Yuri!!! On Ice Book 1

Chapter 26

**Author's Note!**

Hey guys! So I had a MAJOR brainwave for the plot line and where this story's going, I used to have a vague idea but now I have chart in my documents to plan things out! Excitement! I'm also really frustrated because I need to skip like 6 months in the future to get to this foreseeable plot impact and don't know how to seamlessly do that. Urgh. Sorry, I'm just venting now, haha.  Also- what did you guys think of Yurio's little nervous breakdown last chapter? I really enjoyed writing it, I know, I'm sick and twisted, but as I proofread/edited it it didn't seem quite right? Do you guys agree? Anyway, I hope you guys like this chapter better than last one! Enjoy!

**Last Chapter After Otabek Gets Thrown Out of the Locker Room**

Otabek's POV 1st Person

"Becka, just go! I'm fine, I'll be out in a minute!" Yuri maintains, irritated, as he sits on the locker room bench. I hesitate, still standing in the doorway, feeling guilty. He's obviously freaked out about going back on the ice, I should've made him take another day off. He raises his eyebrows at me and I back away, raising my hands in defeat,

"Okay, but I'm right outside." I say and turn to go, he rolls his eyes behind me and mutters, 

"I'm fine!" Under his breath. I let the door swing shut behind him and press my back to the wall next to it. I hate not being able to help him, and most likely being the source of his problems. We still haven't talked about the whole couples charade, the whole Mila thing eclipsed it. But I get the sense it was the ambush that brought the Mila thing on to begin with. I've noticed during my relatively short, but close, friendship with Yuri that when he's under pressure or upset about something his mind just drifts, and he doesn't focus on the task at hand. That's when he's most likely to do something like this, although it's never happened before. It bothers me very much that he's going through this all by himself, it's not healthy, I guess the self reliance and pressure he's been put under at such a young age have been major factors in that, not to mention his lack of a parental relationship. That is, a constant one. His grandfather has been his main support system throughout his life and they're really close, he does his best, but he can't keep up with the rambunctious teen skater. He's too old to be constantly traveling and relocating with him as he needs it, and he can't work either, he has problems with his back and lives on disability. He tries to attend to Yuri's needs but simply isn't able to, which makes Yuri the sole provider of the household, making Yuri's self reliance even more necessary, and unhealthy. As for Victor, he does act as a father figure, and being 13 years older than Yuri he is normally a good enough substitute, but he still can't fill in completely. He'd met Yuri when he was 6 at a camp, and immediately took up the position, but still being a child himself, couldn't solidly support the role, especially because he was one of the best skaters in the world then and traveled a lot for various competitions. So, his relationship has shifted to older brother/annoying close friend, and the same for Yuri, who came into his life on a personal level only recently. He tries to support the step father part with Victor, but again Yura is, for the most part, grown up, which limits his chances for surrogate parents severely. 

I guess it must seem like I know a lot about Yura's life even for a best friend, well there were certain things I knew right off the bat, like his relationship with his grandpa. Then there are things I picked up from being his roommate, and then at that dinner with Victor and Yuri. Not to mention I'm deceivingly perceptive. And finally the things he's flat out told me, like the 6 year old thing, his mother leaving, and how much Victor 'ISN'T MY FATHER!'  

I glance behind me at the door to the locker rooms, it's been five minutes, he really should be done by now. "Otabek! Get out here!" I sigh and look over towards the rink, Yakov stands in the hockey box with his arms crossed. I walk onto the ice as slowly as I can, stalling, not wanting to already be on the ice when Yuri comes out. I'd hate to have him think I deserted him on top of everything else. I go through my routines once or twice, and start going over my step sequence for the first time. It sucks, and I devote myself to improving it, not satisfied with the mess it is right now. After quite a while, I'm exhausted, but improved, and skate over to the wall to get a drink of water, checking the time as I arrive. It's been nearly 45 minutes since I left Yuri in the locker room and he hasn't made a re-appearance. What the hell is he doing in there? I'll give him 10 more minutes before I go in after him, I decide and continue with my routine. I glance over my shoulder at the door so often it appears I have a tick, and my spins come out completely off center. Ten minutes pass, then 15, and now I'm seriously worried. Chris skates up to me, and follows my gaze to the locker rooms, "What's up?" He asks me, "Why do you keep looking over there?" I hesitate, not really being friends with the man next to me.