Page 87 of The Sky Between Us

And the fact that nationals were at Disneyland made everything ten million times better. I always loved Disney and getting to hang out with my new friends was an adventure in itself. We bonded through the past three days.

“We did it,” Claire appeared in front of me, and pulling me away from Giselle, she hugged me. “I can’t believe we finally won!”

All three of our numbers were sharp and winning ones. Jazz was my favorite followed by pom and then hip-hop. We spent hours studying their previous scoresheets, looking at the deductions, and researching videos from other teams as well as searching for the best choreographers and meeting various designers to make the most flattering costumes with our school colors. All of it paid off.

None of us felt prouder being from Baywater.

“You did win once, freshman year,” I reminded her of the win I called accidental. Kentucky wasn’t able to perform that year, plus they had the seniors who were real powerhouses back then. After they left, the team wasn’t the same.

“That was an accident. This time it was intentional. You helped us too because when you dance, you just attract everyone’s attention. It’s hard to watch the rest of the team when we have you. No matter where we place you, you shine.”

Regret swirled in my stomach, wishing I joined before and had the full experience. But freshman year I was far from the girl I was today. I was lost, hurt and sad. Hiding from the world. Now slowly, I was getting a taste of the light and I learned to love it once again.

Adjusting the collar of my beautiful Sapphire colored leotard with tiny rhinestones scattered around it, I let some air into my lungs. The auditorium was becoming suffocating.

“Thanks,” I muttered, giving her a hug, and even blushing from her compliment. God, it felt good to get a compliment for something that used to be so natural.

“Team picture,” Claire shouted after our hug and all seventeen of us cramped around the trophy as coach Emmerson took the picture. I couldn’t help but break into a happy grin as I was sandwiched between our captain and Giselle, and we all laughed.

Maybe this could still turn out to be a good semester, despite Aiden leaving.

Just a thought of him caused my chest to ache and the familiar coldness settled over me. Swiping my thumb over my screen I accepted the AirDropped picture and went on Instagram to post it. Ignoring Aiden’s post sporting his new red and white jersey with the #16 on the back. The color looked good on him, but it was strange seeing him with someone else’s number. I had to remind myself this was his new number. #10 has always belonged to the star player; he couldn’t just get it. I liked his picture, just to be nice, and at the same time, a message showed up on my screen.

My heart sped up as I stared at the name, that little traitor still beat fast for him.

Aiden: Congrats on your National’s title! You were amazing!

Tears pooled in my eyes as I blinked at the text and a million questions attacked my brain. Was he watching or did someone tell him the results? Did he remember on his own or did someone remind him? Did he really care or was he being nice?

I stared at it until the screen turned off and I didn’t even care if other dancers bumped into me and talked to me, totally annoyed. I was stuck in my own little world thinking of Aiden and what to say.

In the end, my heart slowly calmed down and my teammates called out to me as we were going back to get our stuff and enjoy the last night of our stay at Disneyland. And I only had time for two short words to type instead of everything I felt, thought and wanted to tell him, but I couldn’t. I wasn’t allowed to say I miss you or I wish you were here. I wasn’t supposed to even think that because he was where he belonged and ultimately, I was exactly where I needed to be.

Dancing with my team.

Hazel: Thank you!

MARCH

I slowly eased into my new routine going to practice with my teammates who I once again, shared an apartment with. There weren’t many new players signed in January, only me and an Italian guy, Sebastian. We got paired together in a flat close to the stadium where we trained. Our starting salary was around $50k a year which was on the lower end of the team since none of us played before professionally. I never had the opportunity to play for the US national team so I was considered someone without professional experience. It sucked, especially when there were players earning more who were only 18 years old. But at least I had a goal and a plan to get there. $50k was already more than what I could imagine earning and since my expenses dropped by not paying accommodations and my stuff thanks to the club and their sponsor, Adidas. My only expense was food, so I could save some of it and help my parents out with their expenses and make sure Camilla had a fund to go to college in case she couldn’t secure any type of scholarship. I didn’t want my sister to carry the same burden I had to by juggling work, social life and school. She already had enough.

With a deep breath, I pulled my new jersey over my head and took in the crowded changing room where all of us cramped in. It was game day, yet another one and after proving myself useful on practices coach told me I could get off the bench and play. I’ve spent the majority of my professional career on the bench so far. I mean, I still got paid for it, but I wanted to play, I wanted to feed off the crowd’s energy, my teammates and feel the adrenaline rush. It didn’t matter if the colors felt wrong and the number on my back didn’t fully belong to me yet. It was time for me to prove myself.

Of course, I wasn’t in the starting position so I parked my butt on the bench next to Sebastian and hid a yawn. I watched as the rest of the team warmed up passing the ball between them and jogging. My leg bounced wanting to be out there and my eyes zeroed in on my teammates.

“You are playing today,” Sebastian clapped me on the back. “Are you excited?”

We were playing Lille in the European League and they weren’t supposed to be that hard to beat. I was a bit behind than everyone else, not always following closely all European Teams.

Without taking my eyes off the players, I nodded. “Yes.”

“Your big debut,” he joked around, stretching himself out on the bench. “Wish I could play too. They pay us a shit load of money for nothing.”

I agreed with that but didn’t say it. We still trained just as hard, if not harder with the rest of the team, and we were here observing them. The most frustrating part was watching a mistake unfold in front of your eyes when there was nothing we could do to stop it. We just had to sit there and take it. I wanted to jump up, scream and run to the field and correct it, but I couldn’t.

But today was my time, when I could stop mistakes from happening and do something about it. I couldn’t wait for my time to come to finally show them they made the right decision signing me.

Around minute 73, our Coach Erik waved at me.

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