Well I had been at al's school for two months and I had officially decided I hated it. I didn't know what the Hell I done to Al but he hated me. He constantly criticized everything I did. He would make repeat moves over and over again while everybody else only had to do them once or twice. I knew I was a better student than some of the others here yet he picked on my technique all the time and said nothing to the others. To make things even more pleasant for me this was not a dormitory school. All the students except me were 18 or older they had to find there own housing. Since I was a minor (lucky me) daddy and Al decided I would live with Al the year I was to attend. Try living with someone that thinks you're a major fuck up its loads of fun. When we were at home he constantly lectured me on trying harder and working harder. Hell I was killing myself. I didn't know how I could work any harder. I never told Scott or daddy about the hard time I was having. No body likes a crybaby so I decided I would tough it out.
I was sitting on a mat on the gym floor listening to Al with the rest of the students. He was going to put us in ankle lock submission hold.
"I don't expect any of you to be able to withstand it. Just see how long you can with out tapping." Al said.
Well I decided right then and there I wasn't going to tap no matter what. I would show him. I watched the other students tap after just a few seconds. Bunch of wimps I thought. My friend Justin was up next.
"Good luck Justin." I said.
"I'm going to need it." He said smiling.
I watched as Justin went up. He did pretty good. He didn't tap for almost a minute.
He came back down red in the face and limping.
"Man that hurts." He said.
I was up next. I went up and Al pushed me face down on the mat and grabbed left leg and got my ankle in the lock and started applying pressure. Damn Justin was right this shit hurts. I wasn't about to tap though. All kept increasing the pressure till I thought I was going to die. I was dying it hurt so bad. I was sure my ankle was going to snap. I managed to look out at Justin whose eyes were wide. He held up two fingers. Two minutes I felt like I had been like this for an hour. "Stubborn aren't ya girl?" Al said twisting my ankle tighter in his grip. I had sweat pouring down my face and the pain was incredible. Suddenly Al let go of my ankle and I fell to the mat.
"let this be a lesson to you guys. You should know when to tap out. If this had been a match Hailey would have ended up with a broken ankle." Al said. "alright that's all for today." Al said.
I lay in a heap and watched as Al stopped two or three students and told them how good they had done. I was so angry I couldn't see straight. I hadn't done a damn thing to him and he treated me like crap. I went to the locker room and took a shower and went out to wait at Al's Car. He came out in a few minutes and got in and let me in.
"Hailey you need to quit trying to showboat. I'm trying to get ya to learn something here." Al said.
I wanted so bad to cuss this man out. But I kept telling myself this is your dad's friend you only have to stay here a year. I managed to calm myself down.
"I want you to start working an extra hour before class everyday. I want you running laps at least an hour every morning before class starts." Al said.
That was it I was officially losing it.
"What the hell are you talking about? Why do I have to do that? I asked.
"I'm your teacher. I think you need to work on your leg muscles. That's why." Al said.
"Well you know what I think I think you're an asshole." I said.
Al looked surprised all the crap I took off him I had never said a word.
"Watch your mouth kid." Al said as he pulled into the driveway.
That really got me. It reminded me of something Scott would say. I jumped out of the car and ran in the house and slammed the door.
Al watched and shook his head. He pushed her harder because she was so good. If he didn't she would lay back and just glide. That's what happened to a lot of talented wrestlers. This girl had talent and it just needed to be pushed in the right direction. Maybe he had been pushing to hard after all she was just a kid. He walked in the house and went to start dinner.
I had run in my room and fell on my bed crying. I missed my daddy and Scott. I still hadn't made up with Chris. Most of all I hated this place. I wanted to go home to my daddy. Al hated me for some unknown reason. I grabbed my grumpy bear and pulled him next to me. My life sucked really bad.
Al got dinner started and decided to go up and talk to Hailey Al knocked on her door and there was no answer. Okay she was trying to be hard headed.. He opened the door and seen her lying on the bed sound asleep. Al walked over and looked at her. Her face was red and tear streaked. Al sighed. Yea he had been pushing her way too hard without realizing it. Al sat down on the side of the bed.
"Hey wake up sleepy head." Al said.
I opened my eyes and seen Al sitting there.
"Am I going to get a lecture for crying and being weak?" I asked.
"Uhhno actually I think we need to talk. The reason I been so rough on you kid is your good. I don't want ya to get lazy and not progress. I seen it happen to too many promising wrestlers." He said.
Okay this was news to me. I was good this was he first positive thing he had said to me since I been here.
"I think I went a little overboard. I was pushing you a little too hard. I'm sorry okay." Al said.
I realized I was still holding Grumpy bear and I pushed him behind me.
"To late I already seen him." Al said laughing.
I fell back on the bed. "Oh great my wrestling coach knows I sleep with a teddy bear." I groaned.
"Don't worry I wont tell no one." Al said still laughing.
I sat back up.
"What do you say kid? Truce?" Al said.
I stuck out my hand. "Truce." I said and we shook on it.
"Come on dinner should be ready in a bit." Al said.
So things were looking up at wrestling School. Now if I could just get up the nerve to call Chris. I hated this silence between us. I looked at the ring he had given me before he left. 'Friends for eternity' I made up my mind I was going to call him soon. I couldn't stand this anger between us.