Chapter 7: Stretch... Your Heart

Dawn Everhart

I've been sticking to my normal routine in class, but it's become increasingly clear that our paths cross more frequently than coincidence would allow. I'm convinced he's deliberately trying to "accidentally" run into me, but I've been ignoring him, pretending I haven't noticed. The truth is, it's really getting under my skin how poorly he attempts to be subtle. His efforts at stealth are laughable - even a child could spot him from a mile away. If he were to play a real game of hide and seek, I'm pretty sure he'd be the first one to get caught.

Everyone in class seems to view me, Jenna, and Caroline as a powerful trio, but I've never really seen them that way. The truth is, I hang out with them out of necessity. Moving to this new school, I needed some connections, and since they approached me first, I figured I might as well seize the opportunity.

I didn't want to be too stingy to just give Xavier the cold shoulder, especially since we had just met. I'm confident I won't develop any feelings for him—I had my guard up for that. He's not cringeworthy like most guys, which I considered a plus. When I agreed to give him my number, I didn't expect him to respond almost less than a millisecond. His eagerness to keep the conversation going surprised me, and to my own dismay, I found myself actually enjoying it.

After class, I agreed to do Jenna a favor and accompany her while she tried out for gymnastics.

"I didn't know you were a gymnast," I said, watching her change into her tights.

"I've been into gymnastics since middle school," she replied, doing a quick stretch. "I took a break, but I'm hoping I still have some skills left. How about you?" She attempted a cartwheel and landed it with a smile.

"I always wanted to try gymnastics, but my old school only had cheerleading," I shrugged. "It was the last resort."

Jenna's face lit up at the suggestion. "How about you try out with me?"

I hesitated, biting my lip. "I know nothing about gymnastics. Does this school have cheerleading?"

"There is. But would you rather join a club filled with dumb whores?" Jenna gave me a knowing look.

"Dumb whores?" I raised an eyebrow.

"I'll spill some tea later." She winked. "Why don't you give it a shot? It's not that different with cheerleading." Jenna said.

I looked at my black high-waist jeans and white sweatshirt. "I didn't bring any leotards or tights with me. Anyway, I was planning to continue in music, so..."

"I have extras in my locker in the girls changing room. Try outs will begin in an hour, get back here in less than five minutes." Jenna tossed me the keys to her locker.. 

I hesitated as Jenna urged me on.

"Go," she told me.

Without thinking, I dashed to the girls' dressing room, my eyes scanning the whole sweat-fragrant room. I quickly found her locker, three lockers in from the center on the left, and hurriedly changed into her white leggings and black leotard. The snug fit feels to tight underneath that made splitting would make me piss underneath.

Gosh, if I'm wearing this, I dread the time I'd eve get used to it. I glanced at the mirror, debating whether the outfit was considerable to me. I fiddled with the waistband, suddenly feeling like I couldn't breathe properly.

I remember having my leg warmers with me; I pulled them on over my socks in a bid for extra coverage and security, feeling a bit more comfortable. Once again, I made a full dash down the hallway to the gymnasium fully ashamed of people seeing me in this... whatever words would describe.

"Earlier than expected," Jenna grinned, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "And that body is a national treasure." She clicked her tongue and winked at me.

"Don't bother," I rolled my eyes. "Now what?"

"Stretching," she replied, easily dropping into a bridge-stretch. "It's super important. Follow my lead." I watched her for a moment, then carefully dropped to the floor to a back bend split.

She looked at me with a reversed head. "I thought you were right-dominant?"

"One rule in cheerdancing at my school: Splits should always be left." I replied.

"Can you do the right or middle?" She asked.

"Middle, yes. Right? Hurts like hell." I did a bridge.

"Right and left should be easier than middle though." She stood up. "That's okay, we'll enhance that once you're in the club. How about a cartwheel."

"Piece of cake." I shrugged and did a cartwheel.

"Roundoff." She requested.

I did so simultaneously.

"Back walkover?" She added.

I combined the three to show her. 

"Those were some of the things I learned." I sauntered back to her. "I remember doing a full combo across the court."

"That's great. You will become a regular in no time." She assured me. 

Technically, I did not mean to sign up for this. I know cheerleading is full of wannabe girls who only want to be popular, besides me I said it was the last resort. I just need to be flexible and it's more of a beginner training to gymnastics. It's just that I missed being a flyer. Being tossed up in the air and striking a pose is hugely fun for me.

