Page 64 of Game On
Channeling my energy into this is just what I need, I think, to regain my footing.
“And us?” I ask, glancing at him.
“And us,” he confirms, his smile growing. “We’re in this together. It’s my first time doing partners, too.”
“Brilliant,” I say. “Two rookies.”
“Luke said he’d spot for us.”
“Perfect.”
“You want to stay after and talk with Morgan about the routine?” he asks. “Get some things clarified so we know what to focus on at Skyline later?”
“Yeah, it’s a deal.”
The rest of our regular practice goes by rather quickly. Another workout that leaves me achy and satisfied, the fullness of my muscles betraying how much I’ve pushed myself today. Not to mention the buzz of competition season that’s already building in my veins.
After everyone else clears out, Ash and I make our way into Coach Morgan’s office. Trophies gleam from overloaded shelves, flanked by teetering piles of strategy notes and dog-eared training schedules, each item telling a story of victories hard-won.
Morgan looks up from her desk, her eyes sharp but her Southern drawl smooth as molasses when she speaks. “Ash, Ella, come on in. Shut the door behind you.”
We comply, and it’s a bit like we’re stepping into the principal’s office, despite being here on a completely voluntarybasis. Morgan gestures to the two chairs in front of her desk, and we sit.
“Now,” she starts, steepling her fingers and fixing us with a look that could command tides, “I’ve been hearing good things. Ash, your lifts have gotten stronger, and Ella, your aerial flexibility is top-notch.”
Pride flutters in my stomach but I stay silent, knowing there’s always a “but” coming.
“However,” she continues, “we need to sharpen those transitions. Make them seamless. For Daytona, judges will be looking for fluidity just as much as they’ll be eyeing your stunts.”
She turns her computer screen towards us, showing us a list of stunts. “Here—” she points at several marked sections, noting a double up and one-arm rewind. “These lifts—I want you two to focus on them. Perfect these first and pick a few more stunts to incorporate. Nail them down individually so, when we put it all together next month, they’re second nature.”
“And Ella,” she adds, turning her gaze directly to me, “I want you to focus on your dismounts. They’re good, but I want them flawless. No hesitations. You need to land like you mean it, every single time.”
Her intensity is as daunting as it is motivating. “Understood,” I say, nodding earnestly.
“Good.” She leans back in her chair, her demeanor softening just a touch. “I know you can do it. Both of you have the potential. Don’t just reach for it—grab it and make it yours. We start putting it all together next month, but for now, focuson these key pieces in order to qualify. I’d like to see at least two pairs from Whitland on the roster this year.”
“Yes, Coach,” Ash says.
As we leave her office, Ash nudges me playfully, his smirk all mischief. “Better work on those dismounts, huh?”
Rolling my eyes, I bump my hip against his, mocking irritation. “Be quiet.”
“Come on, El,” he says. “You gotta land like you’re not just flirting with gravity but committing to it.”
“Yeah, well, I’m not much for commitment these days.”
His laughter bounces off the walls, filling the empty hallway with its echo. Then, leaning in, he gives me another nudge, this one loaded with implication. “You know what she meant by two pairs, right?”
I feign ignorance, adjusting the strap of my gym bag as if it’s suddenly the most complicated task. “Spell it out for me?”
“Claire and Evan, and then us,” he says, eyes alight. “She thinks we’re up there—same level.”
“That seems a bit presumptuous. This will be their third year competing,” I say, though I feel a flutter of pride at the thought.
He shakes his head, the corners of his mouth twitching with barely contained glee. “Nothing presumptuous about it. We’re solid contenders.”
The implication hangs between us. It’s one thing to participate; it’s another to be considered among the best, expected to perform at the level of seasoned competitors like Claire and Evan.
