Midnight Kiss

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• ₊°✧︡ ˗ ˏ ˋ ♡ ˎˊ ˗

Liona Angelos

"And a double Loop Jump!" My coach, Cora, shouts. "Land more on the edge!" My heartbeat increases rapidly.

I have attempted this jump a hundred times today, but I still have trouble to get it right. It's frustrating, given as I have done it so many times and it never failed. So I do it again, this time I try to momentum so I can rotate faster and land more steady on my foot.

I jump in the air, do a double twirl and try to land back on the back outside edge of my right foot. But just as I'm about to land I lose my balance and slump onto the cold ice.

I groan and stand up. I'm so angry with myself. Why can't I just get it right, it's not that hard! I've done it so many fucking times!

I look at the time, practice has been over for 20 minutes and yet here I am doing this jump until it's perfect.

"One last time!" Cara shouts from the side, as she takes notes on what has to be done tomorrow. I can already see the next student. She does not even try to conceal her frustration. I am equally aware of how she is feeling at this moment. I too hated the sense of not having enough time to practice when the student in front of me took too long.

I always hated that kind of feeling and kept telling myself that I'm never going to be one of them. Little did I know that I would turn into one of them just soon enough.

I try again, jumping in the air, doing a double rotation and landing on my right foot. I make it, but this time when landing I'm wobbling a bit down.

I groan again and brush my loose hair behind my ears. Out of the corner of my eye I can see Cora skating over to me.

"We are going to do the exact same tomorrow again, Liona. And you have to get it right by then. We don't have anymore time, okay?" Cora looks me in the eyes, "You have to have more stability in your legs. Do this one workout I've shown you, maybe it will help." I nod my head, not really trusting my self that I won't shout out in frustration.

"Okay you can go now," she ways me off, already looking for her next student.

As I'm about to get off the ice I can hear her call, "Liona we are going to do your choreography tomorrow, so be ready for that." I give her a thumbs up and slump down onto the bench to take my skates off, I really had to sharpen my blades after this training.

-

"You are late again Liona" I groan at hearing the voice of my employer, Mr. Andino. He should already know that I'm late every day. That's why nobody wanted to employ me, as I was having such an 'extra private live'. But still he chose to employ me and I'm really thankful for that.

"I'm sorry" I call from the back, moving faster to change into my working clothes. I'm working in an old restaurant, where not many people come by. The only customers I have are regular customers, mostly they are all old friends of Andino.

While still slipping on my work shoes, I hop to the front desk of the restaurant where Mr. Andino stood frowning at me.

"I'm really close to firing you, you know that Liona." he says to me, with no sign of humor that is written on his face. I needed this job so bad. I don't even know what I would do without it.

Wait. I know it.

I couldn't afford these ridiculous expensive skating lessons anymore. Not that I could afford them with the little money I get here. But it helps. And as soon as I will get the first price money for a competition ,that I will win, I will pay off all my debts and start from zero.

"I'm so sorry. I got into this really bad traffic on the-" I try to save myself of loosing yet another job. This would be the 3rd time, apparently I don't own luck when it comes to jobs. Either they won't accept me to at least show up for a job interview or fire me within the next 2 months.

"Quit the excuses Liona. I told you to not get here late and yet this was your 5th time this week. And it is Friday." I just know that I'm gonna be unemployed by the end of the day, or maybe even in 5 minutes. But what should I do when Cora won't let me go from training that fast? "I'm going to give you one more chance. One more. And after that none."

A smile makes its way onto my lips. But I try to keep my happiness at bay.

"Thank you so so much." I go and take his hands, shaking it mutable times. "You don't even know what it means to me." I consider giving him a hug, but decide not to and to start working fast.

"If you turn up one more time just a minute to late. You will not have a job here anymore, understood?" Mr. Andino calls after me and I know that he means it. I give him a thumbs up and hum to myself as I start taking the first orders.

You know I think Andino has a soft core in his heart. And even though he doesn't like to admit, I even think that he likes me.

Not in that way, but that I'm his favorite employee.

Happy Valentines ♡

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