Balance (Off Balance 1)

“Look at me.”

Snapping my eyes up to meet his, he pointed a finger and said, “If you have any kind of pain, anything at all, you need to speak up immediately. Do you understand me?”

“Yes.”

“Anything, Adrianna. I am risking my neck for you right now.” He gave me a knowing look, and I nodded.

Pulling my lip into my mouth, I chewed on it. I rolled my feet into the blue carpet, cracking my toes nervously. Kova’s eyes followed the movement from my mouth to my feet and spat, “Spit it out, Adrianna. What is going on?”

Adrianna. Didn’t that just sting. That’s twice now.

“I took the pill,” I whispered quietly, despite being the only ones in the gym. “And, thank you for the wristbands and coconut water. You didn’t have to do that.” I was still slightly perplexed at why he had, considering how we ended things.

Kova dipped his chin, then turned and walked away. His back was rigid and stiff and I could tell he was dealing with his own inner demons. It was a little rude for him to do so without so much as a you’re welcome, but it was for the best. We really didn’t need to speak unless it was gymnastics related.

I trained with my nemesis for a good three hours this morning—the balance beam. In between working with me and the other team girls, Kova helped me water down my routine. He was his typical Russian dick self the entire time, maybe more so to the other girls for once. When we would make eye contact, it was so he could give me an example of what to do. I kept a straight face and nodded when he barked out orders then would follow up and ask me if it hurt to land. This was the first time I didn’t actually fear the beam, and that was cause for concern since I wasn’t taking chances and risking my neck. A little fear was good.

Or maybe I was just lacking emotion for the day.

As I powdered my hands with chalk to prepare for bars, another event that would take the strain off my calf for now, I overheard Reagan talking to the other girls about a boyfriend she wasn’t supposed to have. Not that I cared. It was the dumbest rule I’d ever heard, but I guess it made sense. We’d lose focus if that was the case, and it was. Just look how much time I spent thinking about Kova.

I thought back to the day she didn’t want to let me borrow her extra set of grips, as if I had some deadly disease that was going to cost her a limb. I shook my head and huffed as I laced my fingers through my grips and wrapped the Velcro around the new wristbands Kova had given me.

The sound of classical music played in the background, pulling my attention to the floor. Holly was gracefully performing her routine, a routine that had skills I wasn’t allowed to do for the time being. And unless my Achilles healed and was strong again, I wouldn’t be doing them at all. I wasn’t a jealous person, but I was the definition of envious at the moment.

I exhaled and shook my head, my thoughts were jumping everywhere. I didn’t need anyone’s approval. I wasn?

??t the type to need a lot of friends. I learned living in Palm Beach it was better to have a few close friends and keep the rest at arm’s length. Everyone was phony and only looked out for themselves. They were what I called Wonder Bread people. Fake, gluey, and tasteless.

The definition of Reagan.

God, I sounded like such a cynic.

Hayden strode by with a smile that made my shoulders relax. His charm was contagious and I couldn’t help smiling back. Now, he had been a good friend, one I didn’t think I could have gone without since coming here.

Rubbing some chalk on my thighs, I overheard Reagan say, “Hayden is so damn hot. Why Adrianna is a virgin is beyond me. Being that she’s such good friends with him, it’s honestly shocking she hasn’t tapped that. Unless she’s into girls.”

I looked over my shoulder and the girls snickered. Tapped that?

“She doesn’t know what she’s missing.”

“Or maybe it’s because he wants an athlete at his level, not one who needs serious work and thinks she’s better than what she really is,” she said cockily. “Not one Daddy has to bribe either.”

It got you your stupid café hall that you study in. That was what I considered a win-win situation, but Reagan was so narrow minded she couldn’t see it benefitted her too.

“An athlete like you,” Sarah chimed in. Suck up.

Reagan continued. “Adrianna the prude. Miss money bags is saving herself for the perfect guy her parents will pay her off too.”

The girls laughed again. My blood simmered.

“You know, Reagan,” I said sweetly, standing up and walking over to her. “I’ve about had enough of your shit. I never speak up or say anything about your constant belittling comments, but I am today. I’m sick of your condescending tone and glares. You think you’re so much better than every other gymnast here, but I have news for you. You’re not. So why don’t you just shut the hell up and leave me alone.”

My comment didn’t seem to faze her. “Oh, you’re tired of it?” She batted her eyelashes. I had the urge to punch her teeth out. I nodded, and she kept going. “Isn’t that right, Adrianna,” Reagan taunted, “You’re saving yourself?”

I shook my head. “What are you talking about?”

“You being a virgin,” she stated.