It's Complicated

Chapter 15: The Devil Came Down to 1st Class

I'm shocked, I can't believe what we just heard. Was this all my fault!? I mean, I know I'm not friends with Liv anymore but I didn't mean for things to come to this extreme! I need to talk to Kim, I need to know if this was my fault!

I walk toward the office & knock on the door, it swings open & Liv runs out crying; she goes straight to the restroom. "Um, Coach Kim? Can I talk to you?" I've never been so nervous in my entire life. I couldn't live with myself if I was the reason Liv was kicked out of the program.

"What's up? What's going on?" She's visibly annoyed, part of me wants to avoid asking, but I need to know!

"Well, I was just wondering if Liv being kicked out was, well you know, my fault? I didn't mean to get her thrown from the program."

"No Annie, this is her own doing. She put your life at risk. She was aware & withheld information. God only knows what could've happened. She put a teammate, a friend in danger & didn't have remorse. THAT is why she's been removed. We can't have someone who isn't honest & caring on the floor with our girls. Everyone protects each other! You're fine! Go let the girls know practice is cancelled early & everyone needs to call to be picked up early, all parents need to come for their kids unless they notify me."

I nod my head & walk out of the office. I can't believe this, I mean I feel kind of bad, but you know what they say about karma. What goes around, comes around. I see my teammates sitting on the gym floor in a circle waiting for someone to tell them something, I can't bare to tell them the full story.

"Hey, Kim said practice is over & that we need to call to get picked up early. I guess we should just go wait in the school room, but yeah make sure everyone has a ride home."

Amanda asks, "but why is practice over early? We haven't even finished morning practice?" I roll my eyes, I don't mean to, but it happens. "Sorry Amanda, I don't know why. She just said its over. Ask Mare if you don't believe me." I'm becoming agitated, it's frustrating because I want them to know but I also don't. Those were my friends, the girls I grew up with, but they don't need to know everything.

We all grab our things from our lockers & make our way to the schoolroom, girls begin to call their parents to pick them up & Mary walks in with another announcement. "When the parents get here tell them to meet me & Kim in the parent viewing room for a mandatory parent/student meeting. As for you girls, you need to be with your parents sitting down. Please, this is a serious matter we're dealing with."

I feel like I've got a lump in my throat, I know my mom needs to be here but I can't bare to tell her. I get too nervous & decide to text her:
Mom, there's a mandatory parent meeting you need to come to right now. Something happened & all parents & gymnasts have to be there for the talk.

My mom instantly replies "seriously? I guess I'll be there in 15." She hated these mandatory meetings, last time we had one was because someone had headlice & everyone got it. I wonder what will be said, I wonder if everyone is gonna know it's about me. My heart is racing, my chest tightened, I can't sit still. I run over to Katie, "Kate, please go outside with me real quick. I need some air, I can't breathe!" Katie looks concerned, we immediately rush out. Once the fresh air hits me, I can breathe again.

"What's going on? I know you know something!"

I shut my eyes & exhale deeply.

"It's about the other month. The Liv situation. She knew something was up & didn't tell me, I accidentally told Kim & it all kind of just blew up."

"I'm confused. What happened? I mean, I remember the yelling but you never told me what happened. I just remembered you cutting her off."

"It was about Daniel. He used me, she knew. She basically set it up & didn't care about what happened to me. I was crushed. I finally told someone, Kim, & she was shocked. They kicked Liv from the program for putting me at risk."

"Wow, when were you gonna tell me this?" She seemed a bit upset, but I don't blame her. It's been a couple of months & I hadn't said anything to her.

"Tonight. I was going to tell you tonight. I needed space to register what happened. I was preparing myself to tell you today, I promise. I'm just nervous about the meeting, everyone is gonna know it's me.."

Kate pulls me in for a hug, "I love you. I'm just glad you're safe! We'll deal with the meeting when it happens. You're okay, I've got you."

A car pulls into the parking lot full speed, it's Liv's mom. I get nervous & Katie holds my hand & squeezes it to let me know she's got me. Mrs. Jen looks enraged, she looks like she's ready for a fight. I don't know exactly what was said to her, but it was obviously enough to piss her off. Her face was red & her eyes looked bloodshot, this isn't going to be good. She began to approach me & Katie.

"Where the hell are they? Where the hell are Mary & Kim!?" She yells right into our faces, her breath reeks of Moscato.

"There's no need to yell at us, they're inside in the office." I'm so thankful for Kate, I probably would crumbled under pressure had she not been out here with me.

Jen scoffs & makes her way inside; she pulls the door open so hard that it hits the concrete rail & the window cracks. We immediately follow in, we peek from the hallway that looks straight into the office room.

"What kind of shit is this!? My daughter has been here for years! What could she have possibly done that was so wrong to have gotten kicked out!?"

"Jen please, do not be irrat—"

"Do you know how much time & money I've invested into this gym? We refuse to leave. This is bullshit!"

"We realize that but what you don't understand is she put another persons life at risk. She lied."

"Are you fucking kidding me? She's a child, how would she even do that!?"

Next thing we know papers, objects & trophies begin flying across the office room. Mrs. Jen had a full on meltdown meanwhile Liv is sitting in the restroom crying. Things got so out of hand they had to call the gym owners & the local police. I can't believe this all happened over me. All because of an untrustworthy friend & a shitty boy.