I'm baaaackkkk.

So, I suddenly got a bunch of ideas in my head for several different stories.

I decided to start with this one and finally give it some closure. I've prepared two chapters. They're not very big, but they will help to bring this story to a sort of ending. Even if it's a bit rushed.

Let's see if I'm successful.

It appeared that a certain someone also needed to see a therapist

Part 4

IV

"Have you heard about Ellen Hernandez?" Andrea asked as they made their way into the plane.

World's training camp was coming, and with it the world team trial. Last chance to show what you had in you, before the last world championships of this Olympic Cycle.

One last chance for the 2011 season. If they made it, their chances to make the Olympic Team next year would be much higher.

"Yep. Another midget to worry about. Why do they grow up? They should stay fifteen forever. Or al least until the Olympic year is over" Lauren grimaced as she pushed her bag into the overhead compartment.

"I hope this young Ellen is nothing like the older Ellen" Kelly shuddered.

Two times Junior National Champion, Ellen Hernandez was the last person Lauren needed to go senior now, but she had just turned sixteen, so there was nothing anyone could do about it.

"Don't worry about it, girls" Sasha's voice came form behind them, where he slipped into his own row with Lauren's dad. "I saw the Junior Nationals tape. Hernandez is good, and there is a real possibility of her being chosen for the world team. But her individual scores on each apparatus aren't that amazing, except maybe on floor. None of you will be affected for now."

Kelly smirked. "You know us so well coach" She sent him a wink that immediately prompted a snort and eye-roll from the blond man. "But don't think I didn't notice that 'yet'"

Lauren and Andrea nodded, wandering the same thing.

"She is young and quite small. That's to her advantage. And she will have a year to get better." Sasha sighed and shrugged. "Nothing to do about it. We will also be considering new upgrades for next year, we'll make sure she doesn't catch up. There's nothing to worry about, really. Because you will also have a year to get better."

Lauren nodded. Like she had told Sacha almost a year before, if you stopped evolving, you stopped progressing and soon someone else would pass you by.

She had no intention of letting something like that happen to her.

(X)(X)

"Damn. She's good!" Andrea muttered.

Lauren her saw frown beside her, as they stretched for vault while watching Ellen Hernandez do her floor routine.

With a side nod, Kelly brought their attention to their right where other gymnasts were stretching for vault. "Keeler and Cruz look like someone murdered their puppy"

Now it was Lauren's time to frown. Her former teammates did look like they had swallowed something sour.

Even though Payson had ruined her chances to petition in France, Marty's contacts had allowed her to petition again to join this training camp. Apparently enough people had been impressed, and she had been given permission to join them.

Lauren could admit that Payson deserved to be there, and she was happy for her. Pay was way better than some (like the Pet), and if someone deserved the chance, it was definitely her.

Could she make it into the team? She wasn't sure. Ellen Hernandez was definitely a new obstacle for all of them.

Well, for most of them.

Lauren and Kelly wouldn't have much of a problem. They're all-around scores were higher and they were the current National and World Champion.

Andrea would most likely also be unaffected. She had solidified herself as a bars and beam specialist, and no one in the National Team had as much international experience as her.

Payson and Kaylie though... They had most likely lost their chances at the all-around qualification round.

(X)(X)

Lauren had just gone inside the locker room to fetch her spare hair tie when the sound of vomiting came from one of the stalls.

Frowning, she leaned on the sink with her arms crossed and waited for the culprit to appear.

She wasn't really that surprised when it was Kaylie. Her friend froze in the stall's doorway, a guilty look taking over her face, before she composed herself and came to the sink to wash her hands.

For a moment, there was only silence, and it made Lauren sigh at the thought that they had once been the best of friends that told each other everything.

Boys, distance, a National title and Kelly Parker had all gotten in the way of what was once a sweet, naïve, childhood friendship.

Lauren could admit she had changed. But she believed that it had been for the better. She was not going to cut off her chances of achieving her dreams just to make others feel better. Not anymore.

But that didn't make her heartless. And it didn't mean she didn't still think of Kaylie as her friend and wanted what was best for her. Especially when it appeared that a certain someone also needed to see a therapist.

Seeing that Kaylie was going to pretend that nothing had happened, Lauren finally turned around to face her friend's profile as the other girl fixed her ponytail in the mirror.

