As if I didnÕt know, Leah stunned the audience with high release moves and unusual release sequences. It wasnÕt surprising to find out she came in first, before her ex-training partner, Sheri, who happened to be my friend.

ÒYou were great! DonÕt you ever miss anything?Ó

ÒWhen IÕm not on, I totally miss the higher bar on one of the easy release moves, and break my wrist.Ó

ÒYouÕll never do that.Ó

ÒNo, I have. About two years ago, I missed the easiest release move known to man-kind, and I landed wrong on my arm. I felt really stupid.Ó

ÒLuckily, that didnÕt happen to you today.Ó

ÒYes. Thank God!Ó

ÒLook, Leah! WeÕre two tenths ahead!Ó

ÒWow! This is the best meet ever!Ó

ÒDonÕt celebrate too much. You still have three, no two more events to go. The beam and floor.Ó

The rest of the two events went in the same manner, we were hanging on to every one of their mistakes, taking advantage of them. It was a close match, until their last rotation on the beam. ThatÕs when we surged ahead. Two of their gymnasts completely fell off the beam, and one missed her calculations on her dismount.

On the floor, we were having the best time of our lives. Everyone was clapping and cheering along with the rhythmic beat of the song. We couldnÕt have chosen better music.

Even before the final scores were announced, our whole team knew we were unbeatable. Not today, nor any day soon.

As it turned out, I came in first in the vault and floor, eighth on the uneven bars, and third on the beam. Leah took first on the uneven bars, second on beam, and sixth on the floor and vault. We waited for the team totals, and when they came out, the gym was in a roar of cheers. Our opponents, Pinecrest, were in a wave of tears.

ÒYou did it, Noel!Ó

ÒNo, we did it!Ó

As it turned out, for the team totals, Skyline took first, Pinecrest came second, then Mountain View came in third. The Mountain View team was from the neighboring city an hour away from Skyline. They were pretty good, too. But this is the best IÕve ever done against Pinecrest in my life.

ÒWe did it! We beat them!Ó

ÒYes! We finally beat them!Ó

ÒHurray!Ó

I congratulated the other four members of the team. All of us were in tears. Tears of joy, that is.

In total, I got three gold medals and one bronze. Four more to add to my growing collection of medals. My room is covered floor to ceiling with medals. For my momÕs sake, I entered quite a few of poetry contests and art fairs. But the medals that stood out the most were the large clusters of trophies on the headboard of my bed. Two boxes full of trophies from my starting years were somewhere in my closet. ÒNoel!Ó

ÒMom! You came!Ó

She kissed my cheek. ÒYou were great, honey. I guess I was missing out on all this fun by not coming to see you.Ó

She looked at all the medals around my neck and almost fainted, but my dad held her up. ÒI never knew how interesting it is to watch you preform.Ó

ÒThanks.Ó

ÒShe especially liked your floor routine,Ó my dad beamed. ÒOf course, you were excellent at everythingÓ

ÒThanks Dad. I knew everything would work out.Ó

ÒYes, you were right. I think a lot more people want to talk to you,Ó he looked behind me, Òso weÕll let you go. See you at home!Ó

ÒBye!Ó

As soon as they left, many of my friends swarmed me. By the time I got to talk to Leah, we were both exhausted.

ÒYou were great,Ó she said to me.

ÒSame with you. IÕm too tired to move another leg.Ó

ÒYouÕre not hungry?Ó Eva, Janie, and Josh came up to us.

ÒYou both were excellent, just to be simple.Ó

ÒThanks.Ó

ÒYou were great, Noel!Ó Janie jumped up and down beside Eva, her black pigtails bobbing up and down. ÒAnd you, too. WhatÕs your name, again?Ó

ÒItÕs Leah. And I suppose you are Janie?Ó

ÒYup. I want to be just like you two!Ó

ÒAfter you change, how about it if we go to the Dairy Queen for some late night ice-cream?Ó

ÒNow that you mention it, IÕm starved!Ó

ÒI am, too.Ó

ÒI love ice-cream!Ó Janie squealed and looked up to Josh who was holding her hand.

ÒI do too.Ó

ÒAnd I thought you hate ice-cream,Ó Leah looked to Josh.

ÒNo, I didnÕt feel like it then. Who could possibly hate ice-cream?Ó

ÒMy grandma does!Ó Janie exclaimed.

ÒWell, thatÕs because itÕs too cold for her to eat. ThatÕs something else.Ó

I took a quick shower, quickly washing my hair. Leah had shorter hair, just long enough to tie in a ponytail, so it was easier for her to wash. But luckily for me, my hair dries quickly.

I changed into a pair of faded jeans and a blue shirt with the sleeves folded up. Leah had on a white t-shirt from Hawaii with a surfer on the back tucked into a pair of tight-fitting jeans.

I was the only one in my level who was clearly above five feet and had long legs. Leah was an inch or so shorter than I am, and is clearly a gymnast type, if you know what I mean.

