***Authors Note: I'd like to start off by saying thank you so much to EVERYONE who reviewed. It really means a lot to me. It was brought to my attention by one anonymous reviewer that I have discontinued both of my other stories & they're concerned that I'll do the same with this one. I'll admit right now that I have a serious problem with writing, & then noticing all my flaws & wanting to start over.. I seriously apologize for that. Buuut I'll make a promise to all of you right now that I will finish this story no matter what. Anyways.. Hope you all enjoy this next chapter [:
BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP. I closed my eyes tightly, willing my sleep not to drift away. BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP. I pulled my covers around me, and groaned. Noooo. I didn't want to get upppp. BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP. I clenched my teeth and sat up, groggily looking for the noise that woke me. My vision was blurred & I can only imagine what my hair looked like. BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP. I looked down and realized it was the alarm on my phone. My vision cleared & I read "Get up! It's the day of the move All Star Co. Watch out [:" I gasped & threw my covers off of me. My bare feet hit the cool wooden floor.
I went in front of the full length mirror on my door- One of the only things left in my room- and saw a tall, extremely thin, but muscular girl with tan skin. Her blonde hair had Carmel colored streaks in it, and it would look pretty if it wasn't in a rats nest on top of her head from a night of restless sleep. Her normally piercing emerald eyes were hazy, and tired looking. She was standing in blue spandex & a purple and blue shirt that read 'If gymnastics were easy, they'd call it football.' I smiled at the girl in the mirror & she smiled back. "The appearance of a true winner." I muttered sarcastically to my self, shaking my head. I pulled on a pair of black running shorts over my spandex & turned around to look at my room. It looked strangely empty.. There was nothing left in it that belonged to me. Even through all the excitement I felt a little stab of pain in my heart as I realized this is the last time I'd set foot in my childhood room.
"MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!" Ella screamed in horror. I looked up in alarm from where I sat on the kitchen counter. We had both been waiting for my mom to finish getting ready when Ella suddenly had her outburst. My mom came running into the kitchen with one heel on, & her shirt untucked from her skirt and she gasped out,
"What's wrong!"
"There's no blueberry poptarts!" Ella exclaimed, her voice filled with dread. My mom stared at her in shock.
"That's what was wrong.. Was it really necessary to scream across the house because there's no pop tarts?" My mom said shaking her head, while tucking in her shirt.
"For real Ella. I thought someone was dying & I was in the same room as you!" I told her, still a little irritable from lack of sleep.
"You don't understand," Ella pouted, "I have to have blueberry poptarts EVERY morning. You guys know this!" Mom & I rolled our eyes at her simultaneously.. But it didn't faze Ella. She was used to it. "I'm not leaving to go to Parker until I get some blueberry poptarts." She said, and as if to make a point sat down firmly in the middle of the floor with her arms crossed.
Mom slipped on her other shoe, & shook her head. "Cut the dramatics Ella.. We'll stop & get you some, okay?" Ella smiled, happy she got her way and stood up out of the floor. She started walking towards the door, now that mom was ready to go. Neither of us mentioned that she had dust all over the butt of her hot pink mini skirt.
Later on that morning.. Ella sat in the back seat of moms mustang, happily munching on her blueberry poptart as we headed to the gym for one last goodbye. Ella took one last bite of her poptart and wiped her hands off. "I'm so excited about our new school. I can't believe we're going to a private school! I'm going to try out for cheerleading. MAX! You should try out with me!" Ella exclaimed. I snorted.
"Me? A cheerleader? Yeah right! Never gonna happen." I told her, laughing. She glared at me & said,
"Max! You'd be a great cheerleader. Especially with all your tumbling & jumps!"
"Not gonna happens Ells!" I told her as we pulled into the parking lot of the Power Tumbling Gym. My mom put the car in park, and we all got out. I looked up at the huge gym made of white brick, & large glass windows & took a deep breath. I'd miss this place more than anything in this little town of mine. I slowly walked to the front doors, & pulled them open, causing a rush of cool air to hit my face.
Inside the gym, Carson was working with a little girl, probably six years old, trying to get her back handspring. His green eyes were lit with passion for his job, wanting more than anything to get this little girl to achieve her goal. I looked down at my phone & saw that it was 6:58. Two more minutes left in her private lesson. "Okay Kaydee. You can do it girl. Just remember.. When coming out of your round off, use all of your power. Sit, jump, pull your knees to your chest, don't bend your arms when they touch the ground, keep them locked, and then land clean. I know you can do it. Just believe in yourself." He told her, encouragingly. I had a flashback of when I was six & he was helping me get my backhand spring. He'd always given me the self confidence that I lacked. She gave a determine nod, her red pony tail swishing a bit. Her blue eyes were bright with excitement. She was so close. She ran onto the spring floor, and did her round off with ease. She sprung into her back handspring, whipping into it like she'd been doing it all her life. Her hands hit the floor & then her feet followed. It was perfect. The little girl squealed & exclaimed,
"I DID IT! I DID IT!" Her face was bright with joy & she giggled uncontrollably. Carson smiled so big. He pulled her into a hug & then gave her a high five.
