people standing at the edge of the water, then turned his attention back to the brunette next to him. "Apparently, you're a favorite for the gold medal."

"That's possible," she nodded. "Just a few months ago, I was mostly known only in Italy, but in the last few tournaments, I really made a mark, and I think here I'll finally have the chance to show everyone that Italy is back among the top divers."

"I'll be rooting for you, and if I don't have to relax or get ready for my event, I'll come to watch. I'll be cheering you on," he said. Beatrice was surprised by this because they hardly knew each other. He didn't have to do this, and if he did, she would be even more surprised because no one was asking him to.

"That's sweet, but you don't have to," she laughed nervously.

"But I want to," he smiled. "I've always been fascinated by diving, so now that I know a diver, I have a reason to come and cheer."

"Then I won't argue and will just say thank you very much."

"We're all here to do our best. And don't forget to enjoy it too," he told her. "If I see you're not enjoying yourself, you'll have to answer to me."

"Same goes for you, Thomas," she said, looking him in the eye.

"Will you come to watch me?" he asked her.

"If I have time, I promise I'll be there, and I'll be the loudest person in the entire pool," she nodded, and Thomas just laughed.

The boat continued its journey, and Thomas and Beatrice started talking about their training, goals, and how they prepared for the Olympics. It was nice to talk to someone who had similar experiences and understood the pressure that comes with the Olympics. Beatrice was relieved that Thomas was so open and friendly.

As they got closer to the Eiffel Tower, the atmosphere on board grew even more intense. The music was louder, and the crowd on the shore was more enthusiastic. Beatrice felt her heart beating faster. What had started as a simple dream was now becoming reality. She was on her way to her biggest moment, surrounded by other athletes from Italy and around the world.

When the boat finally docked, the athletes began to disembark, ready for the flag-raising and the lighting of the Olympic flame. Many athletes left for their rooms at that point, planning to watch the ceremony on their phones, but some stayed near the stage to witness everything firsthand. Beatrice and Thomas joined the Italian team and walked together to the place where the Olympic Games would be officially opened. With every step, Beatrice felt her nervousness fade and excitement and pride take its place. It was as if all the years of training and sacrifices had now converged into this moment.

She stood there among thousands of athletes from all over the world, beneath the Eiffel Tower, which loomed above them as a majestic symbol of Paris. She looked up at the sky, now darkening, and the tower's lights shone against the evening sky. She felt her heart beat in sync with the music that filled the air. This was the moment she had waited for her entire life.

The ceremony was magnificent, full of colors, lights, and sounds. When it came time to light the Olympic flame, the entire stadium erupted in excitement. Beatrice looked at Thomas, who smiled and gave her a thumbs-up. At that moment, she realized that she was exactly where she was meant to be. At the heart of the Olympics, ready to face the greatest challenge of her life, knowing she had people around her who supported her.

When the ceremony ended and the athletes began to disperse to their accommodations, Beatrice felt filled with energy and determination. This evening was just the beginning. Tomorrow would bring the first training sessions and preparations for the competitions, which would start in just two days. But she was ready. The experience of tonight had given her the strength and confidence that she could handle whatever came her way.

As she said goodbye to Thomas and returned to her room in the Olympic Village, she felt a sense of peace and satisfaction. She was ready to give it her all, not just for herself but for her team, her country, and everyone who believed in her. She turned off the light, closed her eyes, and fell asleep with a smile on her face, knowing that a new chapter of her life had begun, one she would write with courage, determination, and passion.

~•~