A/N Thank you all for the reviews for this story, and as always keep them coming. Let me know what you think about the chapter? :)
Huffing, a slight sheen of sweat formed on my brow as I tried to catch my breath. The first half of training for the day had gone rather fast, and it was mainly because Charlotte and I had discovered a new found friendship with each other. Surprisingly, she's a rather interesting person to talk to, and I've learnt quite a lot about her. Apparently her family are rather strict in terms of her life and future, and the only reason she was here was because her parents have been conditioning her since a young age in order to compete in gymnastics. In the beginning, I had naturally assumed she was here because she was passionate about the sport, but upon hearing her background, it made me feel rather sympathetic toward the red head. It made me wonder if Charlotte wasn't the only one here with a similar story.
Being signalled for our lunch break, me and Charlotte made our way to the small cafeteria down the main hallway. Upon arriving, most of the other girls cued up at the serving bar to get their lunch, while some had theirs already packed – like me "I'll be sitting over there" I said while gesturing to the table in the far corner.
Nodding her head, I left Charlotte to get her lunch in line while I went to sit down with my granola bar. Letting out a slight grown, I sat on the cold metal chair, not at all loving my favourite meal of the day. Tearing at the seams of the packaging, I started to chew away at the oat bar. Leaning back, I roamed my eyes over the other girls as they formed 'table groups'. Watching Brianna, only three other girls sat with her. I assumed they were her 'BFF's', or whatever these city girls call their friends.
Not waiting long, Charlotte had made her way over to me with a quiche and vitamin water. Sitting down beside me, she looked me up and down. Turning my head, I frowned as she looked somewhat troubled "What's wrong? Do I have something on me?" I asked.
"N-no" she stuttered while shaking her head and opening her water "…I just" pointing to the half-eaten bar in my hands "what are you eating?"
"Oh" I mumbled while gesturing to my bar "it's a granola bar. They're a meal replacement" I said trying to explain to her.
"A meal replacement? As in…that's all that you eat for lunch?" she asked, her voice rising with each word.
Nodding my head slowly, I added "Breakfast and dinner…It's not that bad" trying to justify the taste, I shrunk further back into my seat.
"How come? You're not that fat" replied Charlotte. Drinking her water, she started to eat her delicious looking and smelling quiche. I could practically feel my mouth watering, but if I so much as even think about eating anything I shouldn't – Coach will know.
"Coach…recommended it" I said, making it sound less offensive than it really was. Watching her mouth form an 'oh', I think she somehow understood what I was trying to say without saying it. Not saying another word, she dropped the subject. After all, it's a crowded cafeteria. It would be humiliating if someone were to overhear and spill the beans; that Coach Tucker had told me I was fat, and needed to go on an extreme diet of five hundred calories a day.
Choosing a different topic, I finished my granola bar and Charlotte her quiche a few minutes later. Sitting to digest and chat a little more about the other girls and who they were, Coach had walked into the cafeteria "Alright girls, breaks over…" signalling everyone to get up, Charlotte and I made our way back into the gym.
Leaning down so that I could whisper, I said to Charlotte "If I didn't know any better, I would think we're in a military training camp"
Hearing her giggle faintly, she covered her mouth with her hand "I never thought of it that way…" after following the small herd of girls, Charlotte had grabbed hold of my hand to drag me in a certain direction "come on. You can spot me for vault" nodding my head, I very much welcomed the break from the beams. My feet were starting to kill me.
Watching Charlotte flip in the air, I felt very much impressed at her performance. Like she had said earlier, vaults definitely her strong suit. Much better than me, that's for sure. Smiling as the red head bounded toward me; her chest heaving, I watched as she skipped her way back down the long stretch of mat to get to the starting point.
Standing with my arms crossed over my chest, I watched again as Charlotte held a face of pure focus. Running full speed, I noticed she could pick up a decent pace before she bounded off of the vault once again. Hearing the sound of a deep click from the equipment, her body spiralled almost hypnotically into the air. Landing without so much as a twitch, her white legs were perfectly together "You're Amelia, right?" turning at the sound of a very feminine and somewhat high voice, I looked to see Brianna standing next to me; a white smile on her face.
