Shoot for the Team

Chapter 11: New teammates

I couldn't bear the thought of rich spoiled Hollywood girls on my team. Not only that, but they were also younger and cuter than me. Ms. Menville just wanted them on the show so they could be the stars. Or to stir up trouble and cause more drama.
On Thursday I complained to Rosie, "Don't you think that this is unfair? They can't just walk on the team." "I don't know," Rosie said, "they seem nice." I groaned. Rosie was too nice sometimes. I wish she would understand that it was unfair. "Just try to be nice too them, ok?" she asked. "Fine," I answered.
Thursday was the girls first day at practice. Surprisingly, Rosie was right. They both were really nice.
I spent the time to get to know them a little better. I already knew McKenzie a little bit from two weeks ago, but not very well. She seemed easier to get to know than Lilah, so I decided to start with her.
"Hi!" I said. "I don't know if you remember me from a few weeks ago, but I'm Julie."
"I'm McKenzie," she said. "And yes, I do remember you." "Do you play any other sports?" I asked. "Well, I used to do dance, but I quit last month. I sing and play violin, though." "That's cool!" I said. "I also like to sing, and I play piano." "Who's your favorite singer?" she asked. "Taylor Swift!" I answered. "Really, mine is too!!!" she answered. "That's so awesome!" I exclaimed. "Have you been to any of her concerts?" she asked. "No, but I want to," I said. "Have you?" "Yes! I've been to four." I should have known. She was a rich Hollywood girl. Of course she had been to concerts. I shouldn't have asked. "Do you live in Los Angeles?" I asked. "Well, I have a home in Beverly Hills, and a house in Oceanside, which is a lot closer. I'm currently living in my Oceanside house, which is about 45 minutes from here, but I go to my Hollywood house a lot. Lilah lives in the same neighborhood as my Oceanside house." "That's cool." I said. What a lucky duck. I wish I lived in Beverly Hills. "Do you have any siblings?" I asked. "Yes," she replied "I have a twin brother, and an older brother." "Lucky! I wish I had a twin! I have a younger brother and two younger sisters." "It's not as fun as it seems," McKenzie said. "Sometimes he drives me crazy!" "That's no different from my brother," I said, "And my brother is eight."
I was thinking that I should go and meet Lilah now, but McKenzie beet me to it. "Do you want to meet Lilah?" she asked. "Sure!" I said, and she walked me over to her.
"Julie, this is Lilah," McKenzie said. "Hi!" I said. "Hello," she said in a voice slightly less shy than before. I guess she was more comfortable around her friend. "So, do you like the jump rope team so far?" I asked. "Well, yes, I guess. McKenzie talked me into it, but it seems fun," she answered. "Do you play any other sports?" "I used to take gymnastics," she replied. "That's awesome!" I said. "Gymnastics is a big part of jump rope." It was true. Gymnastics was not exactly my thing, but I was getting better. Lilah would be a great jump roper if she was a gymnast. "Can I see some of your tricks?" I asked. "Sure!" she answered with a smile on her face. She took off into a beautiful cartwheel, and then bent back into a back bend. Then she landed in the splits. "Cool! Can you teach me how to do that?" I said. "I'm not exactly sure how to teach, but I can try later."
As the practice went on, McKenzie and Lilah started learning new tricks. Lilah was a really fast learner. And McKenzie was just fearless, not afraid to try anything. They both could do a double under by the end of the night.
"Wow!" I said to them. "Good job tonight! Keep practicing at home, and I can teach more next week. I"ll see you later!"
"Bye!" they both said in unison.