I walk out to the bus and sit in the front seat behind the driver. I have a small pillow and blanket tucked in my bag for the trips to and from the competition because it takes so long and well, I didn't sleep well. Coach Miles knows I bring it with me but she also knows a bit about my living considering she used to date my dad after mom and he separated. Coach Miles sits in the seat across from me and hands me a book. I take it from her, look at it, and then look at her confused. She leans across the aisle and says, "It'll put you to sleep and it's educational."
I smile at her and start reading. My mind processes the words as my eyes scan across the pages. Pictures form the storyline in my mind in vivid color. Slowly I feel my eyes close and my mind goes dark embracing the wonders of sleep.
"Cassie, Cassie, wake up dear. We're here at the competition," Coach Miles says shaking me slightly to wake me.
I gasp in shock and my eyes open wide as I jerk awake. Coach Miles grabs my shoulders and looks me in the eyes so as to say, "You're not home." I look at her and smile. She takes my bag and grabs my arm to lead me down the stairs on the bus. Coach Cindy Miles is an amazing person. She's the sweetest woman you'll meet and the harshest when you go out of line too many times. Coach Miles takes care of me like a mom when we aren't at school or at competitions.
The team walks into the building, gets registered and checked in. I take out my wallet and buy a caffeinated soda, to wake me up even more, from a vending stand. We walk into the gym which has been matted and given extra things like the bars, beam, vault, and a gymnastics floor. Tables are placed alongside each of the events for the judges. We walk to our area where we can put out bags and such down. Looking around I see around nine other teams of girls, one from each gymnastics trainer in the district. The teams line up for the entrance in for the introduction and we walk on into the gym.
After every pomp and circumstance is done we start the competition. Each girl on our team is good at one event except for me. I'm the wild card that can throw a wrench into any teams best laid plans. I'm the all around gymnast. We are all trained in every area only we find ones that we are exceptionally good at; Eve is vault, Lydia is uneven bars, Denise is beam, Katie is floor. I am the best on my team at every event. The competition started and my team was put on beam first. The rotation is Katie, Lydia, Denise, Eve, and then me.
We each did our routines and got pretty good scores. We then moved onto vault, then to uneven bars, and finally to floor. With each event we had good scores and were leading the competition. I watch Denise's routine on floor and notice someone out of the corner of my eye. I look in the stands and notice someone much unexpected was standing there watching the floor routines. I walk to Coach Miles and get ready for my routine after Eve. I take off my sweat pants, that I put on after every event is finished because I get cold, and situate my team leo. The schools colors are red, gold, white, and black and each color is somewhere in our leotards. Since we all went to the same school we chose the colors to represent us and the school would not allow a gymnastics team since the sport is considered "dangerous" and "potentially fatal". The majority of the leotard is red, with designs in white, black, and gold. I tighten my ponytail and apply the "Tuff Skin" again to make sure my leo won't ride up.
I told myself I was just imagining the person. So I prepare to do my routine by putting the chalk powder on my feet to help me stick my landings. I walk onto the nearest corner of the floor to start my routine. The music starts and as I hear the notes every feeling that I had when choreographing this flood back to me. I dance out onto the floor and follow every component necessary to get the fullest score. I don't think about my routine just the emotions and the song. When the song ends my routine ends with it. I smile and walk away to my team to await my scores. I got the highest score of the competition. My team jumps up and down hugging me. We get our medals and trophies then pack up and head to the bus. Everyone else is hyped up because of our win, I'm just exhausted from being awake for so long.
I fall asleep on the bus and wait for the bus to arrive at the school. I know my dad would be waiting at the school to pick me up and take me home. I'm afraid of what will happen when I get there. I made dinner for him this morning before I left for school like I did every morning when I had a competition. I hope he found it and that he'll just pick me up and let me sleep. I only get around four hours of sleep a night normally. This was like a godsend.
When the bus stops I wake, grab my bag, and get off the bus. I see a light blue Ford truck and I knew it was my father. He steps out of the cab, walks over to me, jerks my bag off my shoulder and gently pushes me towards the truck. I open the door and sit in the truck, and buckle myself in. My dad gets in the car and we head home.
"You did well tonight Cassie. You got the gold," he says to me, stroking my cheek.
"Thank you dad. I'm glad you're proud," I reply.
I could smell the alcohol in the truck and on him. He'd been at the bar last night and earlier he'd been in the bottle today. He never went to work when he was like this so I know he's been drinking the entire day. We pull into the driveway and I get out of the truck. I drag my feet getting into the house. My father grabs my arm and pulls me into the office. I'm too tired to cry or do anything tonight so I let him do what he wanted.