"Yeah, and your Brianna" nodding her head, the blonde held out her hand and I quickly shook it before crossing my arms back over my chest.
Standing in a few seconds silence, Brianna spoke up "She's good, isn't she?"
"Yes" I said with no doubt in my voice "she definitely is"
"Not as good as me though" and there it is I thought to myself, the ego. Resisting the urge to roll my eyes, I watched as Charlotte looked down shyly and self-conscious at the new member to her audience. I don't think Charlotte and this girl get along, not from the signals I was picking up on "if I'm being honest, she's not the greatest of talent in this place" hearing the blonde heave out a sigh of disappointment, she continued "Coach just keeps her around because her parents pay a fortune for her to train here"
Despite what the rude blonde had said about Charlotte, I couldn't help but spike up at the reveal of information. Not turning to make it noticeable as Charlotte trotted off back down the end and away from us, I asked "Coach didn't choose her himself?"
"Of course he didn't. I mean look at her" Brianna spoke with disgust, as she nodded toward the girl in the green leotard "the only thing she's good at, is this…everything else, she sucks at. It's a waste of time for her to even be here. It's not like she's going to make it to the Olympics anyway. She's so unco-ordinated, and she's afraid of heights, so she won't even go on the bars" hearing her scoff "what kind of respectable gymnast is afraid of heights"
Frowning at the amount of information I was receiving, I tried to defend Charlotte "If what your saying is true, and her parents are paying a lot of money, she should be treated like everybody else. That includes being properly trained – otherwise it's neglect…besides, every body's afraid of something. Doesn't mean you should let it stop you. As her Coach, he should be encouraging her to improve"
"I don't think you understand – Charlottes a failure. The sooner her parents get that through their skulls, the better. I mean, there practically throwing their money away on a stupid fantasy that's never going to happen…and besides" Brianna said with a flick of her hair "Coach Tucker has better things to do than waste his time on her"
"Like you" I snapped back, in a somewhat offensive and fact way.
"Exactly…like me" watching the girl beside me puff out her chest in pride and straightened her back, she continued "I'm an athletic champion, born and bred…I'm perfect" wanting to scoff at her statement, and I couldn't help but dislike her even more as of now "…what?" she said as I hadn't said anything "do you disagree?"
"No one's perfect" I replied, not wanting to start a cat fight.
"Well I am. Go ahead, ask Coach. He'll tell you it's true…I'm going to win Gold" she said whilst turning to me with a look of pure confidence. Taking that as her queue to leave, the blonde strutted away with a sway in her hips – unbelievable I thought to myself, maybe her and Coach are the perfect couple. There both up themselves in probably every way. Shaking my head at the blonde, I turned my attention back to Charlotte as she started to run down the long strip of blue mat.
"Good job ladies. And remember, I want you all here early tomorrow morning. No exceptions…" spoke Coach Tucker as he looked at me dead straight. Nodding our heads, the already changed girls started to make their way out of the gym. Lucky for them, they get to go home on time – unlike me.
Hoping up from the floor, I was still dressed in my training gear "I'll see you later" said Charlotte before giving me a rather tight hug. Nodding my head, she let go of me for bounding her way out of the gym along with the rest.
Turning around, it didn't take long for me and Coach to be the only ones left in the gym. Standing awkwardly, I didn't know what to do "Well" he said while slapping his hand on his thigh, as if I were just standing and being useless "go start training. I don't have all night"
Nodding my head quickly, I walked over to the balance beams. He did say I had to train on them for all of today. Working half way into my routine, I had just back flipped when his voice echoed out from beside me "straighten your legs when you land, and not so far apart" halting my position on the beam, I watched as he came closer. Feeling his warm fingers wrap around my ankle, he moved it closer to my other foot. Stumbling over at his sudden adjustment, my arm shot out to land on his shoulder for support.
