A/N: Enjoy!
"Ok… don't worry about it Jason, I'm sure we'll be able to find someone who wants to go… if not, we'll be able to sell it for sure, the tickets sold out weeks ago… yes, I know… I have to go Jason, but I'll see you in California. Give Katie our love, I hope she's feeling better soon… alright… I love you too Jason… bye"
The tail end of her mother's conversation met her ears as she came crashing through the front door after morning training. Dropping her backpack by the hall table, she tossed her keys into the dish and kicked the door closed behind her.
"Good god JJ, how many times have I told you not to throw that door around like that!"
"Sorry," JJ replied, drifting into the kitchen where her mom looked as though she was about to start making lunch. "Was that Jason?"
Sandy nodded. "Your brother has given us a little bit of a situation"
JJ grinned. Her older brother was the epitome of what a big brother should be. Ten years her senior, he was, and always had been fiercely protective of JJ. But that didn't stop him delivering his own brand of teasing and torment. 'As is my duty to do so' he had told her the last time they had seen each other. For, for all his goofing off, Jason had proven in his academic years to have a brain of ability that matched JJ's gymnastics ability. Now an aeronautical engineer, he had settled in Pembroke Pines, half an hour from Miami, with his wife, Katie.
"Katie's not well. She's come down with the flu, as well as an ear infection, and the doctor doesn't think it's a good idea for her to fly all the way to California. So she's not coming to Trials," Sandy said, breaking JJ's train of thought.
JJ's face fell slightly. She had always liked Katie, and enjoyed the rare opportunities when they got to hang out. Now she would likely have to wait until Thanksgiving… that was, if she didn't make the Olympic team.
"Is Jason still coming?" she asked softly.
"Of course," Sandy said with a smile. "But, we have a spare ticket to Trials… I'd have no problem selling it online, considering the tickets sold out weeks ago… but I was wondering if you might want to ask Will if he would like to come"
JJ looked up, slightly surprised. "Why?"
Sandy grinned, confused by JJ's shock. "Because he's your best friend and he actually seemed to enjoy it that time we brought him to Nationals?"
"Oh… I was just… Trials is huge. I wasn't quite expecting you to say that," JJ flubbed. Sandy laughed.
"Clearly. Look, why don't you ask Will if he wants to come. Tell him all he has to pay for is his airfare, we've got the rest covered. And he'll bunk in with Jason"
"Jason will be thrilled," JJ said dryly, making Sandy laugh again. "He just takes the mickey out of him all the time!"
"I'll keep your brother in line," Sandy chuckled. "Go call him, I'll need to know as soon as possible in case I have to sell this ticket"
"Ok," JJ said softly, turning back towards the front door. She was quick about extricating her phone from her bag, before heading up the stairs towards her room.
She had already dialed Will's number and brought the phone to her ear by the time she reached her room, flopping down on her bed as she waited for him to pick up.
"Well if it isn't my favourite human terror"
JJ laughed. "Excuse me?"
"I'm just kidding. Hi. How was training?"
"Intense. Nick's voice goes up an octave each day. I think he's a little stressed out about Trials. I actually think that by Trials, only dogs will be able to hear him"
Will laughed. "All that and having to deal with you as well. I feel sorry for the man"
JJ scoffed. "Rude. Maybe I'll just keep what I was going to ask you to myself then"
"Was it some pre-competition relaxation sex?"
She felt the blush creeping furiously up her cheeks, and was suddenly glad she'd decided to call him in her room rather than downstairs. She didn't know why that had made her cheeks feel so hot all of a sudden; Will made all sorts of innuendos regularly and they hardly fazed her.
"Do you think about anything other than sex?"
"Are you calling me a manwhore? Because that's not true. I think about food"
JJ laughed. "You are such a dude"
"True. Anyway. What did you want to ask me?"
"We have a spare ticket to Trials… and Mom was wondering if you'd like to come. She said all you would have to pay for is your airfare"
"Wait, seriously?"
"Yeah… why, do you not want to come?"
