Skates & Cleats

4

It had been a couple of weeks since Travis had left for Ohio, and Taylor was slowly adjusting to the long-distance aspect of their budding relationship. They had kept in touch almost every day, exchanging texts, phone calls, and even late-night video chats when they could sneak some privacy. Every conversation made her heart flutter, and despite the miles between them, Taylor felt closer to him than ever.

Today, however, was a special day—it was Travis's 14th birthday.

Taylor lay on her bed, her phone resting on her stomach as she stared at the ceiling, thinking about what she should say. She wanted to make the message perfect. It wasn't like they were just casual friends anymore, but she didn't want to come off too intense either. After all, they were only 13, and things were still new. But the more she thought about it, the more she realized she just wanted to make him smile.

She rolled over onto her stomach, grabbed her phone, and opened their text thread. It was already full of jokes, random conversations, and sweet exchanges from the past couple of weeks. She could hear his voice in her head as she scrolled through their messages.

Taking a deep breath, she started typing.

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**Taylor**: Hey you! 😎 I know it's super early but I couldn't wait... Happy Birthday, Travis! 🎉🎈🎂 Hope you have the best day ever 🥳 Wish I could be there to celebrate with you, but I'm sending all my good vibes your way! Can't wait to hear about all the awesome stuff you're going to do today 🏈🎁🎊

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She hovered over the send button for a moment, then tapped it, feeling a nervous flutter in her chest. What if he thought it was too cheesy? What if he didn't reply right away? Taylor was about to put her phone down and distract herself when it buzzed almost instantly with a response.

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**Travis**: Thanks, Tay! 😁 You just made my day already, and it's not even 10 a.m. yet 😂 I wish you were here too. It'd be way better celebrating with you instead of just my annoying brother. But don't worry, I'll survive... barely.

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Taylor laughed softly, feeling her cheeks warm at his response. She quickly typed back.

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**Taylor**: Haha, good to know I'm more fun than your brother! 😉 What are you doing today? Any special birthday plans?

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**Travis**: Not much, really. Just hanging out with family, maybe catching up with some friends later. My mom's making my favorite dinner, so at least I've got that to look forward to. What about you? Got any exciting plans for today?

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Taylor grinned. She had skating practice in the afternoon, as usual, but the rest of her day was pretty open.

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**Taylor**: I've got practice later, but after that, not much. I wish I could send you a cake through the phone or something 🤷‍♀️ But I guess this will have to do for now.

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**Travis**: Haha, yeah, I don't think technology's that advanced yet 😜 But just hearing from you is more than enough. You gonna do a special birthday skate for me at practice today?

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Taylor smiled at the idea, imagining herself dedicating a routine just for him.

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**Taylor**: Oh, for sure! I'll be doing triple spins just for you 😂 You'll have to imagine me landing the perfect jumps.

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**Travis**: You're probably killing it out there every time. I wish I could see you skate in person sometime.

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Taylor's heart skipped a beat. The idea of Travis watching her skate sent a wave of warmth through her. She could almost picture it—him sitting in the stands, cheering her on with that easy smile of his.

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**Taylor**: Maybe one day you will. I've got a competition coming up in a few weeks... who knows? Maybe I'll convince you to come watch me 😏

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**Travis**: You won't have to convince me. I'd love to be there. Just tell me when and where.

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Taylor smiled wider, her heart light with excitement. She couldn't help but imagine how amazing it would be to have Travis there, cheering her on. But for now, all she could do was text him and make him feel special from afar.

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**Taylor**: I'll definitely let you know! In the meantime, enjoy your day, birthday boy 🎉 Don't let your brother bug you too much 😉

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**Travis**: I'll try, but no promises. Thanks for the birthday wishes, Tay. You're the best. Talk to you later?

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**Taylor**: Of course! Talk soon 😊

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As she hit send and put her phone down, Taylor couldn't stop the smile that stretched across her face. It wasn't the same as being with him in person, but texting Travis made her feel close to him in a way that was comforting. She was glad she'd been able to make his birthday a little brighter.

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Later that afternoon, Taylor laced up her skates and stepped onto the rink. Her coach was running through their usual drills, but Taylor found herself more focused than usual. Travis's words about wanting to see her skate lingered in her mind, giving her an extra boost of energy and determination.

As she glided across the ice, executing her spins and jumps with precision, she imagined him watching her. Every landing felt smoother, every movement more graceful. By the time practice was over, she was practically glowing.

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That evening, as she lay in bed, Taylor's phone buzzed again.

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**Travis**: Hey, Tay. Today was awesome, but I just wanted to say thanks again for making it even better. You're amazing.

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Taylor grinned at the message, her heart fluttering once more. She quickly typed back.

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**Taylor**: I'm glad you had a great birthday 😊 You deserve it.

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With one final text exchange, Taylor turned off her phone and snuggled deeper into her blankets, her thoughts drifting back to Travis. Despite the distance between them, she felt connected to him in a way that was new and exciting. And as she drifted off to sleep, she couldn't help but wonder what the future held for the two of them.

One thing was for sure—this was just the beginning.