Jenna told me to create a choreography in gymnastic style to be judged by the seniors and gave me a list of songs to pick.

"A what?" I looked at her purely dumbfounded.

"I'll give you a demo." She said.

Her mini speaker played a song that must be 'Dernier Danse' instrumental and she began a slow routine that looked like an interpretative dance but more dramatic. I noticed how some of it showcased the moves I saw from gymnasts on my newsfeed.

Okay, I get it now. My eyes drew my attention subconsciously to the other girls and noticed some of them are spinning a stick with a few meters of ribbon tied to the end of it. Then another girl holding a pair of jugglers but it's thin and does not make a sound, next to her was holding a hula-hoop and I even saw another one with a ball. By the time my attention went back to Jenna, she had just finished her demonstration.

"Jenna," I glanced at the others who had props with them, "what are those for?"

"Those are for rhythmic gymnastics." Jenna replied, looking at the direction I was looking.

Once again, I raised an eyebrow skeptically. Rhythmic gymnastics?

"There are three kinds in the gymnastics team. Rhythmic gymnastics are those who use those handheld apparatus you referred to before. Artistic gymnastics use things like pommel horse, balance beam, or parallel bars and balanced flexibility. And the normal gymnastics." She explained.

"Ohhh..." I faltered. "I have a list of good music here for you to try." Jenna handed me her Iphone.

"Pick one for me." I said, not taking her phone. "Okay... Flashlight?" Jenna suggests.

"Is there another?" I asked, sitting on the bench.

"What kind?"

"Panic at the Disco?"

"I have a few."

"House of memories." She played a remix of the song which does not coincide with what I thought would be.

"Diamonds, by Rihanna." I blurted.

"Done. You can come up with a few moves from that." Jenna saved the song. She was busy practicing her routine while I absorbed the whole song to come up with a routine of my own. I cringed at many interpretative dance if I feel like it doesn't go well with the beat. Whoever came up with those choreography should probably quit.

Now, what am I thinking instead of coming up a routine?

"Dawn, you okay? Need any help?" Jenna asked, a bit concerned.

"No." I answered.

"Why aren't you practicing?" 

"I am."

She looked at me skeptically.

"In my head." I added.

"Whatever." She rolled her eyes.

A teacher came in declaring the tryouts to begin. She introduced three judges who specialized on these things. They told us to stay on the bench and basically proceed to the center once your name was called. A few regulars placed mats on the center for the tryouts.

"What?" I asked.

"I listed your name. No need to worry." Jenna grins.

Okay... 

"They will not name the results. You'll know you made it to the team when they post the list of names on the bulletin board tomorrow at the main hall." Jenna explained.

"Do you think, I will though." I said.

"Oh, I am confident you will." Jenna says.

"How so?" I raised an eyebrow.

"You'll see once it starts." Jenna winked.

"You're in for gymnastics too?" A voice behind me chimed in.

I jumped.

Turning my head to see who it was, my heart stopped to see Xavier behind me. When did he get there?

"When did you get here?" I asked.

"You two know each other?" Jenna was more flabbergasted than I was.

"Yes." Xavier placed an arm around me. "She's my girlfriend."

Jenna was too stunned to speak. I immediately elbowed him on the stomach making him grunt in surprise. I grabbed his must-be-so-expensive shirt and dragged him to the side.

"Pardon my impudence, but what was that?" I glared at him.

I feel my anger boiling as I fumed with what he said earlier. First of all, I barely know him to even consider him a friend. Then, just because we're betrothed doesn't mean he can tell the whole world about that. I seriously can't believe the audacity to even enjoy every bit of the damn union.

"What do you mean?" He asked.

"I reckon you claimed that we're dating. In front of a friend." I said.

"We're bound. What's the difference?" 

"Doesn't mean we're dating. We barely know each other."

"We'll have time for that."

"Excuse me?"

"Okay, sorry. Can we at least be friends?" He looked at me hopefully.

Ugh. I rolled my eyes turning back and heading to the bench. It happened so fast when he pulled me back and helped me arrange my tights which was a bit messy and adjusted my leotards.

"You need to tie your hair up. It's one of the rules in gymnasts." He said.

Is that supposed to make up a little mistake. I'm quite impressed about now that I can't utter a single word from my mouth as if my mind is running miles in a second. He shrugged and gently grabbed the scrunchie on my wrist and took the initiative to tie my hair making my stomach flutter.

And why is my heart beginning to rebel against my mind when I shouldn't even feel this way.