Twist and Tumble

Chapter One

"Again, Naomi! Jump higher!" Coach Alian yelled as I was jumping on the trampoline, I killed my bounce, trying to catch my breath. I looked over at Coach Alian, she had her arms crossed and her eyebrow raised, she was tapping her foot impatiently. I sighed. "Can I get water?" I asked, my voice raspy from the nonstop practice. The National Competition was coming up, and I was constantly working on my routine. Coach Alian rolled her eyes. "Do it again! Then you can have water." I sighed and started jumping again. I started my routine with a back pike and finished with a ballout. I killed my bounce and looked over at Coach Alian, she nodded and I walked to the edge of the trampoline, climbing down the stairs as Riley, the absolute rudest girl I had ever met, got on the tramp. I walked into the locker room, and the head coach, Coach Robin, of the TNT (trampoline and tumbling) team, walked out of her office. She was talking to three people, a man, a woman, and a boy, the boy was maybe 14 years old. He had brown fluffy hair and sky-blue eyes. I looked him up and down. Maybe he was joining our team. He looked away from Coach Robin and locked eyes with me. I quickly looked away, picking up my water bottle and drinking from it. I felt his eyes on me even as Coach Robin led them out to the main gym area. I walked out of the locker room a couple of minutes after them. I walked back to the trampoline, Coach Alian motioned for me to get back on the trampoline, and I climbed up onto the trampoline. I started to jump when I saw the boy in the corner of my eye, watching me. I hated it when people watched me. I could never focus, I always fell.

I was doing a backflip, I was so excited that I finally learned it, and my mom started watching me, I flew back, fell off the trampoline, and was rushed to the hospital, my head bleeding.

I shook my head, that was in the past, it didn't matter anymore, I started my routine, it went completely normal, I was feeling good and then I went for my ballout, I went too far, and I stood at the edge of the trampoline and managed to keep my balance. I looked down, held onto the trampoline, and took deep breaths. Thank goodness I didn't fall off. Coach Alian and Coach Robin ran over to the front of the trampoline, I could see their mouths moving but I couldn't hear them, all I could hear was the pounding of my heart and my heavy breathing, I closed my eyes, trying to calm down. I felt myself get picked up and taken off the trampoline, I got set on the ground and opened my eyes, Coach Robin was kneeling in front of me, she was talking but I couldn't make out her words, she looked concerned, she said something then walked away, I looked over to see where she was going but she was already out of my view. The boy walked over to me, he kneeled in front of me, my brow furrowed, I think he... laughed? I raised an eyebrow, and that's when he started talking. "Hey, are you alright?" I nodded, not sure that I could talk. He held his hand out to me. "I'm Matthew or Matt." He tilted his head. "I join the team tomorrow." I shook his hand. "I'm Naomi." He nodded with a small smile. "That's a pretty name." He looked up at the trampoline and then back at me. "You had a good routine, y'know. Until well..." He gave me a nervous smile. I nodded. I know what he meant. Coach Robin came back, and he stood up. He gave me a small wave and walked back to what I assumed were his parents. Coach Robin gave me my water bottle, and I started taking small sips from it, trying to calm down. Coach Robin stood up and walked back over to Matt and his parents, showing them around the gym. After a couple of minutes, I stood up and walked back to the trampoline. I stood next to Coach Alian. She motioned for me to get back on the trampoline, I nodded and climbed back onto the trampoline. I took a deep breath and started my routine again. This time, it went well, I didn't fall. I did it twice more, then got off the trampoline, Riley tripped me as I got off, and I fell down the stairs, I placed my hand on the ground before I hit my head. I sighed and stood up, I glared at Riley. She just smirked and got on the trampoline. One of my friends on the team, Arianna, got off of the trampoline deck and walked over to me. "Are you alright, Naomi?" She asked. I nodded
"I'm fine."
"Good. You fell pretty hard."
I rolled my eyes. "Because of Riley," She sighed. "She's just jealous," her eyes widened. My brow furrowed. "What?"
"You have a cut on your forehead."
I reached up and touched my forehead, and I could feel the blood, my jaw dropped slightly as I slowly brought my hand in front of my face, my hand shaking, and I had blood on my index and middle finger. My eyes narrowed, and I turned my head back, glaring at Riley as she did her routine. I hoped she would fall. Arianna's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. "Let's get you a bandaid. Come on," I nodded and started walking over to the first aid station with her. She had me sit down as she started to dig through the first aid kit. She got an alcohol wipe and started to clean it. Her face was set in a scowl, probably because of Riley, but her touch was gentle and caring. She finished cleaning my wound and tossed the wipe in the trash, getting me a bandaid, she placed it on my forehead and offered me her hand, I took her hand and stood up, "Thank you," I said, and she nodded with a smile "No problem!" She wrapped her arm around my shoulder."You're my bestie!" She glared at Riley, who was sitting on the trampoline, giving me a smug smirk. "Her, on the other hand..." Arianna grumbled. I laughed and looked at the time 7:58. Practice was almost over. 2 minutes left. I looked over at Arianna, she smiled and we walked to the floor, where everyone was dismissed, and everyone started following. Coach Robin and Coach Alian came over and dismissed us. I walked to the locker room with Arianna, I was so tired from gymnastics. I grabbed my stuff and walked over to my mom in the lobby, I caught a glimpse of Matt in the corner of my eye, I smiled a little, and he smiled back. I thought we would make great friends. Little did I know how wrong I was.