White Lines

Written in White

Leah laced up her ice-skates and slid the covers over the blades. A rather stunning dark haired young man padded over to her on bare feet. His accent was thick, French maybe? She couldn't quite tell but she clearly made out what he was saying despite his accent,

"Are you, Uhm," he tried to form the words on his lips, "Leah?"

"Yes, why? Have I done something to upset you?"

"No! No! I am Noctis. From, Uhm, team France."

"Oh okay. I guess you know that I'm from team USA seeing as you know my name." She said shyly.

"Everyone does, do they not?" He asked, his accent slurring his words slightly.

"I don't know why they would. I'm nothing special."

"Well, you were the winner at the last big competition right?"

"Yes, but that doesn't mean anything."

Michael, her coach, approached them and handed Leah her light jacket,

"you're next c'mon." He said happily.

"Okay, coming." She said.

"Good luck!" Noctis said shyly.

"Thanks, I'll find you as soon as I can, maybe later tonight we can have a drink together." She said over her shoulder.

Her performance was flawless, her gold and black dress flickering in the white hot lights. Every move was perfectly in time with the music. Noctis watched the performance from the sidelines, every once in a while she would catch his eye and and blush, but still never lost her focus. After her performance she watched the board for her score, when she heard the announcers voice she froze,

"USA HAS DONE IT FOLKS! THANKS TO LEAH MORGAN THEY ARE BRINGING HOME THE GOLD!"

She reached over and wrapped her trainer in a hug, his short blond hair sweeping across her face.

"There's your spot guaranteed for the next Olympics." He whispered.

That night, Noctis sat at the street corner where they were going to meet. He waited and waited. Ten minutes went by, then fifteen, then twenty. When he was about to give up and go back to the hotel he saw someone run down the street,

"Noctis! I'm so sorry, I couldn't get away from the rest of my team." She said, winded.

"It is not a problem." He said.

"C'mon, let's get that drink." She said shyly.

Over dinner they talked about everything and nothing. They discussed their training and Noctis told her why he really became acquainted with her. He had a signing with the American team. Amazing and yet USA had gotten permission to ask him to swap teams. They also agreed to be partners in the ice dancing in the 2030 Olympics.

"Are your teammates not going to miss you?" She finally asked.

"I am not exactly the... Goodest?" Despite knowing a good amount of English, Noctis still had trouble putting sentences together.

"You mean best? Or nicest?"

"Yes! Nicest! I am not the nicest person."

"Well, you seem nice to me." Leah said taking a drink out of her glass.

"Well, everyone treats me like I'm horrible so I think that just maybe they're right."

"Don't let them get to you, Noctis." She said, placing her hand over his.

He blushed and smiled, not being able to control his own heartbeat, "Thank you, Leah." He said quietly.