“Let’s just get ready,” she insists. “They’re not worth it.” Finally! Sally’s starting to really gain some confidence, and she’s right. We didn’t come this far to let anyone break our focus and get in the way of what we came to do: win!
—
When we get to our post, we stretch and go over our routine. There’s no room for error. Suddenly I hear whispers from a random jumper, who points at Sally and laughs as she passes by, saying, “That’s the girl who froze like an ice statue last year.” I am glad that Sally doesn’t hear her. She’s been doing too well and staying focused. A third loud whistle sounds and the lights dim, which indicates it’s time to get ready for the freestyle portion of the competition. Just as I am gathering my bag, I spot a certain someone and his crew walk into the gym. Charlie! He’s supposed to be at the skateboarding competition, right? Why is he here? Now I’m nervous.
“No time for staring at your boyfriend, Kayla,” Melissa commands. “Let’s go! We gotta warm up!”
“Maybe she doesn’t need a warm-up,” Tina teases. “She’s already got the hots.”
“Ha ha, very funny,” I say as I roll my eyes at her, although she’s right. I have to concentrate, even if Charlie looks super-cute in his sweaty clothes, holding his skateboard. I can’t believe I like a skateboard boy from the South. Suddenly Sally yanks me back into reality. Freestyle is the most important part of the competition, and if we win we’ll be able to shut those bullies up, and then maybe they’ll leave Sally alone.
—
All the lights are up as the next team takes the floor. It’s cool they have a DJ to play music between the change of teams. It keeps fun in the air. I’m loving it! Each team is taking every second of their one minute to do everything and anything they can to wow the crowd. Two teams, the Hot Nonstop Steppers and the Jump Squad, have some of the crowd on their feet. Probably family, I think. They are pretty awesome, with a little gymnastics in their routine. A few cartwheels and back-handsprings into the ropes are cute, but they don’t have nothin’ on us. Wait till they see what Tina and Sally are bringing to the floor. Huh! It’s on! I notice Sally pacing. I expected Melissa or even Tina to be this nervous, but Sally, again?
“What’s going on? Are you okay?” I ask. She’s making me nervous now.
“I’m good,” Sally manages. “Just warming up.”
I thought I really loved double Dutch, but it looks like my cousin loves it more than I do. It seems she’s forgotten all about her reputation for being the girl who gets bullied all the time. Her friends turning their backs on her because of one mistake was a blow to her self-esteem, not to mention how sad the whole double Dutch mishap made her feel. She was embarrassed by friends she thought she could trust, but as I watch her pace, it seems like she’s trying to block all that out. Today, winning means more than just a double Dutch contest. It means getting back her respect.
The Bouncing Belles are up next. Obviously they are a crowd favorite, because people are already on their feet. The judges take notice, smiling as if they’re in for a treat. The Belles take the floor and wave their hands like they’re all beauty queens. True Belles, I guess. I spot Aunt Jeanie and Uncle Larry in the stands. They are so supportive. I suddenly think of my parents. Why can’t they be more like my aunt and uncle? Why can’t my parents come to at least one double Dutch competition together and watch me do what I love?
As the music dies down I focus on the Belles, and I snap out of my sad thoughts. Ivy jumps first. She runs and does a double back-handspring and body-twists through the ropes, which immediately gets the crowd roaring even more. She jumps with the short Asian girl and they both do fancy footwork. Man, they are jumping and turning really fast for about thirty seconds. Now the whole crowd is on their feet watching every move intensely, except my aunt and uncle. The routine is all right so far, but it’s nothing special. Until…wait! Melissa grabs my arm. All of our jaws drop. Ivy just did Sally’s move! The jumping spider! The crowd goes wild. They finish with a quick dance step and flip into the rope simultaneously, then fall into a split while the ropes spin overhead. Oh my G—
“Those heffas stole your big move!” Melissa gasps. “Boo! Boo!”
“I can’t believe this,” Tina says, shocked.
“They spied on us!” Sally exclaims. “That day they rode past my house, they must have been watching us the whole time!”
“What? But we’re up next!” I say. “This is not happening!” We worked so hard. Sally seems to be so furious that she can’t even speak. Her face looks like her mind is spinning a hundred miles a minute. If I didn’t know any better, I would swear there’s steam coming from her head.
“Forget it!” Sally says. “So what? Maybe they did use that move, but I have another one, a better one I can do. Let’s go!” What? I think my cousin just lost it. Sally grabs her stuff, and we follow her blazing trail to the bottom of the bleachers.
As soon as we get there, Sally turns to us with a new plan.
“Melissa, just keep your eyes on my feet,” Sally says, staring into Melissa’s eyes. “Kayla, I’ll call it out and you can guide the ropes. Melissa will follow both of us.”
“What about me?” Tina asks frantically. “What about me?”
“Be the hype girl!” I say. “No matter what we do, get the crowd into it.” I have no idea what we’ll be doing, but this is a do-or-die moment. I have
