Hey guys, I'm Alli. This is my first Fan Fic for MIOBI. I have one on the One Tree Hill board but I'm having major writers block currently. I have this idea for a MIOBI Fic and I hope you guys like it. Most of the original characters will be in it but I'm adding a few of my own. I hope you enjoy it. Please, let me know what you think.
"Steph? Are you listening to me? You really don't have any other options here." Melissa said from the other side of the desk.
"Yeah Mel, I hear you. I'm just not doing it. I swore I would never do gymnastics again. There's no way that I'm doing this."
"Even if it keeps you out of jail?"
"Even then. And especially not in Boulder, Colorado. Who the hell is Sasha Belov anyway?" I said sarcastically, rolling my eyes. In all actuality, I knew exactly who he was. I was completely in awe of him. 4 Olympic Gold medals. I couldn't even imagine it. But I had given up gymnastics a long time ago. There was no hope for me to feel that weight on my neck.
"Stephanie, the only way I can help you is if you give me the whole story about what happened at that house. I know you weren't the only one there. So just tell me."
"I told you Mel, I'm not going to rat on my friends."
"Steph, you know I love you. So you know that I'll do anything I can to help your friends as well. You just need to tell me what happened."
"Ok. I'll tell you. But you're not going to like it. Just don't freak out ok?"
3 weeks earlier.
"Steph, you go around back and see if you can get in. I'll pick the lock up here." Brad said from the door.
"Ok." I said running around the back of the house. I pushed the door open easily and walked inside, happy to be out of the chilly October weather.
I made my way to the front door and opened it for my two best friends, Brad and Sarah. They're my world.
"So Steph, are you going to show us how you kill the mic tonight?" Sarah asked bumping my hip as we picked up the microphone stands and started carrying them to the roof. We were in a band called 'Suburban Thunder' and that night we were holding a concert at one of the foreclosure houses in a subdivision outside of town.
"Hell yes." I said laughing. A few hours later, we were set up and ready to rock the roof.
"How you doin' tonight Colorado Springs? I'm Steph and we're 'Suburban Thunder'!" I yelled into the microphone. The crowd started screaming as we started to play. The rush from the crowd was like nothing I'd ever experienced before. It was almost euphoric. That is, until the cops showed up. People scattered in all directions and there was yelling and screaming. All I could do was stand there and watch it all happen. I knew I should've run. I had a record and this was my, well, eighth strike. It helps a little bit when you're stepmother is a lawyer and can get you out of almost anything.
The police eventually got to me and took me into custody for B&E and minor consumption. I spent three nights in juvie on lockdown because my dad was out of town and Melissa couldn't pick me up because she wasn't my parent or guardian. Lame.
By the time I was finally released, my father, Jonathon Moore, already had a plan in motion.
"Stephanie, Melissa spent all weekend on the phone with the judge and unless you want to spend the next five years in prison, not just juvenile hall, you have to take this deal. You will tell Melissa what exactly happened in that house." He said from behind his desk after we had gotten back to our house.
"That's it?" I asked in amazement. I had been made to do some really horrible forms of community service in my years as a juvenile delinquent. Working in Mel's office, where my dad and she met my first round of community service had been the worst I had ever done. And I've physical labor as well. Me in a lawyer's office was never something to smile about.
"Well, no Steph. That's not all." Melissa said from her perch on the edge of my dad's desk.
"We're sending you to The Rocky Mountain Gymnastics Club where you will train with Coach Sasha Belov and try to get yourself under control. The Rock is in Boulder, Colorado so you will be staying with a colleague of mine whose daughter trains there as well. Stephanie, this is your last chance. Mel is not going to be able to get you out of trouble anymore. You're almost 18, you're lucky they aren't going to try you as an adult this time."
"No, I won't do it. I won't go. I gave up gymnastics a long time ago and I swore I would never touch an apparatus again. You can't do this to me Dad. Mel, please, talk to him. This is crazy!" I said to Mel as I stood up.
"Steph, there's really nothing I can do sweetie. Your father and I just want what's best for you. Think about how much you hate juvie and multiply it by like 50, then you'll understand how awful real jail is. At least you'll be doing something you love right?" She said, hoping to help a little bit I guess. She didn't, all she did was piss me off more.
"NO!" I exploded, "I don't love gymnastics! I haven't since my parents got divorced! That's why I quit! God! You know, it would be nice to get a little understanding from you Mel. You've always been on my side before." I said sarcastically as I paced the room, I admit, stomping like a two year old.
"Now you listen to me Stephanie Rose Moore, you will not speak to her like that. Not in my house. This is final Stephanie. I would love to tell you that everything is going to be alright but if you don't do this, you will go to jail. And I don't want to spend Christmas visiting you in jail." My dad said. And then, he got up from his desk and walked out of the room signaling the end of the conversation. I silently nodded to myself and got up slowly, leaving the room, and apparently, my dignity, behind. I had to go to Boulder. But that didn't mean I had to like it. Or be civil about it.
Present.
"But I didn't actually break in. The back door was unlocked when I got there Mel, I swear. Please, don't let Dad send me to Boulder. I can't handle it." I pleaded. "I haven't even done a cartwheel in three years. There's no way that Coach Belov would ever want to coach me when he's got 4 girls on the Worlds team and the Men's National Champion on his team already. What would he want with a has been who choked and then walked out on her team? Please Mel, please help me."
