Maid of Honor

“Robby, why can’t you just let me do the double back?” I asked my coach.
“Because you’re not ready,” He nearly yelled back at me. “You have a very important meet in less than two hours. You have to get this down.”
“The aerial full is NOT working.” I yelled back.
“You’re pushing it Dorinda! You have to compete! It’s the very last meet. You will not make me look bad.”
“If I do the aerial full then I WILL make you look bad! Robby, please just let me do the double back!”
“You throw it too much. You’re not going to stick the landing okay?”
“You don’t know that!”
“That’s exactly why you AREN’T doing that dismount!”
I groaned in frustration.
“I’m going for a fucking run! Is that okay with you?!”
“Yes,” He sighed, and walked away from me, only to go to some of the other gymnast who seemed to have an interest in our argument.
I slipped on a pair of Nike shorts, and shoes. I grabbed my iPhone and stormed out of the gym. I found my way on the path, running to forget. I brought out my phone and I dialed Kennedy’s number. He didn’t answer, which pissed me off, because Ken always answered for me. I groaned in frustration and I dialed Garrett’s number.
“Hey,”
“You’re coming later right?!”
“Are you okay?”
“No, I’m not!” I yelled. I took in a deep breath. “I need you to bring me some food. I’m going to die because of my lack of food. I haven’t ate since lunch yesterday.”
“Has anyone told you that skipping meals is unhealthy?”
“Just bring me some fucking food. I honestly don’t care what kind. Just get me something to eat. Hell, I’d even eat greasy take-out right now.”
“Okay. Kennedy, Pat, and Maria are riding with me. I’ll be sure to get your something. We’ll be there an hour before, right?”
“That would be idea.” I stated.
“See you in a bit,”
“Gary, wait!”
“Yeah?” He chuckled.
“Kennedy didn’t answer my phone call.”
“He’s with John.”
“Great,” I mumbled. “Can’t wait for the food, Garrett,”
“I’m excited to see you in action. What are you doing?”
“Everything,” I answered with a huff. “Do you know who all is coming?”
“I know that the rest of the guys are, Halvo and Nick, Julie, Renee and Bob, and The O’Callaghan crew.”
I shook my head.
“Great, so basically everyone,”
“Pretty much,”
“What about Moose and Tim?”
“They’re apart of ‘the guys’.” He laughed.
“Okay. Thanks, Garrett…again. For everything, I mean it.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Bye,”
“Bye, Dia,” He replied before we hung up. I moved my leotard until it was hanging at my waist again. I started to take off in a small jog, able to finally clear my head. I carried my iPhone in my hand as I made the huge loop. I was able to clear my head. I didn’t need to think about Julie and her parents or even the guys being there. I need to focus on my dismount. Somehow, I needed to be able to pull off the dismount that Robby wanted me to do…even if the one I wanted would definitely look better. Then there was my floor routine that was very new age for the judges. Yes, even in a club meet, we have judges. Three of them were three of the trainers that helped us on a daily basis. My floor was hard, probably harder than my bars and beam. I had to do vault where I did a full out of that. It wasn’t the hardest, but it wasn’t easy either.
By the time I got back from my insanely long jog, my phone was vibrating in my hand. I quickly answered it.
“Hello?”
“Dia, we just go here.” John stated. “The family and Julie’s family, that is.”
“Ooh okay.”
“Halvo and Nick are with me,”
“Great!” I stated. I hadn’t seen either of them in forever. “I’m running out front right now.”
“Okay. I’ll see you in a minute.”
“Bye, Johnny.”
“Bye, Dorinda.” He laughed before the line went dead. I jogged back into the gym, and Robby was standing next to the beam.
“Are you cooled off yet?”
“Fuck off.” I muttered.
“I’ll take that as a no. You’ve got thirty minutes until you have to change.”
“Mmkay,” I replied, practically ignoring him. I went out into the lobby, which was sort of crowded with people getting refreshments and looking at the gym’s merch we had set up. I spotted my uber tall best friend first, which was easy to do. I walked up to the group and wrapped my arms around John’s waist.
“What the hell?” He said, before I let go and stepped bedside me. “Oh…it’s just you. I’m not in the mood to beat some ass.”
“You can’t harm a fly.” I stated. The Stones laughed at me. “Trust me…he just misses.”
John rolled his eyes but wrapped his lanky arms around me. I wrapped my arms around his neck, and he lifted me from the ground. My back popped, and I was laughing when he sat me back down.
“Was that your back?” He asked.
“Yes, sir,” I nodded. “Hey, Shaney,” I yelled before I flung my arms around the youngest boy. When I pulled away, I noticed that he was blushing like crazy. I hugged Ross next and then John’s parents.
“What about us?” Halvo pouted.
I laughed.
“We’re chopped liver,” Nick shrugged.
“I love you guys!” I nearly yelled, attacking them when I hugged them at the same time. “How are you?”
“We’re pretty good.”
“Thanks for never calling.”Halvo pouted.
I shook my head.
“See this place? Yeah, I spent more time inside this building than I have in my own house.” I replied.
“Last meet though, right?”
I smiled proudly.
“Yes, sir…I’m really sad, but I’ve accomplished a lot more than I ever dreamt possible.”
“At last you reach for the stars,” Renee stated with a smile.
