Chapter 8

As soon as I opened my eyes the next morning, I jumped out of bed. I threw on my clothes, and went down stairs for breakfast, with a little stop to pet Sydney my cat. You might ask, why was I so rushed? Well, today was the first day of junior elite training. I was nervous, but I was also glad I had passed the level below only the day before. I ran into the kitchen, and then sat down at the dining table. "How are you today Rose?" Mom asked me. "Good. But a little nervous, I don't know who will be there." I said truthfully. "I know, Rose. But you know, you still have your coach. And your friends." Mom replied. "That's true" I said. That was true. I felt better now. It was still raining--and almost snowing--outside, we have been having bad weather where I live for the past two months.  So after breakfast I gathered my rain gear, put it on, then walked out the door. I breathed in the cold sir and sighed. I guess I should have taken this as a good thing, but it gets a little annoying after two months of it. But today, since what Mom has said, I felt much better.

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After I got to the gym, those nervous feelings came right back. I saw lots of girls I didn't know, and I saw them doing more advanced things. My stomach did a flip....My nervousness was definitely back. I took a deep breath and then headed to my locker. I opened my locker, put away my gym bag and my sweats, and hurried over to the mats. I was relieved when I saw Hannah and Dixie talking to each other. "Hi guys!" I said, I could hear the nervousness in my voice. "Hi Rose!" Hannah said. "Hey!" Dixie said, in the most relaxed tone I had heard in a while. That made me a tiny bit less nervous. I was hoping everyone else who was new was as nervous as I was, but apparently I was the only one. I looked over to the left and saw Coach Anna coming towards us. As soon as she set foot on the mat she said, "Before we begin, I would like us to tell our names, and our favorite event in Gymnastics," "Hmm.....Rose, how about you start us off." She said. Me...? Why do I have do be first... I thought. "Well....My name is Rose, and my favorite event is Uneven Bars." I said. "Alright, now just pass it down to the person to the left of you." Coach Anna added. The person left of me was someone I didn't know. "My name is Kelsey, and my favorite event is Vault. Although I think I'm good at all of them." Kelsey said. I didn't know Kelsey all to well, but I had seen her some other places around the gym, too. I had a slight feeling that I would never become close friends with her. But I didn't say anything. The person to Kelsey's left was Kara. "Hi everyone! My name is Kara, and my favorite event is....all of them!" Kara said in her usual perky tone. I liked that about her. Even in the worst situations, she still managed to have a perky tone. The person to Kara's left was someone else I didn't know. "Hello, my name is Addie, and my favorite event is floor routine." And then the person to Addie's left was someone else I didn't know.

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As soon as we went through about ten more people---a lot of a bigger group then the normal (or at least to me) seven girls. We headed over to the floor, the mats there were more bouncy then the other mats so that we could rebound easier. Rebounding is when a gymnast has just landed a move, and has to jump up again right after she or he touches the floor into a split or whatever move is required to do. First in line was Hannah, I was behind Kelsey who was second in line. Today was different in what we practiced, instead of the normal things we did, we did a move called a Salto pass. The salto pass is a move that requires a gymnast to preform two skills not using their hands. This move came easily to Hannah. I watched Hannah handspring her way across the floor. Then I watched Hannah do her Salto pass, and she nailed it. I just stood there, my jaw dropping. But as soon as it dropped I brought my jaw back up. Next it was Kelsey's turn. She has been in this more advanced class longer than I have, so she already knew most of the moves that me, Hannah, Dixie, and Kara were just beginning to learn. I saw her going her Salto pass perfectly, but then she fell on her handspring. She must have been really disappointed when she fell because I saw it. But she got right back up and did it again and stuck her landing. This part of the gym that we were in was different from where I used to train, we were in the far right corner, and in the far right corner there was barely any sunlight because of lack on the windows. But luckily, we have lights in the gym, so we could see and do our routines just fine. After Kelsey finished her routine, it was my turn. I took a deep breath, and attempted to do the Salto pass, but I fell the first time I attempted. But, nobody gets it the first time. It takes lots of practice. Coach Anna walked over to me and helped me do my Salto pass, and then I completed it good. But that was just because Coach Anna was helping me, though. Then I went into my handspring-back walkover combination, and finished my floor routine. After everyone had gone, we moved onto Uneven Bars--finally a place where I could feel at home. With all of these people around me that I barely knew, all I wanted was to be at home. It turned out that I was first up on Uneven Bars, so it had worked out perfectly. Today on Uneven Bars, Coach Anna taught us how to do a Split release instead of our normal release. I did mine in a breeze. I felt as if Uneven Bars were my secret weapon. If I was failing in a competition, I could possibly be saved by the Uneven Bars. I completed a kip, a split release, and two handstands, and then a dismount. I felt my feet reaching the mat after flipping in the air, I had stuck the landing! I smiled, imagining what that would have looked like if I were in the Olympics, then getting my gold medal... "Rose?" Hannah giggled. "Oh....Uh....Sorry..." I said. A little embarrassed that I had been caught zoning off. 

