Ice Lovers (boyxboy)

CHAPTER 33

(Mason POV)

This is the day. The day of my competition; the single one. As I get dressed in my special outfit, I can feel my heart racing, my hands shaking. I'm so excited, but nervous as well.

I can hardly wait, yet I want the time to never come. I want to jump right on the ice, but also flee the ice like my life depends on it. It's such a weird feeling.

But with my costume fully on, I grab my skates and leave the locker room. Onto the bleachers I go to begin lacing up my skates.

One of the most exciting parts of this is that my sister is here, like she was yesterday. Along with the rest of my siblings and my mom. I look up to the bleachers to see them, just when Diego arrives and sits with them.

I smile and wave, and they do the same. Now I just have to wait. The hardest part. All I can do is just sit anxiously, not even daring to lift my head to see the performance going right now.

And then it comes, my turn to go skate on the ice, in front of all these people for the routine I've been pouring my heart into for months. With a few skipped beats of my heart, I skate onto the ice, into the starting position of the routine.

A loud ringing in my ears, drowning out the sounds of the crowd, only silencing when the music starts. And with that, my routine begins.

Starting with a spin or two, going into step work. From spin to spin, the music only gets louder as my movements become more expressive; Though I don't change the determined look on my face.

I've practiced and planned for so long, this is the very moment it was all for. I don't have any thoughts other than about the routine; not thinking of Diego, or my family, or any other possible distractions.

Though I do feel a slight pain, the soreness of each muscle I use in my routine, barely noticeable. I'm sure it doesn't affect my performance in any way.

As the judges score and grade my work, I continue on, even as the quadruple axel slowly arrives. With the jump of my life coming up, the dreadful feeling of anxiety filling my chest comes too.

The music is pounding in my ears, my heart beating faster. I begin to skate backwards, all part of the build up to the trick. I kick off, spinning in the air…

And this time, I land it. My smile grows as I continue on. The celebration in my head unbeknownst to everyone else. A short glance to Diego tells me he knows though.

And with that, I continue on. I don't stop my performance until the music fades out. Striking the final pose, breathing heavily, and a wide smile on my face. I look at Diego in this moment, my grin turning to a more soft smile as I catch his eye.

A collage of cheering and clapping follows suit, the perfect reward for my work. It almost brings tears to my eyes, such a beautiful moment. I worked so hard for this…and it's so much better than what I could have ever expected.

I get off the ice, practically twirling in excitement as I get to my coach. “Mason, that was perfect!” She compliments me, grasping onto my shoulders, looking right into my eyes. “Thank you!”

Compliment after compliment, how gracious and momentous. Just for it to come to an end once I sit back down on the bleachers, the next person already on the ice, ready to skate their own routine.

Now I just sit on the bleachers, sipping water and cooling down from all of my excitement; which doesn't take long, considering I'm at an ice rink. I watch the other performances come and go, my thoughts filled with the differences between mine and theirs.

I won't let myself feel like they could be better than me. Not at all. I know I worked too hard to have doubts about myself now, it's all said and done, nothing I can change now. But landing the quadruple axel has been the best part so far. I shouldn't be doubting myself, the others should.