Venus Vs Mars Pt.II

Chapter 34

Staff directed the traffic of athletes, reporters. Celebrities making their way down the red carpet laughing and joking amongst one another. Her ring sparkled around her finger as the bright sun bounced off of it. Her hair pulled back to show of the beading on her top, which gave texture to her outfit as they both stood side by side in all black, his arm firmly wrapped behind her lower back and her arm resting on his shoulder. Odell finally settled for a clean white leather jacket to keep from too much black.

He stood several steps to the left of her  as the couple took separate pictures then joined hands again minutes later making their way down the carpet. Their first public appearance as an engaged couple and not as friends. Massy jumped in excitement hugging the familiar brunette, and host of Garbage Time a podcast Massy had done several times. The two women had become close over the past year.

"How are you beautiful! I barley recognized you without your jersey on!" Katie joked as she pulled Massy into a hug. Odell removed his hand from her allowing her to go about her business as a fellow athlete approached him.

"I know, right! I live in that thing!" Massy said showing off her dimples with a wide smile.

"You look so gorgeous! Look at you!"

"I clean up nice when I want too! You know what it is!? I finally got sick of Odell being prettier than me." Katie couldn't help but laugh at Massy's comment. Her head went back as she closed her eyes laughing louder as she held the mic to Massy's mouth. "So I was just like let me go all out! Cake face and all because I'm sick of this."

"He is a very pretty man. I have to agree." Katie said shrugging her shoulders.

"I know! It pisses me off!" Massy agreed looking around at all the commotion that went on behind her, she looked to the side of her making sure Odell was still there.

"Well I mean you're going to show off anyway. You're nominated twice tonight! Best Female Athlete, and  Outstanding Team." Katie smiled wider in excitement for her friend.

"I am. You know what's funny about being nominated!? It's cool as hell, but then you realize if you win you have to get up and make a speech on national tv. So hopefully I don't screw that up." Massy scrunched up her face.

"Just have Odell stand there, he'll distract everyone with his prettiness." Another shrug of Katie's shoulders as she joked about Odell's amazing features again.

"Well, he's gotta be good for something other than just catching footballs. I mean, somethings gotta give!"

"Ok, so before I let you go! You're leaving for the Olympics in like less than a month. Are you ready? Are you not ready? What's going on!?"

Massy's eyes widened as she realized she was leaving in a few weeks. "Uhhhh. I'm ready... But I'm not ready... I'm nervous... But then I'm not nervous. I think I'm just ready to leave and experience the games, win, and come home. So I'm more anxious."

"I heard you were doing something with uninterrupted?"

"I am! They came to me and wanted to work with me, this being my first Olympics I'm going to be documenting from start to finish of my experience there, so I'm excited."  Massy confirmed about the leaked news. Massy felt her hand being grabbed again, she looked over to see Odell tugging for her to wrap up the interview. He smiled at Katie then took two steps backwards pulling her.

"Awww I'm so proud of you doll! I can't wait to see you out there on that field for the games!" Katie said leaning in to hug Massy.

"Thank you so much babe!" Massy said with a smile pressing her cheek to Katie's and hugging her back.

After a terrifying week of senseless gun violence that painfully illustrated America's still very complex and deep racial divides, four of the NBA's top players stood shoulder to shoulder in a call for nonviolence. In front of a star studded audience LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, and Chris Paul put together the 2016 ESPYs' Powerful Opening Message.

With what is usually a celebration of athletic triumphs and record breaking strides, the foursome brought a bit of reality by addressing the recent span of killings that have hovered the country, including the shooting of five officers in Dallas, the deaths of two black men at the hands of police days before that, and the Pulse nightclub m******e in Orlando.

"It's time to look at the mirror and ask ourselves what are we doing to make change, and renounce all violence," LeBron James said to the audience. "We all have to do better."

"It won't always be convenient. It won't always be comfortable. But it is necessary." Dwayne Wade added as he ended his portion. Though it may have made a few very uncomfortable to maybe personally listen to. But it was something that had to be addressed.

The night continued with laughter and cheering as athletes were announced for their winnings along with a three piece honoring of three head athletes as they retired from their sports. Denver Broncos quarterback Patton Manning, Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant, and US Women's National Team, forward Abby Wambach. A twelve minute video played as honor all three legendary athletes. A standing ovation took place as all three stood thanking the crowed.

"And the winner is... The Women's US Soccer Team!" 

"Please welcome captain Abby Wambach and The US Women's National Soccer Team." 

The long line of twenty three women followed behind Abby as she reached her hand out to help the remaining women up the steps. "Are we all up here!?" Abby asked into the mic, making sure her team was fully present. "On behalf of the whole team we couldn't thank you all enough! You all believed in us the whole ride all seven games! From wearing our jerseys, posting about the games! We love you guys so much!" All twenty three women locked arms as Abby spoke, smiling and nodding. "I'm so happy and honored to be have played with and call these women my sisters I honestly could think of a better group of women! Thank you for allowing me to lead this team and close out the year making history. We're definitely going to party! Add this to the celebration!" 

Aside from Massy not winning Best Female Athlete, she wouldn't leave empty handed. Leaving with a team win with the twenty three women she played and trained with on a daily. Massy was more than happy. She too couldn't of picked a better group of women to go on a World Cup and now Olympic journey to go on with.