CHAPTER 5
A week before the competition, Gabby had worked through most of her routine. Only the ending was left, and Coach Pearce still hadn’t told her what she would do.
For more than two hours, Gabby skated through the beginning and middle of her routine over and over. She was completely exhausted. Finally, Coach Pearce called out, “Excellent work, Gabrielle! Two-minute break.”
Gabby bent over, rested her hands on her knees, and panted. Coach Pearce was really pushing her today. At this rate, she’d definitely be ready for Saturday.
She stood up and took a gulp from her water bottle. Then she skated to the center of the rink where Coach Pearce stood waiting for her.
“Let’s run through the routine one more time,” her coach said, placing her hands on her hips. “But this time, I want you to do the ending. Please finish with a double Axel.” Her voice was firm. “This is an important jump. If you can land it, it could help you win.”
Gabby’s stomach dropped. She’d known this moment was going to come. She’d been avoiding it as long as she could.
“I’ve watched you skate for two weeks now,” Coach Pearce said. “You can do this. Your ankle is fine. Your single Axel is solid. It’s time to take it back to the level you were at before your injury.”
Gabby swallowed. “I don’t know, Coach Pearce,” she said. “What if I’m not ready? Can’t I just do the single Axel instead?”
Coach Pearce looked startled. “Excuse me?” she asked in shock. “I’ve been coaching for twenty years. Do you think you know better than me?”
Gabby’s mouth felt dry. She’d never argued with a coach before. She shook her head. “No. I’m sorry,” she muttered.
Coach Pearce stood back. “Then please do the jump,” she said. Gabby could tell that she didn’t really have a choice.
Gabby took a deep breath. Maybe she was worrying too much. After all, Coach Pearce was her coach. And she’d done the single Axel just fine. She just had to do the double without thinking.
Gabby skated in a large warm-up circle around the outside of the rink. Then she nodded at Coach Pearce to show that she was ready.
Coach Pearce started the music. Gabby closed her eyes, trying to feel the rhythm she would need. Fear started to creep through her, but she tried to keep her mind blank.
Don’t think, she told herself. Just don’t think. She neared the center of the rink and moved into a toe loop followed by a sit spin.
Gabby swung her body around and began skating backward around the ice. She increased her speed — faster and then faster again. She hadn’t skated this fast since the day of the fall. Gabby could feel her pulse pounding. The music grew louder and faster.
“Now!” Coach Pearce shouted. “Double Axel, now!”
Gabby bent her knees and stretched her arms out to her sides. She pushed off the ice hard, launching her body into the air. She drew her arms into her body, and for a moment, her heart soared as she spun through the air.
Then her right skate tangled with her left. She felt herself coming out of the air much too quickly.
Falling, her mind screamed. Falling. She didn’t have time to unwind her body. The ice seemed to rise up to meet her. She fell with a thud, landing on her side.
Gabby gasped, trying to breathe, but the fall had knocked the wind out of her. She lay on the ice for a few moments, trying not to panic.
As soon as she was able to breathe again she raised herself onto her hands and knees, her head down. In the corner of the arena, Coach Pearce stopped the music, and silence filled the ring.