Broken Dreams

The Academy

A couple days after our competition at Atlanta,Georgia we had to go back to Practice.
"Alright ladies," Miss Liz said," pop-a-squat."
Pop-a-squat is what Miss Liz likes to say for sit down. We all sat in a circle.
"Now listen up, great job at the competition everyone now I'm going to do the usual and name everyone that got an award. Okay starting with Rina, then Alana, Jackie and Sydney, now give them a round of applause." Everyone clapped.
"Okay, now we're gonna do two hours of conditioning and two hours of working on whatever event you need to work on. Any questions ?" No one answered so Miss Liz said,"Okay, let's go in the conditioning room then."
Two hours of conditioning wasn't that bad sometimes Miss Liz would torture us and make it the whole time which is 4 hours on weekdays or 6 hours in weekends of conditioning but I wondered if she was going to make conditioning today hard. Before I could go in the conditioning room Miss Liz pulled me to the side.
"Oh and Sydney,"Miss Liz said, "there's going to be someone coming to see you so for you only and hour of conditioning."
"Okay." I replied confused.
She smiled and walked away. I caught up with Alana and Jackie who wanted to know everything Miss Liz just said but before I could tell them conditioning began.
For all of conditioning I couldn't help but wonder who was here to see me. I couldn't wait for an hour to be up to see who it was but the more I thought about the slower the conditioning went.
Finally an hour was up and Miss Liz led me into the hall.
"Alright everyone I will be back in a short moment please do 35 burpees while I'm gone." Miss Liz said. When we walked out of the conditioning room I saw a women who smiled at us. She looked like another coach.
"Hello Miss Casey this is Sydney." Miss Liz said.
"Well of coarse it is I recognize you from the competition at Atlanta." Miss Casey said."Well I'm Miss Casey." She held out her hand and I shook it.
"Your probably wondering why I'm here so I'll get to the point." Miss Casey said. "I am a teacher at Lorain's Gymnastics academy the highest and most pristine gymnastics academy in the world. The academy is located in California and will last a year before you have to try out again. I am here to ask you if you would like the honor to try out to be our next student in our academy along with 2 others." All of this of coarse caught me by surprise.
Miss Casey saw the complete surprise on my face and smiled and said,"Here's a brochure take this home and give it to your parents to think about it. Any questions you have will be answered in that brochure."
Miss Liz laughed and said,"are you surprised?"
"Yessss!" I said a smile on my face,"and excited!"
"Alright well for tryouts you need to be a level 9 a level higher than what you are now so you'll need to practice with Miss Casey for your practices and might need to come in some extra days." I nodded, "and remember I have faith in you." Miss Liz said. I gave her a hug and started to practice with Miss Casey.
••••••••••
After practice I went home sweaty, hungry and tired Miss Casey had pushed me and it was only my first practice. As soon as I got home I smelled sweet delicious food.
"Mom I'm home!" I called dropping my stuff in the doorway.
"Sydney is that you!" I heard a familiar voice call. I ran into the living room surprised and happy to see my dad after his long business trip. I jumped into his arms embracing him in a hug.
"I missed you daddy!" I said.
"I missed you too sweetheart." My dad said. "Or should I call you sweatheart because you are so sweaty." I laughed. My dad is a lawyer and he goes on a lot of business trips for cases.
"Time for dinner!" My mother called.
"Race yah." I said to my dad.
"Your on." He challenged.
I won the race and at dinner I told my father about the competition at Atlanta since he couldn't be there. Then I told my mother and father about the academy they both congratulated me but still sounded unsure about something. I gave my mother the brochure and she looked shocked when she saw a page.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"Nothing." My mother said and smiled.
She handed the brochure to my dad who looked at the same page as my mother and had the same look on his face as he saw it.
"What's wrong?" I demanded.
"Nothing." My father said and closed it handing it to my mother. "Just sad to be having you gone for a year that's all." My father said. But I knew it was something else.
"Oh yeah." I said. "It's just you know I really want to do this but I'm still unsure on some things." I said seeing if they'll tell me what's really wrong but they just smiled and nodded.
•••••••
After dinner I was heading upstairs with some tea when I passed my parents room. The door was open a crack and I could see and hear them talking. My father had his hands covering his face.
"What are we going to do I can tell she wants to go." My father said. "I don't want to let her down."
"I know I know I don't either but it's going to be so tough." My mother said. As if trying to break my cover my Siberian husky Layla runs up the stairs with my two little kittens right behind her causing my parents to look out the crack in the door and see me.
"I just wanted to say goodnight." I said.
"Good night." My mother said closing the door.
"Great job Layla." I muttered. That night as I went to bed I couldn't help but wonder what they were talking about but I had an idea.
••••••
What did you think of this chapter? I really enjoyed writing this chapter. Hope you enjoyed reading it! ~Lily