Vanilla ice

Chapter 24:

Owen

After calling Sophia last night we went to the waterpark side of the hotel. Liam went on several of the slides. Some he wanted Vivian to go on but most of them he went with Spencer. Spencer went on one of the single slides that doesn't have a tube to go with it. He said it tipped him upside down before plunging him into the lazy river.

We went to bed pretty early that night. Liam shared a bed with Vivian while Spencer slept on the same bed as me. We woke up super early that morning to surprise Sophia. We got her flowers and lunch. We picked up a wrap for her since she can't eat a lot before a competition.

If it was up to me I would be getting a whole feast for her to eat. After she goes today we are going to take her to the hotel to celebrate. We make our way to our seats when she spots us. Her e yes go wide and she runs up to us.

"Surprise!" We all say in unison.

"What are you guys doing here!" Sophia exclaims as she runs and jumps into my arms. She immediately gives Vivian a hug and the boys a hug.

"We wanted to surprise you, Sissy!"

After eating and hanging out for a little bit she has to go. We say our goodbyes and make our way to our seats.

*****

Sophia

There's five minutes until I go on. I'm nervous and shaking. I don't think I can do this. My thoughts are swirling at one hundred miles per hour. What if I fail and humiliate Coach Alec. After everything that has happened I still feel the need to impress him. My gaze is fogging up and my hearing is muffled. I fall to my knees and clutch my chest. Tears are threatening to fall. It's not until I hear my name come from behind me that I start to regain my senses.

Owen swoops me into his arms. I'm still crying and can't breathe as he tries his best to soothe me. He starts by playing with my hair and rubbing slow circles on my thigh. When that doesn't work he starts humming our song. It calms me down enough to where I gain my senses back fully.

"Love, look at me. It's okay, you're safe and with me babe."

"Owen, I don't think I can go out there." I basically sob.

"You can and will babe. You will do great, Soph. You've practiced this routine over a thousand times. Even when you were sick you still got out of bed and on the ice."

"What if all my work was for nothing?"

"It wasn't, I promise. If you get nervous out there just imagine you're out there all alone practicing. You, the music, and the ice."

"Okay. I can do this."

"Yes you can."

"I need to put on my skates and stretch a little."

"Okay, I will help you with your skates real quick and then you need to get out there."

After Owen leaves I take a minute to compose myself. I hear my name get called as I make my way towards the ice. The cheering is loud but I remember what Owen told me and face my fears. I skate off onto the ice starting my routine with the two laps around the rink, heading into my spinning axle, with my s-step curves leading into my twizell. I mess up a smidge but catch myself and go into my loop. The butterfly jump is next. I finish it with great precision and head into my back spin then finish my routine with my triple lutz. I stop and take a bow. The crowd is cheering and Owen and the boys look super happy. I can't find Viv but I know she saw my routine.

I skate off of the ice and into the locker rooms after the judges say I can go. Coach Alec is waiting for me when I arrive.

"That was lousy, you whore!"

"What?"

"You heard me, Sophia! You could have done better! You fell and messed up, you're such a failure."

Coach Alec spits in my face and slaps me. Owen bursts through the door with a couple security guards behind him. The guards grab Coach Alec and haul him off while Owen picks me up off the floor. I'm crying in his arms as he puts on my skate guards.

We step out of the locker room where a female scout walks up to me.

"Are you Sophia Montgomery?"

"Yes I am, who may you be?"

"I'm Tiffany Ellington, I'm a scout from Ellington skates. I believe you could do great things with the proper help. We are willing to sign a contract with you. Here's our business card. Reach out when you get a chance."

"Oh wow. Definitely I will."

Before I know it she is gone. I wait at the tunnel with Owen,the boys, and Vivian. They announce third through fifth place leaving the top two empty. My name has not been called and I don't expect it to be. I zone out and before I know it my name gets called by the judges. I won first place. I grab my first place metal. I'm crying happy tears as I get a big check handed to me.

This will solve a lot of our financial problems.