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My head itches.
“You did these braids too tight,” I complain to Amelia as we stretch, our hands locked as we pull one way and then the other.
She rolls her eyes. “I did not.”
“You did. They itch.”
“Well, they look amazing,” she says, and I have to agree with her. I love how they feed into my ponytail, holding all my hair in place, but still, they’re tight.
“Yeah, you aren’t wrong.”
“Never am.”
I give her a look that says otherwise, and she rolls her eyes again.
“Don’t do that, not today.”
“Fine.” I pout as she pulls me down into the mat. “You’re still going through with it?”
“I am,” she says as I come up, pulling her.
“Won’t you miss this?”
She looks up at me from where she is lying flat on the mat. “Yes, Sofia. I’ll miss you dearly, but I have to follow my heart.”
I really wish she’d fall on the beam and knock some sense into herself. She won’t have that chance today since she wasn’t picked to compete on beam, but she’s getting there. She’s doing bars, and we’re really excited for that. Hopefully, she will get a clue before she leaves the team and ruins her life. Pressing the bottoms of our feet to each other’s, we stretch ourselves as I look out at the crowd. I don’t see Ryan anywhere.
“Ryan is going to be late.”
“They probably got caught in traffic,” she says, waving me off. “Posey had a game up in Ohio, so Shea took her and the boys. That left Ryan to get Mom and Elli.”
I know this, but I still really don’t want him to be late. We have vault first, and that’s his favorite. I don’t want him to miss it. Once we are done warming up, we get in our lines for announcements. I stand next to Amelia, and when her hand slides into mine, I look over at her.
“You won’t hate me, will you?”
“Hate you?”
“When I go. Like, we’ll still be besties?”
My heart crumbles in my chest. “Of course, Amelia. Always.”
She doesn’t smile, but she nods as she looks out at the crowd. “Good.”
I don’t know why she asked that. Maybe I should have said no in the hopes she wouldn’t go. Though, I’m pretty sure nothing will keep her from going. As the announcer introduces UT’s gymnasts, I look around, hoping Ryan has arrived, but I still don’t see him.
“He’s coming. Don’t worry,” Amelia says, and I smile over at her.
“I don’t want him to miss it.”
“He won’t,” she promises, and we share a small smile.
When it’s time for our team, I plaster a huge, overly fake grin on my face as I wait for my name. The gym is full, the student section is overflowing, and it’s exciting. Everyone is chanting GymBulls, and with each gymnast’s name, the cheering gets louder. It’s so much fun.
“With an average of 39.42, Sofia Castilleja!”
Stupid floor judge at the last event gave me 9.8 when it was a 9.9 routine, at least! Yet I grin before I throw my hands up, bouncing on my toes as I wave to the crowd.
Until I hear a familiar voice.
“Ah! Bella! Yes! Go, my bella!”
My heart stutters as I whip my head to the left where I hear the voice, and there she is.
My mom.
She’s sitting on her walker, her long brown hair in a twist on her head. Always looking her best, with her face fully made up. She wears her ratty old “Sofia’s Mom” shirt that I am pretty sure she’s had since I was four. She has the biggest grin on her face as she waves her hands above her head, and I’m stunned.
My heart beats so fast, my eyes fill with tears, and I can’t. I just can’t.
But then I see Ryan standing beside her, an equally large grin on his face and a sign that says, “Surprise.”
I come undone.
Before I even realize what I’m doing, I’m running toward them. I make it around the beam, over a mat, and somehow, I make sure not to slam my head on the bar. God bless her, my mom stands, and I manage to slow down before I wrap my arms around her, crying into her chest. “Mom!”
“Ah, bella! Look at you,” she gushes, pulling back to look at me, her tear-filled brown eyes roaming over me as my tears fall in rivers down my face. “Always beautiful. The pictures don’t come close. Look at you. I love you so much!”
“I love you,” I cry as I wrap my arms back around her, holding her close to me as she kisses my neck, my ear, and then my cheek. She’s shaking in my arms, and I can’t believe she’s here. My mom is here. For my meet. I pull back, cupping her face, and I shake my head, knowing my makeup is running, but I don’t care.
“You’re here!”
“I am. I can’t believe it either.”
My lip quivers as I look up to Ryan, and my tears fall faster and harder down my face. “You did this?”
He shrugs, looking adorably shy. “I did.”
