Legend of the Edge

Chapter 5

Flipping through the packet’s bulky pages, I gasp at some of the skills that are recommended for my tryout. “Are you serious, Tatiana, a quadruple flip?” I mumble to myself. Not even Midori Ito, one of the best jumpers in figure skating, could land that. Sure, I have a clean quadruple salchow, toe loop, and loop; but a flip? That’s a whole new story. I tried it on the harness before, but I couldn’t come close to landing it. “I guess I should attempt it,” my reckless part of my mind beckoned me. I take fast strokes onto the ice, and get ready to jump. “Get ready, steady, and jump,” I repeat in my head. My toepick flies into the air, and I pull my arms in as tightly as I can. But before I could land it, I slam onto the ice; hearing ice chips crackle underneath me. A tall, muscular shadow stands over me, laughing.
“What a graceful fall, quadruple slip,” a boy cackles at me.
My eyes fog up, making me feel dizzy. Who is this person, anyways?
“Need a hand, Ella?”
I grab his hand, and gaze into his glistening blue eyes. Oh my god. It’s Adam Chathaway, the heartthrob of the rink. Every girl swoons over him. He has the looks of a Gucci model, the grace of a swan, and a witty personality. He is enchanting.
“Well, are you gonna leave me hangin’?” Adam laughs.
“Oh...um...sorry. Yeah, I need a lift,” I respond hazily.
His lean, tan arms pull me up with full force. I thank him and skate away; trying not to make a scene. I decide not to try the quadruple flip again, because the last thing I need is to be injured before the tryout. I practice my program; which is the peaceful, sublime music of Swan Lake. The fluid, sentimental piano notes trickle like water drops through my body. I stretch out my arms, extending into a lovely spiral. I hear some skaters clap and cheer me on, which makes me feel exalted. As the last uplifting notes ring in the air, I strike my ending pose with a glorious smile.
“That was phenomenal,” a deep voice I recognize whispers.
I turn around, and there’s Adam; standing proud and poised. That familiar feeling of fluttering butterflies in my stomach began again. Not only is Adam standing in front of me, he is... touching me. He holds my hand, stroking his fingers up and down.
“Is he in love with me?” I think to myself gleefully. “You’re such a fantastic skater. Never stop being you, Ella,” he says to me softly.
“Thank you, Adam,” I say; heading to the boards to get off the ice.
“Wait, before we go,” he stammers.
“Uh, yeah?”
“Do you want to go out with me tonight?” He asks, his eyes pleading for me to say yes.
“Gladly,” I accept his request.
“Thank you so much. What time do you want to meet tonight?”
“I’ll ask my parents. Probably six o’clock.”
“Where do you want to meet at?”
“Do you like Italian? What if we went to Buon Ristorante?” I suggest.
“My family loves that place. Sure, we can go there at six,” he smiles.
“Great! I’ll see you then,” I gleam with happiness. I can’t believe it! I’m going on my first date with the hottest guy of the rink. Adam is mine now, so no other girl in the rink can bicker over whom he likes. I bolt through my front door, telling my parents the terrific news.
“I’m going on a date tonight! You all are on your own!” I yell, pumping my fists into the air.
“Woah...woah...woah. Stop right there. You did not just say what I think you said,” My dad says with a dumbfounded look on his face.
“A date? With whom, may I ask?” My mom questions me with suspicion.
“Adam Chathaway, a figure skater from the rink. He’s working on redeeming his Junior World title this year.”
“But you have skating tomorrow, Ella. You have to be in bed by ten.”
“We’ll be home by eight forty-five, I promise!”
“Fine. Where are you two going?”
“Buon Ristorante,” I answer with confidence.
“Okay. Just be home by your curfew!” My mom shouts as I run upstairs to put on the perfect dress. This date is going to be a success for sure.