AllFreeNovel
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“Uh… Chandler. And she’s still skating, I think,” she said, knowing full well that Chandler was still skating because not all that long ago, she’d watched her land on her ass in a competition. “Probably engaged to some stockbroker or shady car salesman or something, too; something slimy. That’s what I’ve always pictured for her, anyway.”
He laughed and said, “Are you sure you’re going to be okay this week?”
“Dad, I left figure skating behind a long time ago.”
“No, you didn’t. Competing, maybe, but you haven’t left it.” He placed his large, calloused hand on her bag. “Those aren’t your hockey skates, honey.”
“No, they’re not,” she replied.
“So, go out on the ice and have some fun before you go home. I’ll leave the lights on for you.”
“You always do,” she said with a smile.
He walked off, and Belle began lacing up her skates. Then, she made her way onto the ice and let her skates take her around and around, just like most of the people who came here to skate did. She didn’t worry about jumps, spins, or picking up speed. She just coasted and let the cold air hit her face as she planned the routine she’d do when she was ready; maybe the choreography from her last competition or something she’d worked on herself in the past few years.
“Belle?”
Belle turned her head to see Steph yelling and motioning over to her, so she turned and headed that way, meeting her at the wall.
“What’s up?”
“We’re closed, but there are two women here saying they paid for some extra practice time tonight. I guess they’re in the competition that’s here or something.”
“Dad didn’t tell me anything about it. Is it in the computer?”
“I checked, and it just says, ‘Extra practice,’ but no names or anything.”
Belle shook her head and said, “He has got to get better at using that thing. They’re fine. I don’t want to get anyone angry before the event even starts. Can you show them to the locker room if they need it?”
“Sure,” Steph replied and started to walk off. Then, she turned back. “Do I need to stay until they’re gone?”
“No, I’ll do that,” Belle replied.
“Cool. Thanks,” Steph said and walked toward the front of the building.
Belle figured that if whoever it was needed a few minutes to get changed, she could take those few minutes to use the ice herself, so she skated for speed this time, going around and around again until she was ready. She slowed a bit and went into the middle of the rink as she jumped and landed her favorite jump, the double Axel, which she’d worked on for months upon months before even landing correctly once.
“Excuse me?”
Belle turned her head and stopped when she saw a woman standing on the ice.
“I was told we’ve got the ice now.”
The woman wasn’t wearing any skates, so Belle figured that she must be the coach.
“Sorry. I work here. I was just getting in a little time before your time started.”
“Well, it starts now. Is the ice even clean?”
“No, it’s not,” Belle said, skating over a little toward the woman. “To be honest, I didn’t know you were going to be here this late. We usually close about now. Well, a few minutes ago.”
“Yes, I know. That’s why I booked it. I wanted solo time for my skater.”
“Cat, chill. What’s going on?”
Belle had heard that voice before. It sounded deeper, as the owner was older now, but there was no mistaking it because she’d been in love with that voice as a fourteen-year-old and hadn’t heard it since she’d left the program. She’d watched many competitions on TV over the years, and she’d seen some here, in the Ice Park, but whenever Chandler had skated, Belle had always turned the TV off or closed her computer before anyone got a chance to put a microphone in front of her mouth and ask her interview questions like, “How did you feel coming out of that toe loop?”
Chandler, on her skates, came up behind the woman until she stood beside her and looked at Belle, who waited for the moment of recognition. It didn’t come.