ÒYour hair looks good when itÕs down.Ó

ÒThanks. I only put it down when IÕm not doing anything active.Ó

ÒI know. I hate it when it gets in your eyes, or somewhere where itÕs annoying.Ó

ÒDo I know that feeling!Ó

ÒBoys have it easier. They can have short hair, and no one would look at it like youÕre crazy.Ó Leah tied her hair in a high pony-tail.

ÒYeah. Few years ago, I thought of cutting mine really short, but I didnÕt.Ó

ÒThatÕs probably the best thing you did since you started gymnastics.Ó

We went to a favorite ice-cream parlor in Montclair Village which was open until midnight. Lots of people we knew were there. Skyline HighÕs Basketball team was celebrating their victory over Lakeview High.

ÒYour hair looks beautiful,Ó Josh commented. ÒThanks.Ó

ÒI love it.Ó

ÒDonÕt you just wish you had long hair?Ó Leah looked at me from across the table. ÒYeah. Makes me want long hair, too,Ó Eva laughed. She stuffed the rest of her cone into her mouth.

ÒGrow it long, and IÕll braid it,Ó Leah added. ÒI love to braid hair ever since I got my first Barbie with long hair.Ó

ÒDid I miss the pleasure of playing with Barbies? I only had one, but I never played with it. I think I traded my neighbor for a new set of baseball cards or I made it into a crash dummy.Ó Eva was a tomboy from the start.

ÒI named a Barbie after Noel,Ó Janie spoke between spoonful of chocolate swirl ice-cream she was finishing up. ÒIt has long, blond hair, just like Noel, and sheÕs a gym. . . gymnast like her.Ó

ÒReally?Ó I asked.

ÒYup. Eva has seen it.Ó

ÒYes, it does look like you, Noel.Ó Eva said.

ÒOh, and once I get home, IÕm going to name one after you, Leah.Ó Janie was swirling the fudge with the vanilla so it turned to a light brown color.

ÒReally? Are you going to cut her hair shorter?Ó

ÒYup. Just like yours. And a Ken doll after you, Josh.Ó

ÒOh, what an honor!Ó Josh sounded acclaimed. We started laughing. ÒA Barbie is named after me.Ó

ÒItÕs not a Barbie, itÕs Ken. A boy. IÕll have a gymnast collection, and IÕll show them to everyone, and ask you to sign it. Then youÕll be famous!Ó

ÒOh, and leave me out?Ó Eva said, looking sad and rejected.

ÒNo, there will be one of you holding a basketball.Ó

ÒNow thereÕs a girl with a future!Ó

When Josh drove Leah, Janie, and me back to our houses, they congratulated us and said good-bye. JoshÕs smile clearly showed that he still thought I was the best. It felt good to know you have friends that care about you.

All Sunday, my muscles ached, and I hardly got out of bed. I was too tired to eat. But that doesnÕt mean I didnÕt eat. My mom said I ate more than what I usually do. In other words, I ate like a pig.

Today, I didnÕt feel like getting up, but I knew I had to get to school. So, here I am, eight-thirty in the morning, standing outside in fog, waiting for the bell to ring, yet another grueling day.

ÒNoel! Are you still tired?Ó Eva yawned.

ÒA little. I feel like a rubber band when itÕs old,Ó I rubbed my eyes.

ÒThatÕs not a good feeling.Ó

ÒYou bet it isnÕt. Have you seen Leah?Ó

ÒNo. I was going to ask you the same.Ó

ÒHey guys!Ó

ÒLeah!Ó

ÒHey! I woke up late today, and had to catch the late bus.Ó

ÒAre your muscles aching?Ó I asked Leah, feeling mine cry out in agony.

ÒMy legs are fine, but my arms are extremely stiff.Ó She replied, shaking her arms out.

ÒYou practiced extra hard the other day.Ó

ÒI hope we donÕt have to do much in class. It feel like it is Monday.Ó

ÒIÕm sorry to break it to you, but it is Monday,Ó Eva said.

ÒSee how Òout of itÓ I am.Ó

ÒI donÕt think we have any more finals. IÕm done with all of mine.Ó

ÒIÕm done, too. This is the week to relax, until we have to start all over again.Ó

ÒA whole new marking period to go through.Ó

I canÕt believe that everything turned out okay after all. I havenÕt talked to Josh, but Eva told me over the phone that he really likes me. Not that I didnÕt known that already.

Also, Chris asked me and Eva if Leah really likes him. Now that I think of it, he is perfect for Leah. Only if a boy likes Eva. Then maybe we can triple date sometime. Well, she stated loud and clear that she doesnÕt need a boy to drool over. Do I drool over Josh? I never thought so.

