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"Remember, you start a foot back. Long and low into the board. Get your body over and hands on the table fast so you get a good block. As soon as you hit the flight peak—remember to glue your ankles together—crank as hard and as fast as you can."
I nodded hastily at Kova's directions and tightened the Velcro across my wrists. I'd started using wristbands for vault not too long ago, similar to the ones I had for bars, only these were padded and used to support my wrist from the huge block I needed to gain height. It also helped with the pinching and tenderness I had in my wrists after working tumbling passes on the floor for hours on end, but Kova didn't know about that.
"Breathe through your stomach," Kova suggested, a soothing tone meant to ease my worries. I looked at him with gratitude and my nerves immediately calmed down.
Kova placed his hands on my shoulders, bent down, and looked squarely into my eyes.
"Focus. Do not crack. You got this."
I nodded again, eyes alert but words escaped me. Kova walked away, back to where the team and coaches were, while I stood at the end of the runway. I shot a glance at the judges’ table. Three women of various ages in blue dress suits and stiff posture communicated over a table of papers and pencils as they decided on Holly's score. My stomach tightened. My heart was racing a mile a minute, pounding fervently against my chest while I waited for them to give me the green light.
Here we go.
Expelling a deep breath, I got behind the white line I'd drawn with chalk earlier and fixated my gaze explicitly on the vault. I shook my hands out.
Be defiant, echoed in my head. Drop the fear.
A wall came down and I envisioned my outcome. Lifting my arms, I saluted the judges and swallowed away everything except for what I was about to do. Within seconds, I was speeding down the runway, heading toward the large stationary object I was about to flip over. I tightened every muscle in my body as I pumped my legs, running as fast as I could. Within ten feet or so, I stretched my hurdle to prepare for the round-off, and everything Kova and Madeline had taught me came roaring at me. It hit me like a ton of bricks and everything locked into place. Muscle memory took over and both feet punched the springboard hard. I sprung back onto the vault where I blocked the hardest I'd ever blocked in my life and reached for the ceiling, preparing to twist into an Amanar. My block was like a rocket taking off. I got the flight Kova said I always needed, and I knew right then and there this was going to be a good vault. Squeezing tight, ankles glued together, I pulled hard and completed the two and a half twists required of this skill and spotted for the floor. I opened up and landed with both feet together on the blue mat, my arms raised above my head, and stuck my dismount. I nailed it. I fucking nailed it. Every muscle in my body was firm and solid as I saluted without a wobble or hop. I tried to veil the smile that slowly spread across my face, but executing and sticking the Amanar wasn't easy.
And I knew in my gut I had done extremely well.
Cheering erupted almost immediately, I could hear my teammates shouting their praise. Turning, I saluted unimpressed judges once more before stepping off the landing mat to look for my coach.
Kova wore a contagious grin with his hand in the air to high five me.
"Quite possibly the best vault I have seen you do to date." My eyes turned to wide saucers. His words shot through me. "I could not find even one thing to pick at."
"Really?" I was stunned. He nodded, brows raised high with a huge smile on his face.
"It was fantastic. It should put you in the top three, maybe two."
My heart leaped as I considered his words while I walked back to the end of the runway again. I repeated the motions in my head, visualizing myself as I waited for the okay to go. I applied more chalk, a nervous habit. It was crazy how fast feet could sweat in a such a short amount of time.
My score flashed, and I looked at the screen. I knew to keep my face neutral, but my heart wavered for a split second. The displeased crowd put their feelings on display, alerting the judges they were not happy. Chills shot down my arms. My empty stomach tossed around.
It wasn’t what I had hoped for, I was pleased with it, but I wanted better.
Kova threw his hands in the air, grimacing at the numbers. His eyes hardened as he glared at the judges and yelled, wanting to know where they found an error.
Typical coach behavior. They all did it.
Once the judges were ready, I didn't waste any time. I swiped the excess chalk from my hands and moved straight into the second vault. Putting everything I could muster into it, I executed another Amanar and stuck the landing. It felt incredible, like I did it just as well as the first one. I saluted the judges and turned toward my team and coaches, stepping down the three steps to where they were. This time I didn't smile. I didn't show emotion. And I certainly didn't get my hopes up.
I spotted Kova first. The dark specks in his irises looked like black diamonds glistening against the energetic green.
It was clear. Kova was proud. And that made me so happy.
I slapped his hand and he pulled me into a quick hug.
"Excellent work, Adrianna." I drew in the scent of his cologne and felt his words deep inside.
Madeline strode over with her hands out and eyes wide, silently questioning me. There was a slight glimmer there. She pulled me into a hug. "Where did that come from?" she asked, sounding extremely satisfied and astonished. "You exploded off that table like you invented the skill. Well done, girly."
"Thank you," was all I could say through a toothy grin. My score went up and it couldn't have been better. Both coaches yelled their enthusiasm, and a massive smile split my cheeks. It pushed Reagan out of first place and down to second, third place held by another team's gymnast. I wasn't ahead by much, but it was enough to secure first place, for now.
"Not bad, Rossi," Reagan said without looking at me. "But I'd be careful with how you and Kova look at each other the rest of the meet. He has hunger in his eyes."
I deadpanned. "Hunger, Reagan? Who says that. And if I saw correctly, he looked at you just the same. And Holly. Stop trying to read into something that isn't there just because you're pissed I knocked you out of the standings."
