All Comes Down To One Thing
We were down to the last rotation, which happened to be, for us, beam. Oh, sudden memories of nationals come rushing back to me, they hit me hard, and I almost fall over. Rhiannon catches my arm and frowns at me, 'You okay Bells?'
'Yes, I'm fine,' I reply, massaging my temples.
This competition was more stressful than I had expected. Girls from Forks Academy put up good competition. Not to mention Carissa and Jade getting on my last nerve. With Jade and I, oh, it had been dirty. I had beat her on vault, she won over me in bars. So I crushed her on floor. The scores had been close. Very close. Right now, we were tied second place. Lily Stones was the current leader. A muscular brunette, Lily was a great sportswoman. She was nice and caring, and supportive of her teammates too, she deserved to win. But of course, if I could, I wanted to win. I think the odds are in my favour. Lily's last event was vault, which, as Edward had commented on, was the lowest scoring event for most gymnasts. If I could do my beam routine perfectly... getting the perfect score, I think I could pull it off. I just had to get a higher score than Jade... no way was I going to let that bitch win.
'Bella, you're up,' Coach Webster said to me, breaking into my line of thought.
I nodded, reaching into the chalk bucket. Patting chalk onto each palm, I pull myself onto the beam and practice my tumble. Back walkover, free back walkover, back layout. Flipping through the air, I smile. This was going to be easy, I hope. I was confident on beam now, I had made sure I was after nationals, of course. I practice a switch jump, landing it perfectly.
'Hurry up fat ass,' a sneering voice comes from below the beam.
I groaned, Jade.
'Other people have to warm up too, you know, stop being such a hog.'
I close my eyes and try to focus, she was just being Jade, there was nothing I could do about it. It will stop, I just need to finish my dismount, then she would go away.
'Hurry up!' her voice demands loudly.
I try to block her out, but I can't, screw her, I think, just dismount already!
A slight run, jumping up, round off. Ha, Jade hadn't gotten to me, I was going perfectly.
'Finally,' her voice drifts over, 'Get your ass off already.'
Damn it, I lose it, my ankle slips as I push off for the double pike. You can't do the double pike, you have to change it. Quickly I decide to do a single layout instead, minimizing my chances of an injury. For a second I thought that I had completely blown it, flipping in the wrong direction, but I turn over to see the beam directly in front of me, at least I was going in the right direction now.
'God at last,' Jade says loudly.
I look to the left and shoot Jade a death glare. If looks could kill…
Shit.
I had been too busy being pissed off. I wasn't concentrating. Because I had been looking towards the right where Jade was standing, I landed with my right foot placed wrongly. My right ankle gave away. My taped ankle. Shit. My eyes widen as I hear a crack, and I fall, my ankle unable to support my body.
'Oh dear me,' Jade says mockingly, laughing, 'Look what we have here. Is little baby Bella okay?'
'Bella! What was that?' My dad demands, running up towards me.
As he helped me up, I tried to explain, 'I wasn't concentrating, I slipped when I was jumping off for the dismount,' I babbled.
Dad sat me down and re-taped my ankle, giving me a quizzical look, 'So you water down the dismount… and you still land lopsided?'
He wasn't mad at me, I guessed, just probably confused why I had fallen on an easy dismount. I decided not to explain about Jade to him, it would just cause more trouble. It's not worth it.
I look up to the stands, maybe I could go spend some time with Edward to raise my confidence? But he was staring at Alice and they looked like they were in deep conversation, even though it didn't seem like their lips were moving. I shrug to myself and hobble over to Emma and Rhiannon.
'That was a scare you gave just now. Slipping and losing your balance?' Rhiannon tutted sympathetically.
Emma bit her lip, 'Was Jade giving you a hard time?'
I scowled, 'She was all there! Like kept bugging me to get my 'fat ass' off the beam. And it was so annoying. She pissed me off so much! I guess… I just lost it.'
Emma and Rhiannon exchanged un-easy looks, 'She has it in for you.'
I watch as Jade completed a full in full out, Carissa cheering her on.
I rolled my eyes and shoved my hands into chalk, 'Bitches,' I mutter.
'Cheer up girl,' Rhiannon smiled and clapped me on my back, 'You'll show them.'
I took a few slow steps, testing my ankle, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Alice and Edward walking towards us. Alice was frowning deeply.
'Are you okay Bella?' Edward exclaimed as soon as they reached us.
'Fine,' I scowled.
'I don't think you should keep competing. Your ankle looks really bad.'
'Bella can do it,' Alice's soft voice suddenly cut in.
'That's right Bells. Remember the time you competed on a twisted ankle and won gold?'
My lips curled up into a smile, 'That was when we were juniors Rhi.'
'So what?' Emma put in, 'It was still you, and you still have it! You have to compete
'Yeah I can compete!' I agreed.
'Are you sure Bella…,' Edward frowned.
'Yes Edward, I can do it!' I rolled my eyes, 'Give me a chance.'
For a brief second, I swear I saw Edward lock eyes with Alice and give a tiny nod.
Suddenly Alice smiled brightly and grabbed hold of Edward's arm, 'Well good luck Bella! Well, be watching from the stands!' And with that, she dragged Edward away.
'Bella!' I heard Coach Webster call, 'Are you still going for this?'
I push myself up, hobbling towards her, 'Yup, I'm doing my beam.'
Coach frowns, I shake it off, having expected her too, 'Are you sure?'
'Yes!' I almost snap.
'Alright, you want to have a go at warming up again?'
I walk towards the beam, stretching my legs, I could still do this. Beating Jade would probably be the easiest thing ever. It just all depended on one thing.
Getting the perfect score.
omg guys, I'm so sorry.
I know I promised that I'd try and update even because of school, but it's just been impossible.
I'm trying to write as much as I can.
clicky the green button below?
(maybe faster updates... hahah)