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After Gymnastics that day I walked home with Hannah. On the way home, we talked about how today had gone at Gymnastics, and how we were, and simple things like that. At one point in the walk, the weather outside got so bad that we had to stop at a coffee shop for an hour, so that the weather could calm down. Then a waitress walked up to us. "How may I help you today, young ladies?" She asked, smiling. "Hmm...I'll take a hot chocolate please, and extra marshmallows!" I said, giggling a the end of my sentence. "I'll take the same." Hannah said. "Alright, coming right up!" Then the waitress dashed into the kitchen. The Coffee Shop was small, and had pictures of the town we live in since when camera's came out. The decor was at least I guessed fifty years old. But the town we lived in had been around since the early 1700's. So that wasn't old compared to some of the things here. But the house me and my mom lived in has been renovated, and was more modern. But some of the houses were build from logs in the pioneer times. I thought that was really cool because we have history on the street we lived on. A couple of minutes later, the waitress came back with our hot chocolates. "Thank you." me and Hannah said at the same time, that happens a lot with us, and I don't really know why. About an hour later after, I got a call from Mom asking where I was. My answer was. "The weather is really bad, so me and Hannah decided to stop at the Coffee shop on main street." I said. "Oh, okay. I was just getting worried. Although I had a feeling you shouldn't be walking home in that terrible weather. But thanks for stopping at the Coffee shop. Should I come get you two? Because the roads are going to close in an hour or so, so I would need to get going." Mom said. I consulted Hannah about the idea. "If the roads are closing in an hour....How would I get back to my house?" Hannah asked me. "Hmm....Maybe a sleepover!" I said excitedly. Then I replied to mom. "Yeah! That sounds great! Can Hannah sleep over tonight? if the roads are closing in an hour, how is Hannah going to get back to her house?" I asked mom. I heard silence for a minute. "Sure. Why not?" Mom said. I could tell she was smiling. About five minutes later, Mom's car pulled up in front of the Coffee Shop. And within seconds, Mom was opening the door. "Hi Mom!" I called from the booth seat I had been sitting in. "Let's get you two in the car, and then we can go home and have more hot Chocolate." Mom said. I liked that idea!

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When we got home, I rushed into the warm house and pulled off my jacket that seemed more like a snow jacket. It was snowing outside now, that was exciting, it barely snows where I live. But the bad news is, when it snows, it snows hard, and a lot. I was glad that right now for this moment it was only a foot deep or so, but I knew that would change by tomorrow. Then I glanced at my watch because I could see the sky darkening. 4:02 PM. Well..... It isn't that late. I thought. Then after 3 games of Apples to Apples, me and Hannah's favorite board game, I heard mom call us into the kitchen for Hot Chocolate. I ran into the Kitchen, Hannah about an inch behind me. "The Hot Chocolate is on the table" Mom said with a wink, and then she left the room. Before I took a sip of my Hot Chocolate, I warmed my hands on it. I looked out the cold icy window that was next to the table after warming my hands. Then I wrote 'hi' backwards to say hello to my neighbors. Then I sipped my Hot Chocolate. Boy was it nice to feel warm in this freezing weather! But that only lasted for a couple minutes.

