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"Perfect. You want a massage?"
Amber shook her head. "No, I'm good for now. I'll probably need one tomorrow after I go through the routine a few times."
"Okay."
"Go," Yegor said. "Get out in the village and make friends. We meet tomorrow and practice routine."
"All right." She hugged them both, then took off her skates and started to head out. At the last minute, she changed her mind though, and decided to hang out and watch the next group of skaters. Tia would be out on the ice in this group.
She took up a spot in the front row, so she could get a clear view of the skaters. Not that she'd see much since, like her, they were just warming up. But maybe she could get a feel for their readiness and their form.
Tia, as always, skated lines of grace and beauty, even when she was just warming up. The young girl had a bright future in figure skating. Amber noticed at competitions that the crowds were enthralled with her routines. Who wouldn't be? Her routines were flawless, and her music always spoke to people's hearts.
Amber wished she could hate her for being so good, but how could you hate on someone who felt her routines so passionately at such a young age? It was obvious she loved what she did. Amber had felt the same way when she was Tia's age. She could still remember the awe and wonder of her first games.
And also how lost she'd felt being isolated at the village by herself, without her mother by her side. She'd had her coaches, of course, but even they hadn't been by her side twenty-four hours a day. Amber wondered if Tia felt the same way.
Typically, Amber didn't socialize with her competitors. Making friends with the people you competed with was never a good idea. Her mother had taught her that a long time ago.
But maybe it was time to change that. When Tia came off the ice, Amber smiled and nodded at her. Tia gave her a tenuous smile in return, then headed off with her coaches.
Sasha was in the next group, and it was evident even in warm-ups how much power she possessed. It was her biggest strength and it served her well when she did her jumps. Sasha always had the highest jumps. Amber tried not to compare her own jumps to hers, but it was hard not to. She wanted to be the best, and being the best meant being better than Sasha.
Amber had been so focused watching Sasha that she hadn't noticed Tia standing just off to her left next to the seats. She was also watching the skaters. When Tia looked her way, Amber motioned for her to come over. Tia hesitated at first, then looked around, as if she couldn't believe Amber meant her.
Not surprising, considering Amber's typical unfriendly stance. Heaven only knew what the other skaters thought of her. Or said about her. She tried not to think about that, and instead motioned to Tia again.
Tia walked over.
"Come sit with me, Tia," Amber said.
"You sure?"
"Yes. We'll watch everyone skate."
Tia shrugged. "I guess that'd be okay."
Amber knew exactly what it was like to put up a front as if you didn't care, but deep down inside you wanted friends more than anything. She'd been lonely her entire life. If it wasn't for Lisa forcing her to be her friend, she wouldn't have any, and she'd likely have hightailed it for her room as soon as practice was over today. She had Lisa to thank for dragging her out of her introverted shell.
Amber decided to give Tia time to acclimate. So they watched the skaters in silence for a few minutes. Then Amber asked, "What do you think of our competition this year?"
Tia looked over at her. "I think Sasha is the one to beat. I hope that doesn't hurt your feelings."
Amber laughed. "It doesn't, because I feel the same way. She doesn't make mistakes. Though I think you're pretty formidable, too."
Tia looked surprised. "Me? Really? I'm too new."
"And your lines are beauty in motion. I could watch you all day, Tia."
Tia shifted her gaze away and back onto the ice. "That's . . . really nice. Thanks."
"Just the truth."
Tia went silent for a few minutes and Amber figured she was shy.
"I'm super jealous of you," Tia said.
Amber blinked, then shifted in her seat toward Tia. "Me? Why?"
"Because you have such a confidence on the ice. Even when you're just stepping out onto the ice, your head is held high, you have a smile on your face, and it's like you own every inch of it."
Amber laughed. "Thank you for saying that. I love to skate."
"It shows. You skate beautifully, as if you're a part of the music, as if no one else is even around. I don't know how you do it with all the crowds and the noise and the clapping."
She nodded. "It can be a distraction. You have to tune into the music and forget that all the people are out there during a competition. It takes some practice, but you just have to be one with your music. Actually, while I was watching you I was thinking about how you look when you perform, how your movements are an extension of your music. So if you're nervous, Tia, it doesn't show."
