chapter 3
After finally touching down in London I send a text of to Ali to tell her I made it safely and that I'll see her soon. Walking to bag claim I pick up my gym bags and suitcase and walk towards the guy holding up the USA team piece of paper up and see the basketball team and gymnasts and the girls I know for taekwondo and boxing since I'm the only one representing for judo this year and set my bag down and tug the USA jacket on because it's freezing here and since a few others have turned up we get into the bus, outside there is fans, damn seriously these guys are serious.
When piling out of the bus lots of cameras went off and some shouted certain names and then I heard mine I looked towards them and smiled double checking with someone I could do the interview when he nods I approach
"Hey"
I say
"Jamie hello, we are itv1 heard of it?"
"Oh yeah the news in the morning right? I remember living here for a year on and off between here and Germany I found it funny"
I say chuckling whilst recalling the memory of me and Ali on a weekend off in my little apartment early morning with coffee fir her and hot cocoa watching the sun rise and having itv1 on with these special guests making a joke every thirty seconds.
"Yup so the olympics"
"Yeah the Olympics"
"How you feeling about it?"
"Well I've been coming to the Olympics since I was 19/20 so I'm definitely use to the feelings of the tournament but each new time and the countries are so different but I love England I have memories here and I can't wait till everything starts, I've not even seen where I'm sleeping and eating never mind fighting and competing so I'm definitely on a high but I also have to be careful because I have heard some interesting things about these competitors and the ones I've fought before can play dirty I know first hand"
I say whilst subconsciously rubbing my left ribs
"Yes the Chinese girl she lost and made an illegal kick to the ribs and you claimed to be fine and in actual fact they were broken and you won the gold"
"Yeah I'm hoping to be back to back to back champion if i do as well as I am doing at the moment and that these bones can keep up with the new young bloods
I say jokingly
"So personal question, what's going on with you and a certain Ali Krieger, hmm?"
she shows me the pic
Oh god. I think.
I chuckle out loud
"I've been a fan of Ali since she was in Germany and we reached out this was going to be my first time meeting her and to see her get injured like that just made me worry and have to see her so I did and she's recovering now"
I say very strongly and confident
"Oh okay well how is she?"
She asks genuinely concerned
"She's very upset ill tell you that but I won't say anymore because it's up to her to tell you when she is ready and that I have to go or ill have to find my own way to my dorm without my roommate that is the amazing Tina Charles who is here to show what the usa youth is not something to mess with"
I say whilst backing away then meeting up with the girl who is at least 6 inches taller than me
"Thanks for the shout out especially since its coming from you"
She says
"Dude you wait, you are going to own that court like it was your back yard, I believe in you and your team does all you gotta do is believe in yourself and nothing could stop you. Now come on mama wants to see the room and more importantly the food"
I say whilst re-picking up my bag to see I'm getting a Skype call from my princess I answer and put earphones in
"Hey love"
I say
"Hey Jamie, how was the flight?"
"Bad because I didn't have my comfort pillow but a baby wouldn't stop crying, poor thing was teething, Ali baby he was so cute and had these baby blue eyes, he's gonna be a heartbreaker"
She chuckles at my rambling
"You're cute who'd have thought the big bad mma fighter is a big teddy bear when it comes to babies"
"and you, but your my baby anyway so" I trail off
"How's everything on your end?"
"Well still in the germ free room and the girls have asked about you well the girl who took a hold of my hand, then they saw you trending on twitter and then barged question on me about you especially ash she's a huge fan"
"Well you tell them when they win the Olympic gold tell them to get their asses down here to London so I can meet them"
"You're that confident that we will win?"
"Yes, without it will be more difficult for defence and they will have to adapt quickly but watching them over the years I can tell you that they will be in the final"
"Well jammie I got to go I hear the girls walking up here"
Even I can hear the cleats hitting the floor, must have just finished training
"Wait let me tell me what I told you ill get the woman's basketball team in on it"
I then quickly tell Tina to gather the ladies and I brief them quickly then I hear a lot of chatter coming from my phone so I look to see the girls in a little argument and I let a chuckle out they hear me so I'm on speaker , they turn to the screen
"Hey ladies"
I smile
"And hey ashyln"
I wave at them all
"Wow you're Jamie Jackson"
"That would be me I haven't got long neither have these girls because we are already in London ready to go and I had a message I will see you in London after you come down romantic getting the gold medal high and you can celebrate with us, I already know this team has winners on it and I can't wait to see your group game in Manchester, you win this for the USA ladies we all believe in you ain't that right ladies USA USA USA USA"
they chant
"You bring those gold medals down here you here me and Lloyd I it a bet on you scoring first so you better score ya here"
I say chuckling
"No baby is gonna score first I put money down on you wambach please score so I can knock her off her throne"
Tina says
"Woman my throne was built in 2004 wanna knock it down you gonna need more than that"
I say jokingly
I hear them chuckle
"And Ali keep chuckle head in line we don't want tea kettle exploding do we?"
I say trying to mess with Heather
""Really Jamie really okay just because we aren't all as jammie as you when it comes to getting the chilled out head doesn't mean you can make fun of the volcano"
She says playing along
"Okay okay, guys seriously win and if it's Japan who you're against show them the USA comes back with more than just a bark show em just how nasty our bite can be, well I got to go I've reached my dorm and me and Tina gonna go grab some food and girls I feel sorry for you that you're in Scotland missing out on this because just by the size of the outside I know it's gonna be good, bye guys!"
"Bye"
Tina opens the door
"Ooh look we scored a balcony"
I say whilst putting my bas down by the other bed and jump on it only for a second as we are out and ready to get food
2012 olympics won't know what the usa hit them with