CHAPTER 7
Nadia, Alya, and Hannah sat together in the locker room before Monday’s practice.
“Does your ankle hurt today?” Hannah asked.
Nadia stuck her leg out and rotated her right foot a little, first one way and then the other. “I don’t know,” she said. “I guess it hurts a little bit.”
“Hmm,” Alya said, glancing at Hannah.
“What?” Nadia said. “It’s probably just a little sore from practicing so much this weekend.”
“Come on, Nadia,” Alya replied. She stared into Nadia’s eyes.
“What do you mean, ‘Come on’?” Nadia said. “It’s sore!”
“You’re just nervous,” Hannah said. “You’re nervous because now we’re back at practice, instead of at the club.”
“Yeah,” Alya agreed, “and Blaire’s here.”
“And so is Coach Levine,” Hannah added.
“That’s crazy,” Nadia insisted. “My ankle is sore. It was in a cast all summer! Is it so crazy that it would be sore now?”
“Well, we better get in there,” Alya said, getting up and stretching. “Coach Levine will be starting practice any second.”
That day’s practice went much better than it had on Friday. Still, Nadia’s ankle felt sore through the whole thing.
Her dismounts were the worst part. She just couldn’t get them right. Almost every time, she messed something up and ended up having to jump off of the beam.
Alya came jogging over to Nadia during a water break. “Don’t let Blaire get to you,” Alya said, watching the beam team captain as she spoke.
“She’s totally not getting to me,” Nadia said. She took a small drink of water. “It’s just my ankle. It still hurts. That’s all that’s going on.”
Alya looked at Nadia with doubt in her eyes. “Okay, if you say so,” Alya said.
Just then, Coach Levine came over. “How are you feeling today, Nadia?” she asked.
“Okay, Coach,” Nadia replied.
“You seem a little nervous,” the coach said, glancing at her clipboard.
“Oh no,” Nadia said quickly, “it’s just my sore ankle.”
Coach Levine looked at Nadia and frowned. “Have a seat over here,” the coach said. She pointed to the bench. Nadia sat down.
“Give me your foot,” the coach said. She knelt in front of Nadia. She took Nadia’s heel in her hands and twisted gently.
“Tell me if it hurts,” the coach said as she twisted Nadia’s ankle.
Nadia said nothing. She watched as her ankle moved.
“Does it hurt now?” Coach Levine asked.
“Nope,” Nadia replied.
“Now?” Coach asked again, moving the ankle more.
“Nope,” Nadia replied again.
Coach Levine got to her feet. “Well, I don’t get it,” the coach said. “Your ankle is totally healed, but you’re still a little weak on your right leg.”
“It’s still sore when I’m up on the beam,” Nadia said. “I guess it just doesn’t hurt when I’m not standing on it, or something. Really.”
The coach glanced at her clipboard. “Our first meet is tomorrow,” the coach said after a moment. “I hope your ankle stops being sore by then. Understand?”
“I hope so too, Coach Levine,” Nadia said.