Shoot for the Team

Chapter 3: Help from Lexi

I managed to avoid the boy at practice on Thursday. I even skipped frozen yogurt so I could stay away from him. He bothered me. I was feeling overlooked. I felt like no one cared about me, and it was all his fault.
On the next Tuesday at practice, Lexi came up to me. She was smiling, but I could see a kind of upset look in her eyes.
"Hi Julie!" She said. "Have you met the new boy Jake yet?" I shook my head no. "I think you should go meet him. Common, I'll introduce you." I saw the sadness erase from her dark brown eyes as they filled with joy and friendliness. She took my hand and walked me over to the boy.
Lexi was 14, and she was much like a big sister to me. To everyone, really. She was super friendly and happy and supportive and helpful. As she walked me over and held my hand, I could feel her positive attitude within her hand. It made me happy, too.
"Jake," Lexi said, "This is Julie." "Hi! I'm Jake!" The boy said. He was young. Maybe eight or nine. "Do you wanna see me do a trick?" "Sure," I answered without thinking. Then he started doing double unders crazy fast, speeding up each time. His feet were flying everywhere, and it looked really cool.
A double under is a trick where you jump high and turn fast so the rope goes under your feet twice when you only jump once. They're hard. You have to be able to do at least ten of them to join the team. My record is 121.
This boy was a natural, and he had an endless amount of energy. Maybe I had been to quick to judge him. Only maybe, though, because I could tell that he was very competitive and would try to steal my spotlight.
I went back to practice tricks with Rosie, and at the end of practice Lexi asked me, "So, the new boy is better than you thought, isn't he?" "Yes," I admitted. "I know that you are very competitive, and it's gonna be fun for you to try to beat him." "Try!?!! I've been on this team for a year and a half, of course I'm gonna beat him!!! He just joined!!! He's a rookie jumper. Sure, he might be good at double unders, but what about everything else? I'm totally gonna beat him!" "Well, that does sound like a very competitive attitude!" Lexi said, laughing. I guess I am competitive. Or I just wouldn't let a younger boy beat me.