Quickly apologising, I straightened up to continue with my routine. Finding myself at one end of the beam, I cartwheeled along before flipping off of the end to stick my landing on the mat below. Keeping my legs straight, together and not stumbling, I turned to face Coach for approval.
"Not bad" he said with a nod of his head "you're certainly better at the beam than you are the bars, but we can fix that. Keep going…I want you to show me a different routine. I want to see what you can and can't do" nodding my head, I climbed up on the beam and started a different set of moves.
After about three rounds, I was practicing the separate moves on their own when Coach spoke again from beside me "You and Charlotte" he started "getting along I see?" was he making conversation?
"Yes, we are" I said while doing the splits on the beam, my legs as straight and stretched as they could be "were friends…"
"Well…what do know? Friends already…It's not as bad as you thought it was going to be, was it?" he asked, referring to the other girls. Sighing, I shook my head. No, it's not so bad "how about Brianna? I saw you two having quite a long and in-depth chat at the vault later today. You friends with her too?"
Scoffing, I couldn't hold it back this time "Brianna and I are definitely not friends. She's rude, preppy and a show off. I don't have time for people like her" I said honestly.
"Don't be so harsh. She's a great student" he said while crossing his arms, a grin on his face "you might even learn something from her"
Frowning, I couldn't help but think there was something hidden in his words. Ignoring it, I replied "The only thing anyone will ever learn from Brianna, is how to be self-obsessed. All she cares about is qualifying for the Olympics and winning gold. Which by the way has further inflated her ego – no thanks to you for putting it in her head"
"There's nothing wrong about wanting gold" he said with another cheeky grin, before going somewhat serious "and I wasn't lying when I said that she could. She's trained all her life, she's skilled in what she does and she may very well win. And if that is the case, then good for her"
"So in other words – she's perfect" leaning back up, I faced Coach again. I wanted to see what he had to say, and if he would indeed confirm Brianna's earlier statement of being perfect.
"Perfect" he scoffed with a large smile "is that what she's telling everyone now?" shaking his head, he snickered "you say one positive thing to that girl, and she goes wild. Soon she'll be telling everyone to kiss her feet" I wonder where she gets it from I thought, not hard to guess.
Tilting my head "She's telling people a lot of things" I said for to myself. Referring to what Brianna had disclosed to me about Charlotte and her parents.
"Oh really?" hearing his voice reply in a sort of cautious and curious way, he stepped forward until he was right beside me "like what?" swallowing the lump in my throat, I dropped my leg so that I was straddling the beam. He looked somewhat serious and bosting. What was Coach thinking she said to me?
Shaking my head, I tried to nudge the conversation away "Nothing serious...just girl stuff" hearing him sigh, he gave me a sceptical look, as if to say he knew I was lying. That there was more to the story than I was letting on. And he's right, there is, but he doesn't need to know that for sure.
"Well that wasn't interesting, now, was it?" sighing again in disappointment, he looked down at the expensive watch that lay clasped around his left wrist "you're free to go...trainings over" frowning, I checked the large clock on the wall to see he was right. The hour and a half I had missed from earlier had flown by faster than I thought. It's time to go home.
Swinging my leg around, I jumped off the beam to land on the cushioned mat below. Heading toward the dressing room, I changed into my normal clothes before coming back out; the tape removed from my ankles. Whipping out my phone, I checked the time before making my way out of the gym.
Feeling the chilly night air as the bright lights illuminated the car park, I couldn't help but snicker as the only car left in the entire area was a dark grey Porsche. Standing just outside the front entrance, I flicked through my phone trying to find the number so that I could call a taxi. Struggling with the internet connection, it was taking forever for the webpages to load and before I knew it, Tucker had made his way outside "Still here" he said in a teasing tone "just can't keep away?"
Biting my tongue, I replied "I'm trying to find the number so I can call a taxi" hoping the answer would make him leave me alone, the few seconds of silence were in my favour – but I spoke too soon.
