Chapter 3: Overdone
Hannah took a deep breath as she got ready for her routine on the uneven bars. "You ready?" Coach Schmidt asked.
"Ready as I'll ever be," she replied.
She pulled her hair back into a ponytail and she looked over to see Conner walking in again. "Don't pay attention to him. Concentrate on your routine," Coach Schmidt instructed. She nodded her head slowly.
Conner sat in one of the chairs and watched as Hannah started her routine on the uneven bars. He kept his eye on Coach Schmidt to see if he'll push her over the edge again.
Hannah did several spins and she went back to the lower bar. She did the perfect triple spin and pose. "Good do it again," Coach Schmidt instructed.
"What?" Hannah asked.
"Again."
Hannah bit her lip as she got her hands powdered ready to do her uneven bars routine again
Conner pushed his hair out of his face, feeling his blood starting to boil. "He's doing it again," he muttered. Coach Schmidt looked over at the young man to see the glare on his face.
Hannah started her routine again. Every time she finished, he just told her to do it again. By the fifth time her arms were starting to ache. She went to switch bars when she slipped and fell.
Conner stood up when he saw Hannah fall. "Shit!" He cursed. He got up and he went to run over to her.
"Back off McKnight she's fine," Coach Schmidt snapped.
"No she's not! Look at her," Conner snapped.
He walked over and he looked at Hannah's arms. "Her wrists are bruised up. You're putting too much stress on her. If you don't stop putting so much stress on her, I'm going to have her switch coaches!" Conner snapped. He helped Hannah up and they left the gym.
(The Beach)
Hannah sighed as she stuck her feet in the water. "Conner, I don't know if I can do this anymore," she murmured. Conner wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
"The Pan-Globals are a week away. Just hang in there for one more week," he assured her.
Hannah wrapped her arms around herself. "I wonder if this is how mom felt before she found out she was pregnant with Kylie," she murmured.
"I don't know, maybe you should ask her," he answered.
"Sweetheart?" A voice called.
Hannah looked up and tears pressed against her eyes. "Mom…" she trailed off. She got up and she ran into her mother's arms. Kimberly hugged her daughter tight.
"I'm here baby," Kimberly assured her.
(Hannah's Room)
After Conner went back to his hotel room, Kimberly sat next to her daughter on the bed. "Mom, did he push you as hard when he was your coach?" She asked. Kimberly rubbed her sore shoulders.
"He did push me," Kimberly replied.
(Flashback)
"Again!" Coach Schmidt instructed. Kimberly rubbed her forehead as she got off the balance beam. "Kimberly, I said again," he repeated.
"Just give me a minute, I'm feeling a little dizzy," she answered.
She held onto the balance beam and let out a sigh. "You alright?" He asked. She lifted her head.
"Yeah," she replied.
"Okay, again."
She nodded as she got back on the balance beam and started again.
(End Flashback)
"Little did I know was that little dizziness was another sign that I was pregnant with Kylie," Kimberly commented. Hannah pushed her hair out of her face. "Sweetheart, I know you're having a hard time with this. I know you're being pushed into doing more than you think you can," she added.
"You have no idea," Hannah answered.
Kimberly kissed her cheek. "Just hang in there for another week okay?" She asked. Hannah nodded her head slowly and she laughed slightly. "What?" Kimberly asked.
"The last time you and I spoke like this was when Conner and I broke up," she replied.
Kimberly laughed quietly and Hannah laid down. She stroked Hannah's hair with a smile. "Well, sweetheart, things will be difficult for awhile. But once you finish this competition, you can do whatever you want," she pointed out. Hannah sighed.
"Almost all my life was based around either watching you mentor Rangers and gymnastics. Once I achieve this dream…what do I do?" She asked.
Kimberly sighed. "I can see you becoming a journalist or something one day," Kimberly replied.
"No way," Hannah laughed.
"Seriously sweetheart. Look at all this."
Kimberly reached under the bed and she pulled out a book. "Look at all these pictures you took over the years," she told her. Hannah sat up and they looked through the book. From the time Kimberly had adopted Hannah all the way up to the other day there were pictures that she took. "You have a talent. You're a great gymnast, but your talent is behind the camera," she pointed out. Hannah smiled and Kimberly placed her hand over her daughter's bruised wrist. "I love you Hannah, I just want you to be happy," she added.
"Thanks mom," Hannah answered.
Kimberly smiled as she hugged Hannah. She ran her fingers through her daughter's long blonde hair with a smile. Just then the phone rang. "Who could that be?" Hannah questioned. She picked up the phone. "Hello?" She answered.
"Babe it's me," Conner answered.
"Conner…is everything okay?" She asked.
"No…someone attacked Coach Schmidt."
"Oh God!"
"They think it's me, Hannah. They think I tried killing Coach Schmidt."
