Chapter Thirteen - Flexible

The hall flickered in the ancient floodlights, positioned strategically in each corner, lighting up a gymnastics course and a group of Roxy's classmates chatting peacefully.

She started at the group, dreading joining them of the fear of being embarrassed and then down at her uniform: a dark red t-shirt and a pair of black shorts, matching the others, before dragging her feet over to them, attempting to start a conversation.

"So you are the new girl joining us?" One asked a blonde-haired girl, athletic in her figure.

"Umm, yes. I got asked to come from Mr Rain."Roxy replied before being cut off by the same blonde girl. Roxy began to explain.

"Great! This is amazing! We've had a little trouble at the last few tournaments." She looked over at the other girls in the clubs, shooting a deadly glare at them, "With someone of your abilities, we will nail this next one!"

The blonde girl wanted to talk more, expressing how Roxy would be an incredible addition to the team and would 'lead them to victory, but before she could continue, Mrs Ellen, a tall woman, large in build, with brown hair and glasses to match, walked into the hall.

"Right, girls! Over here, please!" She called, pointing to a faint blue line in front of her, "I see you've made friends with Roxanne."

"It's Roxy." She retaliated.

"I don't care. Mr Rain told me he thinks you'll be an addition to the team. I, however, am yet to see. This is my club, and I only allow the best of the best.

Roxy looked over at the other club members in doubt. Her mind was filled with wonder at how they even managed to be accepted.

"Now, I run things quite tough around here! So you'll need to work extra hard and prove yourself to me." Mrs Ellen explained, her face contorting into a frown.

"But she is amazing!" The blonde girl replied.

Roxy wished she hadn't gotten involved, her body filling with anxiety at how Mrs Ellen would react to the boldness.

"Well, if that's the case, prove it now. The obstacle course behind you is what we use to train every day. If you can clear it and impress me, I'll let you teach today's session."

Roxy looked behind her at the old rugged equipment. There was barely enough for her to use during the sessions, let alone prove her place!

Behind her was a balance beam that looked more unstable than a rope bridge, a pair of hanging hoops whose paint had been worn down to the metal, a springboard that had little to no spring left in its lifetime and a vaulting box which was strangely in the best condition out of it all.

Roxy walked over to the start, looking over at the course ahead and creating a game plan.

Firstly, the balance beam. That will be the easiest to do! Next, what if I try the springboard onto the hoops? That would show her! Then the rings onto the vaulting box, where I'll have to get creative! She thought to herself, creating a mental map of her plan.

She positioned herself for a run-up, sprinting at full pace and leaping onto the balance beam hands first, positioning herself into a handstand, and began to walk confidently towards the end of the bar, much to the amazement of both the students and Mrs Ellen, who's frown had shifted into a rare smile.

Next up is the springboard. Roxy reached the end of the balance beam, bracing her body to launch onto the board. She slowly lowered herself and pushed against all her body weight, sending her springing into the air. She tucked her legs into her chest and leaned forward, performing the smoothest front flip anyone in the room had ever witnessed before and landing safely on the springboard, pouncing over to the rings, grabbing them and supporting herself by her strength.

She raised herself and flipped upside down, looking proudly as Mrs Ellen's jaw began to drop closer and closer to the line where she stood before. Then, dismounting the rings, Roxy sprinted towards the vault box and jumped high in the air, shifting her body to the side and clearing the wooden structure without much of a hand to support her! Landing a short distance from the box, she turned to see Mrs Ellen, who was both astonished and amazed, clap loudly.

"I'm a woman of my word!" She began, "You can take the first run at teaching these useless lot! And make sure you listen to her because she can teach you something of worth!"