Sorry, Not Sorry

-2

She picks up a skipping rope. "Could we do this with another group?"

Her eyes sparkle up at me so I shrug. "Sure" , assuming it would be some of her female friends.

-

I was wrong.

She jogs up to her cousin, Max. AKA. My now sworn enemy. (According to me, at least.)
"Hey, Maxy! Can me and Xavier join you two for skipping?" She points a thumb back to me, standing a few metres behind her, looking at the floor.

I can't see what Max's face says -though I can only assume he smiles smugly- but he says "Sure, why not."

His partner is a tall First Nations man, with shiny dark skin and short dreads. I'm scared of him for a moment, after noticing just how tall and muscular he is- but then I realise he wasn't someone who glared at me earlier, the only person besides Coach, the cousins and my reflection in the mirrored walls. The floor creaks as I step forward. "Nice to meet you." I say, and he pulls me into one of those 'Dap-to a hug' kinda bro hugs, his big hand patting my back. I choke, stepping back. "I'm Xavier." So far, I've managed to ignore Max completely, but I won't be able to forever.

"Nice to meet you, mate. My names Daniel- but don't call me that. Call me Danny. Danny Boy if we're close." He said, Black eyes sparking under the yellow light.

"Cool, Danny. Let's do this."

"Hello to you too." Max says beside Danny.

"Sure. Hi." I say.

Max rolls his eyes. "Who wants to jump first? We need two on the ends of the rope."

Danny and Kitty both volunteer, and I'm somewhat relieved I don't have to go first, but also upset that means I'm stuck having to watch Max to ensure our rope-swinging is in sync. Kitty goes first, and she just runs through the rope, "Woah-" she pants "All that adrenaline for nothing."

"We aren't done yet." Danny says, cracking his knuckles with a smile. He leaps into the centre of the rope and jumps four times before running out the other side.

"Oh, you're so on! Speed it up boys!" She says to Max and I. The swinging of the rope intensifies and just as Kitty's about to jump through-

It slipped through my hands. The rebound smacked her on the shin and she bends over to rub it. "Ouch."

"Sorry, sorry, that was my fault." My face flushes in embarrassment, as I scramble down to pick it up. I look back up at all three of them looking down at me. My heartbeat heightens and my grip on the rope tightens. I stand back up, vision blurred. "Sorry about that." I say blinking my eyes until I can see clearly. I breath deep, letting my heart slow.

What the hell was that? I've had mini panic attacks before but never over dropping a goddamn rope.

"Is your shin OK, Kitty?" I ask.

"Yeah, it doesn't hurt to bad" she says with a smile. Kitty and Danny do a few more hops through the rope when it's Max and I's turn.

He goes in front of me, and runs into the rope. He jumps once, but gets tangled in the rope. "Don't laugh at me." He hisses, brow furrowed as he struggles out of it. His face is determined and I can tell he wants to be perfect. At what? Skipping rope? I admire the determination, though. "Not laughing." I say.

It's finally my turn and I step forward, I run into the swirling rope of death and prepare to jump- but the rope sweeps me off my feet, and I land forwards on my palms.

Max chuckles behind me and I whip my head around. "You just told me not to laugh at you for falling and now you laugh at me?" I hiss, wiping my hands on my pants and standing up.

"You wanted to laugh." He said.

"Not really, it wasn't that funny." I cough. "I'll be back." I say, nodding in the direction of the bathroom, but when they share a glance that makes it seem they think I might be doing something else -like what? Crying?- I add, "I'm just going to wash my hands."

I disappear into the bathroom, with green tiles on the floor and pink ones on the walls. I stand at the rose coloured sink, running my hands under the water. The tiny cuts on my hand sting, but I bite my lip through the pain. I dry them off with a paper towel then head back out to the studio.

Danny waves me over, "Hey, you wanna hold the rope again?" He asks. I nod, grabbing it from his hands. He walks over to stand next to Max, who just got back from jumping through. Kitty is on the other side of the rope, and she smiles at me. I nod at her, and we continue spinning. Max reaches a record of 21 jumps in the rope, and Danny and him both decide to try doing to at the same time.

As the two jump in sync, I glance around at the room. Everyone is having fun and laughing, but I can't help feel embarrassed they saw me not only drop the rope, but also fall over on my first  try.

My stomach flips as Danny falls forward and face plants straight on the ground. Max kneels next to him, and Kitty jumps down too. Coach runs over from were she was sitting, helping him up, "You okay, Danny?" She asks, wearily.

At first I think Danny is hyperventilating, with the rapid rising and falling in his chest, but soon, as he raises his head to the sky, it's revealed he's actually laughing. "Oh- my GOD!" He laughs. "Did I seriously just faceplant?" A few people from the crowd chuckle with him. Then, as he touches his nose, "Ouch!"

"Chill out, big man." Max says, helping him up. Apparently there was a small gravel rock on the linoleum floor, which Danny tripped on he also face planted onto, causing a cut on his cheek. Kitty giggles, watching Katherine patch him up.

God, our groups a mess, and I did go somewhat nonverbal in the last half, but I still couldn't pass up Kitty's offer to go to her house after, to hang out some more.

Like I couldn't pass up. She wouldn't let me.

I'm usually better during the night times, anyway.

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