From Florida With Love

Chapter 2- "Magicians"

Going back to school after Christmas break means the start of the new semester. It's a new set of teachers and classmates which I'm honestly so thankful for. I don't think I would've survived sitting through Mrs. Sanders Advanced English with the seat next to me empty. That's where Tyler is supposed to be. I don't need anymore reminders that he's gone. Believe me, my heart is fully aware as is.

Even with that said, I am still happy to be back in school. The familiarity of routine, seeing friends and diving back into my studies is comforting.  All of it is a nice distraction from the fact that my boyfriend is over one thousand miles away. Plus, being back in school also means another thing. Back to cheer.

Our team only had about two weeks off after football season ended before we got back to practice for competition season. Other than having a little vacation between Christmas and New Years, we've been pushing harder than ever to perfect our routines. Our school is the reigning State Champs after all, so there's a lot of expectations to meet and pressure put on us.  A lot of the pressure comes from knowing there are a ton of other schools who want to knock us off our throne but probably more than that, we put a lot of pressure on ourselves.

I've never met another team of girls who are as hungry for the win as I am. They'll stop at nothing to achieve their goals, which for us, is bringing home another State Championship Ring. Every true athlete knows that the 'inner drive' is a quality that's intangible, it can't really be taught. Either you have that fire inside you or you don't, but man these girls definitely all do! Since I grew up in a house full of boys who were all crazy athletic I discovered my inner athletic drive pretty young. But these girls that I get to call my teammates, they're next level. Which coming from me says a lot because the bar is set high. Each of my teammates push me, support me, inspire me and impress the heck outta me. I've definitely found my people since moving to Romeo. Or I guess I should say, they found me. Payton, Kelly, Claire, Rachel and all my other teammates have become the sisters that I never had growing up and always wished for in a house full of boys.

"Run it again. Full out! One last time!" Coach Kim yells across the gym.

My body is screaming with exhaustion. Sweat drips down my brow that I wipe away with my t-shirt sleeve.

"She's trying to kill us." Kelly mumbles under her breath as our stunt group stumbles back towards one another on the mat.

"I know you're tired. I know it's the end of practice. But do you know what else I know?" Coach Kim asks.

Nobody says anything. We know the question is rhetorical. Plus my teammates and I are all too busy trying to catch our breath to answer her.

"....Let me take this moment to remind you of all the things this program has accomplished. What you have accomplished. Because in case you have forgotten, you're all capable of doing hard things, I've seen it. You've proven it in each practice, each game day, each routine run through so far. I know that you can do this. I know that you can push through and kill this routine even when you're dead tired. I know that you have one more full out in you for today and you can nail each element perfectly while doing it. Do you know how I know?"

Coach Kim doesn't say anything, just points towards the line of Cheerleading State Championship banners hanging up in the gym. There's eleven in total spreading along the majority of the back gym wall. We're all silent as we look up at them, only the sounds of our heavy breathing can be heard. Seeing the banners gives me chills because I know what kind of work goes into earning one of those, let alone eleven. It's an incredible legacy. One in which Coach Kim has built up from nothing over the last two decades.

".... Whether you already have three championship rings sitting in a case at home or this year is your first chance to fight for one, you are all capable of greatness this season. Not because someone is going to hand you the W or because your sisters have carved the way for you, but because we have clawed our way to the top and fought harder than anyone else to stay there. I've coached a lot of teams and I can say with full confidence that you are all uniquely gifted individuals. Truly some of the best I have ever coached. But what I also see that's more significant than each of your own individual talents, is how well you work together, trust one another, fight for each other. Now that is something you can't teach. I can't coach you into making magic with your teammates but that's exactly what you all have together. Magic. You're unstoppable together if you want to be. So how bad do you want it?"