The Secret 4

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 2
At the Naples Ice Skating Rink.
As time goes by...
2 weeks to go before the competition, I already practiced all the elements from pre-preliminary to novice skills. Another 2 weeks to practice the short program and free skate. I am stressed but every time I am entering the rink, all I can see is myself and the music in my ears. That is why nobody will interrupt me. This time, I am completing the short program elements and artistic signature moves that I always used in my competition. I am on the half of the song, this time I am using the Ina Bauer signature move and Triple Axel combo.
As the song continues...after the double toe loop jump. I skate and do double circular path as looks like doing the Triple Axel but no, I bend a little and spread my arms like an eagle "The Ina Bauer - An outside edge. Then jump to do Triple Axel + Double loop Jump. I only heard my music until the end. All my eyes look up in my one hand. After I practice and finished my short program dance, Coach Lucas and her wife Sasaki Makiko (my dance instructor) waited for me to get off in the ice rink.
"Nowie chan, you are amazing!! You always do what we say to you and you have your creativity when dancing." Coach Makiko praised me again and again.
"Don't say that, I am not yet amazing, all I can do is to do my job but I thanked you," I answered her.
"Girls, we have 2 weeks before the Grand Prix Event. I have the ambition to you to win this competition but I don't want you to gain so much pressure on us. I know, Once I become an Olympic Medalist and lots of awards and medals I received when I am young but now it's not the same. Coach Makiko is also a multi-awarded and also an Olympian Ice dancer from her country who received one-time silver and bronze medals when her time. You two are different from us. I don't want you to become like the other skaters. I want you to become who you are when performing. I want you to stand on your feet and do what you wanted. We, your coaches always in your back, support you two. To win a gold, silver or bronze is a bonus, so keep it to your heart and mind. Ok?" he advised.
"Yes, Coach!" we answered.  The practice ended, it's time to take a review.
In the Library...
I open my book and I saw my family picture. It's been a long time since Dad passed away, I am 7 years old at that time and my mom is not in the picture that time because she's focusing to do her job outside the country until now, never contact me. At the age of 8, she left me to coach Alex. All I have is remembering her face.
I started to review what I missed in my online class. Yes, I am attending online classes in Italy. And yes, I am living in Italy with Sissy and my Two Coaches after Coach Alex turned over me.   I always contact Coach Alex because he looks like my father he is my father's best friend.  Since I am now 14 years old and a middle school graduating, I am also a Valedictorian for the past 2 years so I don't want to lose it just because the competition is very near.
3 in the afternoon.
It's time to go back to the Ice Skating Rink. I put my things back in my bag and walked. When I arrived, all of them are in the rink. Yeah, I'm late,   just smiled and go to the locker area to change. Coach Makiko followed me. "Nowie-chan, are you okay?" she asked me.
"Yes, Coach! Why?" asked her back. "Nothing, after you change your clothes we're going to practice your Free Skate Performance, Ok?"
"Yes, Coach!" and change quickly.
Before I go to the rink, I closed my eyes and think what is my goal, which is to end up Top 5 in Junior Grand Prix.  I don't care about the gold but of course, that's the bonus in the end if I win. There is a lot of figure skater in this world and every time we met, I felt nervous because of the skills they had.
I whisper to myself. "fighting."
"I'm sorry, I'm late. " I said to them
And we started to dance. Coach Makiko is so super flexible even she's 40 years old. How she dance is super amazing. A swan dancing in the water but a swan dancing in the ice. That she is, a woman with no fears. I copy her dancing.
"Like this, coach?" I am pulling my hands from above and stretch sideways while continuing to skate, my right-hand moves to the left side and next is my left hand to the right and single circular path and do a spread eagle signature move, The Besti Squat."
"Yes, after that another create a trice circular path and do the Biellmann Spin." Coach Makiko tells me what to do next
"Noted, Coach," I answered
"1 counter-clockwise and back to clockwise and do the sit spin." Continues she says while I'm skating.
Sissy POV
"1 counter-clockwise and back to clockwise and do the sit spin," Coach says to Nowie.
I go back and sit down for a bit for 5 minutes break.
"Wow, she is so great at the age of 14," Michael says
"That's true! How to become like her?" Cathlyn continues the conversation.
"No one is like her. You know she is the best in the team right now because she likes the sports." I said to them.
"Yeah, but Sissy are you not envied her?" Joan asked me. "Why would I?" back her a question
"Because she is good at figure skating," Joan answered back.
"I know she is good from the start. All I have to do is not compete with her but support her for what she is doing, and I will do my best also in the competitions. And lastly, we're different that's why there is nothing to envy with her." answered them while looking to Nowie.
Coaches called us...
"Ok guys, I will call the names who will participate in Grand Prix. Lowry, Michael for Men's Figure Skating and Sissy, Nowie, and Alaine for Women's category. For Seniors Event will be held in a different place after 3 months. I will call Cathlyn and Sherwin. Your Coach will be me and Makiko.
Shaley and Ford for Ice Dance, your Coach will be Xanti.
"That's for today. See you tomorrow." Coaches said to us. I am so tired. "Guys! I'm going home first and take a rest early, see you tomorrow." I said to them.
9 in the evening, Nowie is still not here. I walk outside because the Skating rink opens until 10 in the evening. I entered the Ice Skating Rink and I saw her completing her free skating moves so that she will practice it with no pressure.
She waved at me.
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Nowie's POV
I waved to her. "Why are you still there? It's 9:15 in the evening," Sissy says in a louder voice.
I go to her. "I have to complete the moves. but since you're here I have to go back home." I answered her. I tidy up my things and change clothes.
"Shall we go?" I ask her. She nodded to me.
When we got back home, I just feel tired. After I eat, I go to my bed and sleep. And tomorrow is another day.

In the Afternoon...
I don't have to worry about my school subjects because I passed all the requirements for this semester. All I have to do is continue my online class every day for at least 2 hours to 3 hours because I can't go to the school where I and Sissy enrolled. Every time that we have to go on the competition, we are exempted from the face-to-face classes and my teacher allows us to study online, so that, we never missed the lesson taken at the school. Classes are not exempted in my skating practices. So, school's first before skating that is the rule even coaches know that. 
It's time to go to the rink and continue what I have left. Only 1 minute left in the music and I need to put some extra elements, signature moves, dance, and end position, then that's it. I walked faster, then I passed by a bookstore, I walked back. I saw a poster of one of the best figure skaters from Japan, Mao Hikari, and Hiura Yuki. I entered the shop and buy the magazine then run faster to catch up to the opening of the Ice Skating rink.
9 in the morning...
The rink was open, I change my clothes and before I started to skate, I read the magazine and look at the rink...
TO BE CONTINUED...