My Knight(s) In Shining Armour

Chapter 2: Oppertunity of a life time

Chapter 2

The next 5 days of holiday when by in a blur of shopping bags and sun tans, the memory of Connor still fresh in my mind.

"3:34," I muttered to myself, looking at my new sleek silver watch. "Lets go to the beach," I called out to mum who was in the other room.

"Ok, Courtney and Dad are already there, I'm going to go and hire a paddle board, I'll meet you down there soon," she shouted back. I heard the front door close with a bang. I pulled my hair into a messy bun and grabbed my black bikini from the balcony.

*

"Ahhhhh," I screamed at the top of my lungs, gravity bringing me down. I fell into the warm sea water with a loud splash. I pulled my body back onto the paddle board with a struggle. I stood on the wobbly surface, lifting my hands above my head and taking a shaking step. I placed my hands on the board, flicking my feet up in one fast movement. I waited a few seconds before pulling one foot at a time from the hand stand. I put my hands out to steady myself.

"I did it!" I yelled out, fist pumping the air.

"Well done sweetie," Mum laughed. I jumped back into the water and made my way up the sandy beach. Picking my stripped baggy top off of the ground I shook it of sand and pulled it over my head.

"Hey Tyla, show me that thing that I saw you doing the other day at the park," Courtney called out from the towel she was laying on.

"Sure," I chirped, making my way up the grass. I steadied my breath, before taking my first step. I ran a few steps before lifting my arms and hurdling. I placed my hands sideways on the ground doing a round off, followed by three flick flacks and finished with a back layout half twist. I got ground shock as my feet hit the hard surface, making me wince in pain. My silky hair fell over my face and I pushed it behind my ear.

"That's so cool," Courtney said, jealousy written on her pale face. I gave out a shaky laugh.

"Thanks, I'm going for a shower," I replied, turning to leave.

"Excuse me," said a man, stopping me in my tracks. He had short, yellow-blonde hair, brayban sunglasses and slight stubble on his chin. He looked in his mid to late 30s.

"Yes?" I asked, curiously.

"I was just wondering, are you a gymnast?"

"yes,' I replied hesitantly.

"I was just watching you on the paddle board and your balance is amazing, also on the grass. My name is Matt Holland and I'm a gymnastics coach, here's my details," he said handing me a small card, " I help run an international gymnastics program, where gymnasts come from all around the world to train and compete. I would love it if you could come to our gymnasium and show me what you can do," he finished giving me a smile.

"I would love to! When can I come in?" I asked with excitement. Matt let out a small laugh.

"Tomorrow at three work with you?"

"Perfect! Oh, and my names Tyla!" I squealed, "Sounds good, I'll see you at 3 tomorrow."

"I'll see you then," he replied giving me a small nod, before returning to the lounger that he was previously sitting on.

*

"I'm so nervous, I'm so nervous," I said repetitively, shaking my leg against my taxi door. I was wearing a pair of spandex over my dark red and black leotard that I had bought on holiday to do conditioning. My hair was pulled back in a tight bun, held by a sparkly scrunchy. My parents and sister had gone to the mall and sent me off in a taxi to go to the gymnasium by myself.....I just loved all their support, ha! Not. I stared at the palm trees out the window that flashed by in a blur.

"Were here," said the taxi driver, snapping me out of my day dream.

"Oh um th-thank you," I replied, handing him a 20 dollar bill with a shaky hand. I pulled on the black door handle and lifted myself out of the vehicle.

I made my way into the gymnasium.

It was HUGE!

"Wow,"I breathed out, eyes wide.

Rows and rows of beams were lines up against the left side of the building. Six bars sat in the left, a vault strip on either side. At the back was the boys bars, pommel, rings and foam pit. In the centre was a large red floor, with black tape strips vertically.

"Do you like?" Matt asked, standing just to my left.

"I love!" I said honestly.

"Why don't you start warming up and I'll get the sheet you need to follow." I gave a small nod and dropped my small purple gym bag on the wooden bench. I started with a slow jog around the perimeter of the floor, gradually speeding up. After I was finished my warm up I started to stretch. I began with my neck, then shoulders, wrists, back, legs and ankles.

"Are you ready?" Matt asked, walking towards me with a sheet of paper in his hands.

"Ready as I'll ever be," I replied, lifting my self from the springy floor.

"Great, lets start with bar," he instructed. I made my way to the bars, pulling on my hand guards and chalking them.

"Right, can you do........"

*

"That-was-sactacular!" Matt cheered. I had just finished my beam routine with a double back dismount. I had finished showing him everything that I needed to. I looked at him expectantly, a hand on my hip.

"Tyla, you were fantastic, our program needs a girl like you," he said enthusiastically. He draped an arm over my shoulder, directing me to a small office. I sat down in a small plastic chair, still trying to catch my breath.

"Listen, Tyla," he started, talking a seat opposite mine, "A talent like yours is wasted in a place like New Zealand. We have had many girls and guys over the years move from there homes to come and join our international program. Would you be interested in maybe joining us?" Matt asked with a hopeful look on his face. I nodded my head vigorously.

"Yes but I doubt my parents would be up for it," I replied reluctantly. A look of disappointment crossed his face.

"Could you tell your parents to ring me sometime tonight and well schedule a good time to meet, I would love to tell them a bit more about the program."

"Sure," I replied with a small smile. Matt lifted himself from his seat and walked towards the door.

*

"Please please please!" I begged my mum. I was on my knees in the resort foyer, holding onto my mums hands. Matt gave out a shaky laugh at my dramatic behaviour. My parents had just talked to him about me moving to Hawaii to do gym.

"Tyla, I don't think your ready for this," She asked with a pained look on her face.

"Yes, I am," I said confidently, raising from the ground.

My mum and dad looked at each other, as if they were communicating telepathically. She let out a sigh.

"Tyla, your father and I have already decided, you can't go," mum said slowly, as if she was speaking to a small child. I felt my eyes starting to water.

"Im almost an adult for gods sake, I can make my own choices," I exclaimed in total outrage.

"Tyla. We. Said. No," she said in a stern voice. I glanced in my dads direction, whatever hope I had left dying when I saw look on his face, identical my mothers.

"Well if you ever change your mind, give me a ring," Matt said. He shook both of my parents hands before giving mea weak smile and walking away in defeat.

"You happy now?" I asked cooly. My mum gave me a sympathetic look.

"Sweetie I-" she started.

"Don't sweetie me," I spat. I knew I was being rude, but in the heat of the moment, I couldn't have cared less. I spun around and stomped my way towards the elevator.

***