[ C H A N C E S ]

❛ we win some, we lose some ❜

[ S U N D A Y ]

          BY THE TIME WE FINISHED the entire practice, it was already around 6 A.M and Ellie knew Jack's family did their morning runs really early so she went to try and catch up with them, leaving me and Jack walking home. Jack and I snuck in from the window. Ellie's mom walks in before we could lay on the bed "Oh good, you're up!" Ellie's mom says.

"I'm up!" Jack and I exclaim.

"I'm definitely up!" Jack adds.

"Great! Your spirulina smoothie is almost ready. I'll add a little ginseng," she informs Jack before leaving. We both just plop onto the bed, tired out of our minds.

After a while of mentally preparing us for the competition. Ellie's mom dropped us off. We began warming up for our meet, Jack was trying to not freak out as much especially ever since Ellie and I said he cannot mess this up or else our team gets demoted to a club "Uh, have I mentioned how bizarre all this is?" Owen asks.

"Dude, I'm rockin' a leotard and body glitter. You don't have to tell me," Jack says.

"Is Ellie's dad here?" Owen asks, looking at the seats,

Jack and I turn to look but didn't see any signs of him "No-show. Poor Ellie," Jack says.

"You know, if you wanna sneak over to the rink for your mom's ceremony," Owen suggests.

"It's okay. I don't need to," Jack says, keeping his head held high.

"You sure? There's enough time," Owen reasons.

"I don't want to, okay?" Jack bursts.

"I'm sorry, I'm just... I just really need to focus. If we don't fulfill this quest by noon, you'll have to ask me to the homecoming dance," Jack apologizes.

"Better nail it," Owen and I say.

"I will, dork trap," Jack says as he and Owen did their bro-shake before Owen leaving.

"How about your parents, Amber?" Jack asks, I look around and no show. I shook my head giving Jack his answer. Coach tells Jack to get out on the floor because it was soon to be her turn to perform.

Before everyone goes on to perform, Coach gives us a pep-talk "Alright, ladies. As individuals, we shine, but we are a team first and foremost. By the end of the day, if we've done our job right, there'll be some weepy badminton players out there, all right? So, let's kick some birdie!!" Coach exclaims.

"'Cause that's the little flying thing they use in badminton. Let's kick some birdie! Like... " Coach adds as she puts her hand in the middle again.

"This is where you join me. Here we go. Let's kick some birdie!" we all join hands and chant our cheer.

I was up for my routine. I look around yet again to see if my parents were here but no sign of them, I huff sadly but then looked up again to see my brothers with their big boards cheering me on "Go Amber!!" Thomas chants waving around the board he was holding. I thank my brothers, but before I went up I saw two figures rushing towards my brothers. I squint my eyes to finally figure out that the two figures were my parents.

A tear fell, knowing that now my entire family was here to see me. My family and I are really close and ever since the constant business trips we always felt like we were missing a piece, but I could never forgive my parents for just leaving like that constantly too. I shook my head trying to focus on what my task was. "Next, Amber Morgan," the announcer says. I walk to the middle of the floor so I could begin.

https://youtu.be/5PyXFCJj-i8

I was very proud of my performance and I was hoping it could save the team from getting demoted to a club. As I walk back towards my team the announcer called up Jack "Next, Ellie O'Brien," Jack goes up and starts the performance. It was going well so far, she even saved a drop. Jack throws his ribbon up so high and catches it, he ended amazingly! Jack comes back running towards us and we all had a big group hug.

"Amazing, Ellie, you did it!" Coach congratulates. Jack and I both run to find Ellie to share the amazing news.

We meet half way "Your team's still a sport. We dominated 'em! What about me?" Jack yells.

"Well, it wasn't pretty, but you can check number one off your list! Varsity!" Ellie squeals, we all gather for a group hug.

"Okay, moment of truth, guys. It's 11;15, there's only 45 minutes left or you could be stuck forever," I sigh, they both exchange their phones.

"No! What happened? Why didn't it work?" Ellie frantically asks.

"I dunno! Maybe we got attached to each others' totems? Switch!" Jack explains.

"There's gotta be something else!" Ellie says.

"What else could there be? The texts won't even allow you to switch back!" I say.

"We gotta tell the truth! We find my mom, tell her what's really going on and she'll extend the contract" Ellie suggests.

"No, Ellie, that's not gonna work," Jack says, Ellie and I looked at him confused.

"Owen believed us, so she will too! We need that extra time!" Ellie says.

"Ellie! It wasn't her!" Jack yells out.

"Your mom didn't pull the plug on your totem. She was just covering for your dad. It was him. He wanted... A new family plan," Jack adds.

"Why would he want a... Oh. For his new family," Ellie says, getting sad.

"Maybe you could try calling your dad and telling him the truth? Then maybe he can call the phone company and—" Jack suggests but gets interrupted by Ellie.

"He won't answer. That's what he does when he's embarrassed about not showing up," Ellie says.

Jack's dad approaches Ellie "What are you doing over here? Let's go," he says.

"Jack. I don't repeat myself," Jack's dad adds before walking away.

"I'm so sorry, Ellie," Ellie says to Jack, making it look like they were themselves.

"Me too, Jack," Jack sighs as Ellie walks away. I said goodbye to Jack and was off to see my family.

—

We get home, I place my bag on the stairs "What are you doing here?" I ask angrily at how they think they can show up and everything is fine.

"What do you mean, honey?" my mother asks.

"You can't just show up like that! Especially, after being away for so long," I yell.

"Now, Amber. Don't yell at us like that," my father points out.

"Who are you to say that? You guys have never been parents ever since Thomas got into varsity. You were never there for family dinners, or when Max got into varsity, or when Carter took his first winning shot, or when I won competitions back and forth. You were never there once! So, don't think you can come back and pretend like everything is back to normal! That's not how it works!" I shout and storm into my room. Slamming the door away from the world.