Frozen Dreams

Chapter 8

The next week was a long and boring with going to school and coming straight home after. It was the most painful thing to not skate. I felt like a piece of me was missing and I was just angry or sad all the time. Obviously my father was happy with himself and didn't notice a thing, but my sister definitely did. She kept asking what was wrong like 50 times a day and was always trying extra hard to make me smile. It took a lot too, to make me smile, I was just...incomplete. So I didn't find a reason to smile like I used to. I was sick of all this though, I wanted to just go back on the ice... Yet, I was too scared that if I tried my father would be in the parking lot staring me down. Until last night.
My father works late some days, and last night was one of them "I'll be back by 9," he said grabbing his jacket and opening the door.
"Okay whatever," I rolled my eyes. I sat down in the bottom step of the stairs that face the front walkway.
"Hey," he said he looked at me softening his face, "be good okay?"
"Yea okay, it's not like I can throw a party or something."
He sighed, "bye Ivey," he yelled to my sister.
She came thumping down the steps and plopped down next to me, "Bye dad."
"I," Latoya popped in, "am going out with the girls, be back at 10:30." She gave my dad a smirk.
Uh-oh she's going to the bar with "friends" anyone with a brain knows what that meant.  Well except my father of course, he's got a brain but doesn't know how to use it.
After they left I hopped on my feet and ran upstairs to my room.  I threw off my recent clothes and threw on skating clothes.  My sister walks in and leans on the door frame, crossing her arms.
"Hmm, where do u think your going," she said with a smile.
"You know exactly where." I grabbed my keys off my nightstand and pushed past her.  Racing down the stairs I grabbed my jacket. "Cover me?"
"Of course.  Just be back by 8:30," she warned me.
I looked at her, my hand on the doorknob, "Thank you." I turned and ran to my car.  This is it, I will finally get what I've been waiting for. 
I will get my freedom.

I had my skates on and I was standing at the doorway to the rink. I took a deep breath, taking in the smell of cool, crisp air. I took a step onto the Ice and another. It felt amazing to feel the ice beneath my blades again. God how I missed this. The wind in my face, the strokes, the growl my blades made on an edge. I was, for the first time in a long time, genuinely happy.
Two hours passed. It was a blur, but it was awesome and the next thing I know I check my phone and it's 8:15. Crap. I got to get home. I grabbed my stuff and got off the ice. I was untying my skates when I heard someone approach me.  "I'm glad to see your back." Coaches voice rang above me.
I looked up and smiled, I then stood up and hugged her. "I missed you Lu."
"I missed you too."
We let go and I sat back down to finish untying my skates. "I'm not surprised you found a way to get her," she said with a smirk.
"My dad had a late shift and Latoya is out, I figured perfect timing. Plus, I've been miserable I don't even care anymore. "
"Be careful though, you can still skate sessions, but that doesn't mean your father will approve." She sat down next to me.
"I know but I've been so unhappy, this is killing me coach." I looked up at her, tears threatening to appear in my eyes.
"I get it, I really want you back here, and to give you lessons.." She trailed off, looking down at her feet. "Listen, I will try and figure it out with you okay? You deserve to be here." She looked up at me again.
"Okay. Soon though, I don't know how much longer I can do this."
"Soon."
We stood up and hugged again. Then I grabbed my stuff and raced to my car. I hope he's not home yet. I better beat him. I thought, panic rising in my throat as I got closer to the house.
I pulled into the driveway. No car to be seen. I sighed a breath of relief. Thank God. I ran into the house and looked at the clock 8:51. Whew. 9 minutes to spare. "Ivey?" I yelled looking around for my sister.
She came racing down the stairs, "Oh thank god your back, dad just called he's on his way."
"Perfect timing," I said with a giant smile on my face.
"I'm guessing it went well."
"Even better, I feel so much better Ivey, you have no idea. It was all a blur but a big happy blur." I felt like an idiot with that smile on my face but then again I didn't care.
My sister was standing there smiling at me. She looked proud, it made me smile even more.
The sound of a car door slamming pulled us out of the trance. We ran upstairs to my room, I changed into some joggers and a t-shirt while Ivey grabbed some magazines. We plopped on my bed opening them up to read. Just as we opened the first magazine my father walked in. "How was your night?" He asked.
"Good dad," I said without looking at him, I may be happy but I can't show him that. He still thinks I'm miserable and unhappy.
"Hmm you didn't go anywhere?" I could feel his gaze burning on the side of my head.
"No," I finally looked at him a challenge in my eyes, "Why? Do you have a problem?"
"No, just wondering." He looked a little surprised at my tone.
"Mkay whatever," I looked back at the magazine.
"Night dad," my sister said.
"Night," he backed out and closed the door.
I instantly started laughing. My sister looked at me like I was crazy. I rolled over on my back, my hands wrapped around my stomach laughing the hardest I have in a long time.
"Why are you laughing?" My sister said with a confused look.
"Just....happy," I replied once I could control my laughter.
She smiled at me, "I know...the spark in your eye is back."
I looked at her, stunned at her remark. Then I smiled and we both started laughing again.