Final Destination: If I Die Young

Chapter 7

The McKinley Arena was alive with gymnasts, getting ready for the state competition.

Candice Hooper was one of them.

Currently, she was waving a paper in her face as the arena was too hot. "Seriously we need to have better air conditioning in this place."

"We're working on it, Candice," her coach replied.

"We asked for it fixed two months ago!"

As she spoke, a matinence worker rebooted the A.C.

Candice would have loved to miss practice in favor of hanging out with Peter, her boyfriend, who was in the stands, but as he reminded her that it was her last practice before going to regional competition, she had to attend.

Besides, if she had missed, her coach would have killed her.

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Billy skipped school, opting to visit Candice's practice instead. He was with Ashlynn Halperin, who typically hung out with Ashley Freund, but as Ashley was sick... "Maybe we should pick up McDonald's for her," Ashlynn offered. 

"Dude, she eats McDonalds so much, it's her dining room," Billy snapped.

"Do you know how hungry those gymnasts get?"

"Fair point," Billy said. They hopped off the bus, headed for the McDonald's.

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The AC turned on, and the coach plugged a fan in as well. Taking the paper Candice was using to fan herslf, the coach said, "You're on beam, Candice."

Stepping over the fan cord, which was split, she walked over to the chalk dust bowl.

Candice chalked her hands, then twirled her lucky rubber bands (one on each wrist. But when she twirled her right band a second time, it snapped.

Candice felt a cold rush around her, drowning out all sound, save for her heartbeat. The world seemed faded, and was going in slow motion.

She was pulled out of the feeling by her coach's voice. "Candice? Candice!" She looked at Peter, but he was too busy talking to Portia, her rival.

"Now, Candice!" her coach snapped again. Candice flipped her off, then walked over to the beam. She sat on it, and pushed Peter, Portia, and the english assignment due three weeks ago that she still hasnt done out of her mind.

The overhead coolers started dripping water over the split cord.

Candice stood up, and did a handstand before bringing her feet down on the beam.

A screw from the fan protector on the cooler fell, landing perfectly on the beam. Candice walks forwards, standing with her left foot in front of the screw, and right foot behind it.

She hopped, switching her foot positions about five or six times before pulling up her left in a toe touch, as she pivoted her right foot to face her body the other way.

Her foot hovered an inch over the screw, bus she stepped over it.

She flipped over her hands, and steadied herself.

She then cartwheeled herself down the length of the beam, fingers missing the screw by inches.

Landing safely, she threw up her arms, and Peter started applauding. "Every time, Candice! Every time." Candice grinned, and the coach said, "Nicely done, Candice."

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Ashlynn and Billy walk outside, and ashlynn reaches inside her jacket pocket for her car keys.

Her eyes widened. "Shit! My wallet!" She ran back into the McDonald's.

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She walked over to the chalk, where Portia handed her a towel. Pressing it to her face, she pulled it away to see the split cord, and the puddle it was in slowly reaching her feet.

She dropped the towel on the puddle, and stepped on it.

Candice smiled at Portia, smirking for dramatic effect. Dumb bitch.

"Candice. On to bars."

She hopped up on the first bar, swinging onto the second, which was higher.

Another gymnast climbs on the beam. She twirled around before doing a back hand spring.

Candice swings around the bar, the bolt on the right was coming off slowly.

The girl on the beam flipped onto her hands, spreading her legs slowly, and bringing the left leg down slowly.

When she goes up, she holds the bar so she wouldn't swing down, turns her hands around, and swinging down, again.

The girl stands up again, and she does a front flip.

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Ashlynn came back, clutching her wallet in her hand, and unlocks her car.

"So.... how long has Candice been doing gymnastics?" She asked Billy as they got in the car.

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Sam checked his phone.

It was a text.

From Candice: At gymnastics practice. Come. And hurry.

To Candice: Why?

From Candice: Billy's here.

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Billy and Ashlynn had just arrived at the practice.

Billy walked into the training area, looking for Candice. Six months ago, the coach would have freaked at Billy doing that, but Candice explained that she wanted Billy to be able to go to her at any time, so it wasn't as big of a deal anymore.

Peter turned to Portia. "You have to be careful. Candice is starting to guess."

Portia grinned. "Peter, I want her to figure it out. Then she won't go to regionals, and I take her place."

He kissed her. "God, you're so smart."

Ashlynn was watching the whole scene, her fists clenched.

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The girl does two cartwheels forward, and the heel of her foot goes in the screw.
She screamed in pain, grabbing her foot, and falling off the beam.

Her right arm moved to make sure she didn't hit her hand, but it knocked the chalk bowl over.

The dust landed in front of the fan, and blew into a cloud, surrounding Candice and Billy.

Ashlynn, Peter and Portia watcher the two disappear in chalk dust, and  heard a wail from Candice.

A sickening CRUNCH! echoes through the gym.

A/N: I know I'm cruel, but I had to make it a cliffhanger.

What do you think happened? Who would like to see more of?

What do you think of Portia as a character?