Running To a Better Life

Cimorelli's Never Split Up

Summer 2017
Nicola's POV
It was just an average day at home. I was doing my routine I have to learn for Nationals tonight. I can't wait for my first cheer competition!! I'm in my full on cheer uniform and I just absolutely love it!! The team is amazing and I've made so many friends. I overhear my mom yelling for me,
"NICOLA!! ITS TIME TO HEAD TO THE GYMNASIUM!"
I turn off the cheer music and run inside with my cheer bag. My sisters and brothers are all here right now. They're all coming to support me!!
"Ready? I'll drop you off and then we'll be there before 8:00." Mom said as she grabs her keys. I nod my head and everyone wishes me luck at practice and they'll be rooting for me.
Later that night...
7:50pm
Christina's POV
I'm here at the gymnasium with my family to watch Nicola and her cheer team compete at NATIONALS!! I'm so proud of her and how far she's come. I see her team come running out and they are looking like WINNERS already!! Then I see Nicola. She's smiling away and right in front.
Nicola's POV
We all run out to the gym floor and I see my whole family right in front. Their about to see me start off the whole routine for the first time ever!!!
"Fellow Screamers!! Get your screaming going on for your Nashville Intermediate Cheer Team!!!"
The music begins to play and I am in my own cheer world along with my teammates. The music stops for a few seconds. People are thinking we're done until they heard me scream and my teammates repeat.
"HEY NASHVILLE!! THOUGHT WE WERE FINISHED?!" I screamed. My family cheered me on.
"HEY NASHVILLE!! THOUGHT WE WERE FINISHED?!" My teammates repeated.
Then music started up again and we finished up the routine.

When the other cheer teams went, it was time for awards.
"Now for your National Champions..The winner is...NASHVILLE INTERMEDIATE CHEER TEAM!!!" The announcer screamed.
We all screamed in excitement and I was in full on tears. I couldn't believe that I have won my FIRST cheer competition!!! My family is cheering me on and screaming my name.
We gathered the trophy and walked out with the other teams.
After we gathered our things, we walked towards the entrance where our parents would be. I was the last person to leave.
Then my phone goes off. It's probably mom saying their right in front of the building waiting for me to come out. But it's not...it's some Unknown number. I answer it.
"Hello?"
"Well hello there Nicola..."
"Who is this and how do you know my name and how did you get my number?"
"You'll find out soon enough sweetheart. I was at your competition tonight..You did outstanding my darling..Outstanding enough that I want you..."
"Well you won't have me and also how did you know I had a competition tonight?"
"I stalk you..every...day...figuring out when I should have you..and tonight is just perfect...I see you right now actually...you look scared..."
"Well yeah because your staring at me somewhere in here but I can't I see you. Just show yourself you creep!!"
"Oh I will...Just start running little rabbit..RUN!"
I heard a door bang then I run as fast as I can to the front entrance. As soon as I see the door, I feel someone grab me and cover my mouth so I wouldn't scream. Everything goes black.
I wake up in a classroom on the floor. My heard hurts. I slowly sit up as my phone vibrates. It's my brother Michael.
"Where are you?" he asks me
"Michael you need to find Room 101. I'm stuck in here. I was taken from some person that was calling my phone. He was here at the competition. Please come get me before this person comes back.." I try to calm down
"Okay Okay sweetheart I'm on my way. Just hang in there and try to find a way out. When you do, COME FIND ME. In the meantime, hang up and call the cops. I'll be texting you." He said as he hung up.

I immediately call the cops and tell them my situation. They're on the way. Please Michael come get me. I just want to go home with my family. I get up and grab my cheer bag. I walk slowly to the door and actually able to open it. I look down both hallways. He's not around. I start to speed walk. I know this building from the ground up. My phone vibrates. Michael texted me.
"I see a small figure. Is that you munchkin?"  he texts me
"Yes it's me!!" OMG THANK GOD!!
I run towards my Michael. He sees me and runs towards me.
"Not so fast rabbit!!" The man grabbed me picked me up tightly.
"AHHH MICHAEL!!" I scream
"LET HER GO!!" My brother screams
"Didn't think it was gonna be that easy huh?!"  the man laughs
"Just please let her go..what has she ever done to you? What do you want?" Michael asks
"Ever since you and your family have brought her in, I've been trying to track her down so I can take her and have her as my own. I've had my eyes on her first!! But I guess that didn't work so now I have to hurt her." He pulls the gun out and points it at my head
"MICHAEL!!!" I scream
"NOO!!!" Michael runs towards us. Then the cops come in behind the man and I. I fall to the ground. The cops grab the man and handcuff him.
"You win this time kid..." he smirks
I just stare at him with a glare. The cops take him away. I run up to Michael and just fall into his arms.
"Thank God...Oh thank God.." He cries
"You saved me.." I cried in is shoulder as he hugged me up.
"Your my baby sister..I had to." He said as he let go of me and whipped away my tears and his.
"Lets go home kiddo." He said as he picked up my cheer bag and walked out of the building.

When we got home, I ran up to the front door and opened it. Everyone was home celebrating my big victory! They know what has happened but that has flown by head since I'm home with the people I love. Even my friends are here for a sleepover. I put my cheer bag away and get changed in my room. I run back downstairs and into the family sized theatre room.
"Mom can we watch some home videos?" Michael suggested as he looks at me and smiles.
"Sure honey. Let's pop one in!" My mom smiled.
We all sit down and watch a few home videos together. My friends and I laugh at a few moments in the videos.
I get up to get a drink from the kitchen. When I head towards the door way, I look back and just stare at everyone and smile.
I'm so happy that I've chosen to come here. If I didn't, I wouldn't have found my family that I was once taken from.
I love everyone so much and I just feel so blessed. I walk up stairs to the kitchen and grabbed a soda. I take out my phone and go onto Instagram. I post a picture all of us on Christmas.
I tag all of my family members in it and caption it.

"Cimorelli's Never Split Up."
I post it and the CimFam goes nuts. The girls notice it because I got a text from in the group chat.
Kath-Amen baby sis💖
Christina-Love you baby kitten🐱
Lisa-Awwww you're so sweet!!❤
Amy-Ily!!!💖💖💖💖
Lauren-M8 U R AWESOME!!!💙
Dani-RAT YOU ARE FRICKING LIT💚

I just smile and reply back.
"I've missed you guys so much. I've missed this family.😭"

I walk back downstairs to the theatre room. I sit next to Christina and lean my head on her shoulder. She kisses me on the head.

This is the love I've missed out on.
I'm a Cimorelli now.
And I will never be taken away from my family ever again.