Back on the Beam (2 page)

“That's enough, ladies,” Coach Levine said. She stepped between Hannah and Blaire to separate them. “Everyone get to class,” Coach Levine said.

“Yes, Coach Levine,” everyone replied. The girls started to break off and head toward class.

“Nadia,” the coach added. “Wait a second, okay?”

Hannah and Alya looked at Nadia. She waved them off. “I'll catch up,” she said quietly.

As her friends walked off, Nadia turned to Coach Levine. “What's up, Coach?” she said.

“Nadia,” the coach replied, “I wanted to talk to you about your performance at the tryouts.”

“I'm a little out of shape,” Nadia replied. “I just got the cast off last week, so I haven't had any time to practice.”

The coach nodded. “I know,” she said. “I'm giving you another chance because you were injured, but you'll need to work extra hard now.”

“I know,” Nadia said, nodding.

“I mean it,” the coach added. She put a hand on Nadia's shoulder and said. “If you don't show some quick improvement, I'm going to have to give your space on the beam team to someone else.”

“What?” Nadia said, shocked.

“I'm sorry, Nadia,” Coach Levine said. She started to head back into her office and added, “There are a lot of girls who'd like your space. We have to be fair, you know.”

The office door closed with a thud. Nadia stood there, staring at it.

“I can't believe this,” she muttered to herself. “I'm going to get kicked off the gymnastics team!”

Just then, the bell rang.

“Great,” she said. “Now I'm late to class.”

Nadia turned and ran down the hall toward her first class.

CHAPTER 4

It was hamburger day in the cafeteria. That meant dry, flat burgers with plastic cheese, and oily potato puffs. Nadia loved potato puffs. The lunch lady always gave her a few extra puffs.

Nadia grabbed a cold chocolate milk and paid for her lunch. Then she left the lunch line and looked for her friends. She spotted them sitting at a small round table in the corner by the windows.

Nadia plopped her tray down beside Hannah and Alya. “Hi, guys,” she said.

“Hey, Nadia,” Alya replied. “How's it going?”

Nadia was barely listening. She looked like her mind was miles away as she poked at her potato puffs. “This stinks,” she said.

“Oh come on, Nadia,” Alya replied. “You love potato puffs!”

“Yum,” Hannah said, picking a puff off Nadia's tray. “Who doesn't love these things?” She pretended to eat the puff, then suddenly laughed and tossed it at Alya.

Alya shrieked and moved to one side. “Quit it!” she cried, laughing.

“The food isn't the problem, silly,” Nadia said, rolling her eyes. “I'm going to get cut from the team!”

“You are not,” Hannah said. “Don't worry about what the coach said. You'll be fine in no time.”

“Yeah,” Alya agreed. “It's not like you have to win a gold medal in the Olympics. You just have to be in the top five on the beam. That'll be easy for you.”

“Exactly,” Hannah said. “You're a natural.”

Nadia shook her head. “I don't know,” she said. “My ankle was kind of sore at tryouts. I think that's why I fell!”

Alya took one last bite of her burger. “I'm done,” she announced. “Want to go outside for the rest of lunch? It's nice out.”

Nadia sighed. “Sure,” she said.

“Cheer up!” Hannah said. “The fresh air will do you good!”

The girls got up and carried their trays over to the dirty tray station. Suddenly, something bumped Nadia. Her tray dropped to the tile floor with a loud crash. Ketchup and dirty paper plates flew everywhere. A splatter of chocolate milk landed on her sneakers.

The whole cafeteria turned to look. Nadia felt her face getting hot.

“Oops,” someone said behind Nadia. It was Blaire Birch. “Seems like I lightly bumped into you.”

“That was mean, Blaire,” Alya said. She stepped up to Blaire and stared her down.

“Whatever. It was an accident,” Blaire replied, turning away from Alya. “It's not my fault your friend Nadia has zero balance.”

Blaire quickly spun toward Nadia. “You better work on your balance, Nadia,” she said. She jabbed her finger toward Nadia's face and added, “It's called a balance beam, you know. Not a falling beam.” With that, Blaire walked off, tossing her hair.

“Want me to knock her into the trash cans?” Alya said, glaring after Blaire.

“No,” Nadia replied sadly. Her shoulders sagged. “I think she's right. My balance is awful, and I'm doomed.”

CHAPTER 5

The gymnastics team's first official practice was that day after school. The rest of the day dragged on and on for Nadia. She was excited to start practicing, but nervous, too. When the bell rang, Nadia met Alya and Hannah in the locker room.

“Ugh, I hate the new team leotards,” Alya said, standing in front of the mirror in her leotard. “Why can't we just wear last year's?”

Hannah shrugged. “The whole student body voted to change the school colors to orange and green, remember?” she said. “I don't know about you, but I kind of like them.”

“What do you think, Nadia?” Alya asked. “Do you like the new colors?”

Nadia got up and went to the mirror. “Who cares?” she said. “I can't think about leotard colors right now. I'm too nervous.”

