Thomas's face lit up with a smile full of gratitude and joy.

~•~

Beatrice sat in the stands of the swimming stadium, surrounded by thousands of spectators eagerly awaiting the next race. The atmosphere was electric—loud murmurs, cheers, and shouts from fans filled the air. The scent of chlorine permeated the space, and waves of nervousness and excitement were almost palpable. Yet Beatrice remained calm, her eyes fixed on Thomas, who stood at the edge of the pool with the other members of the Italian relay team. Today, he was swimming in the semifinals of the 4x100 meter freestyle relay.

She thought about how far Thomas had come since he first started swimming. She wondered what he must have been like as a child and how much he must have sacrificed to be standing where he was today. From the moment she first saw him train, she knew there was something special about him—although she had only seen him train once, so she could have been wrong, but she hoped she had some intuition and could recognize his incredible talent.

His determination, strength, and incredible work ethic had brought him to this moment. Now, everything came down to those few minutes when he and his teammates would prove that the Italian relay team was among the best in the world.

"Come on, Thomas," Beatrice whispered to herself as she watched him. "You can do this."

The race was about to start, and Beatrice could hardly wait to see Thomas in action. The first swimmer from the Italian team was preparing his starting position. It was clear that every team member felt the pressure, but they were ready to give it their all. This was a battle for honor, for medals, but also to prove that they were strong and united.

The starting signal went off, and the first swimmer launched off the starting block, diving into the water with tremendous power and speed. Water splashed everywhere as the race began. Beatrice watched as the Italian team kept pace with the other relays. Her heart raced as their swimmer approached the end of his length, preparing to hand off the relay.

Thomas stood poised at the edge of the pool, his eyes locked on his teammate, every muscle in his body tense and ready for the moment when he would dive into the water. As his teammate drew closer, Thomas launched himself at precisely the right moment. It was a perfect start—smooth, fast, and confident.

The water churned as Thomas began his leg of the race. Beatrice held her breath as she watched his strong, fluid strokes propelling him forward. It was as if every movement was perfectly programmed, every stroke full of power and determination. Italy was performing well, but the competition was fierce. Every team was swimming at the edge of their abilities, but Beatrice believed that Thomas had something extra.

As Thomas neared the end of his leg, Beatrice watched him approach the next relay member, who was already poised to start. Thomas reached out to the edge of the pool and handed off the relay at the last second. His performance was incredible—exactly what they needed to stay in the race for medals.

"Great job, Thomas!" Beatrice thought as she saw his teammate dive into the water and continue the race. The remaining lengths were full of tension. Every swimmer was fighting for every fraction of a second. The stands erupted with loud cheers as fans tried to spur on their teams.

The final swimmer of the Italian relay team approached the finish. It was close, but Italy was still in the game. Beatrice leaned forward, her heart pounding as she watched the decisive moment approach. The water was churning, and the competitors were racing toward the finish line as if their lives depended on it.

And then it happened. The finish. Everything happened so quickly. The Italians touched the edge of the pool almost simultaneously with several other teams. Beatrice and the other spectators anxiously watched the screen where the results would appear. Her heart raced as the times began to display. And then she saw it—Italy had finished in first place. First place in this heat meant one thing: they were advancing to the finals, which would take place that evening, and Beatrice already knew she would be there for the finals because she had to see it.

The stadium erupted in cheers, but Beatrice just sat there, smiling. She was incredibly proud of Thomas. She knew how much this placement meant to him, how much effort he had put into it. She watched him climb out of the water, exhausted but with a smile on his face. It was a moment she would never forget.

Thomas and his team shook hands and embraced. They were happy they had made it and that they would get to swim together in the evening finals. Beatrice watched as he laughed and hugged his teammates. She wanted to be there to congratulate him, but she knew this was his moment, his team's moment.

When Thomas turned toward the stands, their eyes met, and Beatrice sent him a kiss and gave him a thumbs-up. She saw his smile widen. It was a quiet moment that belonged only to the two of them. Beatrice knew that this friendship, this bond that had formed between them, was something she would cherish forever.

