Winter || irwin

[ four ]

[ four ] 

The next morning, Narda did as her mother instructed and showed up to practice an hour earlier than she normally would. While it was true that she wanted more freedom to have fun and be a normal tenager, she didn't want it at the cost of her gymnastics career. She loved being a gymnast and couldn't imagine doing anything else.

She changed into her training clothes and went out to practice on the balance beam. Narda lost track of time and Vanessa eventually arrived at the gym, accompanied by her daughter who was beginning her career as a gymnast.

Narda dusted her hands off and walked over to them. Vanessa's daughter Valerie smiled wide at the blonde haired gymnast in front of her.

She had always admired Narda and that was the reason why she wanted to do gymnastics.

Vanessa took one look at the blonde and scoffed. "Didn't your mother tell you I dropped your contract when you skipped practice last night?"

"Please, you can't do that." Narda begged. "I love gymnastics."

"It doesn't look like it." Vanessa challenged.

With a sigh, the gymnastics champion decided to give into what her mother and personal coach wanted. "Vanessa, doing this is all I've ever wanted. And it seems like I have to give up either my career or the ability to have fun. So you win. I will focus only on my training and competitions."

Her trainer smiled. "That's what I like to hear."

Narda wondered how much longer she would be able to last. She loved gymnastics and the thrill of competition was something she lived for. But she also knew she was beginning to dread seeing her coach and attending practice.

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Narda and her family returned to Australia a few days later and she stopped trying to have fun with her friends or sisters for a while. She also saw, unhappily, as her sister Nikki was starting to be treated just like her. Nikki was starting to take tennis lessons and was very good at it. Jerika had decided her youngest daughter would be the next tennis champion of Australia.

She had her drop out of school and take homeschool lessons just like Narda was doing.

The family was gathered in the morning, having breakfast when Nikki groaned a complaint. "Mum, please. I don't want to drop out of school. What about my friends?"

"You don't need friends." Jerika assured her. "If you want to be a champion like your sister, you need to focus more on your tennis career. Which is why i'm having someone come over so they can tutor you after practice."

"Dad..." Nikki eyed her father who was quietly having breakfast.

"Listen to your mother, Nikki." He told her firmly. "She knows what's best for you."

"But Noelia gets to attend school like a normal person!" The blonde haired youngest sister complained, throwing her eating utensils onto her plate angrily. "Why do you want to ruin my life, mum? Ugh. Go to hell." She finally said and getting up from her seat, she stormed off.

"Nikki! Nikki, get back here!" Jerika yelled.

"Mum," Narda spoke up. "Leave her alone. She's only eleven. You know how dramatic middle schoolers can be."

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Days later... 

It was the afternoon before she would travel to France for her next gymnastics tournament in Toulon. Narda was excited to be travelling there, this was the first time she would be visiting the country that spoke the language of love. But she was also tired of practicing long hours without rest and spending all her time doing gymnastics.

Ashton walked past her in the livingroom and headed for the front door of the large mansion they owned in Sydney. He was dressed in a light blue button up shirt and dress pants. 

Narda knew he hated dressing that way, but did it because if John. His father had made it clear that he didn't want his son to walk around dressed like a homeless punk. Instead, in order to avoid arguments with his dad, he would leave the house in his best clothes and would later change into ripped skinny jeans, flannel or band shirts, and bandanas. Ashton was like her. Forced into doing something. Only she enjoyed gymnastics and Ashton hated studying law.

"Where are you going?" Narda wondered as she saw her step-brother open the front door.

He turned to face her, replying, "Out with a group of friends for the weekend."

"Hm." The blonde haired gymnast said casually. "That sounds fun."

"Yeah." The boy with the neatly combed golden blonde hair nodded. "Do you want to come with me?"

"Sure!" She grinned.

"Are you sure?" He asked her. 

Just then, as she was about to respond, a rushed Jerika and Nikki walked into the livingroom. "Come on, sweetie. We'll get there late if we don't leave this moment." Her mother told her younger sister. Turning to Narda, she added, "Narda, I'm going to drop off your sister at the tennis academy and then I'll return to take you to the gym."

"Okay." She quickly nodded.

Her mother smiled at her and then they were out the door. Ashton stood by the doorway, waiting for her response. Narda bit her lip, thinking about going away for the weekend, forgetting everything. She knew she would have hell to pay after her return. But she knew she wouldn't regret it. 

"I'll go pack my things." She informed him. "Wait for me at the airport."

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With Marbella gone for the week and Raiza staying over at a friend's house for the weekend, the only ones home were Narda, Noelia, and John. The moment John Irwin saw his wife and daughter leave the house, he decided to call his personal trainer on the phone. She was also the woman he was cheating on his wife with.

Narda was packing her things in her room when Noelia walked inside. "Narda, have you seen my-"

She stopped talking when she saw her younger sister packing. Noelia shot her a look and Narda grinned. "Noe, Ashton invited me to go out for the weekend! Wanna come?"

The dark haired girl shook her head. "I don't want to get in trouble with mum again."

"You won't." Narda assured her.

"Sorry, Narda." Noelia frowned.

"Well, can you drive me to the airport?" Her sister asked.

"What about practice?" Noelia wondered. "Last time Vanessa dropped your contract and she won't tolerate you skipping practice again."

Shaking her head, Narda replied. "I'll deal with her when I return. But you might want to get out of the house. You could visit grandma for the weekend. Mum will be very angry when she finds out I'm gone and she'll want to take it out on you."

"You're right." Noelia sighed. "I guess I'll pack my bags too."

-

yay.

i finally wrote an update for this story. 

thank you all for reading and voting. i will try to update this more often and i really hope you all like it ^.^

thank you for reading and voting. 

it means a lot.

i love you.

-clary xx