The Search For Shattered Pieces *Complete*

Chapter Forty-Three: Free Falling

Lyra:

So much for my plan to avoid the boys.  From that night I'd spent with Xav, they were everywhere.  They showed up for practice, dinner, late night watching of practice.  They were definitely showing me they could wear my defenses down.  The thing is, the harder I tried to avoid them, the more they drew near to me.  They'd been serious about this "not letting me run" from them, thing.  And surprisingly knowing they were watching me and that Coach Rancic didn't mind made my skater better.  It was as if I had something to prove...and I did.

   "That was amazing, pigeon." Trent says as I skate to the side.  "That was a quad wasn't it?"

   "It was." I smile from ear to ear.  "They're becoming easier and easier."

   "Hard work made it happen," Coach Rancic said.  "Don't forget the hard word, Lyra."

   "No, I won't.  It has been hard work, but they're coming easier to me now."

   "And they would, will, the more you practice them.  You realize you're something of a prodigy, Lyra."

   "Oh don't be silly." I laugh.

   Coach Rancic isn't smiling when she says.  "I never joke when it comes to my students skating.  Lyra, I've never seen anyone or coached anyone with your innate abilities and your aptitude.  You seem to connect to the ice in a way that no one else does.  This is your home and it shows every time you're on the ice."

   I'm floored by her praise.  A little embarrassed too.  But seriously floored.  "I...I don't even know what to say."

   "You don't have to say anything.  Just know that you are more than capable of taking this, Lyra.  You skate at Nationals the way you're skating now and nothing and no one stands a chance against you.  And I know it.  I feel it in here" and she touches her heart.

   I feel a tear slip down my cheek and Trent catches it with his finger and smiles at me. "She's right, Pigeon.  You were meant for this.  This is your time."

   "Well I sure hope so, since Nationals is a week away."

   "You've got this, Pigeon."

   "Thank you Trent," And I turn to Coach Rancic and give her an uncharacteristic hug.  "And thank you.  Thank you for showing me things I could do in ways I never knew I could do them."

   "Oh Lyra." Coach Rancic smiles.  "That's what coaches do."

*****

Tallis:

Lyra has been a machine, a skating machine.  She took all her schoolwork home and has been completing it at home so she can dedicate as much time as possible to skating and getting ready for Nationals.  I can't imagine she isn't going to place, let alone win, she is just incredible when she takes the ice.  I'd never imagined I'd meet let alone fall in love with a figure skater, but here I was hopelessly in love with one.  The most perfect one on the planet.  Yes I was bias.  But how could I not be?

Right now she's skating and she'll have a brief break for dinner.  So I've gotten everything set up.  We're all going to have dinner together.  Just then Lyra saunters in her hair in a messy ponytail and a large smile on her face.

   "Just let me clean up and I'll be down in a second okay?" She says.

   Even a second is too long to go without seeing her.  "Okay, Nightingale.  Take your time.  Zach and Xav are on their way but they ran into some traffic."

   Lyra nods and rushes up to her room.  I watch her completely infatuated.  That's me, totally lovesick.

   "Hey smells good." Trent bounds into the kitchen.