A/N: I've been away for a while, getting use to the college workload again. Also having to deal with a boyfriend who isn't into me writing these. -Sigh- how could I have fallen
for a guy who doesn't enjoy a good fanfiction? Oh well I'm starting this chapter out with Callie at the gym in Seattle. I'm going to call the gym, Excalibur Training Center (Not sure if there is even a gym with that name in the United States.)
Enjoy
-Liz
Callie's PoV
I was bouncing the whole car ride to Seattle, I called my mom and she agreed she would drive me to Seattle every other day to train. Finally my mom and I were on the same page. I was so excited I pulled out my leotards,about an hour after I got off the phone with her. I wore my favorite leotard, it had a purple base with small black tiger stripes flowing around it, I had on black velvet spandex shorts on, and my hair was pulled up into a messy bun.
"The car is shaking so much with all your bouncing." My mom laughed, I snorted but let her comment slide.
"This 3 hour car trip is worth it though. I can't wait to get back into the gym." I smiled.
"Well take it easy, your arm is only a week out of a cast. I don't need you reinjuring it."
"But Dr. Carlisle said I was fine to go back fully."
"Yes, but your muscles aren't ready for the pounding yet. Start light, and make sure you condition."
"I'm just glad it's Saturday."
"Same. No traffic."
"You're always happy if there's no traffic." I giggled.
"That's true."
We arrived at the gym, my mom never told me the name of it. As we pulled up, I saw a sign over the door Excalibur Training Center. Once the car was in park I literally jumped out of the car with my gym bag. I squealed with delight, then I felt my phone vibrate.
Paul - Having fun babe?
Me - Yeah! We just got to the gym.
Paul - Alright I'll let you go, make sure your mom records you doing something.
Me - Will do :*
"Paul?" My mom asked.
"Who what? Oh yeah Paul texted me, he wants to know if you can record me doing the 'light' workout."
"Only because it'll make one hell of a comeback video."
"Let's go!" I said running into the gym, I stopped at the front desk and waited for my mom. Behind the desk was a small rounded women. She looked up as my mom and I walked up to the desk.
"Hi! How can I help you today?" She asked with a sweet smile.
"I called on Wednesday, about having my daughter Callie practicing with the elites. Is there any paperwork I have to fill out?" My mom asked, getting ready to pull out her wallet.
"There's quite a bit…" The women was cut off by the door that opened into the main gym.
"It's about time she gets her butt back in a gym!" I looked at who was speaking only to see my old coach Ron. He hadn't changed a bit, his brown hair was a little bit longer and he had a small mustache. His grey eyes stood out, since he has really tanned skin. He had on a Excalibur t-shirt with black wind pants and of course no shoes.
"Ron!" I screamed almost tackling him to the ground.
"Hey kiddo, how has life been treating you?"
"For me it's been really great. The life of a normal teenager, what every elite gymnast wants to have."
"Well it's about to come to an end, we gotta get you back into shape so you can compete. The Visa Championship is only 6 months away. You have a lot of conditioning to do, not to mention get all the rust off your joints. (I forgot if I even gave the mom a name, so we'll call her Sally for the rest of the story. -giggles- oopsy daisy) Sally talk to Mary, she'll get you all set up. Let's go Callie." Ron said dragging me into the gym.
"Bye mom!" I smiled, I was dragged to an area where they had cubbies set up. There were about 2 other girls there. The looked up at me and smiled, I recognized them as Cassy and Jade. My old teammates from Karolyi's Gymnastics Camp.
"Callie you remember Cassy and Jade. They're the only 2 elites in the program, and they also followed me here." Ron said, I dropped my gym bag and ran to them.
"Oh em gee! It's been for like ever!" Cassy screamed, Jades tackled both of us to the ground. I couldn't help but laugh my head off, it felt like forever. Jade was also taller than me, she still was, she had darker skin almost like a light brown, but she still considered herself as white as me. She dyed her hair a light brown color, but it made her blue eyes stand out even more. Her leotard was plain green, she had on black underarmour shorts. Cassy was really pale, her black hair was pulled up into a really messy bun since her hair went to her waist. She had on a black leotard with silver stars, she didn't like to wear spandex shorts but today she had on black velvet shorts.
"Alright girls get up! We only have 30 minutes before the recreational classes start, and I want to get through this warm-up quickly. Cass, Jade show her the new warm-up."
