I already know I want to choreograph a new floor routine for her, and that includes selecting new music for her to perform to. I know the rest will come in time.

The next hour of Hallie’s workout slips away—for me, at least. I can tell she works hard. She doesn’t skimp on tough ab work or mind-numbing reps, like some kids do. On the contrary, I get the sense she deepens her squats and tightens up her plank form when she notices me watching. I’m honored she considers me worthy enough to impress. When she’s finished with conditioning, she takes a water break, then meets Ryan and me on floor. She places her hands on her hips and looks from him to me, waiting for instructions.

“I’m all yours,” she says. “Put me to work.”

“Trust me, I will,” I say. “But first, we should talk.”

I’m nervous, but know I have to drop the bomb anyway.

“Hear me out on this: your floor routine is good, but it doesn’t play to your strengths. I would love to create a new routine for you—mostly the same tumbling, but new dance, new music, maybe some new skills.”

She flinches and recoils, crossing her arms over her chest. “But—but we—there are—we have just eight months to go,” she sputters.

“So why waste those months on a routine that’s not working?” I shoot back.

“I’ve been using this routine forever. You want me to throw it away now? I’ll never learn a new one in time.”

“Of course you will. I see how hard you work. You got this.”

“I’ll be rushed, I’ll forget the choreography, I’ll mess it up—probably in competition, and then I’ll fail out of gymnastics without even a high school diploma and I’ll be stuck living at home with my parents forever.”

I’m sure it’s just a flippant comment, but the cruel reality of her words cuts me deep.

“Hallie…” Ryan admonishes.

“There’s no need to be so dramatic,” I say, breezing past her insult. “Please just trust me with this.”

“I’m on board,” Ryan tells her.

She bites her lip. For a moment, she’s quiet, considering the prospect.

“Okay,” she says finally. “Then so am I.”

I pick up the binder and rifle through it until I find the section that lists every floor skill with value in the Code of Points. To test her capabilities, I rattle off different acrobatic and artistic elements and ask her to perform them, starting with tumbling. Her double Arabian is fantastic, but her triple twist isn’t doing her any favors—that tumbling pass might work better as a double-twisting double back layout. Hallie diligently follows my instructions and swivels to gauge my level of approval after each tumbling pass—so she’s sassy but ultimately obedient. I can work with that.