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After about two hours or so of playing and joking around and talking, me and Hannah headed to my room for a tiny bit of time before dinner. Mom was making tomato soup for dinner, perfect for a night like this. I showed Hannah around my room, she had been to my house many times, but not recently. Nothing happened, just Hannah was really busy and all, and plus I change my room around a lot. About ten minutes later Mom called me and Hannah to dinner. Tomato soup tasted great on a freezing day like this. Hannah thought so, too.

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About an hour later we finished dinner. As we were walking back to my room, I checked my watch. 7:14 PM. When me and Hannah reached my room, I quickly went into my closet and got out my Pajamas. Hannah didn't bring any clothes, and the roads were closed because of the foot-deep snow in them. So Hannah just borrowed a pair of mine that I never wore--which I agreed that she could keep because she loved them! After we changed into our Pajamas, I helped Hannah set up a sleeping bag and a air mattress on the floor, and then I did one for me. Before I crawled into my sleeping bad, I noticed that we had spent about three hours talking about pajamas! It was 10:00, so then I finally crawled into my sleeping bag with pictures of me over the years in the gym, from three years old, to yesterday's competition. And within about an hour, we were  both sleeping.

Authors note: I wrote this today! It took three hours (with a lunch break). So I hope you like it! :D


P.S. I think this was a long chapter!! :D

Chapter 7

On Sunday morning, I woke up at 7:00. I crawled out of bed, the walked over to my calender, Today's the day.... I thought. Today I would either be slowly working toward my dreams, or staying were I was. The moment I started thinking about that, I got butterflies in my stomach. Today was the Gymnastics meet About a minute later, the butterflies went away, so then I quickly slipped on my leotard and warm-up clothes. But today I didn't wear my normal leotard. Like how any country in the Olympics would wear their Country's colors, I wore my gym's colors. I felt special that way. After I finished getting dressed, I walked over to Sydney with her favorite toy and played with her. After about three minutes of playing with Sydney, I heard Mom call me for breakfast. Today Instead of pancakes or french-toast, I had cereal.

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After I finished my cereal, I stayed in the kitchen for a little while. "Are you nervous at all?" Mom asked me. "A little.....Butterflies...." I replied. "Oh, Yes. I know how you feel. I mean, not about Gymnastics, but about Skiing." Mom said. "Wait.....what? I didn't know you Skied!" I said in shock. "Yes, I did. I was about your age, too. I remember my third race at age ten, I was nervous." Mom said. "Which place did you get? First, second, third, or beyond that?" I asked immediately. "Let me tell you the story. I had bad luck throughout the season, I had either been either skiing into a tree, or just crashing into someone." Mom continued. I giggled a little at the thought of Mom skiing into a tree. Mom laughed some, too. "Then, when that race came, I was all set to win last place, I was even so nervous I forgot my polls." Mom continued. "But when that race was finished, First place came between me and my best friend. And the judges took the longest time to choose -- or so it seemed. The I heard my name announced next to 'First Place'. I had never expected to win even third place, let alone first! But I did. And that medal is still proudly hung in my bedroom." Mom finished and got up and went down the hallway to the door to her bedroom and motioned for me to follow. I got up out of my chair, and went to Mom's bedroom. As soon as I walked in, I saw the gold medal standing in a case. "Whoa...." I said in awe. "I never knew you were a skier!" I said in awe again. "I was. Even though, I never made it as far as the Olympics--or even two more meets--I still cherish that moment" Mom said smiling. "I wonder if that will happen with me. But I would want to go to more meets than just one." I said, I smiled. Then I saw a picture of Mom skiing. "I think we should go skiing. I would love to teach you. I mean not now, but as soon as it starts to snow. The weather is bad enough, it might start snowing. Anyway, we better get going, we don't want you to be late on a day like this!" Mom said. I didn't know what to say. I was honestly in shock! And I had a hard time believing that I had never seen the Ski's in the corner of Mom's room. 