"Save your money. I'll give you a ride" he said while nodding his head toward the Porsche "I insist" he added. Not bothering to refuse his offer, he had already started toward his car. Looking around the parking lot, I didn't particularly feel like staying here completely alone in the dark. Quickly catching up as the yellow lights flashed, I climbed into the passenger seat. Feeling the cold leather rub against my skin, the inside smelt new and clean. To be completely honest, it was really nice car "where too?" asked Tucker.
"Sashmont Avenue" I replied while pointing down toward the left. Continuing to glance around the interior, the engine soon turned on with a deep rumble, and I could feel the vibrations coming from below. Watching from the corner of my eyes, Tucker reached out his arm to hook around the back of my head rest. Angling his body, he gave me a wink before backing out of the car park. Maybe I should have refused his offer.
Driving onto the main street, the car picked up speed as it glided almost smoothly down the road. Watching as the buildings passed us by, I was too absorbed in my own mind to see the hand moving to brush past my leg. Looking down, I watched as Tucker changed gears before halting the car to a stop at a set of traffic lights; I didn't think anything of it.
Sighing as I sat back in the comfortable leather chair, an awkward silence had settled in as we waited. I wish he would turn on the radio. Gazing around as other cars pulled up beside us, I felt another brush past my leg as the lights changed to green. Raising an eyebrow as I looked up, I wondered if he knew what he was doing or not. Moving my legs to get them away from his fingers, his whole hand immediately moved to rest on top of my leg "…What are you doing?" I questioned, not at all hesitating to look at him. Obviously he knew.
"I don't know" he said, keeping his attention on the road ahead "what am I doing?" feeling his hand rub slowly over my skin, every now and then it would wander further up or in.
Furrowing my brow, I answered "What you're doing…is being inappropriate. And I would appreciate it if you would stop" looking down, his hand hadn't retreated like I thought it would. Instead it continued to creep further up. Sighing, I went to push his hand away, but as I did, he grabbed it in his own with a tight grip. Pulling, I tried to get free "let go of me" feeling him entwine our fingers together, he pushed our hands toward my crotch.
"Relax sweetheart" he said with a chuckle as the car continued to cruise down the road "I'm not going to finger fuck you on my leather seats. I just had this cleaned" taken aback by his bold and improper language, I felt somewhat confused.
"The why did you do it?" I asked curiously. Why else would you feel someone up if you didn't want to get further?
Hearing him coo at me, he teased "Is that disappointment I hear?" rolling my eyes, I scoffed at his accusation. As if I would be disappointed "…I just like to make you squirm" he added before taking a left down another street. Feeling his hand rub further toward my crotch, a rush of heat rose from the tips of my toes and all the way up to my cheeks.
Feeling a tingle somewhere else, I shifted uncomfortably in the seat as my hand and his were still wedged between my legs "getting hot and bothered are we?" hearing him snicker, he gave one last squeeze to my thigh before letting go of my hand. Watching Tucker reach for the air-con, he turned the nob from hot to cold.
Gasping from the burst of cold air as it hit my overheated body, I shivered with a wave of goose bumps. Closing my legs tight, I rubbed the tops of my thighs to try and warm myself up "Could you turn the heat back on…it's freezing"
"You're a big girl. I'm sure you can handle it" turning to glare at him, I crossed my arms and slouched in the seat. Leaning my head back on the head rest, it wasn't long when we pulled up beside my apartment. Sighing as I collected my things, I watched as Tucker stared up at the building through the windscreen "this is where you live?" he question, making it sound like an insult.
"Yes Coach Tucker, this is where I live" I snapped. After the scenario that happened a few street's back, I didn't know what was wrong with me. I felt so agitated all of a sudden, and more than usual "thank you for the ride" I mumbled as I reached for the handle. Pulling, the door wouldn't open and I turned to Tucker with a sour look on my face. What's his problem now? "will you please, open the door"
Staring at me, he smirked "Since you used your manner, like a good girl…yes" hearing the lock click free, I scrambled out of the car as fast as humanely possible. Never will I ever, let him take me home again I thought as I slammed the door.