Meet

The school had given us the day off so we could prepare for the meet. I had my routines ready and practiced. My ankle was taped up and strong enough to hold for the meet. There was still around an hour until Emma and Mark were driving by to pick me up. I was getting myself ready, I was listening to the 'pump up' playlist on my ipod and fixing my makeup.

As I picked up my mascara wand, I heard the quiet sound of my window sliding closed. I twisted around, guessing that it would be Edward. He walked up to me smiling. As I smiled back in return, I asked, 'Aren't you supposed to be in school today?'

'As I've told you before,' he said in that deep dazzling voice of his, 'Ditching class once in a while is healthy.'

'Mmhhnn,' I nodded.

I turned back to the mirror and started applying the mascara to my lashes. I felt Edward's cool hand place themselves on my shoulders, 'So, you nervous about this competition of yours?'

I sighed, 'Of course I am. I haven't been in a meet for a long time. Getting back out there…,' I trailed of in thought.

'Sorry Edward,' I continued as he sat down next to me, 'It's just that, I have a lot to make up for. And I have to live up to my rep.'

Edward looked into my eyes through the mirror, 'Bella, I'm sure you will be amazing.'

I looked back at him, watching as he kissed me on the top of my head.

'You always are,' he breathed into my ear.

'Thanks Edward,' I turned to him and planted a kiss on those perfect lips of his.

He kissed me back, placing his cold hands on my cheeks.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, ruining the moment.

'Bella, honey? I have your smoothie ready.'

Flustered, I waved my hands at Edward, getting him to hurry into my closet. Edward had been entering my room through the window, and my parents still had no idea about the fact that I had been seeing him.

I picked up my hairbrush as calmly as I could, 'Come in mom.'

Mom had already gotten changed and ready for the meet, she placed the glass of banana smoothie on my dressing table. She took the hairbrush from my hands and tied my hair back into a perfect pony tail for me.

'So, you excited and ready?'

I nodded quickly, 'Of course I am.'

'I know you're nervous dear,' mom said as she bent down so she would be level with me, 'But you know you will do great right?'

I forced a smile, 'I know, I know.'

Mom smiled once again, 'I have to go meet your dad now, we're going to the gym early. See you there alright?'

I nodded, 'Bye.'

'Oh and Bella, good luck, you can do it.'

'I know that mom.'

Mom sighed in a funny manner, 'I'm your mother Bella. I know you're nervous, and I know you're scared. And I know you're pressured. But I also know that you're going to give your one hundred and ten percent to the judges.'

'Thanks mom, I will.' I bit my lip, wondering if I could.

An hour later, both Edward and my mom had left for the gym; I pulled my tracksuit bottoms on, still listening to my ipod. The doorbell rang, grabbing my bag I answered it to find Emma and Mark, who I guessed had skipped school, on my doorstep. Like me, Emma already had her hair tied back with her school tracksuit on. I greeted them and got into the Marks car.

Mark drove Emma and I to the meet in silence. There were butterflies in my stomach. I looked over at Emma but she didn't meet my eyes. Instead she was staring out of the window, clutching a necklace which I knew was her good luck charm. Emma might not have all the pressure on her shoulders like I had, but this was her first meet and I was sure she was asking herself if she was ready for it.

We meet the rest of the girls and Coach Webster at the stadium gym. Carmen, Janice, and most of the other girls greeted me. However, the only way that Carissa acknowledged me was with her cold eyes. What the hell was wrong with her? So I didn't tell her all my deep dark dirty secrets, I told Emma instead. So what? We never had some pact and I never proclaimed her as my BFF. For gods sake! I sighed.

Trying to get all this stupidity out of my head, I turned my head and scanned the stadium, looking at our competition. I didn't see any familiar faces from my elite gymnast days but the girls from Forks Academy looked pretty strong and well built, the powerhouse type. But, I told myself, the way you looked in no way defined your skill and talent as a gymnast. There were four different schools so I guessed that there would be a school on an event at one time.

I was right. After all the introductions, we were told which event our team would be starting on we were given 15 minutes to warm up on that event. Our first event was vault. According to the start sheets, I would go first for Forks High, meaning that I would be the first the have a go on the vault. Coach Webster told us that we only had to perform one vault with one chance as this was a team event. She said that the top 12 scorers would go into the all around final and that there would be no event finals.