As the stadium slowly quieted down and spectators began to disperse during the two-hour break before the evening finals of all the day's events, Beatrice stayed seated for a little longer, reflecting on what she had just witnessed. This race wasn't just about winning; it was about friendship, team spirit, and the importance of having people by your side who believe in you and support you. She realized that this was what the Olympics had given her—not just the opportunity to compete at the highest level, but also new friends, new experiences, and new memories that she would cherish forever.

When she finally stood up and headed towards the exit, she knew that today was just the beginning. The competitions continued, and she still had her own challenges ahead. But now, she was energized with new motivation. She was ready to face whatever came next, and she knew that with friends like these by her side, she could accomplish anything.

Beatrice walked slowly outside the stadium, thinking about the incredible race she had just watched. The sun was at its peak, meaning that in a few hours, the sky would start to turn shades of orange and pink. Crowds of fans and athletes were scattering, each experiencing their own emotions—joy, relief, maybe even disappointment. But Beatrice was still filled with joy from Thomas's success.

Suddenly, she heard quick footsteps behind her. She turned just in time to see Thomas running toward her, a radiant smile on his face. His hair was still wet, but he was dressed in a comfortable tracksuit, part of the official Italian Olympic attire. His eyes were sparkling with happiness and adrenaline.

"Birdie!" he called out as he approached.

Before she could say anything, Thomas hugged her tightly, causing her to momentarily lose her balance. She laughed in surprise and hugged him back. She could feel his heart still pounding from the race. "Thank you for coming," he said when he finally let her go and looked into her eyes. "It meant so much to me that you were there."

Beatrice smiled and shrugged. "I couldn't miss it," she replied. "It was amazing, Thomas. You swam incredibly."

"We all gave it everything we had," he nodded and ran a hand through his damp hair once more. "But really, when I saw you there..." His voice softened, as if he was a bit embarrassed to admit how much her presence had meant to him. "It gave me strength. You were like a good luck charm for me, Birdie. And I believe that it was you who brought us that luck."

Beatrice felt her cheeks flush, and she quickly smiled to cover her nervousness. "Nonsense," she laughed. "You guys worked like crazy and earned it. I was just cheering."

Thomas looked at her with a serious expression that surprised her. "No, Beatrice, really. Knowing you were there made me feel different, stronger. Like I had someone who believed in me, who was supporting me. I knew I couldn't let you down."

Beatrice smiled again, this time a bit more shyly. She felt that her presence really had made a difference, and that warmed her heart. "I'm glad I could be part of your success," she said quietly.

Thomas paused for a moment and then looked into her eyes. "I have a favor to ask," he began. "We have the final tonight. Would you be there again? Again as my good luck charm? Because I'm sure it won't go as well without you."

Beatrice looked at him in surprise. She hadn't expected him to ask her like this. But as he stood there, with sincerity in his eyes, she knew she couldn't say no. She had other plans for the evening—mainly going to bed early—but the thought of being able to support Thomas in the final seemed much more important.

"Of course, I'll be there," she answered after a moment. "I'll be there, cheering you on with everything I've got."

Thomas's face lit up with a smile full of gratitude and joy. "Thank you, Birdie," he said, then hugged her once more briefly but firmly. "Because of you, I believe we can win."

He might have looked like a supermodel, and to some, it might seem like he was emotionally serious and almost robotic, but he was the complete opposite. Beatrice had known him only briefly, but even now, she saw him as just a young, very charming guy who was simply following his dreams, still the same person he likely was when he was younger. She definitely didn't see any signs of his fame going to his head, and she was glad for that.

When Thomas pulled away, their eyes met for a moment, and Beatrice felt that something special had developed between them, something deeper than just friendship. Perhaps it was their shared determination or just the incredible situation they were in. But it was something she didn't want to lose—still, she had to remind herself that they had only known each other for a day, so these feelings were likely just a stronger form of friendship.

"Alright," Thomas said with a smile. "I need to get back to the team now. But I'll see you tonight, okay?"

"Definitely," Beatrice nodded. "I'll be there."

As Thomas turned and started to leave, Beatrice remained where she was, watching him disappear into the crowd. Her heart was beating faster than she would admit. It was a strange feeling, but she knew that the evening would be something special, not just for Thomas, but for her as well. Until the evening, his gratitude and how much it meant to him that she was there stayed with her.

~•~