Vas and Val

Chapter 6

Hey everyone, I feel so bad for not posting an update. I've been so busy and just have not been writing. I'm going to try and keep the updates coming. Thanks for being patient with me.

Vasilisas Pov:

I'm a wreck. I got up this morning and my eyes were bloodshot from crying as I pulled up to the rink.

I walk inside the rink with my head down. I'm going to be laser focused today. No emotion. I'm blocking him out of my mind and I'm just going to focus on skating and my own skills.

That lasted about 10 seconds. Val walks in. He looks worse than I do. He has a frown. No more little grin. No more rude comments on my hair in the morning. I'm glad for that one but I'm worried about him. What if I hurt his feelings too much. Why do I even care. He hurt me too.

I am going to stretch and block him out for real this time. No more distractions. No bad things. No feelings.

I'm once again interrupted by Val. He comes up and stretches right next to me. He never looks at my reflection. He's laser focused as well. Good. That makes my job easier.

Al comes in and tells us to start getting laces on. We are all on ice today. We need to put everything together. I do as told.

I feel my heart drag me to the ground. I feel bad that I hurt his feelings. He's grown like a brother to me since we started skating together even though he's like my sworn enemy.

I get lost in my thoughts as I get on the rink and start skating around. My eyes mostly closed. I can feel the breeze on my face as my hair flows backwards. I can feel my feet gliding on the ice as I move them in unison with each other.

Today is going well.

I feel so at peace. I picture myself in the sky. Dancing over the clouds and feeling at one with the cold rink air.

Then it's over. I feel two arms wrap around my waist and skate with me. I inhale an intoxicating scent. My eyes shoot open. Fuck. It's Val. Why does he smell so good? My eyes closed once again and I let him skate around with me. Comfortable silence overtakes us as we skate with each other. I think this is an apology.

He taps my shoulder and I look at him. He's giving me a look I have never seen. I can't help but stare into his eyes.

"Do you want to do the routine?"

It takes me a few seconds to snap out of the trance he put me in. I nod my head and we run the routine.

Fuck

I fell. There's this little bump in the ice. It's been there forever and I always forget to watch out for it.

Im lifted upwards by my arms. Val pulls me to my feet and we keep skating. That made me feel like I was flying upwards. As we are skating in nod at Val and he gives me a smirk. Of course. It's back.

I'm actually not mad at that it's good to have him back.

As we finish our routine we stop in the middle of the rink. We are close together. Not as close as I wanted to be. Wait. Closer than I wanted to be. Maybe.

He gives me that look again. I don't know what it it. We are breathing heavily in sync. It's so fascinating how we manage to do that.

"I'm sorry". It sounds weird. He's never said sorry.

"I'm sorry too Val." He shakes his head and grabs my hand, leading me towards the bench.

"You have nothing to be sorry for I was being completely out of my mind." It sounds genuine to me and I can feel that he's telling the truth.

I start to talk but he cuts me off. "I'm sorry for stepping in on your conversation. I'm sorry I haven't been noticing you struggling. I and your skating partner after all and we should take care of each other. I'm sorry I never stand up for you in training. I'm sorry I have always been so mean to you. I'm going to change and we will have a great performance." He finishes talking. I just look at him. I have no idea how to respond.

"Wow. Thank you Val it means a lot. And we are going to nail the competition if we skate like we just did." He smiles at me. An actual smile. I love it. In a friendly way of course.

He starts talking again. "I didn't even feel like we were working for the competition. It felt nice. Just for fun. It made me remember why I even started skating in the first place."

"I love that Val." I smile at him this time just as coach comes and gets us going. We start with a full run through so she can take notes on the things we need to fix. I didn't hit that little bump of ice and fall.

We came of the ice hand in hand waiting to see what she says about our performance. He's making a face I have never seen before. That seems to have been happening a lot lately.

It feels nice to just skate. Like Val said. When that happens it reminds me why I started skating. I'm glad I have Val. Even if we don't get along.

"Are you excited for competition?" he asks me. It takes me a second to register what he says.

"Oh, yeah I'm excited. I'm a bit nervous but after that run through I feel a lot better."

"Youll do great this weekend. I'm so excited to see your costume". I give him a confused smile. I never thought I would hear those words come out of his mouth.

"Thank you. I think you going to like it." why not play along.

"Vasilisa. I love anything you wear you look stunning in everything."

I blush and smile. I don't know what to say to that. I just give his hand a squeeze as Al comes over to direct us for the plan today.

I can't help thinking what this weekend will hold. Val has been being nice. Not as many rude remarks. I'm thankful. I'm hoping that we can win the matching gold this weekend.