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As soon as we got to the Gym, my nerves started to kick in. I remembered my routines by heart, I was just nervous that I would freeze. As soon as I saw Hannah, I ran over to her. "Are you nervous?" I asked Hannah. "Kind-of.....I guess I'm not really worried about my floor routine, though." Hannah replied. "Your right. You like were born for Floor Routine." I said smiling. "Thanks! I think you'll win first-place for Uneven Bars." Hannah said, smiling as well. "Thanks!" I said to Hannah, now I was grinning ear-to-ear. After talking with Hannah, I felt a little less nervous. I watched nervously as Hannah mounted the Beam. A great Handspring, a good in-air split, and a great dismount. I clapped as she finished her Dismount, and landed on her feet. I clapped and smiled. "Didn't Hannah do great?" I asked Dixie. "Yup" Dixie said, with a nervous look on her face. "It's okay. Your great at Beam. I think we all have something that we are good at." I said. "I guess..." Dixie said. "Next up, Rose from Twizlers Gymnastics on the Uneven Bars" The Announcer  said. Before I went over to the uneven bars, I visioned my routine, and how I wanted it to look. After visualizing for about ten seconds, I quickly hurried over to the Uneven Bars, And started my routine. I whirled around, completed two great handstands, A great Split-release, And a perfect Dismount. I did my Gymnastics Finish then headed back to where I had been sitting before I was called. "You did great!" Dixie told me as soon as I sat down. "Thanks" I said. Then my butterflies were calm--for a couple of minutes. Then I heard the announcer call Adrianna, a girl from another gym, up onto the Vault. I held my breath as I watched Adrianna soar over the Vault, then I saw that she stuck her landing--she made it look effortless! Now I got nervous again. My stomach twisted into a knot. I could see Hannah on the Floor Routine at the same time, I saw that she too stuck her landing. I clapped for her, I really did clap for everyone, but especially Hannah. Then I saw Hannah do her Finish. I cheered the loudest--or at least I hope I did. 

