Fire on Ice

Part 39

Nora POV

I walk into the cafe for my shift and instead of Georgia, I see a note on the counter telling me she'll be back later, so I start the process of opening up the cafe. The morning rush hour comes and goes and soon enough, I'm left alone in the back office to take care of some office stuff. I haven't been back to the cafe since Nikolas and I broke up, and when I walk to my desk I see the remnants of flowers he gave me. The once vibrant roses are now wilted and withering away. The symbolism of our relationship in these roses doesn't go unnoticed and I quickly throw them away before I can think too much about him. But after a while, I look back at the roses and remember the day he surprised me with them.

I had to go in early one morning and Nikolas was too tired to take me, so I took the bus. I didn't think anything of it, but 20 minutes into my shift I saw him walk in with a huge smile and them in his hands. I don't know why, well actually probably because I was on my period, but the gesture made me cry. Just the sheer thoughtfulness he had was so overwhelming and instead of us spending a nice morning together, he spent the next half hour trying to get me to stop crying. I laugh at the fond memory, and think about how that's over now.

It's over because I made it that way, and even though for now I still think it was the right thing to do, I can't say I don't miss us being together. Especially the mundane things, like coming home to him or sleeping next to each other. Tears well up in my eyes and I quickly brush them away. I have to move on because even if I ever did want to get back together, despite what my mom says, he wouldn't want me. The look on his face at the rink and then again at his apartment broke me. Seeing the sheer anguish in his eyes, that I put there, is how I know that he and I are truly over. He deserves someone with less baggage. He deserves more.

I'm so deep in my thoughts that I don't notice Georgia standing in the doorway, watching me crying over these flowers. "You okay sweetheart?" She asks me.

I don't have to tell her about Nikolas and I, it's pretty obvious so I just say, "I will be." Georgia has known me long enough to know that I prefer alone time over comfort, so she just kisses my head and walks out, closing the door behind her.

I feel like I don't deserve to cry because I'm the one that ended it. But despite that, I still feel the loss of his presence everywhere I go. It's not like I wanted to break up with him, it's just how the cookie crumbled.

I spend the next few minutes clearing my face of any tears and mascara that ran down, and then I take a deep breath. I'd better get used to this new reality because it's the one I'll be living in for a while. Despite what he thinks, Nikolas and I can be friends. We can move on and still accomplish what we both want.

* * *

Nikolas POV

I don't think I will ever be able to be friends with her. Watching her solo practice before our session confirms that fact. Seeing her graceful movements and strong muscles propel her across the ice makes me miss her even more than I already do.

"Fuck" I mutter under my breath, "I don't think I can do this."

"You can" A voice says behind me. I whip around to see Coach leaning against his office door.

"What?" I say.

"I said you can do this." He repeats. I decide to play dumb, "I don't know what you're talking about."

He rolls his eyes, "Come in here." He walks into his office without letting me respond, indicating that he expects me to follow. My session with Nora doesn't start for another 30 minutes, so I reluctantly walk into Coach's office and close the door behind me.

"You're going to hate me for saying this, but you're going to be fine" He starts off.

"I know I will." He rolls his eyes again, "C'mon drop the act. This breakup must be hard on both of you." For once in my life, I actually follow his advice and, no longer being able to pretend, my act drops.