The Search For Shattered Pieces *Complete*

Chapter Thirty-Three: Spinning Sideways

Trent:

   "Well...that went well." Xavier says sarcastically and I want to punch him in his perfect nose.

   "It did," Tal says with more confidence in his voice than I've ever heard from him.  "It did go well."

   "What part? The part where you all made her feel uncomfortable or the part where you all spit out that we like her, as if we're in middle school passing notes that say 'do you like me' put a check next to yes or no."

   "Just shut up Xav," Tal grumbles.  "Lyra listened to us.  She ate.  And she listened to us."

   "Yes, but what did she actually hear?"

   "Well what were we supposed to do," I suddenly spit out, fed up with his attitude.  "Just spit out, hey Lyra, we all love you." I run a hand through my hair and roll my eyes.  "Yeah I sure that would've gone over really really well.  She's so skittish as it is, she would've gone running for the hills."

   "You're all right." Zach the ever reasonable one counters.  "Yes Xav maybe it could've gone a bit better, perhaps we could have gotten her to open up to us a little more.  But it's coming because now she knows we're all solidly in her corner, that we care for her, ALL of us.  And you're right too Tal, we got her to initiate dinner, and Jesus, she ate for God's sake.  We pushed enough for the night.  There's only so much we can do."

   I hate it.  I wanted Lyra to open up to me right now.  I wanted her to come to me, to talk to me.  I hated that she felt she had to keep things to herself.  But Zach was right.  I saw it in her eyes tonight.  She actually heard us, listened to us, and believed us.  I KNOW she believed us.  She couldn't hide everything, and the hope glistening in those beautiful orbs of her told me so much.  She wanted to tell us.  I know she wanted to.  She just wasn't ready yet.  But she would be...and soon.  She couldn't hide from us forever.

                                               *****

Lyra:

    I crash and swear a long litany of swear words. I'm so close. My takeoff is nearly perfect, my position in the air is perfect, but I'm not getting the height maybe? The speed? WHAT? WHAT is it? It's like being and inch away from the podium and not being able to touch it. I have to get this quad. I can do it. I know I can do it. I get up again change the music to Taylor Swifts, "Ready for It."

"You look incredible Lyra?" I spin around and see Zach.

"What are you doing here?"

"Just checking up on you."

"I don't need to be checked on." I say waspishly. And then am contrite. It's not his fault that I can't get this quad. "And I don't look incredible, I look like I'm falling a lot, because I AM falling a lot."

"You did three triple axels."

"You know they were triple axels?"

Zach blushes a little and it's charming. "I may have been watching some figure skating lately and doing a little studying on the subject."

My minds completely blown. "Why?"

"Come here, Dove." I skate to the edge of the ice and meet him at the rail.

"Why Zach?"

"Because it's part of who you are, and I want to know that part of you. I want to know all the parts of you."

I stiffen. He wouldn't if he knew. He must see my response because he gently cups my cheek.

"I want you Lyra, all of you."