After some general stretching, my dad came over and Coach Webster told me to start my first practice vault. I looked over to my dad, who nodded at me to start.

'Go Bella!' I heard Emma shout out.

Without turning, I ran down the runway, did a round off, landing on the springboard, pushing up with my feet, I did a half twist onto the vaulting horse, which made the vault easier for me as I could see where the vault was and where the landing mat was. I pushed off from the vault, and went into a simple single layout.

I always used that vault for my first practice run as it was a simple way to ensure that the springboard was placed rightly and that I could reach the vault and land properly. It was also a sort of warm up vault for me. I stuck the vault. I smiled at my teammates and walked over to my dad.

'That was some vaulting Bells,' he congratulated me.

I rolled my eyes, 'It was just my warm up vault dad, you know that.'

'Still,' dad nodded, 'very well done. Especially looking at the condition of your ankle.'

I nodded. My ankle was still in recovery mode and not perfect yet, but as I told Edward before, I could compete on a small injury.

'Everyone had your eyes on you, you know. My little girl!' I could sense that dad was proud of me from the tone of voice he used.

He was right, everyone had been watching that one vault of mine. Not to be a brag, but I guess that sticking that vault, however simple for me, was very difficult for the other girls here.

I watched Emma, who was up last on the start list. She was starting off with a very simple vault, a quick run down to the springboard, pushing off the vault into a single layout. She landed it well, only taking a small step. I applauded her, along with the rest for the team, she was doing pretty well.

It was my turn again. This time I would be doing the new vault that I had been learning when I got injured. The twisting double layout. It went by well, however, I didn't stick it, having to take two steps back before I could fully balance myself. After I landed, I was greeted by a slow sarcastic applaud.

'Well done Bella. I'm surprised you can vault yourself so high into the air actually,' Jade stuck her nose in the air.

'And why's that?' I ask, trying not to sneer.

'Well, won't your fat ass weigh you down?'

Jade burst into laughter, followed by Lauren's high pitches laugh.

I glared at her, 'Let's see your vault then.'

'Okay,' she said, taking off her warm up suit and stuffing it in Lauren's hands.

She runs down towards the vault and pushes off the horse, hard, propelling herself up high in the air 'She is a very powerful gymnast,' I find myself thinking about her.

I watch as she twists around in the air, and when she gradually got pulled down by g-force, she started to bend her legs so she would land well. However, it looked like she didn't get enough rotation and she bended her legs too early. A loud groan was heard from her as Jade's knees smacked down on the crash mat, her head falling forward as her hands shot forward and push herself up and stop herself from rolling over on the mat. My lips form a smile as I do couple of warm up jumps.

Jade got up and stalked towards Lauren, I distantly hear Lauren's voice, 'It's okay Jade, it's just a warm up-'

But she was cut off when Jade gave her a glare and a push.

'Playing dirty already Bella?' I heard the humored voice of Emma say to me.

'Oh, no, not playing dirty. Just having some fun. Just getting started.'

Emma laughs, 'You can't help that she's a bitch, eh?'

I nod with a smile, 'mhhn.'

I spot Edward in the audience, sitting with his sister, Alice. They smile and wave at me when they see that I was looking in their direction. As I wave back, I wonder why Alice had come with Edward. It wasn't like Alice and I good friends, on the contrary, we had never talked. Maybe one of my theories was correct. Maybe she really was a rhythmic gymnast and had come the watch the meet. Or maybe not.

'Alright Forks!' I hear the commentator say, 'Let's get this meet started.'

I glance at Jade who was moodily ordering Lauren around, Oh, yes, I think, Let's get this meet started.

I had never been the one to play dirty at a meet, but I'll make an exception for Jade.

A/N: I am so so sorry for not updated for ages, since It's been a while, my writing style might have changed at bit, I think :P

A huge shoutout to littlemissbella: this chapter is dedicated to you! Your pm was amazing, it is really nice to know that you love this story that much! This chapter could not have been without you! Thank you so much!