“Well, I hate them,” Alya said. “Though I must say, I do look good in every color.”

Hannah rolled her eyes. “Don't be nervous,” she said, turning to Nadia. “I'm sure the wobble in tryouts won't happen again.”

“Wobble?” Nadia replied. “You mean fall!”

“Fall, wobble,” Hannah said. “Same thing. Just don't worry about it!”

“Yeah,” Alya agreed. “If you're going to worry, worry about how silly we look in orange and green!”

A sharp whistle came from the gym. The girls looked at each other.

“We better get out there,” Hannah said. “Sounds like practice is ready to start.”

The three friends walked out of the locker room and into the gym. After stretching and warm-ups, Nadia joined the other four beam girls.

“Hello,” Blaire said to the group. “I'm the captain of the beam team this year. My name is Blaire Birch.”

The beam team girls looked at each other. Nadia frowned.

“Since when does the beam team have its own captain?” asked June. Nadia knew her from last year's team.

“Since I said so,” Blaire replied. “Now, first on the beam today will be Nadia. Everyone else practice your routines on the mat or the low beam. I'm going to watch Nadia and tell her everything she's doing wrong.”

Nadia sighed deeply and walked up to the beam. As she mounted, her ankle started to hurt a little. She tried to ignore it.

Right away, though, she was doing even worse than she had at tryouts. She could feel Blaire watching her. Her ankle started to burn as she started a cartwheel.

“Whoops! Watch that wobble, Nadia!” Blaire called out, laughing.

Nadia felt like she was on the beam for an eternity. Every wobble and every misstep made her wish she was off the beam, at home, in bed, hidden under the covers, far away from Blaire Birch.

Finally the routine was over. She dismounted as quickly as she could. It was sloppy, and she took two steps backward and fell. She landed right on her butt.

Hannah saw the fall from where she was stretching near the bars. “It wasn't that bad, Nadia!” she called over. “Don't worry!”

Blaire stood over Nadia. “Don't listen to Hannah,” Blaire said. “She's wrong. It was that bad.”

“Leave me alone, Blaire,” Nadia said.

“Why should I?” Blaire replied.

She stood over Nadia and leaned down, pointing in her face. “You're terrible, and my little sister didn't make the team,” Blaire said. “She's way better than you. I hope Coach Levine kicks you off of the team, so my little sister can take your place!”

“Go away!” Nadia snapped.

“All right, move it along, Blaire,” Coach Levine said, walking up. She blew her whistle. “Looking good, everyone. Keep it up!” she called out to the gym.

Blaire walked away. Then Coach Levine said, “Nadia, I'm sorry. Blaire was being rude. I never said her sister would be on the team if you were cut.”

“Thanks, Coach Levine,” Nadia said. She got to her feet.

“Don't thank me yet, Nadia,” the coach replied as she walked toward the bars. “Your performance today was not good enough.”

Nadia swallowed hard as Alya walked over. “Did you hear that?” Nadia asked.

Alya nodded. “Yup,” she said. “I guess you were right to worry.”

“See?” Nadia added. “I'm doomed. I'm going to get kicked off the team.”

Alya shook her head. “No way,” she said. She pointed at Hannah and said, “Hannah and I will help you out. What are friends for?”

Nadia tried to smile as Alya gave her a hug. She just wasn't sure anyone could really help.

CHAPTER 6

On Saturday morning, Nadia and her friends were at the local gymnastics club. They had all been members since they were about four years old.

“Okay, Nadia,” Hannah said. “All stretched out?”

“Yup,” Nadia said. “I guess so.”

“If you ask me,” Hannah went on, “all you need to do is go over the routine a lot of times.”

Alya nodded. “Exactly,” she agreed. “It's not second nature anymore, like our old coach Mr. Barkoff used to say it should be.”

Hannah rolled her eyes. “Ugh, practicing with him was so boring after a while,” she said.

The others nodded. “Yeah, it was,” Nadia said. “But it worked. After doing the same routine about a million times, I never messed up.”

“That's right,” Alya said, giving Nadia a light shove. “So get up on the beam and start making it second nature again.”

“Okay, okay,” Nadia replied. She mounted the beam and started her routine.

“Looking good, Nadia!” Hannah called to her.

“How's the ankle?” Alya asked.

Nadia finished an aerial and landed perfectly. “Not bad,” she said, turning her ankle. “I don't even notice it!”

“Good,” Hannah replied. “You're doing great.”

Nadia really felt like she was doing great. Unlike at tryouts or the first practice, she was even having fun.

The routine flew by. Soon she was dismounting. She did one flip on the beam, then one flip off. She stuck the landing perfectly.

“There it is!” Alya shouted. She and Hannah clapped and hooted.

“Now do it again,” Hannah added with a laugh.

“Okay, Coach!” Nadia said. She turned to the beam and started the routine again.

CHAPTER 7

Nadia, Alya, and Hannah sat together in the locker room before Monday's practice.

“Does your ankle hurt today?” Hannah asked.