Chapter 7
Gemma and I were sitting at our lunch table when we saw Jake. Dressed in a grey and black vest top with blue jeans, we called him over. “Jake! We’re over here”.
“Hi Carly, who’s your friend?”
I was about to answer him when Gemma interrupted “I’m Gemma, you’re new to the school right? Did you just move here?” While she was bombarding Jake with questions I just stared in amazement, I never knew she was so interested in him.
“Actually I moved here about a month ago but my parents thought it would be best for me to settle in first then go to school, which surprised me a little because they are all about my education.” Jake answered.
“Wow I wish my parents were like that if I had to move I would be in school straight away” Gemma said.
“You don’t want parents like mine, they’re are really strict and they make me work really hard, but I guess that’s okay because I get really good marks on all my tests.” Jake replied.
That’s what I like about Jake, he can always be positive about a negative situation. “What lesson do you have next Jake?” I asked.
“I have art, what about you?”
“I have PE, but Gemma has art as well” I told Jake, just as the bell rang.
“Great, we can sit together, let’s go Gemma”
It’s great that my best friend and my boyfriend get along so well this means that we can all hang out together. I walked to the changing rooms to get ready for PE when a girl called Mia came up to me. “Hi, do you have any deodorant, mine just ran out?”
“Yeah sure, here” I said as I handed her the can. She quickly used some and gave it back to me, with a quick “thanks”.
I’m very sporty, so PE was great as always. We did gymnastics, which I am quite good at because I used to take classes when I was a kid with Gemma. But after 2 years we got a new teacher who wasn’t just a bad a gymnastics but a horrible person.
I was getting changed into my uniform when Mia came up to me and said “You’re really good at gymnastics, i’m on the squad and we have a competition coming up and one of the girls on our team broke her leg at practice so I was wondering if you would like to take her spot for a few weeks.”
“I’m not sure, wouldn’t I have to prepare a routine to perform at the competition and I don’t think I’ll have enough time?” I asked.
“Yeah you would but don’t worry it isn’t for 2 weeks so you’ll have plenty of time to make a routine at practice”
Starting gymnastics again would be fun since I haven’t done it in ages and i’m not in any other sport clubs. “Okay i’m in, when’s practice?” The more that I think about it the more excited I get; although I’ve never performed by myself I’ve always done a duo with Gemma. On the other hand this will boast my independence.
“We practice every Tuesday and Thursday afterschool” Mia replied. Today is Tuesday so I’ll have to call my mum and tell her I will be home late. “Okay I’ll see you then, bye”
I finished getting changed and went to maths which I have with Gemma and Jake. When I got there I got three seats and waited for them to get here. “Hey guys, guess what? I joined the gymnastic club. It turns out that a girl on the squad can’t perform and this girl Mia from my PE class is the captain and thinks i’m good and should take the other girls place for a couple of weeks.” I explained.
“That’s great, congratulations, when’s your first competition I want to be there?” Gemma said while hugging me. “It’s not for 2 weeks but I will love it if you will help me come up with a routine?” I answered.
“Of course I will help you, it will be just like when we where little.” Gemma said.
“Why don’t we all go out tonight to celebrate?” Jake suggested with a hopeful look on his face.
“Sorry I can’t, practice is today but maybe we could go tomorrow” I said just as the teacher started talking.
“Today we will be continuing our work on Pythagoras theorem, turn to page 45 in one of the textbooks at the back of the room. You have the rest of the lesson to complete it.”
When the lesson ended I went to my locker to get my PE kit and while I was heading to the changing rooms I called my mum and told her I wouldn’t be home till 6. Once I was ready I went to the sports hall. For the first 5 minutes Mia let me watch the other girls and they were all a lot better than me and if we want to win the competition I’ll have to come up with an amazing routine.
After 5 minutes Mia asked me to come up with something to show the other girls. I spent the rest of the lesson choreographing a small routine to show the rest of the group. I was standing in the middle of the room when the music started; I jumped, twirled, danced and flipped around the room. Before I knew it I had finished and all I could her was clapping coming from the audience.
I never knew I was that good; hopefully i’m good enough to help win the competition. “That was awesome Carly; you should have joined the squad when you first started the school.”
“Thanks, I used to take classes when I was a kid with my best friend Gemma who is going to help me choreograph the routine.”
“Okay, i’m sure it will be great I’ll see you on Thursday” Mia said as she waved goodbye.
When I got home I did my homework and texted Gemma.
Me: After we go out we Jake 2morrow do you want 2 come back 2 my house 2 work on the routine?
Gemma: Yeah sure, r u going 2 perform it 2 music?
Me: yeah, but don’t worry I have music we can practice 2.
Gemma: k I’ll c u 2morrow at school.
