Perfect

Clarity

<<A.N.-  OMG! So sorry this part took so long to come out. Lets just say that I've had a crazy few months:

-sprained ankle and torn achilles tendon

-rushed recovery period

-several competitions before state getting me up to 12 gold medals this season!!

-state meet: 2nd vault, 6th bars, 1st beam, 2nd floor,  5th all around

-lots of training and cool new skills: yurchenko layout full onto pit mat, full in dismount bars, bail-toe Hecht combo, front aerial side aerial combo on beam, back 2 1/2 to front 1/1 on floor :)

QOTD: What's your highest vault score been/ what level?

AOTD: 9.725 in Level 5:)) Vault is def one of my best events>>

It's funny how one face can change everything. At this exact moment, I realize that maybe gymnastics isn't my whole life. Maybe there's more than that. Is it possible to want more than the top spot on the podium? I've worked my whole life for this, but in one second it doesn't seem as important. 

"Um... I have to go to the bathroom, k Mads? I'll be back." I get up and shakily walk towards the face.

.

.

.

Liam.

.

.

.

He's sitting in the corner of the cafe, with a few of what I assume to be soccer friends. I glance back at Madi to see that she's been checking her Snapchat stories. Not paying any attention to me. 

Good.

I take a deep breath and walk towards Liam. I tap his shoulder. He looks up at me and his face drains white. His soccer friends give him 'The Look.' I'm not quite sure what 'The Look' is or means, but it's definitely common among boys. As if I would know that. 

"Grace..." He says his voice trailing off. I finish the sentence for him. "I think we need to talk." Liam gives a slightly different, yet patented 'Look' to his friends, and they grab their drinks. "Hey, Liam, Drew and I are going to go juggle outside. Meet us out there in a minute, ok?" Liam nods and looks grateful.  I sit opposite him, purposefully turning my back to Madi and my face to Liam. "So." I say. "So." He says at last, averting his eyes. "What's going on?" I ask him. "Tell me the truth." He doesn't say anything. "Why did we leave the beach so quickly the other day? What are you not telling me?" " Grace, I..." "Please. You can trust me. What am I missing?" "Nothing." "Do I look stupid to you? I know something's going on. Nothing isn't the truth. I want you to be able to tell the truth to me." "Hear me out, okay?" "Okay." "My parents separated when I was younger. My Dad moved out here to start his new life and we stayed where we were. They had a complicated relationship. It colored what everyone thought of me. But then we moved out here, not because of my Mom's job. Well, sort of. For another reason. But I had a clean slate. I couldn't show who I was. Not yet. I needed to be me. Not my parents." 

I meet his eyes and see the slight threat of tears behind them. He keeps talking. 

"I didn't tell you any of that because I didn't want to scare you away. I know it sounds crazy and stuff. I just didn't want you to think of me any differently. I'm so sorry. I know it was wrong and-" I interrupt him before he can say anything. "I understand." "You do?" "I do. I know this is way less extreme, but I hate telling people about how I do gymnastics. It just seems weird, you know? Trying to explain why I give up my whole life for this. But it feels a lot better once they know." "Why?" "Because as much as I wish I could, I can't separate it from the rest of my life. I wish I could, but it's such a huge part of me. If people don't know that, they don't really know me." 

We're silent for a second, but it's the kind of silence that's comfortable. "Thank you." He says, and I smile, stand up, and return to Madi.