The next class was usually Gemma’s favourite – first normal gym, then dance in the studio. But Gemma didn’t want to go. She didn’t want to see Michael ever again.

As she packed her gym bag at home after school, Gemma thought about pretending to be sick. She walked slowly to the front door.

‘Mum, maybe I’ll stay home today,’ Gemma said. ‘I think I’m sick.’

‘Sick?’ Gemma’s mum felt Gemma’s forehead. ‘Sick where?’

Gemma was quiet. She wanted to tell her mum about the extra strength. But that would also mean telling her about kicking Michael. And Gemma didn’t want to do that. She didn’t want to tell her mum she was worst in the team.

‘My shoulders are sore,’ Gemma said finally.

‘Sore muscles?’ her mum smiled. ‘We can fix that.’

Gemma’s mum walked away and came back with some heat rub. ‘All the top athletes swear by this stuff,’ she said.

Slowly her mum rubbed the cream on Gemma’s shoulders.

‘You know, Gemma …’ said her mum. ‘You’re starting to do some pretty tricky gymnastics these days.’

Gemma stayed quiet.

‘You’re doing the real sport. The hard stuff. Someone in your team might even go all the way.’

Gemma thought of Naomi, but she said nothing.

‘So it’s going to hurt sometimes, sweetheart,’ said Gemma’s mum. ‘But promise me one thing.’

Gemma looked at her mum. Her shoulders felt warm and didn’t hurt so much now.

‘If it ever feels like you’re going to really hurt yourself,’ said Gemma’s mum, ‘if it ever hurts too much, then you stop. Don’t let Michael push you too hard.’

Just slightly, Gemma nodded. Was Michael pushing her too hard already?

‘Sometimes that man takes things too far,’ her mum said, opening the front door.

Slowly and quietly, Gemma followed her mum to the car.

In the change rooms before gym, Naomi held her nose. ‘Pong! Who stinks?’

Anika stood up and looked at Gemma, but Gemma stayed quiet. She quite liked the strong smell of the heat rub.

‘Dance today, Gemma,’ said Anika. ‘That should cheer you up!’

Gemma nodded. She liked Anika.

‘Yuk, dance,’ said Naomi. ‘Who needs it?’ Even though Naomi was the best in the team, she wasn’t the best at dance. She looked out of place in the dance studio.

All through training, Gemma tried her hardest. Even though she was tired, she didn’t want Michael to yell at her. In fact, she didn’t even want him to talk to her. She jumped high, she ran hard. She did her very best. She made sure Michael had nothing to talk to her about.

Sometimes, Gemma could feel Michael watching her. He stood with his arms crossed, watching.

At those times, Gemma tried even harder. But Michael said nothing. He let Gemma go to dance without doing the extra strength.

In some ways it was the best gym class for a long time.