Today I fly to the American Qualifying Competitions as Dakota's moral support. Dakota is my brother, we are nearly the same age, but I'm a year above him. There's only three of us boarding the plane. Dakota, our coach James and I. James is a 3 time Olympic Gold Medalist. Why would he train such small town kids? Because James himself is from our small town. He has been training us since birth and when he won several times, he decided to call it quits but instead went on hiatus to help us.
Dakota and James were sat together but I was a row behind them I sat between other skaters that I recognized from TV and from competitions that Dakota had competed in. I'm glad I've seen them because now I know Dakota has this in the bag.
***
Dakota is about to go up. His theme for the skate is 'passion'. He's dancing to some violin that I hate but it works with his routine. He does several jumps and expresses with everything he has in him. His final jump is the biggest one, a triple jump followed by a triple toe loop. I literally screamed when he landed it. His final pose has a girl I'm sitting next to in tears, I would be as well if I hadn't seen this routine 4,000 times before.
***
Dakota is advancing to the Cup of China. I'm super excited because I've ever been there before. We are on our way out when another skater stops Dakota. It's William Arbao, an American from West Virginia. He's always just below Dakota and is constantly salty about it.
"I see you and your little girlfriend will have a nice time in China, huh?" He's got a cold tone and that's something I don't have time for.
"Actually I'm his sister but I guess sister and girlfriend are the same where you come from, isn't it?"
The skater doesn't say anything but Coach James is dying in laughter. William's expression is continuously baffled but he still won't move.
"Now if you will excuse us we have a competition to win." I say as I shove him out of the way. He walks to his coach and then out of my sight.
"CELESTE HOLY SHIT!" James exclaims. "WHERE DID ALL THAT ANGER COME FROM?"
"I sat next to him on the plane, all he does is watch videos about drugs, I already didn't like him from previous competitions and he was in my way."
"Well, shit. Remind me not to piss you off." I gave James a smile and we left the arena to get home and repack for China.
***
"Hey Dakota. Your boyfriend is back at it again and will be in China with us!" I call to his open bedroom door. I could hear him fumbling to get out of bed and come to me.
"HE WHAT!?" Dakota nearly killed me to get the tablet I was holding. He read over the article and looked as if he was going to cry. "This is the best day ever!" His reading was cut off by a video call request from James.
"Ah, good. I'm guessing you herd the good news then?" James asked looking at Dakota.
"Yeah he's herd about Yuri K. being in China." I said, Dakota couldn't speak because of his excitement.
"But wait there's more."
"What?"
"You remember Victor Nikiforvo?"
"How could I forget, to be honest."
"Okay before you turn into D, let me tell you. Victor is Yuri's coach this year."
"COACH?"
"Yeah. He's been with both Yuri's helping them with their routine, apparently."
"Both Yuri's," I mumbled "You don't mean Yuri Plisetsky?"