"I told you! You did amazing. I knew you could do it all along! Great job Kaydee." He praised her. She giggled & waved goodbye as she walked towards the bleachers where her mom stood, ready to congratulate her.
About this time, Coach Carson saw us standing there, & his excitement seemed to falter a little bit. He walked over to us & he said, "Hey kiddo." That always been his nickname for me. I'd never heard him use it for anyone else. "Hey Ells, Hey Val!" He said to my mom & sister. Ella didn't wait for anything. Her lip trembled & she tackled him in a hug.
"I'M GONNA MISS YOU COACH CARSON!" She cried. Ella had taken gymnastics, but not near as serious as me. She just wanted to get her back handspring so she could be a cheerleader. She also took jump class. Yet, she still loved Carson.. Everyone did.
He pulled her off gently & wiped her tears. "Hey now.. There's no need to cry.. I'll come visit you once a month. I'm gonna miss you too Ells." She sniffled a little bit & nodded. My mom then hugged Coach Carson. She had tears in her eyes that I could tell she was trying not to let spill over.
"Carson... I just want to thank you so much. For the past twelve years you have been such a big part of not only my kids life, but mine too! I don't know where we'd be without you. You've just done so much for us.. Thank you." She said, & then the tears finally spilled over. He gave her one more hug, & replied,
"Val, there's no other family I'd rather of had the opportunity to spend so much time with. Y'all really have made a huge impact on my life.. I'll miss seeing your faces every day.. but this isn't goodbye forever. Parker is an hour away. I'll see you all soon." He assured her. He then looked at me. I felt like something was caught in my throat & I could feel the tears building in my chest. I looked over at mom & Ella & asked,
"Do y'all mind waiting in the car? I'll be out there soon."
"Of course not, honey!" My mom assured. Her & Ella gave Carson one last hug & then started for the door.
I heard the door slam & then I looked at Coach Carson. He was young.. Probably 28 years old. He had perfect black hair, sparkling green eyes, amazing muscles, & underneath all that a loving heart. I pursed my lips. I wouldn't cry. I wouldn't cry. I wouldn't cry. "Kiddo.." He said pulling me into a hug. With that I burst into tears. I buried my head in his chest & cried. I cried because I was leaving. I cried because I'd never tumble here again. I cried because Carson wouldn't be my coach anymore. I cried because I was scared of my new gym. But most of all I cried because Carson had always been the dad I didn't have & now I wouldn't see him every day. I could practically feel my heart breaking inside my chest. I hadn't let myself think about these things. I'd pushed them off as long as I could. Suddenly I felt something wet drip on my shoulder. I pulled back and attempted to dry my eyes. I saw Carson.. His green eyes shining with tears. I'd never seen Carson cry. Ever. I didn't even know he could. Not even when he broke his arm in practice one day. He quickly wiped them away, as if they'd never been there.
He put his hands on my shoulders and looked me straight in the eyes. "Maximum. You know you've been like a daughter to me since you were six years old. You have been my favorite gymnast ever to walk across this spring floor. I'm gonna miss you more than anything.. But I believe in you & I know that you're going to excel at ASC. You're going to capture everyone's heart just like you have here at power tumbling. I don't want you to ever give up on yourself, do you hear me? Because you have more potential than anyone I've ever coached. I love you kiddo. & I got you something." He told me. He pulled a case out of his pocket & handed it to me. I held it for a second, & then opened it & gasped. Inside was a beautiful sterling silver locket, with a diamond in the middle. Underneath the diamond 'Maximum' was carved in beautiful cursive writing. I opened the locket & there was a picture of Carson & I at nationals. We were both holding my trophy I had won in between us & were holding up a #1 sign with our fingers. It was my favorite picture of us. On the empty side a quotation was carved, Power Tumblings motto: "Don't let sucess get to your head or failure to your heart,"3
One last tear slid down my cheek & I whispered, "Its beautiful. Thank you Carson. I'll always have a part of you with me now." He hugged me one last time & kissed the top of my head.
"You're going to go far kiddo." & that was the last time I heard Carson speak to me in my childhood gym.