You found it hard to decide which was more surprising, the fact that this campground offered gymnastics or that they would schedule two such highly physical activities in a row. Not that you felt tired at all. In fact, you felt pretty good, as if cheerleading practice had actually energized you. Walking next to Holly, you had a rather uncharacteristic spring in your step that threatened to break out into skipping at any moment. You refrained from doing so, however. Role-playing or not, you still had dignity to maintain.
"I love cheerleading," Holly sighed happily. "Wasn't it great?"
"It was alright," you shrugged with what you hoped was dignified nonchalance. "Though I don't think I'll ever be as good as you. You're obviously the experienced one here."
"Oh, not really. I've never cheered before."
Nearly stumbling in surprise, you turned to Holly. "What? But you seemed so excited, a-and you're athletic and everything...I just assumed..."
Holly grew thoughtful. Glancing at the other girls heading to gymnastics class which included the cheerleaders and several others, she leaned in close and lowered her voice. "Y'know, I never actually had any interest in being a cheerleader before. But somehow, when I heard this camp would have a cheerleading squad, I suddenly wanted to be on it. Isn't that odd?"
Odd would not even begin to describe what you were going through. "I guess."
"And that's not all," she continued. Getting even closer, uncomfortably so, she cupped her hand to whisper into your ear. "I've been meaning to tell you my secret."
Oh, not this again. "What?"
"The thing is, I'm really a-"
"Welcome, girls!"
You both jumped as a petite young woman in a leotard dropped seemingly out of nowhere to land next to you, her bare feet hardly making a sound on impact. Looking up, you saw a tree branch high above. How did she keep from hurting herself from such a long fall?
"I'm Layla, your new gymnastics coach," the counselor said, lifting her arms in a typical landing pose. "Now, I know many of you are also part of the cheerleading squad. The skills you learn here will really help with that, along with general fitness. Just follow me to the gym, and we'll get started."
You hardly paid attention to her words, your gaze continually switching between her and the trees above. One thought kept repeating in your head. This lady was a ninja! Well, a ninja in a leotard but a ninja nonetheless.
Perhaps Holly was not the only one developing sudden interests. Still, you had to admit that you wanted to be a ninja, too, sneaking around and pulling off amazing stunts. It was like a gamer's dream!
So, with barely hidden eagerness, you followed the others to your next class.