Page 12 of Hate You Most

It was stupid, and way too formal. This entire thing was stupid, she shouldn't be texting her rival.

The second message she typed was even worse.

Volkova

Your coach sent over training footage.

Why was she so bad at this? Fine, she was about to text her rival. Dakota—the girl who'd stolen gold from her before, the same girl she was now in direct competition with on the ice—but that did not mean every message Viktoriya typed had to sound this terrible.

She typed something else, sent it and tossed her phone in her bag.

Volkova

We’re competing against each other in the fall. I assume you’re not planning on losing this time.

An hour later, Viktoriya returned from the ice and checked her phone while she unlaced her skates. Dakota had replied less than two minutes after she'd sent her text.

Sanchez

So that's just your personality? I was starting to think you only talked like that at competitions

Viktoriya waited until she was back home to write a response. She sat on the edge of her bed, phone balanced in her palm, screen glowing.

Volkova

I have my moments.

Dakota's reply appeared almost immediately.

Sanchez

I’ll try not to disappoint, then

Also you're a slow texter!!!

Viktoriya frowned slightly at that, and texted back.

Volkova

What does that mean?

Sanchez

Nothing. Just that it takes you two hours to reply…

I was wondering if you were ignoring me on purpose

She stared at the phone in her hand, then typed a response on the keyboard.

Volkova

No. I had practice.

She waited for a response from Dakota, but she didn't write back. Viktoriya looked at the last message she had sent and audibly sighed. She typed to Dakota exactly how she skated—with precision.

She typed another reply, without thinking too hard about it.

Volkova