Lovebeam

Chapter 12

I laugh. "That's hilarious." I say. "Really, what's it called."

She's silent for a minute.

"I'm not joking."

The smile wipes off my face.
"People that go into the Olympics train their entire life for it."
"So?"

"I'm not cut for the Olympics."

"Oh, bullshit. Come on, the worst that can happen is you lose."
"Or I fail miserable and becoming the laughingstock of the fucking world."

"Okay, that's bullshit. You're competing. It's in July. I'll talk to Willow, have her rearrange your work schedule. You're competing."

"Mrs. Marshall-"

"Six in the morning, sharp. Don't be late."

<><>

I gave in and told everyone I'm competing.

Brody and his parents and my parents, and Madison, and Keith, and my brother and sister, and Courtney, are all coming to my practice this morning.

It's 5:59.

I walk in.

"Danielle, if you want to win, you've gotta get here an hour early. Act like the clock is pushed back an hour." Mrs. Lawrence says.

I sigh.

"I can't believe you're making me do this."

"You're gonna win!" Mrs. Marshall calls.

I sigh and change into black spandex and my white tank top. I toss my hair up into a bun.

"Stretch." Mrs. Lawrence orders.

I'm nervous. I do as she says.

Once I'm stretched to her standards, she makes me stand up.

"Alright, you always struggled on beam most. I want you on there first."

I chalk up and go to the beam.

She watches me as I get on.

"Good, you still get on correctly. Handstand."

I try, and slip right off.

It pisses me the fuck off.

She can see my frustration.

"Alright no." Mrs. Marshall says. "Don't start her on what she's worst on. Start her on what she's best on. Build her confidence, and then throw her a weakness."

Mrs. Lawrence nods, agreeing.

"I'm not going to win." I mutter, pissed.

"Dani, stop being pessimistic!" Madison calls.

I sigh.

"Bars." Mrs. Lawrence says. "Let's make sure you can still do a split."

I drop into a split.

She looks relieved.

I get up.

"Alright." She says. I want you to get on the high bar, turn yourself, and go to the low bar, back to high, and flip while you get off...and try to land."

I take a deep breath, reminding myself I can do this, and I do as she says. I flip around around the high bar, flip, jump to low, back to high, and keep spinning, doing tricks to please her, and then I jump off, flip, and still manage to land it.

She looks so happy.

<><>

By the end of the day it was like I never even left the damn team. I was doing everything correctly, even on beam.