ÒNoel! ThereÕs your part of the interviews.Ó

ÒHuh?Ó

ÒThe paper, duh!Ó

ÒOh, that interview.Ó

When I got the paper first period, I opened it to the sports section. I read it once, twice, stunned by the LeahÕs paragraph. It said:

Hi! My name is Leah Thomsen, and IÕm a freshman this year. I love my sport, gymnastics. It is a sport where you are up to yourself to do accomplish goals. You donÕt have teammates that help you out on your performance. Sometimes, they are preforming against you. The gymnast who I look up to has everything a gymnast needs: speed, strength, skill, control, balance, talent, brains, and most of all, she has true friends who she can go to in times of need. I would like to live up to those standards, but I know itÕs only possible if I believe in myself.

The same afternoon, Eva and I met Josh at lunch.

ÒJosh!Ó

ÒHey you guys!Ó he clamored over the noise in the cafeteria. ÒNoel, I loved what you said in your interview that Chris did.Ó

ÒI loved yours, too.Ó I replied, glad he noticed.

Eva shook her head. ÒYou love everything about Noel.Ó

ÒYou can say that again.Ó Josh looked to me. I couldnÕt take my eyes off of him, but on the other hand, he couldnÕt take his eyes off of me.

ÒWas Leah talking about Noel?Ó Eva asked, fidgeting disgustingly with her french fries. They looked more like burnt carrots.

ÒYes. ItÕs supposed to be about Noel.Ó Leah put her tray down across from mine.

ÒNo, it canÕt be!Ó

ÒI have a role-model who I can actually talk to.Ó

ÒNo, really?Ó

ÒBelieve it or not, it was about you.Ó

ÒNoel, Leah! You were great Saturday.Ó Sheri sat down next to me. ÒI totally forgot you were not on my team until my coach told me I was cheering for the wrong team. Maybe I should switch to Skyline, and save the trouble of traveling out-of-town to go to the gym.Ó

ÒIt does take half an hour to get to Pinecrest. I didnÕt notice you until I heard your name.Ó

ÒI guess IÕm a different person when IÕm in a leotard and competing against others.Ó

ÒThatÕs odd. I fell like the same old me when IÕm competing.Ó

ÒItÕs different for different people,Ó Leah summed up.

ÒWhatever it is, you learn that you are doing it for yourself more that anyone else,Ó Josh reminded.

ÒHere, Noel. You can have your diary back.Ó

ÒNo thanks, Leah. You can keep it if you want.Ó

It was Monday after school, and Josh, Leah, and I were at my house, waiting for Eva and Aaron to arrive. They both had after school sports today. The whole day seemed like it went in a big blur. A project due here, a boring lecture over there. School seems like an endless highway. You get off there, stop here, get back on around the corner, slow down someplace or another, never seeming to give you a rest.

My thoughts were disturbed by two voices, one belonging to Aaron the other belonging to Eva. ÒI can not believe you think we donÕt have a chance at winning the division finals.Ó

ÒThatÕs exactly right,Ó Eva stated.

ÒWe have a perfectly good chance at winning.Ó Aaron defended.

ÒNo you donÕt.Ó

ÒAnd what makes you think that?Ó Aaron retorted.

She looked over he shoulder at him. ÒWhat kind of team would win with you in it?Ó

ÒHey, I wouldnÕt be talking myself. Your soccer team isnÕt perfect at all.Ó

ÒI wasnÕt talking about being perfect. IÕm talking about if your team is cut out to win this year.Ó Eva put her hands on her hips, giving Aaron a mean glare.

ÒFor your information, my team can win if we want to. Soccer isnÕt if you win or loose. ItÕs how much fun you have. Of course, you wouldnÕt know anything about that.Ó

ÒWhy else do you think I play so many sports?Ó

ÒNo, because you want to show off,Ó Aaron exclaimed.

ÒYa wanna bet?Ó

ÒYeah.Ó

ÒYeah!Ó

ÒYou guys!Ó I cut in. ÒItÕs just a sport!Ó

ÒYeah, and AaronÕs just a sore loser.Ó

ÒOh, did I mention that Eva is a stupid, idiotic show-off?Ó

ÒCÕmon, Aaron, Eva! ThereÕs nothing to argue about.Ó Josh justified.

ÒI wouldnÕt be arguing if EvaÕs stupid team hadnÕt come and take up the whole soccer field.Ó

Eva sat down next to Leah. ÒMe? I wouldnÕt be if Aaron would stop being such a spoiled brat so much!Ó

ÒYouÕre telling me,Ó Aaron said, taking a seat next to Josh.

The three of us looked at each other, knowing what we had to do. Aaron and Eva werenÕt speaking, and looking the opposite ways.

ÒHow about we get them together?Ó Leah quietly asked me, sensing that they get together, it will not only do them good, but do us good in return.

ÒAnything to get them to stop fighting,Ó I whispered back.

ÒIÕve got an idea,Ó Josh whispered to us, his shoulder pressed against mine.

I nodded in agreement and so did Leah. ÒIt better work, Ôcause I think IÕve had enough of them fighting.Ó

ÒNoel! YouÕre not telling me something!Ó Eva whined.

ÒNo IÕm not.Ó

***There's a continuing book about Eva and Aaron I also wrote.**