"I'm not gonna tell anyone." Thinking better of it, she added. "Not if it won't mess with your health. If this is because you ate too many of your housekeepers amazing chocolate chip cookies, that's fine. We've all been there. But if it's because of some idiotic comment from Ellen Beals or one of the other girls or the coaches, then don't do it again."

Kaylie looked at her from the corner of her eye, but didn't say anything, trying her best to keep ignoring the situation. Typical Kaylie.

Lauren rolled her eyes in annoyance. Like anything would stop her from saying what she had to say.

"Hernandez is tiny and weighs less than a paper clip. Yeah, so what? Ghengi Cho is the same, but I'm still gonna beat her while being taller and heavier. I know that my body is just different. I can't do the same elements she can, but I can do other elements that work for me and not for her. God knows she cant's dance to save her life. You need hips for that and she is as straight as a board. And her face is as flat as a robot."

She might try to hide it, but Lauren could see a tiny smile coming out. Yeah, Kaylie had probably missed some of the sass.

"So stop comparing yourself to other people and just focus on yourself. Our callories are already as tight as they can get, cutting off on your food will just make you pass out from exhaustion, and could cause you major injuries if that happens in the middle of a routine."

Pushing off from the sinks, Lauren made her way to her locker, got her spare hair tie out and made her way towards the door.

"Oh, and you should stop wasting practice time ogling Carter. I'm sure he let's you look at him enough when you're making out on his jeep. If you use that time to practice like you should, I'm sure you'll be able to upgrade all your routines for next season."

And with that, Lauren left a speechless, open mouthed girl behind as she made her way back to the gym.

It was so satisfying to have the last word!

(X)(X)

World trials was once a nerve-racking experience, but right now Lauren was feeling pretty relaxed and confident.

Not at all what she would have expected after she had been left out of the team last year.

In fact, last year none of the rock gymnasts had made the world championship team. Payson had had to step out due to her back injury, Lauren hadn't been chosen and Kaylie had been named the second alternate and so hadn't even made it to the airplane, much less the arena.

This year was supposed to be different. For all of them.

And it made Lauren kind of sad that it was different because all of them had different teammates, but she shook it of and focused. Even tough her spot was basically guaranteed, she still had to prove her worth and show to Ellen Beals and the rest of the committee that she deserved her spot in the all-around competition.

At the end of the day, her, Kelly and Andrea would be named for the team, she was sure of it.

Kaylie and Payson would have to fight for themselves.

And Kmetko. But she certainly wasn't going to waste brain waves on the Pet.

(X)(X)

"You think we got it?" Lauren asked the other two girls as they waited impatiently to be called back to order.

The coaches were taking waayyy to long to discuss the members of the world team in the office.

"We got it Tanner. Relax." Kelly rolled her eyes at her, but sent her a smile to show that she was only teasing. "We will all get a spot. Everything else they will wait for Amsterdam to decide on orders and who gets to try qualification for the all-around. Though if it was me, the two of us would probably go 1 and 2 for the all-around, and Andrea would get at least a Bars and Beam spot in qualification round"

"Confident much?"

"Always." A wink and smirk were all that was needed to show how confident the current world champion was of herself.

(X)(X)

She was right.

She usually was.

Her, Kelly and Andrea made the team. So did Clara Ashford, an amazing vault specialist that was probably going to snatch a medal for herself on that apparatus, and Ellen Hernandez, the national Junior champion two times in a row that thankfully was nothing like the horrible Ellen Beals.

Kaylie also made it, though she bet it was by the skin of her teeth. Kaylie was a good all rounder and could put up decent scores on all the apparatus in case of an emergency, so she was useful for qualifications, though she didn't know if she would qualify for any event finals. And that was if she managed not to barf herself sick.

Then there was Payson. Marty had done a good enough job. Payson was back enough to show the same level as before, and that made her a solid contributor in most of the events. Only the future would tell if it was good enough for individual glory or not.

The Pet didn't make it. Witch made sense honestly. The girl was only decent on Bars, but with Kelly and Andrea both way better them her, the two US spots for that event final were already taken, and Lauren, Hernandez, Kaylie and Payson could all put decent enough scores for team finals,

It was almost show time.

(X)(X)

Next chapter will be the last one.

Hope you enjoyed it. Leave a review!