Crushed and Created- Tangled series (Overprotective famous brothers)

The fighter

Everything else they blabbered about on the radio station I knew. Contact an orphanage, or whatever. The thing was that I didn’t know this Saturday was the world adoption day. Oh crap, I had to do something on this day, and I had to do it fast.

I spent the rest of the car ride zoned out about two things. Endless possibilities and world adoption day. I was trying to make notes on the app, but hardly succeeded. Shit, I was so dead now. I had to go to the Being Human office soon and get our event managers to work for this day. We had so little time, so much work to do.

The ironic thing was I never knew there was an adoption month or day, since it was never a big issue around my house. But for many people, it was important to be dealt with. If we could stabilize another life like mine own, it’d be a success. I didn’t know why nobody had told me about this month when I started the adoption initiative, but then maybe they figured I was opting out due to gymnastics. Oh no, that was never happening in a thousand years.

As soon as I got home, I crashed on my bed. Not realizing the need for food or water, I fell asleep.

As if it were a ritual to wake me up when I was at peace in my sleep, someone threw open my door.

“What were you thinking while flying off across the world without even giving me a valid reason?” Dimitri barked at me in his thick Russian accent and I got up. Sitting on the bed I waited for him to cool off but I knew it was far from over.

“I am not here to coach two teens who think they can take everything for granted. You have to realize this is no time to play. Every hour off means someone gets better than you, someone trains more than you do. We both know what that means, don’t we?”

He yelled even louder and I flinched at his tone. He had never yelled at me this bad in months of coaching. But then again, I had never left without permission. He folded his hand and stared me down. I wondered how I was gonna tell him, how I was gonna explain it to everyone around me? Instead of speaking, I began sobbing.

“She just re-discovered her mother’s dead.” Arbaaz came in and hugged me as I wiped my tears away. Now, it wasn’t all that difficult, was it? Just a few words, and he’d understand. But I couldn’t help but let the tears fall from my eyes.

“She was gone all along.” I looked towards the ceiling with the fiber glass glimmering down. I was wishing if spirits did exist, they couldn’t see their loved once crying. I couldn’t hurt her after all she went through. Dimitri’s expression softened and he sat beside me on the bed.

“I’m sorry.” I nodded and Arbaaz got up to leave. His work here was done, and he knew that very well.

“Take you time to get back.” Dimitri squeezed my shoulders and got up to leave too. The changes in him were drastic, but he was never really one of the coaches who put everything on stake for gymnastics. For him, nothing was more important than his gymnasts. I grabbed his wrist and he turned around.

“No, I’m not wasting any more time. My mom wouldn’t want me to waste my dreams, would she?” I thought about her this time. She had always been driven, career orientated before the abuse started. It changed her in unimaginable ways, but deep inside she was still the woman who chased her dreams. I wanted to be just like her, minus the mistakes made.

“Are you sure?” Dimitri pressed and I nodded once.

“Positive.”

“Alright. Get ready, Roo’s already here.” He closed the door behind him and I walked into the closet to pick up a leo. I chose a simple workout leo with spaghetti strips on the right hand. Walking down with my gym bag, I got straight into the gym and Roo pulled me to the side. Dimitri noticed but let it go, since he knew I had to tell her.

“Where were you, we were worried!”

“Atlantic city?” I posed it as a question and she gave me a ‘duh’ look.

“I saw that on tv. Why were you there?” she whisper-yelled at me.

“Apparently, my mom’s grave is in NJ.” I bit my lip and her expression changed in a matter of moments. From angry, she turned into sympathizing. Giving me a quick hug, she held me at a shoulder’s length.

“You alright?” she furrowed her brows at me and I nodded. I couldn’t do anything but nod when anyone said sorry, or asked whether I was alright. Obviously I wasn’t, but then I didn’t want to go all over it again.

“I’m sorry.” She held my hand and I shook my head free of thoughts about my mother. I was here for something which did not include crying.

“Let’s start.” I gulped some water and got the pod set. Roo was taken aback but chose not to contradict me today. Plugging my phone into the speaker system, we hit the treadmills with Tokio Hotel playing in the background.

“Alright, come here.” He motioned at me to come to his ipad and I went over. It was recording the routines, and played them in slow motion to help Dimitri coach better. I was at vault, practicing one of my easier vault options. My vault had always been the worst, in fact I always played it safe with worthless ones. But we had decided to upgrade on everything if I was wishing to be noticed by the USA gymnastics again.

“You hit a perfect land, but let the judges and audience know you know. Show them the delight, the fire after a perfect vault.”

“It’s not always what it looks like. It’s not always perfect.” I looked at him and he didn’t say anything. He got what I wanted to say, but I did point at my back. It hurt the entire day today, especially at vault. And it was just getting worse. He touched a bone and I winced.

“Pain is good. Use ice, lots of it. And keep digging at proteins.” I nodded and he looked at his watch.

“Oh, extra half hour. Time out girls, go home.” He made a T with both his hands and I sighed. I hated to end it, but at the same time I couldn’t wait to feel the pain release from my body.

“Hey, you ok?” Roo asked as we got out. She decided to hang out at my place before her dad picking her up.

“Pain, lots of it.” I grabbed the three ice bags from the fridge and placed it on the couch. Laying on it, I closed my eyes as fire spread through my back. Fire meant it was healing, it was getting better. Wish I could apply ice packs to the heart too.

“Hey girls.” Sohail came down and kissed me on the cheek.

“Hi.” Roo smiled at him.

“I’m going out, and I will be late. Want me to grab something?” he cocked a brow at me and I gave him a soft smile. He had always been the paranoid safety geek of the family, and injuries worried him to no end.

“Maybe a few nail polishes.” I smirked and he rolled his eyes at me.

“You have Malaika and your friends to buy that stuff with. Why do you want me to get nail polish?” he grabbed a coke from the fridge and waited for his chauffeur to come to the entrance with his car.

“Because you always did when I was younger.” I put on the innocent little face and he chuckled at the old memory.

“Yeah, it was the cheapest and you loved them.” I giggled as got out the room, saying goodbye to everyone. By everyone, I meant Sam standing upstairs.

Boy, was it good to be starting back the life I knew. 

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I love that she is a fighter! Go Lizzie! 

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Oh, do you like the leo on the right? I think it's ok. But then, I love Shawn so yeah ;)