A Harsh Reality | ✓

Chapter 2

Amanda

We gained speed, so I tightened my grip around his waist. I pressed my cheek against his back and watched the landscapes whiz by. A red light made us stop.

"You okay back there?" he asked me when the noise had calmed down a little.

"Yeah, I'm fine!" I shouted back.

"Do I turn left?" he asked me.

"Yeah, right behind that clothes shop over there!" I replied.

"Okay!"

The light turned green and we started moving again. As we arrived at my home, I told Noah to stop in front of the shop, no need for him to know where I live.

I hopped off the motorcycle and took off my helmet, shaking my hair to put it back in place.

"Thanks for the ride," I said, handing him the black helmet.

"No problem," he lifted the black glass that was covering his eyes and took the helmet from me, placing it underneath of the motorcycle's seat, "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yeah, see ya," I smiled at him. He pulled down the plastic glass back down and pulled away from the shop. I sighed and swung my bag on top of my shoulder. Time to face my father.

I walked slowly towards my horrible house. It was cramped between two shops. The walls that had once been white, were now grey and the front door didn't shut properly. The steps towards my house groaned under any kind of weight, even if a small bird gently rested on them.

I pushed open the door and checked to see where my father was lying today. I found him on the kitchen counter, a bottle in his hand. Tiptoeing, I made my way up the stairs to my room. I locked it firmly, the only door in the whole house that really worked.

My room is small. My bed is a bunk bed with a desk, a wardrobe and a comfortable, small chair underneath. A window faces the door, and next to it there is a mattress in which I practice my stretching, etc. My leotard was hanging from a hook on the back of my door.

I searched for my gymnastics bag in my wardrobe and took it out. I packed a water bottle, some grips, extra chalk, and tape. I took an Ibuprofen to relax my injuries and tied my hair in a high ponytail. I removed all of my piercings and changed into my gym shorts.

I walked over to the Field Sports Club, which is a few blocks away from my house. I would have asked Noah to take me, but I had forgotten my things at home. As soon as I arrived, I showed the guard my membership and he let me right in.

I locked my locker after putting on the grips and tapes and went to greet Coach Johnson.

"Take it easy today, Amanda," she told me. I nodded. After breaking my leg last summer, I've been struggling to gain my strength and flexibility back. I was much better and ready to compete, but still needed help with my landings. Even when I was still in crutches, I was splitting and stretching so I wouldn't lose what I've been practicing for my whole life. When the doctor found out, he told me I couldn't continue doing that, so I was underneath my mother's eyes for the rest of the summer.

I warmed up and practiced hard, making landings easy as Coach had told me to. I was minding my own business when Charlotte came over to talk to me. Today she was wearing a bright pink leotard and her red hair was tied in a high ponytail. Her green eyes staring at me as if I was an alien.

"Hi," she greeted me.

"Hey."

"I was doing my amazing routine on the Floor when I saw you stretching," she said, "You're doing it wrong." I rolled my eyes without her noticing.