Figures

Cessa

"Try again, Ara. As you go in for the triple axel, you have to hook your feet. Remember, twist before you jump!" Coach Green called.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I went to the back of the rink and started gaining speed. I could do this in my sleep. As I neared the corner, I twist my body until it felt routine. At that moment, I pushed from the ground and spun my hips, holding my arms in the mummy position. For that second, life was bliss.

That is, until my skates got hooked. 

My balance got thrown off, and I went hurdling towards the ice. Once I hit it, I slid into the wall. Coach Green and Lillith came skating over to me to check if I was okay.

"I'm fine, I'm fine." I said getting up. I would have bruises in the morning. I silently cursed under my breath when I saw the chuck of ice I ripped up in my fall. Great. Now I have to alter my course.

"Try again." Coach Green ordered, and I got into formation. Once again I gained speed, and I could feel where I landed on the ground first. My theigh throbbed as I moved. I twisted and spun, but this time landing on my feet after three full spins. I turned my foot to stop as ice sprayed along the floor. "Good job, Ara. We'll try that again tomorrow, but we'll also do your routine along with it. Put heat on your bruise when you get to campus." Coach Green gracefully skated off the rink, her black ponytail waving with each movement.

Lillith slid over to me. "Want to help teach Basic I with me today? You'll be the best mate ever," She crooned. "Besides, we have a new employee today, which is mostly useless. They don't know what to do the first lesson."

I laughed and nodded. We went towards the door, where we untied our skates and put on our shoes. I grabbed my pack from my locker before exiting the arena and going to the main desk. There a red headed girl sat, watching Doctor Who on her phone.

"Josephineee." Lillith giggled. "You shouldn't be on your phone while working!"

Josephine's head shot up. Her bangs slid over her freckled face, making her look innocent. She saw it was us and laughed. "Shut up. I'm watching the Don't Blink episode. They're taking so bloody long for the next season!"

 I chuckled. "Tell Aiden to give the rink a new sheet of ice before Basic I's class, will ya?"

Josephine nodded and went on the intercom. Lillith and I went to sit down in the lobby on the benches. She got her phone out and started texting her 'friend', Emma.

"Ooh, someone is a nonstop flirter." I said, peeking over her shoulder.

"Bugger off, will ya?" She laughed.

I rolled my eyes teasingly and sat down. I opened my pack up and took out my iPhone 5. I’ve never cracked a phone; I’m very patient, if you can believe it. I opened up Facebook. I looked at my news feed for a bit before noticing an unusual video that I was tagged in.

“Lillith! You videotaped my fall?!” I punched her in the arm.

She laughed. “It was too funny not to post it! You look so majestic then BOOM, you fall!”

I couldn’t help but crack a smile. I must admit, it looked pretty funny from a third-person view. A whopping 94 likes had already planted onto the post, in just 26 minutes. That must be a world record.

I sighed and closed my phone. “How long is it until the class starts?”

Lillith checked her watch. “Pretty soon, actually. We should start heading over to set up.”

We picked up our stuff and walked through the corridor leading towards the rink.

“So what’s the new girl’s name?” I asked, pushing open the door.

“Chester?” Lillith questioned as she went to our locker. The rink was now iced over, and it looked shiny and sleek.

“Lillith, it’s a girl, remember?” I laughed.

“Oh yeah.” Lillith giggled. “I think it might be Cessa? Or I might’ve f*cked up and that’s her last name.”

I chuckled. I had one skate tied on already. As I tied up the other, Lillith started talking about school.

“So have you heard about biology class? Julianne saw boxes with the word “frogs” on them. Do you think we’ll be dissecting? That’s disgusting. Like, bruh, nope, I’m out of here.” We started to stand up. “Did you hear Kyle and Sam broke up? I feel so bad for Sam. She’s been crying in her bunk all day. He really broke her heart. Can I kick him in the balls? I’d like that.”

I stepped one foot on the ice. It felt nice to feel the slick, cold air again. Even though it had been an  hour, I hated staying away from the rink. I immediately sped to the middle, and the children started filling in and putting on their skates.

“Everyone remember how to put on your skates? Good. Once you have them on go to the middle of the ice rink with us. Also, this is Arabella, but I want you guys to call her Miss. Ara, alright?” Lillith announced commands like she was a preschool teacher. All the students shouted a collective hello, and soon they were all around us.

“Where the hell is the new girl?” I hissed.

“I don’t know, but she’s so getting fired for being fifteen minutes late.” Lillith sneered. She saw the students watching and immediately changed her frown into a smile. “So can somebody tell me what we were doing last time?”

A girl with pale blonde hair raised her hand. “We were going to take off our training icers and learn to balance ourselves.” She smiled a toothy smile.

“Very good Alyssa! Okay, everyone go to the wall, and Miss. Ara and I will help you take them off.”

The children started hobbling towards the wall. I was about to help Alyssa when someone ran through the door. “Sorry I’m late!” She screamed, alerting everyone to their presence.

Lillith grumbled, and skated over to her.

I sighed. This was going to be a long lesson.