Page 42

KATERINA

The ice is gleaming under the bright overhead lights. The sound of blades slicing across the surface echoes around us as competitors warm up, coaches whisper last- minute advice, and the announcer calls for the next pair to take the ice.

This is it—our last qualifier, our last chance to prove we belong in the Olympics. Every gruelling practice, every moment of pain, every sacrifice—it all comes down to this.

I worked my ass off after my injury, training harder than ever. I had to. But now, standing here again, moments away from another performance—the performance—I feel like I can’t breathe. I thought I was over my PTSD, but ever since he who shall not be named dropped me on purpose, a part of me is always on guard, always preparing for the worst.

Alexei is not him.

Alexei is like a brother. He values our safety too much to ever let something like that happen.

But I’m still scared. The competition is taking place at our arena today, and I’m a nervous wreck.

Everyone is coming—our families, our friends. Aiden’s auntie Maria and Sophia will be here, and letting down that little girl would destroy me.

“If you keep frowning like that, you’ll get forehead wrinkles,”

Alexei teases, smirking. I glare at him. He thinks he’s so funny. He’s just being petty because I told him the same thing the other day.

“Are you nervous?”

I ask, and Alexei nods.

“Good, because I’m also shitting bricks.”

He chuckles, and I join in before taking a deep breath. “We’ll smash this,”

he says confidently. “The song is amazing,

the choreography is phenomenal, and don’t even get me started

on our costumes.”

I nod, still overthinking everything. I always do that when I’m nervous. It’s not that I doubt our ability—it’s just… I guess I’m scared of failure. That all this work will be for nothing.

“Stop overthinking,”

Alexei says, rubbing my arms to comfort

me. “Your boyfriend will be here, his family, your dad, plus all our friends.”

I hesitate. I wish my mom was here. Unfortunately, flight tickets are expensive, flying back and forth from Russia, costs a leg and an arm.

I send a quick text to Aiden, asking if he’s here yet. It doesn’t deliver.

I frown but shake it off. His phone is probably dead. He’ll be here. He knows how much this means to me.

Coach grins at Alexei and me, giving us a thumbs-up as she

talks to Alina.

Her qualifier is tomorrow, and I know she’ll make it. The way Alina skates, is magical. Anyone who watches her is hypnotized. I glance toward the stands and spot my dad. He’s talking to Aiden’s mom while Sophia keeps glancing around the rink, searching for me.

“Sophia!”

I call, lifting my hand to wave. The moment her eyes land on me, she grins and starts jumping up and down, waving excitedly. I chuckle, blowing her a kiss.

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the last pre-Olympic qualifier of the year. Please take your seats, as our program will start shortly.”

I inhale sharply, steadying myself as the announcement ends. Alexei nudges me, and I force a smile at him. My grin drops immediately when I see Max and his partner enter the arena. Fuck. I forgot that motherfucker is still in the game. I can’t wait to see his face when we take home gold today.

“Kat, we’re number fourteen,”

Alexei reminds me, rubbing

his hands together for warmth. I nod, rubbing my own hands

as I steal another glance at the stands. Still no Aiden. No Will. No Roman or Grayson.

Where the fuck are they?

“Where are the boys?”

I ask, trying to keep my voice casual, but Alexei sees right through me. He shrugs. “I don’t know. Grayson hasn’t answered my texts either. I’m sure they’ll be here on time.”

I nod, forcing myself to stay positive.

‘He’s not coming, Kat.

He doesn’t care about you.

I keep telling you, only I will love you.’

Max’s voice echoes in my mind, his smirk flashing behind my eyes like a haunting memory. Get the fuck out of my head, Max.

GET THE FUCK OUT!

I shut my eyes tightly, counting to ten as I take slow, deep breaths.

It helps—kind of.

But the ache in my chest won’t go away.

He isn’t here. He knows how much this means to me. And he isn’t here.

He lied.

I watch pair after pair go before us, their performances a blur. Then, before I know it, our names are called. Alexei holds my hand as we skate on the ice, moving toward the center of the rink. I try to smile, but it feels forced. The disappointment weighing me down is suffocating.

Reflections by The Neighbourhood starts playing, and we move— fluid, synchronized, precise. I push through the routine, refusing to let my emotions ruin this. Alexei spins me, releases me, and I launch into a quadruple jump—

I land perfectly.

