- Chapter 15 -

                                    

                                          
"Alright Bailey, we need to get your routine clean before competitions start," Practices had been crazy ever since summer since kids were out of school and were now coming in for camps and rec classes, Erika had me working on bars first today, my routine needing a few more tweeks to be competition ready. 
                          
"You think I'll have shot at worlds?" I chalked up my grips, walking over to one of the bar sets. 
                          
"If you get these routines done you should." Erika smiled, she wasn't going to say it but I knew she wanted me to make the Olympic team once again, since I hadn't medaled in Rio I was itching to get a second chance in Tokyo. 
                          
"Alrighty then, let's get these cleaned up." Erika smiled as she took her place at the top of the mat which was underneath the highest bar. She was going to be there since I had a slight mental block for my pac-salto release. 
                          
I slowly got ready to go, standing at the lower bar, gliding my legs through the air and pulling them up to gather momentum and get my routine started. I kipped up to a handstand, starting my first release, which went smoothly, my hands grabbing the high bar at the right angle for me to continue my giants, going into my next release combination. I continued through the routine, grabbing each bar easily and going into the next, I tried to squeeze my legs together through the air and finally let go, twisting twice and landingwith my feet glued together. 
                          
"What!?! Bailey that was great!" Erika jumped down, her hands held over her head, mine connecting with hers and making a cloud of dust explode off my grips. 
                          
"That felt good." I gathered myself, catching my breath as she brought me over to the pit bar. "What am I doing here?" I held my hands on my hips, not caring that I was covered in white dust on my black leotard. 
                          
"I want you to work on your stalder, you're a little too close when you catch the bar." I nodded and hopped up on the pulldown pad. 
                          
I got myself started, working on my momentum as I glided through the air in my giants. I worked up the nerve to get started, letting go and flying over the bar, spreading my legs apart and catching the bar at the last moment, stopping my momentum to look over at Erika. 
                          
"Better, but there's just something about it that feels off." I braced myself on the bar, my hips holding me up. "Try it again, hold on a bit longer before you release." I nodded and adjusted my grips, grabbing back onto the bar and starting again. 
                          
       
                          
"Get outta here, Andrews I tortured you enough today." I smiled as I finished up my last full beam routine. It was my weakest event and we spent a good hour and a half going through it until I felt comfortable with it. 
                          
"I'll see ya tomorrow," We hugged as I walked back to the team room, packing my things and removing the wrist guards and tape that was wrapped around my ankle. I threw my sweatpants on, leaving just my leotard exposed on top and threw my bag over my shoulder, my car keys and phone in hand. 
                          
Game Ender - Hey! I know you're at practice, but I picked up food for you when you get home. DON'T PICK ANYTHING UP!
                          
I smiled as I climbed in my Jeep, throwing my gym bag in the backseat and cranking up the A/C seeing as though it was around high 80s today. 
                          
To Game Ender - Leaving the gym now, I'll see you in 10
                          
I connected my phone to my Bluetooth radio, turning the Hunter Hayes playlist up as I pulled out of the parking lot, headed toward Ender's house which was only a 10 minute drive. 
                          
"Hey," I smiled as I came through Ender's front door, Ender nowhere in sight. "Babe?" I dropped my bag at the kitchen table, walking through the house seeing him nowhere. "Ender!" I raised my voice, which echoed off the walls. 
                          
"Out here!" I heard his voice answer back, walking out to his back patio, seeing him standing beside the outdoor table. 
                          
"What is this?" I walked over to him, wrapping my arm around his waist and looking at the table, which was full of food. 
                          
"I wanted to treat you right," He turned me so that I was facing him, "because I just got a call from Snitker and they want me back up tomorrow night."
                          
"Really!" I jumped into his arms, excited that he was finally getting back with his family. 
                          
"Really baby girl, and it's all because of you." He pulled my face to his with his arms wrapped around my neck, his lips connecting to mine as fireworks set off in my stomach.
                          
"No, this was all you babe." I pulled back, looking into his eyes. "You did this all on your own." He let me go, pulling out one of the chairs at the table. 
                          
"Maybe, but you pushed me more than I thought." He smiled as he took a seat at the head of the table. "I also wanted to ask you something." We started preparing our plates, pulling out tacos and enchiladas and all sorts of food. 
                          
"What?" I stuffed my face full of taco, swallowing before speaking. 
                          
"I want you to move in with me, live here with me." I almost spit out the mouthful of water that I had taken a sip of, my eyes almost popping out of my head as I gathered myself before answering Ender. 
                          
"Ender, we've only been together for a few months, we're nowhere near that stage yet." I saw him chuckle at my reaction, readjusting himself in his seat. 
                          
"I know, Bailey." He started, putting his food down on his plate. "But think about it, everything that we went through within the last few months, with you getting back into the gym and me getting back on the field, that's not normal and we're not normal. I want you to move in with me because I want you close to me. Our relationship has never been normal even when we weren't dating, now it's no different. So, let's move in together." I blushed at him, my brain having a hard time finding words that could be put together in a sentence. 
                          
"Ender, I'd love to move in with you."