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After everyone had gone through their routines, it was probably the most anxious ten minutes of my life. I was so nervous, I was so nervous and anxious because this was when the judges were calculating our scores, and it wasn't only ours, it was everyone's all at once. I hoped that I could get a medal, fourth and fifth place and so on don't get medals. So I wanted either, first, second, or third. But I would take fourth, too. I could barely control my butterflies in my stomach at this point. "In first place on Uneven Bars" The announcer called. My Jaw was tight, I was also holding my breath. I saw other girls--that did really really well--doing the same. I saw the Announcer check her clipboard, and looked away from it with an uneasy look. This made me even more nervous."A tie between, Rose from Twizlers Gymnastics, and Emma from Champion Gymnastics!" The Announcer said finally. I couldn't believe it! The first thing I could do was except a bunch of hugs from, Hannah, Dixie, Freyya, Leanna, and Kara. Then I hurried over to the podium where I excepted my medal. I smiled as I looked around at the audience, the first person I saw was Mom, cheering the loudest. I grinned from ear-to-ear. This is the road to the Olympics! I thought to myself. Then I smiled even more imagining myself Soar on the Uneven bars in the 2016 Rio Olympics, then standing on the podium, excepting a gold medal.... Then I heard the Announcer start to speak again. "Second place on Uneven Bars.......Maria from Sparkle Gymnastics!" Then the Announcer finished announcing for the Uneven Bars, I still held my breath--for my team, they have became my close friends. "For Floor Routine Awards" The announcer said. "First place goes to...Hannah from Twizlers Gymnastics!" The announcer said. I clapped so much, I thought my hands were going to fall off. I grinned at Hannah as I watched her medal being draped around her neck. But, the announcing wasn't over yet. "Second Place on Floor Routine goes to.....Megan from Champion Gymnastics" The announcer said. "And taking third place on Floor routine..." I held my breath, for me, and my teammates. "Kara from Twizlers Gymnastics!" The announcer finished announcing the Floor Routine medals. I did clap for Kara though,. It seemed like only yesterday that Kara was struggling on Floor, and now here she is getting third place on Floor! I cheered and clapped  'til my hands hurt, and my voice went weak. I could tell that Kara was very Happy. "Now for Beam Awards!" The announcer began. "First place goes to Dixie from Twizlers Gymnastics!". Dixie was so excited, it really did show. I saw her and Kara go up to the podium at the same time. I cheered and clapped for Dixie, too. After all, she was a friend now. "Second place goes to.....Megan from Champion Gymnastics!" the announcer continued. "And coming in third place is......Hannah from Twizlers Gymnastics!".  I clapped hard from the podium. I also watched Hannah except her medal. I knew that Hannah wasn't expecting that. I saw her in   shock, happy shock, though. "Now for Vault" The Announcer continued. "First place goes to....Dixie from Twizlers Gymnastics!". I watched as a grin spread across Dixie's face. I smiled watching Dixie except her medal. "Second place goes to......Rose from Twizlers Gymnastics!". I was in shock. My eyes as big as saucers, I has never expected this! But, it was a good shock. I smiled as I excepted my medal. "Third place goes to.....Adrianna from Spirit Gymnastics!" The Announcer finished. I watched as Adrianna excepted her medal. Then I saw the announcer walk to the middle of our gym. "Thank you everyone for coming. And I hope you enjoyed this years annual Gymnastics State Competition!" She said. And with that, all of the gymnasts from all states were piling out the door, into their lockers, or into the viewing area to find their parents. Afterwards, I felt like I was floating, this had seemed like a dream! But, I pinched myself to make sure. It was real. After I filled up on water, I went over to my team to congratulate them. Sure enough, we all said Congratulations at the same exact time.

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After Congratulating everyone from my gym, I went up to the seating area to try and find Mom. After about 10 minutes of looking, I found her. "Hi Mom!" I said. "I'm so proud of you, Rose!" Mom said at the same time as giving me a giant hug. "Thanks Mom!" I said. "Oh, and hi." Mom finished. Mom was grinning ear to ear, just as I had been when I had excepted my medals on the podium.

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Later that day after I got home, all I could really do was fall over on the couch. I felt little paws climbing up my body, it was Sydney. Sydney is my cat who I've had since I was a baby. Then I closed my eyes and pet Sydney at the same time. I closed my eyes to contemplate what had just happened. I contemplated  how I had gotten two medals......about a half-hour after thinking about the medals, I gently put Sydney next to my feet, and got up and went to my room down the hallway--carrying my two medals. As soon as I got to my room, I checked the time. 5:46 PM the clock said. Wow....I never thought it was this late! I thought to myself. I glanced out the window, the rain still pouring. It had been stormy and rainy for months now. Where I live, it rarely clears up. Then I focused on what I was doing--trying to find a safe place for my two medals. Even though I had only been awarded these two medals only hours ago, they were two of my most special things. I looked for a place in my closet, on my side table, by my window, and on my wall. And didn't have any luck. But, finally, after about an hour or so of looking, I found a great place on my bookshelf.  I put them in the top-glass part of my bookshelf. Where I also kept my autographs from the Fierce Five. When I was in the middle of closing the door to the glass shelf, I heard mom call for dinner. I finished closing my shelf, then I walked to the kitchen.

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After eating a very tasty dinner, I went back into my bedroom and changed into my pajamas and crawled into bed. Then I fell asleep, once again, listening to the pitter-patter of rain....and some thunder.

Authors Note: I'm SO SO SO SO SO SO sorry! This was SO late. It take a LONG logn ling long time to make a chapter. Not so much the typing, but it's the things that I have to think up. ;)