Release (Off Balance 3)

"Yes, but not like this. This is perfection. This is not holding back. This is showing no fear. This is flawless and impossible to look away from."

His eyes were wide, luminous from excitement. I watched him pace as he spoke like he was in awe of my performance. A sliver of excitement curled in my veins. I felt his pull, the energy radiating off him. I looked at him and I knew I wore the same zealous look in his eyes. We were both bursting with triumph, though still reserved.

"Oh…thanks," I said, and went back to my duffle bag.

His eyes narrowed. Just as Kova opened his mouth to speak, the crowd exploded around us. My back straightened with his and we glanced around trying to figure out why they were roaring.

Kova's lips parted. I couldn't remember a time seeing his jaw slowly fall or his eyes enlarge like that. I followed his gaze and looked ahead.

Oh.

Oh.

Next to my name, and the event, was my score.

I almost didn't believe what I was seeing. I blinked again and looked.

I'd scored the maximum points allowed. For the first time, I'd gotten a perfect score, and I didn't know how to react, but Kova sure did.

He threw his arms in the air, his hands in fists like he’d just crossed a finish line. He spun around, looked down, and immediately caged me in a tight hug and hoisted me up.

"I told you. Flawless," he said, so damn happy in my ear. I had no choice but to go with it. His heart was pounding so hard against his chest I could feel it hitting mine. "You got a perfect score, and the first perfect score of the elite season. Do you have any idea how big this is?"

Jaw slacked, I shook my head in disbelief. A perfect score was a big deal, I just didn't know how to process such an achievement.

&nbs

p; "Wow," I said under my breath.

He yanked me back, perplexed. "Wow? That is all you can say?" I glanced at the scoreboard again and felt the faintest smile tip the corner of my lips. "I am so damn proud of you," he said, pulling me back in for a hug so tight I grunted, then he put me down. My teammates and Madeline came over and high-fived me, congratulating me, and then we moved on to the next rotation.

I had to admit, it felt good to be the first elite of the season to obtain a perfect score, but I wasn't going to get my hopes up. Getting a score like that, where I maxed out on both the difficulty and execution categories, took a ton of effort and was not often seen twice from a gymnast at the same meet. It wasn't unheard of, just almost impossible to attain.

Floor came next, my favorite event. I decided I wasn't going to watch my team or anyone for that matter while I waited and warmed up.

"Do you need anything," Kova asked, walking up to me. Energy was radiating off him. "Feel confident?"

I shook my head and pursed my lips together. "I'm good."

Hands on hips, he squared his stance. "Perform like you have nothing to lose."

"I don't," I responded quickly. "I have nothing to lose. I'm going to do whatever it takes."

"Do not forget to smile."

I flashed a fake smile and his eyes twinkled. I wouldn’t forget. Gymnastics was the whole reason why I smiled. Patting on a little chalk between my thighs and then some on my hands, I exhaled a tense breath and mentally prepared when I heard the warning sound.

Walking around Kova, I walked up the steps and onto the blue carpeted floor, toes pointed, I took my position and felt my soul come alive.

Floor was my absolute favorite. I'd done this routine hundreds of times and could perform it in my sleep. Now I was going to show the gymnastics world just how much I loved this sport, how much it meant to me, all with a healthy dose of cockiness. If I was going to win this event, I needed to prove it with a little sass and pride. I was going to move the world with my body.

The music chimed and I blocked out the background noise, letting my body take over. Through muscle memory, all those dreadful ballet classes, and hours upon hours of practice, I released every fiber in me. I danced light on my toes from corner to corner, allowing my passion to shine through. Balletic, effortless grace, whimsical body lines. With floor, it forced me to feel emotions whether I wanted to or not, and I needed that. I needed that release.

Leaping through the air, my heart flew higher than my body, and when I completed a neck-breaking tumbling pass, I didn't have to force myself to smile. My entire face lit up with happiness. I could feel it from the top of my head to the tips of my toes. If only I could share with the world how I felt inside when I performed. It was indescribable. It was a natural high and a rush like nothing else.

Ninety seconds later, I was ending my custom floor routine that left me more out of breath than usual but feeling incredible nonetheless.

I saluted the judges then walked off the floor. Madeline gave me two high fives and praise followed by my teammates. I took such a deep breath that a sharp pain shot through my chest, but I ignored it. Squatting down, I took out a carton of coconut water from my bag. My mouth was so dry I downed all of it.