Page 33 of Catch Me

We switch after an hour of practice and I'm finally on floor, my arch nemesis at the moment. It stares me down like a predator and I swallow hard when the beep sounds to indicate the start of my routine. The music flows around me like a gushing river, picking up speed and sharpness as I prepare for my first tumble. I start to run, telling myself I can do this, I can land this, I have to land this now. The competition is in a few days and I feel sick about it, but if I can smash this routine a few times today I’ll be able to breathe until competition day.

I throw myself into my tumble, twisting fast and hard, determined to land and prove myself to Ellen. My feet hit the ground like a magnet is pulling them down and I don’t even wobble. I continue the dance elements of my routine, swirling my arms and performing like my life depends on it. When it comes to my last tumble — my least favourite one and the one that will gain me the most points — I halt for a beat, taking a deep breath. On the last note of the music I fly through the air like a bird, snapping my legs together and bringing them down to the ground in a perfect landing. My face immediately reddens when the whole gymnasium claps for me, my teammates beaming with pride. Except for Sophia of course, she leans against the beam, scowling with jealously as usual. She can’t stand to see anyone else have the attention of the team.

Ellen walks slowly across the floor to me. “Lois that was excellent, well done.” Her hand lands on my shoulder and I almost spot the hint of a smile on her lips, but she quickly squashes it and drops her hand. “Hit the shower, you’re done for today.”

“Thank you,” I breathe, letting her words seep into my brain. I don’t think Ellen has complimented me once on any of my skills since I took over from Callie as captain. I think she forgets I never wanted to be captain, I only agreed because Callie asked me and I can’t say no to that girl.

I take Ellen’s demand seriously and with gratitude, heading straight for the showers with Anais in tow. She’s been acing her routines lately too, to be honest she’s probably the strongest on the team at the moment.

“You showed that floor who was boss today Lo, great job.” She slings an arm over my shoulder and hugs me to her side as we walk to the locker rooms. “Ready for the comp in three days?”

I nod once, looking at the ground. “I guess, I'm still kind of shaky on some of my landings though.”

“That’s normal, I know I killed it like a boss bitch today but I get shaky a lot of the time too.”

I laugh a little, looking across at her before she smushes a kiss to my cheek and pulls me into the girl’s locker room. The air is already thick with steam, someone must have used our showers again. Its probably those pesky first years whose dorms have one shower between twelve of them. Can’t say I blame them to be honest, the thought of sharing a shower with eleven other students makes me shiver with disgust.

Anais and I have just crammed our bags and sweaty clothes into our lockers, wrapping ourselves in fresh smelling, still warm towels when the door flies open. Sophia struts past us with her nose turned up, yanking a scrunchie from her hair and letting the shiny locks cascade down her back.

I don’t pay her any attention, not even glancing her way as I pass her to get to the showers.

As soon as I'm clean I yank my clothes on, tussling my hair dry with a towel and grabbing the bag from my locker. Sophia still sits, one leg slung over the other on one of the benches, her nose in her phone. But when I accidentally — or not so accidentally — brush past her on my way out she clears her throat obnoxiously.

“Just because you stuck your tumbles today, doesn’t mean you’re suddenly fit to be captain of this team you know? Don’t get too big for your little boots Taylor.” She looks up at me withan evil glint in her green eyes. “We all know you’re just trying to live up to your brother’s reputation, but you’ll never be as talented or well liked as him.”

I roll my eyes, ready to either walk out of here or put a heeled shoe through her eyeball. “Fuck off Sophia,” I mutter under my breath, but she stands to her feet when both of mine are already in the hallway, the door to the locker rooms open behind me.

“Sorry, what was that?” She hisses, emerald eyes wide and daring.

I stand taller, squaring my shoulders. “I said, fuck off.”

The shock is evident in the way her eyebrows shoot up into her hairline, but after less than a second she hides it and both hands land on her sharp hipbones.

“Jesus, you’ve been spending too much time with Callie, you sound just like her.”

I smile sweetly, batting my eyelashes. “Thank you.”

Sophia tilts her head with annoyance. “That wasn’t a compliment.”

“I know, but I chose to take it as one.”

I leave with a middle finger flipped in her direction as I skate fast down the hallway to the exit. I hop in the car and immediately text Nick to meet me at the dorms.

The key wont get in the fucking lock and it’s irritating me. I’m on edge and there’s only one person that can help me right now, he’s six-foot-four and covered in ink.

When I finally get the door open with a muttered, “Stupid fucking thing,” I spot three heads in the kitchen.

Kyle and Molly sit on adjacent bar stools, a laptop in front of Molly, a coffee and notebook in front of Kyle. My eyes lift to the tallest frame in the room, the one that leans back against the counter top, facing me with a megawatt grin.

The tension in my muscles instantly vanishes at seeing his face and I drop my bag to the ground, racing across the room to him. I fling myself into the warmth of his chest, his arms wrap around me, lips peppering soft kisses against my neck. He squeezes me tightly like a sponge and all the stress pours out of me onto the kitchen floor.

“Baby I'm sorry but I can’t stay long. I said I’d pick Lewis up from the rink in half an hour, he’s staying late for extra practice.” He coos, forehead landing against mine as I inhale his strong, comforting smell.

“That’s ok, but I need sex tonight so I'm coming over later ok?” I blurt, forgetting that we’re not alone in this room.

I hear Kyle’s breath stop halfway into his lungs behind me and I can feel Molly’s smirk burning a hole in my back. I’m only looking at Nick though, who’s eyes sprang open at first but have now softened with understanding. Than man can read my faceandmy mind, so I'm sure he can see from the wrinkles in my forehead that I’ve had a long and stressful day.

“That’s more than fine.” He grins, chocolate eyes sparkling.

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