For the first time, Tia smiled. "Really? Thanks. That's good to know. I always think people will be able to see my legs or my hands shaking."
"I've never seen it. And it helps to take a couple really deep breaths right before you go on."
"That's what my coach says."
"He's right."
"So how do you handle being off by yourself?" Tia asked, obviously becoming more at ease. "There are so many people here."
"My advice? Make friends and make a lot of them. Get out of your room and socialize."
"I'm underage so I can't go to the club."
"I was, too, my first time out, but there are activities for you. And groups for everyone who's underage."
She nodded. "Yeah, I haven't done any of that yet. My roommate is seventeen and from Finland. She's trying to coax me out."
"Go with her and do everything you can. Soak it all in. And when some of the other events start, go to them. They're fun to watch and they give you a chance to meet people."
"I'll do that."
"But always go in groups. And don't let the boys hit on you. They just want in your pants."
She laughed. "That's what my mom said."
"She's right. Have fun--but not too much fun, because you don't want to lose focus on the competition."
Tia studied her. "I can't believe you're being so nice to me. We are competitors, you know."
"We're also teammates. I think you're supremely talented and I want you to do well."
"Thanks, Amber."
They ended up exchanging cell phone numbers, because Amber wanted to make sure Tia had a person she trusted to text or call in case she needed someone. They watched the last round of skaters, then Amber headed out.
The ice had felt good, and she'd made a friend among her competitors today.
So far, so good.
SIX
WILL SHOT THE PUCK TO HOGAN, WHO PASSED IT BACK to him. The skate was light and easy. They had no opponents, just their team out there. It was mainly to get a feel for the arena. They didn't even have nets up yet.
The ice felt damn good under his skates. He was itching for a hard skate, a chance to really use his stick and slam the puck hard, to have an opponent to skate against, someone to slam up against the boards.
That would come soon enough, and damn if he wasn't ready as hell for competition to start. But for now, an easy warm up and a skirmish against his own defense would have to do.
He should have known his defense would make him feel ready. As he and Drew Hogan worked their way down the ice, Hogan slid the puck his way. Parker was right there to stop his progress, their sticks colliding in a fight for the puck. Stravinsky joined in and they hustled the puck away from Parker and made their way down the ice. Stravinsky shot it over to Hogan while Will got into position near the nonexistent net, battling sticks with the defensive players. As soon as Hogan shot him the puck, he visualized where the net would be and shoved it in.
"That looks like a score to me," Coach Stein yelled. "Take a water b
reak."
Drew bumped against him as they skated their way over to the bench. "Now that's what I call teamwork."
Will curved a smile. "We look pretty good. I'll be happier when they bring in the nets, so we can slap the puck in there."
"Nets will be out tomorrow. Then we'll get heavy into practice."
"Are you guys as ready for this as I am?" Adrian Parker asked.
Will nodded. "You know it."
"I'm already tired of beating up on our own offense, and this is our first skate. I'm ready to beat up on the other guys."
Will laughed. "Hey, some of those other guys are our own teammates."
Parker grinned. "I know. That's the fun part."
That was one of the interesting parts of these games. His team back home was made up of guys not only from the US, but from Canada and Russia and a few other countries. Here at the games, some of those guys would be playing for their home countries, which meant his own teammates would be competitors, and some of his typical competitors were now his teammates.
Fun stuff.
He would have been able to play with Tyler Anderson, his teammate on the St. Louis Ice, but Tyler's wife, Jenna, had recently given birth to their baby boy, so Tyler had opted out and Drew Hogan from the New York Travelers had been chosen to take Tyler's place.
Will liked Drew. He was a formidable forward, and he'd be a great asset on this team. Actually, the entire team rocked.
He was so ready to get this party started.
SEVEN
AMBER HAD WANDERED THE VILLAGE ALONE ALL AFTERNOON, familiarizing herself with the shops and locations. There was so much to see and do.
She was used to being by herself and found it relaxing to wander where she wanted. It was doubly easy because they were in Vancouver where everyone spoke English. The shopkeepers were all welcoming and she liked chatting with them.
She'd stopped in one of the craft shops to buy yarn. She loved knitting, because she couldn't read during waiting and down times. She was always too distracted, but knitting was something she could do. She bought some beautiful teal yarn that would make a pretty cardigan.
