Act Two

VIII

Yakov walks into the Champions Sports Club with a new mindset. Only because he's forgotten about Anna for the past two days since visiting Lilia at her home. He still never got the chance to make his first move but he likes to believe that means it will happen at a more special time. The blonde man can only begin to imagine what that moment will be like. He's heard from others that a first kiss can feel like electricity. He's never experienced the sparks first hand so now he can only wait until he finally does. With his ex, there were no sparks or electricity during their first kiss. It just felt like a kiss. With as much daydreaming as he's been doing, he does still have a job he needs to focus on. It's a bit of a challenge when your mind is in a hundred places and you can't get a person out of your head.

Lilia has taken over about every part of him.

Still figuring out his true feelings, he was honest about never wanting to lose her. She can't leave him in the dust so soon. Yakov still craves to know everything about her and still learn things when they're old and grey. The idea sounds so comforting. Even though that is what he thinks and wants, he never thought that it meant being in each other's lives forever. People in his life have definitely noticed and without a doubt know he's falling hard. With enough luck, he may not end up hurt this time. One can hope they figure themselves out.

Upon entering the large building in early November, all his skaters are present and practicing off-ice. "I'm not late, why are all of you already here?" Yakov asks once reaching them. "We wanna do new stuff today!" Kira exclaims, excited. "Like what kind of stuff?" The man asks, sitting down with his bag to get ready. "We want to learn how to do quads!" Dominik pipes in with a big smile. Apparently, they had seen their coach's old competition tapes and want to be just like him. "Quads...?" Yakov's expression goes to a worried and concerned one. "No... no, I don't think we'll be doing that. None of you are physically ready to do a quad." He shakes his head, putting a foot in one of his skates.

"Come ooon... Misha got to do one!" Kira complains, crossing her arms. "Yes, Mischa-Umbertovna did attempt a quad but did you see what happened? Now she can't come back for a few more weeks since she hurt her ankle. I can't have that happen to the rest of you." Yakov explains, finishing his first skate and going onto the next. "I'll tell you what, we can split today in half and do off-ice practice later. We can all do exercises and warm ups to learn a quad. How does that sound?" The students all squeal in excitement, causing Yakov to cover his ears with a chuckle. Yaletha does not know what is going on so she claps from seeing her friends jump around and smile. Before Yakov can explain to his blonde student, a voice fills his ears.

"You don't need to explain for her." Yaletha's mother, Anna, comes around a corner, placing a hand on the girl's shoulder. Yakov looks up and his pupils shrink when he meets the eyes of Anna. "Anna-Alexeyevna..." Yakov mumbles, surprised to see her back so soon. Her hair was much shorter now, still long but reaching below her chest unlike the waist length from before. "I will tell her everything you said you will be doing today." She says quietly, leading her daughter away to a bench. Yakov watches as the two leave while he continues lacing-up. Anna seems... mellow again.

Did that night change her?

Eventually, the coach and his skaters make it to the ice, beginning the warm up consisting of edge work and spirals. Yakov's mind is wandering once again, every time he glances at Anna, he can only see her on top of him with her breathy voice in his ear. Begging him to participate in sinful actions. It all made him uncomfortable and want to shrivel up. How could someone do something so... vicious? He has to force himself not to look at her during practice but it is difficult when you have your back to someone you don't trust.

During practice, Yakov hears one of the doors to the rink open with a gust of wind. He does not pay attention, figuring it is Anna leaving for a moment. "Coach Yakov-Ivanovich can you help me?" Kira shouts from across the rink. The man looks over his shoulder from helping Dominik on a proper edge. "I'll be over there in a second." He replies, returning to Dominik. "Remember to keep your weight on the opposite landing foot and an inside edge. I'll be right back." He tells the oldest boy before stroking off to assist Kira in what she is working on.