My first jump was my triple axel. It was flawless, followed up by my triple lutz, triple toe. I stepped out of my triple flip— what was with that jump this weekend?— but didn’t give it any mind, and soared into my next combination without making a single mistake. I lifted my leg to perform my spiral, and as I spread my arms wide, I felt like I was flying with the gods themselves as the cold chill of the ice hit my face.
The best part of skating was losing yourself. You ceased to be who you were and became someone else for the entertainment of the crowd. At one point, your soul melded with the music, and your emotions swelled to become overwhelming, bursting out of you with a passion that could only be felt. I rode that high up until the very end, when I gave my finishing pose and bowed my head to the crowd.
The crowd absolutely lost it. They jumped to their feet to give me a standing ovation. Red roses were tossed, scattering on the ice with a collection of teddy bears and cards.
My breaths were long and ragged, and my body shook. That had to be another personal best. If the judges couldn’t appreciate my program, it hardly mattered, because I’d skated my heart out and proven to myself that I could do this.
I headed to the kiss-and-cry. Lady Magdalina was beaming. “That was brilliant, Emmaline.” She gave my shoulder a squeeze as I sat down. We looked up at the megascreen. My score; 160.30, putting me in first place.
My mouth dropped open in shock. I couldn’t believe it! That was an amazing score!
Magdalina clapped me on the back. I felt elated as my coach left me to go instruct Gabby. She seemed paler than before, but more determined than ever. I took a seat near the entry to the ice in the competitor’s section, waiting for my rival to take the ice.
Gabby was the last skater. I was staying on this podium, no matter what she did now. The only question that remained was if she’d take the gold.
Gabby’s harsh music was like nails on a chalkboard. Her artistic movements were jagged and geometrical, instead of flowing like mine. She was good, though— very good. I’d be lying if I said she wasn’t. She landed every jump with ease, and my stomach knotted as my mind counted up points, her score going higher and higher.
Then she faltered while going into her triple axel. She twisted in the air and fell out of the jump, landing on her side.
Goosebumps rose on my back of my neck. Gabby had made a major mistake!
Gabby finished her program so violently, her toe pick went into the ice and sent snow flying everywhere. The crowd had given her a standing ovation, as they had me, but hers was louder. Gabby panted as she and Magdalina headed to the kiss-and-cry. I felt like praying as I hung on to each second, waiting for the moment her score would pop on screen.
Finally, it happened; 161.60. Even though Gabby had fallen, the judges still gave her a higher score than me, and put her in first place.
Hey, Malovian politics still affected everything. I hardly felt disappointed. I was just glad I had a shot at attending the European Championships. Which is why when the judges brought us on the ice to receive our medals, I was still grinning from ear to ear.
Gabby scowled, even when they put the gold around her neck. She waved to the crowd more out of obligation than actual joy.
“You know, you could at leastactlike you earned that medal, instead of behaving like you’re obligated to it,” I hissed through my smile as we waved to the crowd.
“You got lucky, Sosna. Don’t count on winning the next competition, either,” Gabby spat.
She was just pissed I’d proven to be a real threat. No one else in our competition had come close to putting scores like ours up on the board. As always, Gabby had to be the best.
But I was right on her tail. And at the European Championships, I was coming for her.
My friends were waiting for me out in the lobby. Delmare, Kiara, and Odette piled against me. “Bitch, that was amazing!” Delmare cried. “You are a badass on the ice.”
“Yeah!” Odette said, before she stuck out her lip. “You should’ve won, though. You stayed on your skates, and Gabby fell right on her butt!”
“I mean, the judges would have egg on their face if they didn’t let the queen of Malovia win, but the judges at the European Championships won’t be so biased,” Kiara pointed out. “Emma has a better chance to win there.”
“How could shenotwin? Emma, your layback spin is sooooo pretty!” Odette squealed.
A rustling from behind caught my attention. Ethan was there— he was holding a bouquet of white roses, which he handed to me. “Congratulations,onawilke. You skated beautifully.”
Tears rose up in my eyes, and I had to choke them back. “Ethan… I don’t know what to say.”
His look was teasing. “A Time for Us, hm?”
“Yes.” I held the flowers close. “One of my favorites.”
“I do recall that being our song.”
“It... was.”
And just like that, the magical moment between us was broken. Ethan flinched, and the movement drove a dagger into my feelings. He glanced away, unable to keep his gaze connected with mine. I couldn’t look at him, either.
