To Believe In Promises (Tumbling Down trilogy - DM fanfic)

Missing (Ch.31)

Tyler: What's wrong?
Me(through tears): M-My Mom! S-She won't help me! I told her she couldn't. I'm so terrible! But I still don't want her to!

I feel him sit up and pull me into his lap.

Tyler: You did what you had to do. Your mom never liked me. You did what was right for the baby. It's okay.
Me: Who does that to their own mother?
Tyler: A smart daughter. It's okay, Kenz.

He looks at me, supporting my chin with his forefinger. I nod so he knows I'm listening.

Tyler: Let's get some sleep, okay? It's okay.

I lie down against him and let him hold me. And that's how we spend the next 9 days. I just want him to take care of me right now.

And he does. For those next 9 days. He treats me like royalty.

~4 months later~

I've been living with Dad this whole time. Just because being alone isn't something I want to be doing. I feel huge at 22 weeks. And I still have more to go. If I feel this big now, I'm gonna be a whale by the time I'm full term.

I sit and feel the baby kicking.

Me: Hyper baby, aren't you?

When I get up and walk - which is becoming more of a challenge, the baby stops with a lot of these movement, but when I sit, it's all action. As I sit now on the couch, he or she is kicking. And I rub my stomach along where the kicks come.

All of a sudden, Dad comes up to me, looking...uncomfortable.

Dad: Hey, I need to ask you a favor.
Me: Do I look like the person to be asking favors from?
Dad: This isn't that bad, though. I don't think it is anyways.
Me: What?
Dad: I have to go on a business trip. In Boston. I already talked to Mary and she said you could stay there for the week.

I sit back. I'm angry and upset that my dad is doing this to me but I realize he has to. And I can sleep in Tyler's bed.

Me: Okay. When do you leave?
Dad: Tonight. After your appointment.

I go upstairs - with some difficulty - and pack my bag. My appointment is in 2 hours, but I don't want to get ready. I want to lay in my sweats all day.

~•~

Dad: Looks like that baby just keeps getting healthier!
Me: Yeah. I guess.
Dad: How you feeling?
Me: I answered that at the appointment.
Dad: Of course you're fine for a doctor, but I want to know. Do you feel ready?
Me: No! Of course I don't! I'm having a baby!

I don't honestly mean to snap at him, but he kind of deserves it. Does he not realize how serious my life is about to become?

Dad: Okay, I'm sorry. I was just making conversation.

Before I know it, I'm in the Stranton house.

Mary: Kenz, you look great.

Why does everyone say that?

Me: Thanks.
Mary: How did your appointment go?
Me: Good. Everything going the way it should, I guess.
Mary: You guess?
Me: The baby is healthy. Internally, it's fine.
Mary: But externally, it's not?
Me: Truthfully?

I just want Tyler. I don't want this baby if he won't be here with me.

Mary: Oh dear, he'll be back.
Me: But I want him now!
Mary: I know. We all do. Tori is about at the end of her rope.

My attention turns to the teenager she just mentioned.

Me: Where is she?
Mary: Gymnastics. You can talk to her later.
Me: When does she get home?
Mary: I pick her up in a half hour.
Me: I'll pick her up.
Mary: You don't have to.
Me: No, I want to. I feel like I'm not allowed to do anything anymore.
Mary: Okay. Same place you used to take her.

I nod and thank her. I grab the keys and get going. When I pull up, I realize I have to pee. Again. So I head inside. On my way back, I see the doors to the gymnastics room. I know people can sit in and watch, so I do that.

I remember when Abby would make me come to places like this and tumble on the floor.

I take a seat next to the others, but also distanced so they don't talk to me. I just want to watch.

I find Tori in the crowd of girls and watch them line up. She's first. Her eyes watch the blue floor and she preps herself to tumble.

Who I assume is the coach starts barking at them, walking down the line.

Coach: I want you all to go over the first move in your floor routines. One by one. Right after each other. I want to see you all stick the landings. Stay in the box. Stranton. Go!

Tori takes off in no time. And I have to say, she's one of the better tumblers. Which just means she hasn't improved with the vault at all.

And when they go over the other events, I can tell I was right. She's very good with the uneven bars and floor. She's doing better with beam. But her vault is her weak spot.

Coach: I want you all at open gym tomorrow night to practice your events. We have competition in a week! You're dismissed.

They all mumble 'thank you's, much like how I would do at dance.

She runs to the corner with her other gymnasts and then starts walking out, phone to her ear.

*Tori's POV*

Coach: GO!

I take off and force my body to flip in ridiculous ways. I feel confident. Scared as hell, but confident.

Thank god I stick my landing.

My vault is awful though.

We end class and I call my mom.

Mom: Hello?
Me: Hey are you here? Or should I ask-
Mom: Someone else is already there for you.
Me: Who?

I secretly hope it's Tyler, but lord knows it'll never be him.

I turn around to see someone equally as good though.

Me: Kenzie!