"No, I do! That would be awesome! Give me a minute, I'll just go check with my mom, since… I have no money to buy plane tickets"
JJ laughed, shaking her head. She listened as he thundered down the stairs, calling out for his mom. Eventually he found her, and JJ sat there, waiting as she tried to make out the muffled sounds of conversation floating from the other end of the line.
After a little more rustling, he brought the phone back up.
"You still there Jayje?"
"Yeah"
"She said she'll pay for me to go… so I owe her big time for Christmas"
JJ beamed. "You're gonna love it! Although, I hope I don't fall on my face"
Will laughed. "I think you'll be fine. I'm excited, I liked it when I came to Nationals"
"Because you got to watch twenty odd teenage girls in leotards?"
"JJ, the fact that all of you could flip straight over my head with no fear immediately cancels out any of my lusting towards any asses"
Laughing, JJ shook her head. "I think that's the point at which I'm going to hang up. I'll text you the details for Trials so you can book your flights, and I guess I'll see you soon"
"Ok cool. Make sure Nick calms down so he actually survives to Trials"
"I'll do my best," JJ chuckled.
Bidding their goodbyes, she ended the call, before heading down the stairs to tell her mom about his acceptance of her offer.
She was excited… but the fact that Will was coming also served to make her a little more nervous.
She shrugged it off. All the more adrenaline, the better.
"What are you thinking about?" Michael said cheerfully as he came into JJ's room. She looked up from where she was sitting on her bed, one of the photos of her and her classmates held in her hands.
"All the things that have happened this year… and we haven't even gotten to the biggest part," she said softly, a small smile creeping onto her face. "I still can't really believe I graduated high school"
Looking back down at the photo, she couldn't help but smile wider. She and Will were in the center, some of their closest school friends all around them, all of them dressed in their white graduation gowns. It wasn't from her actual graduation ceremony (that, she hadn't been able to attend), but from the Class Day that had been held the weekend before nationals. They were all goofing off, but through it all, her diploma was clutched tightly in her hand.
"Thank you all for coming," Principal McKinley said, addressing the crowd that had gathered for Class Day. "Special thank yous to our parents, families, and friends because without each of you and all of you, none of this would have been possible. Today, we have the very rare and unique opportunity when we get to honour someone who is a current student, who strives for and achieves excellence at the scholastic, national, and global level. Our own Miss Jennifer Jareau has brought honour and pride to her family, her community, and East Allegheny High School through her achievements as a world class gymnast. As a member of the class of 2012, she has worked tirelessly to complete every graduation requirement, while competing around the globe as a member of the U.S. National Team and currently holding an individual world title. Unfortunately, Jennifer will not be able to be here for graduation tomorrow, because she is leaving for the U.S. National Gymnastics Championships in St. Louis, Missouri, where she hopes to qualify for the Olympic Trials in San Jose, California, and then from there, to earn a spot on this year's Olympic team. I spoke to Jennifer and her family last week, and asked if she would like to receive her diploma today, so at this time, I would like to ask Miss Jennifer Rose Jareau up to the podium"
The gathered audience in the auditorium clapped as JJ rose from her chair and headed towards the stage. Her cheeks were incredibly warm, and she was sure she was blushing furiously, but she couldn't fight off the smile on her face as she reached Principal McKinley.
"Congratulations," he said warmly, shaking her hand before presenting her with her academic diploma.
"Thank you," she beamed, both of them turning to look at the photographer as her fellow classmates cheered loudly for her.
Michael chuckled. "It's not every year you get to graduate and go to the Olympics all at once"
"Dad," JJ said, her voice somewhat firmer. "We don't know if I'm going yet. We have to wait and see"
Michael leaned across, kissing her forehead lovingly before heading back towards the door.
"No matter what happens JJ... you've still had an incredible year. And we're so proud of you either way"
Smiling, JJ nodded once to show she understood. She listened as he retreated back down the stairs, before setting the photo back down on her nightstand and taking a deep breath.
Just one more day before she left for Trials...
... and then the real test would begin.