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I stuck it perfectly and smiled. Glancing over my shoulder, I looked for Kova. He stood parallel to the vault and stared at me, unblinking.
"Back in line."
My face fell. "What did I do wrong?"
"Nothing." He shrugged. "Absolutely nothing. That was flawless. Whatever you just did, you must do it every time. Wherever your mind was, go there again."
My heart began to bloom. I needed to hear that. Offering him a small smile in return, I nodded and jogged to the end of the white tape. When it was my turn again, I got right back into the frame of mind I'd been in just before and took off running.
"Incredible, Adrianna," Kova said, almost breathless and in awe. "A couple more and then we will move onto your second vault and practice that. I hope to see the same result for that one as well."
This time my smile was a little bigger. Hope burst inside of me and it was exactly what I needed after the night I’d had. He waved back in line, then signaled for Reagan. My second vault was a forward flip. It was much harder and took more energy out of me, but worth more points.
I could do it. I knew I could. I just had to keep my faith and my outlook positive.
I completed two good ones, but something happened on the third. Lethargy took over as I ran, and my vision danced with stars. As my hands met the leather horse, my sight turned blurry and pain shot through me.
Flipping forward onto the horse, I had too much momentum and panicked midflight. I lost control and stupidly focused on the throbbing pain in my back.
Kova noticed and swiftly reacted.
I descended like a block of weights, completely out of clean form. He reached out and tried to stop me from face-planting and belly flopping. Thankfully I caught my bearings just in the nick of time and tucked my arms and legs in as I flew out of the dismount and into a front roll.
I flopped open and stared at the roof of World Cup, out of breath and wheezing. Little silver spots danced in my vision. I closed my eyes and focused on breathing for a few seconds. My head was cloudy and dizzy. It took me a minute to regain myself.
"Are you okay? Does anything hurt?" Kova asked. When I didn't answer, he dropped to his knees and leaned over me with concern. I opened my eyes and locked onto his, but I wasn't looking at him. I didn't see him. It was more like I was looking right through him. Kova placed one hand on each side of my h
ead and his brows bunched together. He knew better than to move me in case I’d seriously injured myself.
"Adrianna?" His voice rose with distress.
I wiggled my toes and fingers first, then I blinked a few times until I found my voice. "Yes." My response was a whisper on my lips. "I'm fine. I'm okay."
Kova released a breath and stood, offering me his hand. I slipped my palm into his and he held on. He didn't let go. He eyed me a little too long. My heart started to pound viciously against my ribs.
"Are you sure you are okay?" he asked again, his voice very low. "Do you need to take a break?"
My eyes shot around the gym nervously. A break? Since when was he okay with breaks? Maybe he was giving Katja the D like Reagan had said.
"I'm fine… I'm okay. I don't know what happened, but I'm fine," I responded, finally pulling my hand away. "I had a little too much power and I wasn't prepared, that's all. I'm just going to grab some water and I'll be back," I said.
Kova didn't respond. His gaze was on mine as he addressed the team. "Girls. Take a break. Meet me at bars in ten minutes."
I gave him the faintest smile, quietly showing him I was thankful. I knew he wouldn't miss it. Then I turned around and kept my eyes on the floor as I walked past Reagan like I was in my own world, despite her heavy gawking and ignored her silent will for me to look her way.
Five
I walked back into the gym and took a deep breath, bracing myself, nervous that Kova would ask questions. I shook out my fingers and stumbled when our eyes locked, not expecting him to be there. In fact, he looked annoyed more than anything else.
Damn paranoia was already getting to me.
"Two miles. Now." He lowered his voice. "Running will help you regain your focus."
Nodding, I quickly returned to the locker room and changed into running clothes and put on my sneakers, then I headed outside. Despite my earlier run this morning, I didn't grunt about it. I needed to breathe. I needed to let go of all the shit on my mind. I was so irritated with myself for slipping up. Kova was right, though, I needed to regain my focus.
The diagnosis was still so fresh. I knew that was the sole reason for my mistake. The moment I’d felt an inch of fatigue, my mind shut down and I’d allowed the thoughts to take over. I couldn't afford to let that happen again. I could do better, I knew I could. I just had to push past the weariness and body aches like I had in the past and everything would be how it used to be.
I focused on my feet hitting the pavement, keeping my gaze ahead of me. I ran my best time—a seven-minute mile, twice. I was shaking and edgy by the time I was done, but the exercise was exactly what I needed.