“No way, the moon,” I corrected.
“Dorinda Grace Popeeee,”
I looked in the direction of the voice.
“Gary!” I yelled before I ran toward the boy with my food. “Catch.”
He laughed and opened his arms before I latched myself to him. He supported my weight as we, or I should say Garrett, walked over toward the group with Kennedy, Jared, Max, Tim, Pat, and Maria followed us.
“You can let go now, leach,” Garrett joked.
“Nooooo,” I whinned back. “You brought me food,”
“I did. I don’t know if you’ll like it…” He trailed off.
I unlatched my arms and legs from Garrett and gave him a little kiss on the cheek. He handed me the bag, and I made a face as I saw that it was Burger King.
“Gross….” I whined.
“It was either that or Sonic.”
“Thanks for the thought. I am hungry.” I said and then just to prove my statement, my stomach decided to growl. “Oh, hush you. You’re getting food,” I talked to my stomach. I reached into the bag and started eating the French fries he got me first.
“Are you that hungry?” Pat asked me.
“Pig,” Jared teased.
“Oh hush you! You’d be eating like this too if you haven’t ate a full meal in a little over a week.”
“That busy?” Nick asked me.
I nodded my head up and down.
“I better no puke this back up on the vault, Nickleson,” I threatened.
“I can’t control your body’s functions.”
I playfully growled and basically everyone laughed.
“I really fucking love you guys. You’re the best. I could kiss every single fucking one of you.”
I noticed a few other gymnast walking around, looking at me. I rolled my eyes.
“Classy, Dorinda really,”
I scoffed at the gymnast that got under my skin the most.
“What do you want, Taylor?”
“Oh, nothing,” She shrugged, crossing her arms. “Just pointing out what trash looks like. Nice bra.”
“I know it’s a nice bra.” I smirked, and handed the bag a food to Garrett before I stepped between Renee and Halvo to get to the girl. My friends and ‘family’ all watched carefully.
“You know, I’ve never met some girl SO willing to parade around in her bra.”
“And I’ve never met some girl SO willing to spread her legs just to get better scores.” I replied.
“At least I don’t have all guy friends.”
“At least I have friends,” I replied. “I feel bad for you honestly…always second best.”
“I’m better than you, Dorinda. Face it. I actually listen to Robby, and I’m consistent.”
“Right, you’re better than me? Then why did I get the gold at the Olympics when you didn’t even place?” I asked. Taylor didn’t say anything back, she just flipped her brunette hair out of her face. “That’s what I thought. We’re done here.”
“Just don’t choke on the beam, kay? I know how you’ve been throwing those dismounts. Messy work”
I nearly turned around and hit her, but I was grabbed by the middle section.
“Go fall off bars or something!” I spat while she laughed and walked away.
“You should probably stop that.” Julie said cautiously.
“It’s not call gymNICEtics.” I snapped, coping Stick It…but it was true. Girls were mean. “I hate her. I hope she breaks an arm or ankle or…something.” I huffed. I walked back over to Garrett and took the food back with a scowl on my face. “I. Hate. Taylor. Fucking. Sutton.” I stated, glaring at the girl walking away.
“DORINDA!”
I rolled my eyes at the sound of my coach calling me. I looked up at the ceiling.
“Really??? Why me?”
“DORINDA?!” He yelled.
“Yes?” I questioned, leveling out my anger at him.
Robby stood now in our circle.
“You have fifteen minutes to get into that leo and start practicing. You’re not going to screw up this dismount.”
“I know this Robby.” I stated, putting my hands on my hips.
“And what is this?!” He snatched the food out of my hand. “Burger King? Really? You’re not eating anymore of this.”
“But-,”
“There are apples and healthy snacks in the locker room.”
“Joy.” I replied dryly.
“No attitude. This is your last meet. This is the last impression anyone is going to ever get of you as a gymnast.” Robby warned. “Remember your dismount.”
“Aerial full…I got it, Robby.”
“Don’t choke.” He stated before he turned and walked away. I groaned in frustration.
“Fuck you!”
“No thanks!” He called back as he tossed my food into the trash can.
“Can someone please cut his breaks so he runs into a tree,”
“You’ve got a few death wishes for people today.” Big John laughed.
“I’m just…stressed. He does not help with that stress. Before you guys got here, we got into a full on yelling match about a stupid flip, and I stormed out.”
“Are you going to be able to perform?” Shane asked me.
I laughed.
“Of course,” I replied with a slightly shrug. I looked down at my abs. “I’m going to miss these.”
“Isn’t there some other job that requires all of this?” Kennedy asked playfully.
“I could be a ninja!” I stated. Garrett laughed and rolled his eyes. “Never mind…that’s for karate students.”
“You could probably kick their asses.”
“Probably,” I shrugged. My stomach growled again, and I pouted. “I hate Robby too. Officially hate him. He took my food, he took my dismount, he took nearly everything. I might as well me a slave.”
“You wouldn’t last as a slave, Dia. You talk back too much,” John laughed.
“Shut your filthy mouth,” I joked. “But this is where I must say goodbye. I’ve gotta squeeze into something that I will probably need to be cut out of later,”
“Good luck, Dorinda.” John smiled at me before he placed a kiss on my forehead, and wrapped his arms around me. “You’re going to do great.”
God, I hope so.