Love on the Ice (Victor Nikiforov Love Story)

Chapter 6: Compete

Disclaimer: Everything besides Katerina and her family belong to Mitsuro Kubo.
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It had been months since the recital. Since the recital, we practiced ice dancing more with Polina's help. She came to the rink to watch and suggested us to compete in the future. Also, we practiced singles as well.

Besides focusing on ice skating, we needed to focus on school. Luckily, I was home schooled so I got to spend more time at the skating rink. Victor was home schooled too. Sometimes, we would go to each other's houses to study.

One year later......age 8

Fall......

"Do you going to sign up for the recital again?"

I looked up at Victor. Currently, we were doing our homework at the ice rink during lunch time. Sign up were going to start again this winter. People were going to expect us to appear in the show again. Last year, we did great as a finisher. {I want to skate again.} I gave him a smile.

"Of course. I had so much fun last time. Everyone loved us," I told him as I finished my math homework. "Okay. Do you have any idea what we are going to do this year?" he asked me. {What should we do this year?}

"Ice dancing or singles," he clarified. "Ice dancing is fun. I would like to do it again for this year," I said to him. He gave me a nod. "Me too. It's fun skating with you," he told me. I gave him a nod and closed my book.

"Did I hear ice dancing?"

We turned our heads to see Polina. {What is she doing here?} She usually came to the rink later in the afternoon. In most cases, she would help perfect our moves. "Hello Polina. What are you doing here?" Victor asked her.

She gave us a smile. "I am going to put the paper for sign up on the bulletin board," she told us. She pulled the paper and showed us. "Are you two going to sign up?" she asked us. I gave her a smile. "Yes," I told her.

Her smile grew and gave us the paper. Victor sign our names. "Also, there is something else," she told us as she dug into her bag. She pulled out two small packets of paper and placed them in front of us.

I looked at the papers to see "Figure Skating Federation of Saint Petersburg." We looked up at Polina. "What's this?" I asked her. "This is for you two to compete in the future," she told us. {Compete!}

"You two have potential in ice dancing and I want you to pursue it. The recital proves it. Everyone loved you and they will expect the two of you to compete in the future," she told us. We looked at each other.

Victor gave me a smile. "Lets do it," he told me. I looked at the papers. {Am I becoming that good in figure skating?} Doubt was popping up in my mind. "Katerina." I looked at Victor again. "You can do it. Trust me," he told me

My doubts disappear. {As long as he is with me, I can do it.} I looked up at Polina who was waiting patiently for an answer. "I'll do it," I told her. "Me too," Victor answered. She gave us a big smile. We were making her very happy.
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"I'm so happy to hear. I can be your coach. You two need to start training right away. Your first competition is in spring. The federation will be holding a small competition for young ages," she told us.

"What?!"

"It's already fall and we haven't even thought of a choreography and music," I panicked. Polina placed her hand on my shoulder. "I already picked out the music and thought of a choreography for you. Don't worry," she told me.

I took deep breaths and felt a wave of relief flow through me. "So...what do you have in mind?" I asked her. She had a smirk on her race. "It's going to be very complex that you will have to take some classes in waltz," she told us.

{Waltz?}

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At the recital, we got to do singles and gave a small preview of our program for the competition. We told everyone that they should come to the competition to cheer us on.

Spring.................age 9

"You are going to make her fall Victor."

Yesterday, we had done the short program and we were in the lead. Today, we were doing he free program. The Figure Skating Federation of Saint Petersburg created the St. Petersburg Championship for those in the younger age to novice class. The competition was great for kids who wanted to become competitive figure skaters in the future.

We were at the rink practicing the choreography. Victor was having some trouble with lifting me up. "Do that part again," we heard Polina say to us.

As we did the step sequence, I saw another ice dancing skaters in the corner of my eyes. {Oh my God...} The female skater saw me. Before she could crash into me, I felt someone tug me away in time.

I felt myself stop on the ice. "Are you alright Katerina?" I looked up to see Victor in front of me with concern all over his face. I felt my legs shaking. {I almost crashed into someone. I could have gotten hurt!}

"Katerina. Look at me." Slowly, I looked up at Victor. "You are fine. The other skater is fine. It's okay," he told me. "Are...are you sure?" I wasn't so sure. He pointed to the female skater. She was fine. I let out a sigh of relief.

"I think that's enough practice for today."

We turned our heads to see Polina. "Alright," Victor said and led me off the ice. Once off the ice, Polina pulled me into a hug. "Are you okay Polina?" she asked me with concern. "Yes," I said to her. Victor got me my water bottle and my jacket.

"Go and get some rest in the back. The free program will start in a while," she told us. We gave her a nod and walked into our dressing room to rest. I sat in my chair and looked at the mirror. So much was going in my mind. Mostly, I was still thinking about the close crash with another skater.

"Katerina."

I looked at Victor. He stared at me. "You are alright," he reminded me. I gave him a nod and let out a deep breath. A wave of relief washed over me. {He's right. I am fine.} I took off my skates and wore some slippers.

{I should get nap a bit.}

I got off my seat and laid on the couch. I closed my eyes and drifted off to dreamland.