Snapping out of it, A lift and Return of the lump

I am going to briefly go over what happened up to this next story. We won everything, yet somehow it was hollow after Steve's death. I think a part of me was wrestling with the inescapable fact that I had lost my innocence when it came to the dangers of this sport. Our quest to beat Yorktown and Vinny Savastano came to fruition. He even petitioned to have another championship to give him second chance. We beat them and set a new team state record .We were heroes in school and I should have been on top of the world. All we had left was the individual qualifications. I blew the first 3 events and was just about put out of the running. When we had a break in the rotation due to an excess number of athletes qualifying. John was on top of the world and looked like a shoe in to win the all around. I was sitting in the corner when I hear the familiar slapping of work boots approaching . I look up to see none other than John Lawler. He reaches down and gives me a hand up saying  "Come with me."  He walks to the fire exit and motions with his head for me to follow him. I run to put my sneakers on like flip flops with the backs smashed down, check to see if anyone is looking and scoot out the back with Lawler. He takes out a pack of Camels taps two out and offers me one I say " No thanks John I'm good." He tilts his head sideways letting his long hair cover half of his face. He sweeps it back over his head and says "I'm not asking. Light that baby up, we got some talking to do." I take the cigarette and lean in to the tiny bright orange light. Exhaling John says  "Do you remember my last year in this meet?" I shake my head no. He continues " You're god dam right you don't because I screwed the pooch and blew my last chance in high school." He takes another deep drag and I copy him. I say " Believe me I know I messed up here and that it's basically over for me." Lawler takes his cigarette out with his left hand and grabs me with his right pushing me into the wall of the brick building. Just as I hit he flicks his cigarette at my face. Snapping my head to the side I quickly dodge it as it explodes behind me raining sparks all over me. They burn but I don't move. Lawler gets in my face and I can smell beer on his breath. He says  "Where the fuck are you hiding in there? Poor baby lost his friend and didn't make states what a fucking pussy. You make me sick. I can't believe I wasted gas money and a night out  to come watch this travesty. Listen up wit, you got 3 events left 1 of them being rings. If you blow this meet, I'm coming down and whooping your ass in front of all these nice people, your pathetic parents and your little black friend too. If you think I'm playing take a look in my eyes." With that he pulls me off the wall and pushes me towards the fire door. As I'm about to go in he grabs me by the collar and says in my ear " You might want to leave the cigarette outside star." I drop the butt and go back in. I go to put my shoes away and a slow heat starts to build in my chest. It feels familiar. Where do I know this feeling? My hands begin to shake and I start getting  goose bumps all over my body and shiver. There's the announcement for the meet to start again. I'm up on vaulting. I raise my hand and notice I'm not nervous or scared. I'm fucking pissed off and mad. Then with a little hop I start to run pumping  my elbows back as my knee drive forward. I continue to lean and pick up speed. My steps are right as I hurdle to the board. I explode out of my legs as I lean forward and drive my heels behind me and over my head. My hands jam into the horse as I'm blocking to rebound off with my arms. I squeeze every muscle and wait for just a microsecond before I pull my right arm straight down as if I'm ripping a giant piece of papaer.I can feel the resistance from centrifugal force. At the same time I pull my left arm straight behind my left ear and look up at it. I feel my body roll smoothly as I twist and flip in the air. Seeing the front of the room come around again I break out of the twist by pulling both arm simultaneously out to a swan dive position. I get ready to feel for the floor as I descend. I land with half of my foot on the crash mat and half on the gym floor. I don't move an inch. I just stuck the best vault of my life. I turn to the judge and look him straight in the eye and almost dare him to give me a bad score. My team runs and picks me up as the score of 9.3 is flashed. Holy shit the vault is only worth a 9.4. Good,one down two more to go. I can do this. Next comes Parallel bars. I wait for another 15 minutes until it's my turn . I look at the judge and salute with a slight grin. I run and jump on the board and fly to grab the bars in front of me.As soon as my hands touch I push my ass back and quickly fold into a very deep pike. I accelerate beneath the bars as I throw and release them behind me extending my legs. I fly for a moment and my pull my arms down in front to grab the bars again as I rise above them. I swing a pirouette  to set up in a handstand. I do my two big support swing skills. Then I drop under the bar and fly back up to land on my upper arms bent near the arm pit. I kick out and swing down with a beat to elevate me up so I can straddle and bring my legs to an L seat. A press