Release (Off Balance 3)

Both feet together.

No hop.

Just a perfect stuck landing that made my heart drop and my stomach tighten.

It was the longest four seconds of my life.

I could hear Kova and Madeline shouting, feel the vitality of the room.

Arms up, I acknowledged the judges, then turned toward the other side…and smiled. Scratch that. I was fucking beaming on the inside and outside.

Madeline had both hands up for a high five as I reached the stairs. Stepping down, she said, "Unbelievable! The best you've ever done! I gotta run to prep Holly, but fantastic!"

My eyes lit up.

Automatically, I high-fived Kova and our eyes met. There was a moment my heart skipped a beat. To share something like this with him formed a deeper connection between us. I felt it and there was no doubt in my mind he did too.

"How did I do? How was it? I mean, I felt good, but you know how that goes," I asked him, but he looked at me like I was utterly insane. I laughed, actually laughed and said, "You look like I'm the one speaking Russian to you."

"Sometimes I wonder what is going through your head to ask me such questions. Adrianna, you perform best under pressure. By far…just…" He shook his head and ran a hand through his hair and looked away. "It was just incredible. Flawless."

I almost squealed. Thank God I didn't. "Thanks!"

Kova looked down at me. The way his enamored gaze took in my face as he studied me caused butterflies to erupt in my stomach. I wanted to pluck their beautiful wings off so I couldn't feel that connection with him, but at the same time, I wanted them to flutter harder.

"It is good to see you smiling again."

At that my smile faded a little.

"I have not seen your face light up like that in quite some time." He swallowed hard, then turned his head. I followed his gaze and watched my score pop up.

I stared at the bold, black numbers. My lips parted. Was this real life?

Kova looked back at me. Shaking his head, happiness bloomed in his eyes. "I told you," he said, shaking his head like he was awestruck. "Flawless."

Then, he was gone.

"You're going to be labeled as vault queen soon," Holly said sweetly as she came up to me and wrapped her arms around my shoulders.

I barked out a laugh. "That will be the day."

"Girl, you don’t even know your greatness," she said, then stepped away.

With bars already under my belt, I'd only been deducted a few tenths, but I was still leading. Bars was like vault for me, another forte of mine.

Beam, my arch nemesis, though. I fought that bitch tooth and nail. She was being compliant for now, but I knew deep in my gut it wouldn't last. Everything good always came to an end.

Yeah, I was starting to wonder if I was demented since I was comparing the balance beam to an actual person who could bring me down. Only I had the power to bring myself down. No one else.

And that was the kind of mentality I went into the beam with. I knew I had what it took, I'd done it twice now. I was my only limit.

"What are you thinking about?" Kova asked right before I was about to go on.

"What's the worst thing that could happen? I straddle the beam? Fall off completely? My foot slips on the second back handspring of my connection, but I can't stop the next skill from happening because my body is already in motion and I'll land on my neck on the beam and break my collarbone?"

He looked into both of my eyes, his gaze shifting back and forth. A little scared. "Is that really what you were thinking?"

"Yes."