The Love Game

Today's the Day

I stood on the mat, ready to do my best tumbling pass. This was a make or break moment. I had to make the team. I felt judging eyes watching me and I knew what everyone was thinking. They thought that I would fail. They were also probably thinking that I would fall flat on my face.

I shook my head, trying to rid myself on my anxieties. Come on, Kierstin. You've got this. And with a deep breath, I took off; determined to land my round off three back handsprings and a full.

I ran as hard as I could. Round off. Done. Back handspring. Done. Second back handspring. Done. Third back handspring. Done. Now, for the grand finale. The full. I hurled myself in the air. Spinning with all my might when suddenly... the air was knocked out of my lungs. What had just happened?

I suddenly realized that I landed flat on my back in the middle of my full. Oh no! This was a disaster! The worst thing that could have possibly happened had happened.

Everyone in the gym began to burst out into laughter. I heard people whispering as I just laid on the mat. I couldn't move. I was paralyzed from humiliation!

"The new girl sucks." I heard a girl say as others giggled in response.

I covered my eyes, not knowing what to do. This was single handedly the worst moment of my 16 years of life.

BRR BRR BRR BRR

My eyes shot open and I raised up quickly. It was only a dream.

I sighed in relief as I reached over to turn my alarm clock off.

I got up and brushed my teeth, then returned to my room to put my clothes on. I had to find the perfect outfit. It was only my second day at West Eastman, so I was still trying to make a good impression.

After finally finding a suitable outfit and changing, I put a small amount of makeup on and curled my hair. It had always been a priority of mine to look presentable in public at all times. Your image is everything, after all.

I hadn't even realized that I got distracted checking myself out in the mirror, when suddenly my mom interrupted my thoughts.

"Kierstin, let's go! You're going to be late!"

Wait, what time was it?

I checked my phone to see that I only had 15 minutes to get to school, which was about a 12 minute drive away.

"Coming, Mom!"

I started to leave my room when I had the feeling that I had forgotten something. Let's see. I had my backpack, my phone, my bag of clothes for tryouts-

Wait! I had forgotten my bag of clothes for tryouts!

I hurriedly grabbed the empty bag off of my bedroom floor and without even looking, grabbed a t shirt from my t shirt drawer and shorts from my shorts drawer. NOW I was ready.

I nervously stared out the window of the car, thinking about the cheer tryouts. I guess my mom could sense that I was anxious.

"Is everything ok, sweetheart? You've barely touched your muffin."

I stared at the muffin that I'd only taken a couple bites of. I couldn't even think about eating right now. My stomach was in a thousand knots.

"Yeah, Mom. I'm fine. Just not hungry. That's all."

Of course, I didn't want to burden my mom with any more of my problems. She was having a hard enough time already.

We arrived at school, and I was surprised to find that I was significantly less nervous today. Aside from the cheerleading tryouts that evening, of course.

I continued my routine of hopping out of the Tahoe, telling Mom goodbye, and grabbing my backpack. But of course, I wouldn't forget my extra bag of clothes today.

As expected, my day at school went by smoothly. Luckily today though, I didn't have to endure the awkward introductions again.

As hard as I tried to focus in my classes, my head was in the gutter again. All I could think about were the tryouts.

By the time the end of the day finally rolled around, I was officially on the verge of a nervous breakdown. I was even contemplating giving up on the tryouts and just calling Mom to come pick me up. I mean that would have been the simple solution, right? Well I couldn't do that. Kierstin Coleman is NOT a quitter.

After the final bell rang, I began searching for the gym, where tryouts were being held.

After asking a few staff members for directions, I was finally able to locate that gym. I stood in front of the gym doors for a moment, taking it all in. I was really about to do this.

I took a deep breath and pushed open the doors. What I saw when I entered stunned me, and I thought that I may just pass out.