"Yes sir!"
30 minutes later I felt like rubber, I hadn't stretched that much in months! I groaned when we finished our oversplits. Ron chuckled to himself, he already knew how much of a struggle it would to get me back into the elite physical shape.
"Let's go girls, get to bars! Cass, Jade you have 5 front and back giants in between the bars, 10 kip-cast hand on low and high bar, 10 release moves they must be caught, 5 dismounts, then 3 full routines stuck no stopping. When you two are done work your upgrades. Callie get those grips broken in again with 10 front and back swings (Front swings are just tap swings facing the low bar,) then you have 10 kip-cast hand on the low and high bar. Well work on getting your release moves back, and your dismount. Now get to work!" Ron shouted.
I got my grips on which were pretty dried out. I let out a sigh and sprayed them with water, slowly working them back into shape. I had to make the finger holes a little bit bigger too, so I grabbed sandpaper and sanded away. When all was done, I chalked up and did a kip. It was pretty bad, but I was really lacking on the arm muscle.
"My god that was ugly." Jade laughed, I couldn't help but agree with her.
"Hey I have to agree, I think I did a better kip in level 5."
"So true."
I did a squat on and jumped to the high bar, I just swung and felt my arms and shoulders ached. It felt good it, was the stretching of my muscles that haven't been used. I let out a groan and swung higher, I knew my tap swings had always been good. Hell I could swing on a high bar like it was a strap bar.
"Callie, you need to be swinging. Don't do your swings into a giant, gotta get you warmed up again." Ron said, I let out a groan of complaint and slowed my swings.
"Kill joy." I giggled and switched to do my front swings. I let go of the bar in a backswing and landed on my feet. I got more chalk and started to do the kip-cast handstands on low bar. Man that was hard, I use to be able to do 10 in a row I could barely get through two.
"Wow Callie, I thought the crutches would have made you stronger." Ron joked.
"Crutches don't help with abs." I said back, before I jumped to the high bar to do my kip-cast handstands.
"It's alright the rust is slowly peeling off." Ron said as I did 5 kip-cast handstands in a row. I stopped on purpose to do a small celebration, then went back to work.
Ron has us on bars for about 90 minutes, my hands had rips all over them. I let out a groan as I started putting my New Skin (Yes that's a real product) to help heal them.
"Doesn't that hurt?" Jade asked looking at me.
"It stings, but not that bad. I wanna keep practicing so, some stinging pain won't hurt." I said with a smile.
"Ladies get ready for floor." Ron shouted as he started stacking mats into the foam pit. I blew on my hands to help the New Skin dry faster. Once it dried I grabbed my tiger paws, and run over towards the tumbling strip. Jade and Cassy were right behind me. Ron walked over to us, I already knew I wasn't going to get to do the advanced tumbling passes.
"Jade, Cass you guys have one dance through, one lay-out through (All tumbling passes are just layouts, none of the crazy twist or spins.) Then 5 of each pass on the floor, before you do a full routine, upgrades afterwards. Callie, one dance through as well as a lay-out through. I think you can do that, then work on your fulls and 1½ . Do forwards and backwards please. Get started girls!" Ron said walking towards the CD player, I started working on my switch-leaps. I knew I needed to work on the easy dance, before I could do the harder ones. Jade wanted to go first for the dance through, Ron played the music and my face dropped. It was the same music Karen had, but it had more of a beat to it. Jades dance in general was what some street performers did, it really did suit her. Her switch leap ring to a straddle 1½ to another switch leap full was amazing. It really showed off her flexiblity, I couldn't wait to see her full routine. Jade was next, she was an elegant dancer. Her parents always had her have some boring violin music, but her music today was nothing like her other choice. Her routine had a front aerial to a switch side to another switch leap full. I couldn't believe she was able to make it all with hardly any power. I was next, it had been 6 months since I've done my floor routine, but I was excited. I didn't forget a thing, I still kept it watered down with no crazy dance yet.
Floor was over, and I was doing my double backs onto the mat in the pit, as well as my double full. I was so happy, I had almost all my tumbling still and Ron had plans to help me upgrade all my passes.
A/N: I' going to end the chapter here, and finish up the practice in the next chapter. The floor music is on my profile if you're interested. I hope you enjoyed, leave a review follow and favorite!
-Liz