Former Rock coach Marty recruited Emily Kmetko right out of the 'Y' gym in her former town. Emily's mother, Chloe Kmetko, sent Marty letters detailing Emily's achievements up until he finally agreed to see her. Emily relies on a scholarship from the National Committee in order to be able to afford to train at the Rock gym. Emily starts her career at The Rock with no friends and no one to offer a helping hand to catch her up to the skill level the other young women have spent years cultivating in themselves. She eventually wins their respect if not their adoration, and she and Payson bond during Payson's recovery from her injury. Vault is Emily's most difficult event, and an ongoing struggle for her. Emily is nearly taken out of the running for the team going to Nationals when Lauren deliberately sabotages her vault during the competition. Her courage refuses to let her. She returns, sets her vault, and makes the team.Emily has ongoing trust issues, the result of living with an unpredictable and irresponsible mother who has clearly had a string of bad boyfriends, some abusive. Her brother has seizures and is incapable of being 'the responsible one' of the family, leaving no one but Emily to do the job. Her self-sufficiency combined with her natural stubbornness lead her to butt heads with Sasha for a while.Once, he even kicks her out of the gym for defying his orders and performing a difficult move he warned her not to do. She contemplates quitting her career at the gym, but her mother's suggestion--threat, really--that she work with her mother at a beauty salon whips her into shape. Emily goes to Sasha and swears she will listen to him from now on. He responds by leading her into the gym immediately and giving her tasks so that she can practice following orders. This touching scene develops trust between the two of them, which culminates in Emily allowing herself to fall from the beam so that Sasha can catch her. Emily has more boys fawning over her than she knows what to do with. Fortunately, she's a strong, outspoken, witty person with a backbone and a generous heart, so it is difficult for other characters to hate her. Emily is forced to work at the Pizza Shack, defying Rock rules that forbid the elite-level gymnasts from taking jobs. During her time there, she befriends Razor, a member of a local band. At a party she attends with the other gymnasts, Razor introduces her to his friend Damon and realizes at the time he has lost her affections. Damon takes over Razor's job at the Pizza Shack while Razor is gone for a short while, and he befriends Emily. He helps her sneak into the Rock gym after hours to train, and over the course of the time they spend together, their relationship takes on a romantic element. He watches her compete at Nationals with her Mom and brother. Damon eventually submits a song for a radio contest at Emily's insistence, and he wins and leaves town to pursue his dream of becoming a famous musician. He and Emily meet up several times in various cities their competitions, Kaylie's invite to a party, and his singing career take them to. After this occurs several times, they agree to a pact to focus on their careers for two years, then meet in Paris and decide then if they want to commit to a relationship with each other. He visits her once more in Boulder, but decides he's made a mistake. Later, Emily tells Damon that she acted so strangely when he first arrived because she had been arrested a few days ago for stealing medication for her seizing brother. He supports her at the Worlds Competition.Emily loses her scholarship with the National Committee after they discover she has been working at the Pizza Shack to earn extra money in defiance of their agreement. She receives a scholarship from a private source just in time, but later realizes the anonymous donor is her mother's new beau, Steve Tanner! She firmly warns him not to help her further and determines to return all of the money as soon as she possibly can do. Her old trust issues regarding men in positions of authority have clearly undergone a resurgence; he clearly meant well. Emily stands up to Ellen Beals and fights her way to a spot on the U.S. team going to Worlds. Unfortunately, she misses her court date in order to do so, and is therefore arrested from the Rock gym. Show less «