New Team, New Dream

Chapter 32

"The next stunt is a bit trickier. We have a full up to extended scorpion, scale, double down. Then a pike arch basket."

I looked at Matt and winked. We waited for the counts. This stunt was a disaster. I was laughing at Matt making faces at me, and we bobbled. My pike was good but my arch was bad and my bases nearly dropped me. When we looked at the judges for approval, they made a grim face and held up their scorecards.

6, 7, 6.

Still better than Peyton's first stunt. We collect ourselves and get ready for the next stunt. It's a one and half this time up to a front stretch, tick tock to lib, scale, and double down. Then a reload to a kick double basket.

The one and a half went smoothly, as did my front stretch tick tock to lib. My scale was a bit rushed and resulted in a shaky double down. My kick double was high and next to my ear, and I was pretty satisfied with that stunt sequence.

The judges smiled in approval this time and held up to my surprise, three 9s. I gave Matt a high five and a kiss, and we waited for the last stunt. The trickiest one of them all.

"Alrighty here we go." Erin takes out her cellphone from her pocket and checks her notes. "360 ball up to heel stretch. Tick tock to free stretch, tick tock to scale, double down. Reload kick single kick single. And that's a wrap."

I nervously bit my nails as I waited for the counts. My ball up 360 was definitely not perfect, but my heel stretch was. My free stretch was a little lower than perfect, but my scale was great. Double down, check. Kick single kick single; perfect.

Before I could even register what was happening, the judges were standing up and clapping. They each threw their sparkly "10" scorecards at my stunt group and smiled brightly.

I glanced at Matt and he was jumping up and down and hugging my back spot. He saw me and engulfed me in a tight hug. When he let go he picked me up and did a cupie with ease. When he caught my waist, he spun me around and kissed my lips. I passionately kissed back and hugged him. People were hooting and hollering, and when I opened my eyes I saw the judges carrying a big, framed certificate.

"Congratulations! You won a trip to Hawaii for a two week getaway!"