Hey!
I've received a great response, so I decided to keep going with this story. Since I'm writing it as I go I don't have a specific updating pace which means that you either have to check every once in a while for updates or you can subscribe to this story/my profile and get updates whenever a new chapter is up.
My enormous thanks to those of you who like, comment and follow this story, you are very appreciated!
I decided to hold out on the smut for now, it will arrive though!
When I use certain terms from gymnastics I'll let you know in the end notes.
Enjoy :)
"You're late"
It's the first thing she hears as she enters the training hall. She so desperately fights the urge to roll her eyes. She has arrived ten minutes before the practice is due to start instead of twenty minutes prior, how does that count in any world (but Cora's) as being late?
But she zips it, because defying Cora on the first day of practice is probably the worst thing she can do. She places her large bag on one of the chairs and takes out her stretching band. Cora is currently working with Kathryn, who god knows why, likes to get up early and practice before the sun is even up. That makes her the Cora's favorite. And don't assume for a moment Regina is anywhere near the top of that list. Somehow, being her daughter makes her hated by that woman more than any other girl in the team. Go figure…
She is in her splits by the time Kathryn approaches her, her face red as tomato and framed by blonde locks that stick to her sweat covered skin.
"You're up" she says breathily and then gulps down half a bottle of water. She makes a move to sit down when Cora, who doesn't even has to look, commands calmly "Stretch".
Horribly disappointed by the lack of resting time, Kathryn gets up and starts her post-training routine; shoulders, neck, upper back, lower back, splits and feet.
Regina approaches her mother tentatively. Cora nods curtly and Regina steps on the heightened floor. She waits for her to start barking commands but Cora merely looks at her.
They stand in silence and Regina can feel the lump forming in her throat. Can she tell? No, there is no way; she cleaned herself thoroughly, there isn't a single mark nor a hint of her previous night's actions, she has made sure of it.
Cora cocks an eyebrow and purses her lips and Regina's newly achieved confident is quickly stripped away from her. She knows! Her head screams in panic. Stay calm, she orders herself as she stares right in her mother's eye.
"What did you do?" she finally asks and there's chill is in her voice, challenging Regina to lie to her.
"What do you mean?" she feigns innocence.
"What are you hiding?"
Her eyes go round "Nothing?" and it is so unconvincing, she might as well say nothing. She feels ten again, after being caught stealing candy from the pantry since she wasn't allowed to eat them.
"She covered for me," Kathryn jumps in and reminds Regina why she is still her friend "I did some drinking last night and she came to make sure I wasn't doing anything inappropriate." Despite this terribly terrifying situation Regina wants to laugh. If Cora had any idea what kind of things the both of them did last night she would probably hang them from the uneven bars, upside down.
Cora seems to consider that answer. Luckily for the both of them Kathryn isn't really afraid of anyone and has no problems lying to Cora's face.
"How responsible of you," she says eventually and Regina's lungs finally release the breath she was holding. "Well done dear" she compliments though there isn't anything remotely proud nor appreciative in her tone.
"Thank you mother" she nods.
After that their practice continues as if nothing has happened.
It is only when they're in the food court that Regina can finally address the thoughts that have been filling her mind. Not for long though,
"Stick your knees together in your sheep!" Kathryn says in a deep voice, making Regina jump.
"Jesus!" she shots her an angry look "Stop doing this!" it is disconcerting how accurate her imitation is. Kathryn merely laughs as she sits down next to the brunette, their plates looking the same; a huge portion of greens, protein in the shape of meat and hard boiled eggs and some whole wheat bread to go with it. The only difference between the two is Kathryn's soda. Regina stuck with her water but the blonde completely discarded Cora's instruction and opted on indulging herself with some industrial-artery-blocking sugar.
"So…" the blonde drawls and Regina lifts her eyebrow in question.
"Did you get lucky yesterday?" she asks and Regina thanks the gods there wasn't any food in her mouth to choke on, only air.
"No, what-?" she stumbles over her words "why would you think that?"
"Well, first of all because of your incapability to form a single sentence when asked about it. As well as being late this morning…"
Regina lets out an exasperated sigh "I was not late-"
"You know what I mean" Kathryn interrupts "And your face" she says and points her hand, the one holding the fork.
Regina frowns "What about my face?"
"You glow" she emphasizes with her shit-eating green. "I would bet some god money that you didn't get much sleep last night yet your skin is radiant. Ugh," she leans back in her chair, with a dreamy look on her face "the things orgasms do to you."
Regina opens her mouth and closes it when she realizes she doesn't have anything to say. Instead she just pushes Kathryn and pouts like a child.
She was making her way back to her room. Kathryn abandoned her to go watch the swimmers practice, leaving Regina alone. Since she had the room to herself she opted on taking a nap, having a couple of hours before her evening practice. It wasn't too cold outside so she made a detour, exploring the village. Being out in the open always did wonders to her mood. Something about the light breeze, the openness, made her feel free. She never gets to feel free in any other aspect of her life. Her mother being her coach makes her totally trapped, this two 'authorities' combined together give Cora monopoly on Regina's life. Not to say that Regina doesn't love gymnastics, because she does. But the prospect of breaking out of this pattern of training then studying and vice versa seems divine. Leaving Texas and going back to New York, to her dad, would be liberating. She hated Texas, especially the heat. This constant level of angriness due to the scolding sun was wearing her out. She liked her winters and missed the sharp feeling of cold wind against her skin.
She approached her building and halted, recognizing the mane of blonde curls.
What is she doing here?
Emma was leaning on the wall, hands shoved in her pockets.
"Emma?" she asked and the blonde looked up, a smile immediately gracing her face.
"Hey" she smiled sheepishly and Regina couldn't help but to return it.
"What are you doing here?"
Emma shrugged in response, as if she doesn't know herself.
Regina's look alternated between Emma and the building, chewing her lip in contemplation. Having made up her mind, she broke the silence
"Want to come up for a coffee?"
*Sheep is a jump, usually preformed in the beam routine (you can look it up online, just write 'gymnastics sheep jump').
