Free Back on the Beam by Jake Maddox Page A

laughing. Nadia felt tears spring into her eyes.
    â€œDon’t let her get to you, Nadia,” Alya said. “She’s just feeling bad for herself because she couldn’t win the finals for us either.”
    â€œExactly,” Hannah agreed. “You’ve always been better on the beam, Nadia. She’s your biggest competition at tryouts, and you’ll beat her, for sure!”
    â€œIf you say so,” Nadia said. She was still nervous about how out of shape she was.
    All the girls from last year’s team said hello and talked about their summers for a few minutes. Then Coach Levine walked in and blew her whistle.
    â€œAll right, ladies,” the coach said. “Let’s get started. Remember, keep it simple today. Save the dangerous stuff for the big time, okay?”
    â€œOkay, Coach Levine,” the girls replied. A lot of them had been on the team before, Nadia noticed. There were a few girls she’d never seen before, though.
    The girls all lined up. Coach Levine looked them over. “You all know how this works,” Coach Levine said. “The best five girls in each event will be on the team. If one girl is in the top five in more than one event, she will compete in both events. Got it?”
    â€œYes, Coach Levine,” the girls replied.
    The coach blew her whistle. Then the tryouts began.
    Nadia went straight to the balance beam. “I better get through my beam routine before my ankle starts hurting,” she said to Hannah.
    â€œYou’re up, Nadia,” Coach Levine said. “I’m glad to see your cast is off.”
    Nadia mounted into a split and started one of the routines she had practiced last year. It wasn’t a very hard routine, but one aerial tripped her up a little. Nadia wobbled as she landed and had to step off the beam so that she wouldn’t fall. She heard Blaire laughing at her.
    â€œThat’s okay, Nadia,” Alya called out. “Finish it!”

    Nadia sighed and jumped back onto the beam. She finished the routine pretty well, and only took one extra step on the dismount.
    Hannah smiled when Nadia was done. “You did great, Nadia,” Hannah said.
    Nadia shook her head. “I practically fell off,” she said. “Blaire was totally right. I’ll never make the team this year.”

CHAPTER 3
First Warning
    The next morning, Nadia overslept. It was only a few minutes, but she had to run the whole way to school. She wanted to get there early.
    Coach Levine would be posting the names of the girls who made the team. Hannah and Alya had promised to wait for Nadia in front of the school.
    â€œI picked the worst day to oversleep,” Nadia muttered to herself as she ran.
    Finally, she went around the corner at Riverside Avenue and the school was in sight. Hannah and Alya waved as Nadia ran up to the school’s front door.
    â€œFinally!” Alya said.
    â€œI can’t believe you’re late today. It’s team-posting day!” Hannah cried, throwing her arms up. “Come on, let’s get to Coach Levine’s office.”
    Nadia nodded. “Let’s go,” she said. The three of them jogged past all the other students, who were looking through lockers and gathering books.
    â€œFirst hour starts in like two minutes,” Hannah called out. “Hurry!”
    By the time they reached Coach Levine’s office, most of the other girls were already crowded around the list.
    Hannah was the tallest of the three friends, so she peered over the heads of the other girls looking at the list.
    â€œYes!” Hannah cried out. “I’m on vault and bars!”
    â€œNice!” Alya said. “What about us?”
    â€œAlya,” Hannah said, “you’re on floor.”
    â€œGreat!” Alya shouted. She pumped her fist.
    â€œAnd Nadia,” Hannah went on, “you made beam!”
    â€œWhat?” a voice suddenly yelled. “Nadia fell and made the team