Flip. Turn. Run Back. These thoughts were in my head as I went in the gym to practice and train. My private coach wasn't there yet, so I sat down and drank a water. Ok, maybe I should explain things first. My name is Cara Downsin. I'm almost twenty, and I am a gymnast. I'm training for the Olympics, even though it's awhile away. I have gold medals from Highschool and College. As I watched two other girls jump on the trampoline, I thought about my round-off backtwist and how it needed some work. I looked at the two girls closely.

They seemed to be in their early teens. One girl was doing a standing backtuck, while the other girl was watching her while doing flips on the trampoline. I was watching them some more, when a finger poked me in the back. I jumped and turned. "Oh, hey James." I stood up.

"Hey Cara. Sorry I'm late." He said as we walked over to the floor. I started stretching while he was talking about something. I was to spaced-out to listen though. I was thinking about going to the Olympics. It's always been a dream of mine ever since I was nine. I love the bars, and beam, and the vault. I was lost in my thoughts, when a hand appeared in my face.

"HELLOOO? Earth to Cara"

"What? Oh, sorry"

"Yeah..so, did you hear anything I said?"

I bit my lip. "Um..no. What'd you say?" I pulled my medium-length auburn hair in a ponytail.

James rolled his eyes. "You are one of the five people chosen for the country's Gymnastics Face-off."

"YES!" I screamed. Last month I competed for the best gymnasts in the state to go to the United States Gymnastics Face-off, and I'm chosen. Is this great or what?

"So, we have to practice a lot. Even harder. So, get your butt out there!"

I smiled, and warmed up with back handsprings, handstands, round-offs, and front handsprings. Then, I got down to the hard stuff. I ran and did a back handspring backtuck and landed it. I stopped.

"James, do I have to make-up a routine?"

"No no, they will when you get to Indianapolis. Now move!"

I sighed, but smiled. James is tough, but he's a sweetie at heart. We went out for awhile, but it got too wierd.

The next day, I packed and headed to the car to drive for two and a half hours to Indianapolis. James went with me, but ended up sleeping halfway there. Finally, we arrived. I woke up James and we headed to the gymnasium to meet the others. "Hey! You're here Cara. I'm Ms. Louye, the instructor." She looked at James. "and you are...?"

"Oh, I'm James, Cara's coach." He replied, fiddling with his fingers like he does every time he gets nervous. I laughed to myself.

"Not anymore you're not. I'm her coach now, so you can leave and explore." She said bitterly in her fake french accent. Wow, she's going to be no day at the park. I said to myself. James seemed bewildered and whispered to me, "Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed." I giggled as he left, then turned to the others.

"I'm Mallory Thompson, from Fort Wayne. I'm seventeen" She said shyly. Mallory had short brown hair.

"Ryan Peters, New Albany. Nineteen."He said who had messy red hair with freckles, and was short for his age, it seemed.

"Destiny Chad, right here. Twenty." A black girl replied dully, she had long black hair with blonde highlights in her hair.

"Chase Packiston, Bloomington. Twenty one."He said, and smiled at me. He had brownish blonde hair that was spiked up at his bangs.

"I'm Cara Downsin, Evansville. Twenty." I replied, and brushed my bangs out of my eyes.

"Good, now let's get to work. We have to have a routine for vault, bars, floor, and beam. Then, we need to have a routine for all of us. Now, make me proud."

I practiced with the others, a bit nervous.

Later that night, I went up to the hotel where James and I were staying. James was on his bed reading, as I flopped down on the other bed, worn out. "How'd it go?" He asked me without looking up.

"Fine, but my ankles hurt." He laughed and said something, but I didn't hear him because I fell asleep.