Page 31 of Salto

It was one thing to drift away from me as a friend. It was a whole other thing to publicly announce our falling out and then proceed to attempt to humiliate me in front of everyone.

But maybe it was easier to remind everyone I’d failed than admit she’d spent years chasing a dream she still hadn’t caught.

“I got invited to the tryout camp,” I blurted.

“What?” Laney and Mia’s heads swiveled back toward me.

“You did?” Mia asked, her brow furrowing.

I looked up and saw Sloane’s eyes widen. For a brief second, I watched her composure slip. Then her jaw clenched, and her perfect mask slid back into place.

When we were younger, we usually ended up right next to each other in the rankings. I typically took first in my events, and she took second. I didn’t think she’d held hard feelings over it. She went elite, after all. She just didn’t make it to Nationals. None of that was my fault.

“Yeah. But I don’t know if I’m going to go yet,” I said with a shrug.

I knew that if I gave her a bigger reaction, she would win in some roundabout way.

“But he didn’t call your name,” Sloane said, her tone holding a hint of accusation.

The shift was slight, but it proved this wasn’t just some silly truth-or-dare game to her.

“Rove pulled me aside,” I said. “After practice. He invited me individually.”

Saying his name out loud sent a thrill through my blood. It shouldn’t have felt as good as it did.

Silence settled over the circle.

Then someone got up to refill their drink, and just like that, the spell broke.

Why was I wasting my time here? No one was keeping me hostage.

I got up from the sofa, where I had been squished between Mia and Laney. The conversation picked back up almost immediately. Everyone was already searching for new blood now that their previous prey was no longer entertaining.

I headed for the door, and when Mia and Laney called after me, I pretended I couldn’t hear them.

They probably thought I was being cowardly by leaving.

But I’d realized a long time ago that staying and enduring something painful didn’t automatically make you strong.

In fact, sometimes the strongest thing a person could do was recognize that they were enduring pain for no reason at all and choose to walk away.

CHAPTER 12

My foot missed the beam.

Just enough for my stomach to drop and for my arms to shoot out to the sides in a frantic attempt to save my balance.

I took a tentative step after finally righting myself, my heart racing.

“Focus,” I muttered.

The gym was empty except for a few girls conditioning in the corner. Spring break had officially started. Most people had gone home to their families after the final meet.

I rolled my shoulders back and tried again.

Raising my arms above my head, hands splayed in position to catch the beam, I swung and jumped.

I spotted the beam, and my hands landed.