to handstand  and I dismount to a perfect landing.I turn to the judge and bow. My score is an 8.9 my best so far. Now just rings and this baby is done. Mergardt asks " Jody who do you want to lift you to the rings?" It's my choice. I answer "Please go up in the stands and get Lawler.I want him to lift me." I  now go though my pre-ring mental prep. Which is basically getting as mad as I can . I am steaming and ready to tear someones head off. I walk to the rings as Lawler grabs around my waist to lift and still me. As he stills me he says "This ones for Steve,and all those who didn't get a chance to be here tonight. Now rock this fucker and show them who owns these rings." I barely remember the routine. I felt as light as a feather and was rock steady. I heard thunderous applause as I do my trick where It looks like I miss an iron cross. Just before I collapse I squeeze my lats and snap the rings into a perfect cross. After about 2 seconds I lift my head smile and wink. I swing through till I'm in a handstand. I bail for the dismount and am flying as I toss the rings behind me and do a double back somersault with perfect form to a stuck landing. Before I can even lift my arms Lawlers has me off of the ground and is squeezing me in a bear hug. The crowd gives a standing ovation and Lawler still won't let me breath as I hover above the crowd in his arms. I raise my arms and wave, He lets me down and says  "Welcome back. That's who I drove all the way from Connecticut to see." It turns out I won the all around by .1 tenth of a point. As Lawler goes to leave I break away from everyone and run to him and say "Thank you John. I had no idea what was wrong until you woke me up." He shakes his long hair and say " Wooah Wit, don't act like we're friends all of a sudden. Cause we ain't. Later man." He is walking away and he turns to look over his shoulder and says "I left a little present in your gym bag. And do me a fucking favor; call before you come up to Southern.."  I see him shake his head to get his hair how he wants it and then he's gone. It's like I'm in a dream a really good dream.  I run to see my family. Before I get there Mergardt asks "Jody, may I talk to you for a minute?" . I say "Sure". He says " I want you to feel free to say no. I 'm asking for John because he won't ask for himself. If you give up the all around spot and just go on Parallel bars John will be able to take your place." I looked hard into his eyes and said  "O.k.just answer me one question." he says "Sure shoot." I say looking right into his soul "If the tables were turned, would you be over there asking John to give up his spot for me? The truth coach tell me the truth."  He bows his head, thinks and turns to walk away.Part of me is hurt. part is offended, but I'm not letting anything spoil this night. As I run up the bleacher steps to see my family, I hear my name called " Hey Shultz you loser, Remember  me?" I turn to see a girl with her hands on her hips feigning offense. I say "Hello Lump!" I go to hug her and drag her like the first time to meet my family. Lori says "Hi everyone I'm Lori in case you forgot about me." My mother waves her over for a hug. She leans up and gives Unc a kiss on his cheek. She turns to my dad and says "Who are you?" I see this starting off on the wrong foot. I say "Dad, this is my friend Lori. I went to school with her until she moved upstate.." My Dad smiles and says "Nice to meet you Lori.How long are you here for?" Lori prickles and says "Why are you trying to get rid of me already?What am I not good enough for your son?" My dad says "Now just one minute I never said anything of the kind. I don't like words being put in my mouth." Lori snickers and says "Well what do you like being put in your mouth Daddyo? So where are we going for dinner to celebrate lucky boys victory?" My dad is getting ruffled and says "Now just one minute. I don't like being told what to do. Would you mind giving us a minute young woman?"  My mother and father are in discussion over Lori's behavior. I see my dad calming down. Unc not having said a word says "I'll be out front enjoying a smoke." Lori loops her arm in mine and says "So are you ready for prom? That's why I busted out. By the way I'm staying at your house till prom is over. I hope that's not a problem boy friend." She grabs me and gives me a very hard long kiss.Letting go she says "I've been waiting quite a while to do that. We can follow that to its logical conclusion anytime you're ready stud." She grabs me and we start kissing. My mother coughs to get our attention saying "Lori, may I talk to you for a minute?" She agrees and they go off to have a little chat. My dad comes to me and says "She's a little fresh if you ask me." I say  "Dad, just give her a chance please. I like her a lot. We've been writing for over a year now. So please cut her a little slack." We all pile into my dad's Mercedes and we drive back to Mt. Kisco. We stop at John's Best to eat and then Lori comes home with us just like that. Lori sleeps in my room and my mother puts me in the basement. In the morning Lori and my mother are gone. I have some quick thinking to do. What do I do about Theresa Semproni the girl I already asked to thr prom ? What about her mother? All these questions will be answered tomorrow. Thanks and good night. Jody