FLAKES | NATHAN CHEN

SEVEN

FEBRUARY 23RD, 2019

    Nathan sat at the same library table he sat at last weekend, except this time he was watching Avery grade the practice test their teacher gave them. He didn't think he did that bad, he had been studying the stuff that him and Avery went over for the past week. He was anxious about the whole situation. He was already a year late in his studies because he started late due to skating. If he didn't pass this midterm or this class, be would be even more behind. He also had the stress of the impending World Championships that were getting closer. He had been training at Yale's gym as well as a nearby rink, but it didn't feel that same way as it did in California and Salt Lake City.

    All the while, he was keeping this entire situation from Avery. At the same time, she was the one keeping him sane and causing him the most distress. He was so happy that he had finally met someone who had no attachment to his career in skating. When he first started school, he had been asked thousands of questions by the other students in his classes. Not that me minded of course. But he had finally met someone who didn't have any preconceived ideas or opinions on him before he met them. For the first time it felt like a natural friendship, and not one he had develop around an ice rink. He felt terrible not telling her, to him it felt like a double life. He knew he wanted to tell her, definitely before the semester ended. But not before the World Championships, he couldn't.

    Avery's voice brought him out of his thoughts, "Ok, I finished grading." Nathan put down the pencil he was playing with before turning his full attention on the girl across from him, "How bad was it?" Avery's face remained indifferent as she tapped the papers on the table in front of her. The boys anxiety started to rise as he noticed her face unchanging. "Well, it's honestly not what I expected," She said, tapping the papers again as Nathans shoulders dropped, "Ninety-six." Nathan sat up in shock as a large smile turned onto Averys face, "Wait what?" "You got one wrong!" She stated proudly, sliding the paper over to Nathan as his eyebrows raised.

    "Actually?" Nathan said as he grabbed the papers from her hand, a smile placing itself on his face. Avery chuckled and pushed his shoulder as she shook her head, "Well, don't sound so shocked, it's not like you didn't study." Nathan shook his head as his eyes landed on her, "More like you basically taught me all of this. Seriously I can't thank you enough." Avery's face tinted red as she went to grab a drink of the soda he brought her today, "Oh please, teachers teach kids every day and they don't learn anything. Take credit for your work."

    "How about we split the credit? Sixty-forty?" He questioned, gesturing to her at sixty and himself at forty. "She shook her head, "Sure, but your sixty." "How about fifty-fifty?" Nathan with raised eyebrows as she tilted her head at him, "Come on, you know we are never going to agree on something." Avery placed an annoyed look on her face, and the boy could tell she was joking, "Fine, even though I don't agree."

    Nathan laughed as they began to pack up their things, "You ready for some Chinese food?" "Absolutely yes, I'm starving," Avery said as Nathan agreed, "Where are we going?" He checked the time on his phone before slipping it in the pocket of his Nike sweatpants. "It's called Taste of China, trust me it's really good. It's the only Chinese restaurant my parents would eat at around here." She laughed at his statement as she followed him out the library doors, "It must be really good then." "It is, it's a few blocks away so we will have to walk a bit if that's ok?" "As long as there is food involved I don't care."

    Like Nathan said, they arrived at Taste of China a few minutes later. Avery noticed the placed was filled with a mix of college kids and local families, giving it an automatic homie feel. A waitress quickly guided them to a table before placing water glasses on their table and taking their drink orders.