Page 45 of Tangled Rose

Chapter 24

I’m already in the gym, so once I’ve taken a quick shower and changed back into my uniform, I poke around the offices, looking for Coach Hall’s office. I’ve discovered she also teaches PE, only she has the freshman because she’s the newest of the PE teachers at Rosehaven.

When I find a placard with her name on it, I give the door a quick rap, unsure if she’s inside or not.

“Come on in.”

I turn the knob and open the door, a bright smile plastered on my face in greeting. It quickly falls when I see who is sitting across the desk from her.

Mandy.

Shit.

Mandy turns around and gives me a nasty little smirk since Coach Hall can’t see her.

Oh no, bitch.I hold out my hand, slapping that smile right back on my face. “Hi. I’m Lyla. I wanted to drop in and introduce myself since you’ve only seen video footage of me.”

Shaking quickly, the petite short-haired blonde gives me a smile. “Yep. I’m hoping you’re the injection of adrenaline that this team needs. I’m Coach Hall and this”—she gestures to the blow job queen—“is your team captain, Mandy.”

I grin broadly, knowing Mandy will have no choice but to shake my hand this time. “Hi. Nice to meet you.”

She reluctantly takes my hand, squeezing a little hard, which only makes me squeeze her right back until she winces. “Same,” she grumbles.

Coach Hall looks curiously between us. “Well, why don’t we head to the auxiliary gym? The rest of the girls should be gathering there soon. Parents, too.”

My eyes flick up at that last bit. Shit. I wonder what she’ll think when I don’t have a parent here.

“Um.” I swallow. “Coach Hall? My parents wouldn’t have been called, would they? We live pretty far from here.”

“Oh, right.” Her gaze shifts to Mandy. “You were responsible for calling the parents. Did you reach Lyla’s?”

A wicked smirk tips her lips when she rotates around to look at me. “I sure did. Mom will be here. She seemed excited. And even a bit confused, which I found odd.”

Oh girl.Tell me you didn’t find my mother and ask her to show up here. Simon specifically said that he hadn’t included contact information, and I wouldn’t have to worry. I still don’t know how he’d managed to get me enrolled without my mother’s knowledge.

I’m going to throw up.

There’s a small gathering of girls in the gym already, and a few parents milling around chatting, as well. A quick scan does not reveal my mother, and I release a huge pent-up breath.

My mother has always made a whole lot of shitty decisions. This is going to sound messed up, but thank goodness for the drugs she was trying to score that led her to drag me to the free class Simon had at his gym twelve years ago. I don’t feel like I owe her much, but I’m grateful to her for the chance with gymnastics, despite how it came about. That afternoon changed my life forever. Simon recognized my natural ability in the three hours he’d spent with me. Then, when my mother didn’t show up to pick me back up, well… I guess he wanted to help. He won’t tell me how he got my mother to allow me to attend classes every week. I suspect he paid her off. Like, literally paid her so that she’d allow me to use his facility and learn from him and the other coaches at the gym. Without his kindness, I hate to think where I’d have ended up.

Because other than school, I’d lived at the gym. I’d lived for the gym. I’ve trained at Tumbling Champs with Simon for what feels like forever.

Getting a spot on the Rosehaven Academy team is my chance at getting seen. My shot. And I hope Mandy doesn’t fuck this up for me.

For several minutes, Coach Hall goes over our practice and competition schedules. Each girl on the team introduces herself with her name, which events she competes in—or hopes to—and a new skill she hopes to acquire during the competition season.

I’ve just relaxed a bit when my mother staggers through the door. She’s wearing a black miniskirt that is way shorter than our uniform skirts are allowed to be and a tight, long-sleeve top. Her heels are no less than three inches high. Oh my God. This is how she decides to show up at my school… I can hear the rumors starting already.

“Hi, I’m looking for Lyla.” Oh, shit. She’s totally blasted. Whether she’s drunk, high, or a combination, I have no way of knowing.

My heart sinks. Why? Why’d she have to show up? My eyes dart to Mandy’s and she’s absolutely having a ball with this. “Hi, Mom. Come have a seat.”

“Have you heard, everyone? My girl is the best ballerina ever.”

I cringe. Holy shit. I get up and cross to her, tugging on her arm. I hiss, “Either sit down and be quiet or leave.”

“They asked me to come.”

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