The crowd erupts into cheers. We continue skating, moving effortlessly. The rhythm carries us, our movements smooth, powerful. Alexei wraps his leg around mine as we spin in place, then lifts me high into the air.

For a split second, I glance toward the stands— And my stomach drops.

His seat is still empty. He didn’t come.

Alexei reaches for me, but I falter. I roll out of his arm too

soon, miss his hand— And fall.

The gasps from the crowd pierce through me like knives. Tears sting my eyes as I scramble to finish the routine, every step feeling heavier, every movement drenched in the weight of my mistake. We hit our final pose, the music fading. Applause erupts around us, but I barely hear it.

The moment we step off the ice, I run. I explode into tears the second I reach the locker room.

“I’m so sorry, Alexei!”

I sob, my voice breaking. “I ruined our future for a stupid guy who didn’t even care enough to be here for me.”

Alexei pulls me into a hug, his arms tight around me. “It’s okay, Kat. I know you really wanted him here. It’s okay.

We’ll have another chance.”

But I shake my head, tears streaming down my cheeks. There won’t be another chance.

We graduate next semester. There won’t be another chance. And I fucking ruined it.

Coach Camilla walks into the room, wrapping her arms around both of us.

“I don’t want to say I told you so,”

she sighs, “but, there’s a reason feelings stay out of competitions. Now let’s go. We have to make our appearance for the points.”

I wipe my tears, nodding, trying to pull myself together.

“I’m just glad you’re okay,”

she adds softly, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. I lean into her. We sit in the podium area, waiting for our score.

I try to smile, but the tears won’t stop. Like a dam has broken loose.

The man I loved bailed on me tonight, and because of my feelings for him, I fucked up my dreams.

We score 98 points—enough for bronze.

Max smirks at me from across the podium, gold hanging around his neck. His expression is mocking, dripping with satisfaction. It makes me want to punch him.

The second the medal ceremony ends, I get off the podium and head straight to the locker room. I change into my clothes as fast as I can, my hands shaking as I grab my phone. I start to text Alina, asking if I can crash at her place, but before I can send it—

The door slams open and Alina rushes in, immediately wrapping her arms around me.

And I break again.

I sob into her shoulder, her hands rubbing my back, whispering, “I’m here, I’m here.”

“He didn’t come, Ali,”

I choke out. “The only reason I fell is because I looked at the stands and saw his seat empty.”

Alina hugs me tighter. “I’m sorry, my love. There should be a proper reason why. You know Aiden cares about you.”

I lift my head, my vision blurry from crying, and see my dad standing in the doorway.

I let go of Alina and run straight into his arms.

“I’m so sorry, Dad,”

I whisper. “I tried, but I let everyone down.”

He strokes my hair, his arms strong and safe around me. “It’s okay, honey. You still have the championship. And I know you’ll win big.”

I nod, swallowing back more tears as he pulls away, wiping my face gently.

“Thanks for being here,”

I whisper.

He smiles, hugging me again. “I’ll always be here for you.”

Thirty minutes later, I’m in Alina’s car, heading toward the figure skating house. I asked my dad to tell Aiden’s auntie that I wasn’t feeling well, but that I was grateful she came. I really am. But I don’t want to see her. I can’t face Sophia after failing. As soon as we walk inside the figure skating house, my phone starts ringing.

I don’t even need to check. I know it’s him. A surge of rage

burns through me as I hit decline.

Text after text pops up, but it doesn’t matter. Nothing he says will fix this. I don’t want anything to do with him. The one man I ever loved forgot about me tonight. And I’m done.

I turn off my phone and hand it to Alina. I don’t have to say anything. She understands, and I’m grateful beyond words to have her in my life. Alina is hurting too. But she’s still here for me.

She’s always there for me.

I change into the pyjamas she gives me and slide into the right side of her bed. A few minutes later, she joins me with a sigh.

“I don’t know why he didn’t show up,”

she murmurs. “But I know Aiden loves you, Kat. He’s crazy about you.”

I shake my head, shutting my eyes tightly.

“It doesn’t matter anymore, Ali. I almost ruined my future for a guy. For a guy who couldn’t even be here for me.”

My voice wavers, but I force myself to finish. “I’m never doing that again.”

Alina gulps, watching me. “I know you don’t mean that. You’re hurt because you love him.”

I stare at the ceiling, forcing back the tears.

“It doesn’t matter anymore,”

I whisper. Because figure skating is my life.

And Aiden is not part of it.