"I've done all I can for you Steph. I've gotten you out of this a dozen times. There's nothing else I can do, my hands are tied. Your father has made up his mind and you're off to Boulder on Monday. But the good news is this; the judge said that if you show some real improvement at the Rock then we can talk about getting your record expunged. You'll be free of your past." She said patting my hand reassuringly across the table. "You should start packing." She said getting up from the table and putting her mug in the dishwasher.
So, this is what my life has come to. At 17 years old, I'm being sent to train at The Rocky Mountain Gymnastics Club to keep my butt out of jail. My father doesn't understand me; I haven't spoken to my mother in years, except for the occasional phone call and card on my birthday. I'm screwed. Just as I was getting my life together in Colorado Springs, my father decides to uproot me an hour and a half away from my life. And what can I do about it? Nothing. I'm stuck in this suck fest and it's completely my fault. Maybe if I had just run when I should have instead of just standing there like an idiot it might be different. So instead of continuing to argue, I started packing. That was all I could do right?
When Monday morning came around, I was less than thrilled about the idea of being in a car with my dad for more than just a few minutes.
"Stephanie Rose Moore, get down here now. I'd like to beat the traffic!" My father hollered from outside as I stood in front of my mirror trying to decide on the perfect way to deal with this. Do I cry and hug them both before they leave? Make them really miss me? Or do I throw a fit and whine all the way there and through the whole meet and greet crap with Coach Belov. Or maybe a combination of both. Either way, for the next hour and a half, I was completely silent in the backseat with my ear buds placed securely in my ears and my music up to full blast to drown out the incessant chatter from the front seat.
"So Stephy, are you excited?" My dad asked like it was my first day of kindergarten.
"Oh yeah Dad, I'm stoked." I said rolling my eyes as I got out of car and stretched my stiff muscles. Muscles that would soon hurt in a different way and that was what I was looking forward to the most about this stupid place.
"Stephanie, this is Steve Tanner, a colleague of mine and his fiancé Summer. Steve, Summer, this is my daughter Stephanie. Steph, you're going to be staying with Steve, Summer and his daughter Lauren while you're training here at the Rock. I'm sure you will be on your best behavior. Right Steph?" My dad rambled.
"Of course Daddy." I said rolling my eyes to the sign over the front door.
"Well Stephanie, it's really nice to meet you. I'm so glad you'll be staying with us. Anything you need, don't hesitate to ask." Summer said sticking her hand out toward me.
"Yeah, you too. And it's Steph, by the way." I said staring at her hand.
"Right, Steph. Why don't you follow me and I'll introduce you to Sasha?" Steve said trying to lighten the conversation. Though any talk about gymnastics seemed to make things worse anymore so as much as I appreciated his effort, it didn't help. But instead of arguing, I pulled my bag onto my shoulder and followed him into the gym.
The stares and whispers were almost bearable. A lot easier than I thought it would be after what I did. Maybe I was trying too hard to seem standoffish. So, I quietly took my hood off my head, pulled the buds out of my ears and threw my ipod into my bag. Didn't help, they were still whispering.
"Sasha, I'm sorry to interrupt but I wanted to introduce you to someone." I heard Mr. Tanner say while I started off into space.
"Look Tanner, I really don't have time for this. The girls have Nationals in three weeks and I can't afford to take a break. Whoever it is, they'll just have to wait." I heard a British accent, that I assumed belonged to Sasha Belov, say.
"Sasha, Stephanie Moore is here. I'm pretty sure you can take five minutes for a meet and greet. A tour perhaps." Mr. Tanner said, practically demanding that he talk to me. Great, even the coach didn't want me hear. Well, at least we're all on the same page.
"Fine. Emily, that's starting to look better, five more then move on and Lauren, take her place." Coach Belov directed before turning his attention back to Mr. Tanner.
"See Steph? Maybe it won't be so bad here." Mel said, patting my shoulder reassuringly.
"Right, maybe it will be a little less than the pure torture I thought it would be." I said, rolling my eyes at her.
"Sasha Belov, this is Jonathon and Melissa Moore and John's daughter Stephanie."
"It's nice to meet you Coach Belov. We've heard great things about you." My dad said extending his had to him.
"Thank you sir. We'll all take good care of your daughter, nothing to worry about." He said, shaking his hand and addressing the obvious fear in my father's eyes.
"Oh, we don't doubt it." Mel said, shaking his hand as well.
"Hello Stephanie." Coach Belov said putting his hand out toward me.
"Hey." I said as I stared at his hand.
"Right, well, why don't we take this to my office? Stephanie, you can stay here and observe if you'd like. Just don't disturb anyone."
"Sure, I'll stay here with the inmates while the wardens talk." I said smiling sarcastically and pulling my ipod back out of my bag before sitting on the edge of a pile of mats.
"Who the hell does she think she is? And since when does Sasha not say anything about the mouthing off?" I heard a disgusted fake blonde say from the beam.
"You don't know who that is? It's Stephanie Moore. She's the girl who choked at World's in '07 and walked out on her team right before their last rotation. Come on Lo, we watched at my house. The whole place went crazy." I heard the brunette next to her say.
"Wait, THAT'S her. I thought she was shorter. And less round." The blonde said.
"I'm sorry, do you have a problem?" I said looking right at them.
"What? No. Sorry." The brunette said.
"That's what I thought." I said sitting back and closing my eyes. Nothing like the smell of chalk and desperation to make you suddenly exhausted.
Ok, so that's the end of chapter 1. I hope you all enjoyed it. I'll have more posted really soon. I've already started writing it so maybe tonight or tomorrow? I love this story idea so I really hope you all do too! Please review, I want to know what you think and constructive criticism is appreciated. Thanks guys, Alli.