The Un-landed Everything

Chapter 20

“Your on in five,” Coach whispered to me as Tanya Bukhara preformed. I examined her moves carefully, she was good. A very strong skater, right now in the second place spot. Tanya ended her program, and Delaney Parks skated onto the ice. Delaney was holding the first place spot, two points ahead of Tanya. Delaney was already very popular in the figure skating community, so she had stronger chances of winning.  I watched nervously as she glided onto the ice.

                Her music begun and she took off. Her footwork was amazing! Constant back-threes and double-threes with such power. There is no way I could beat Delaney. She then skated into her triple Lutz, triple toe, and landed it more flawlessly then I ever could.

                “Don’t let her get to you,” Coach hissed.

                “But she is-“

                “Not going to beat you,” Coach cut in.

                I looked up at the stands to see a nervous looking Rowan, my excited parents, but something was missing…Nana.

                I suddenly heard the crowd gasp, I glanced over at the ice to see Delaney on the ice. She had fallen!

                “She didn’t land her triple axel!” Coach whispered excitedly, “You’re still in this thing!”

                I gulped, “yeah but if I don’t land it.”

                “You’ll land it. Trust me.” Coach stated confidently.

                I did trust coach, but not myself.

                Finally Delaney’s music stopped, and it was my turn.

                I waited to see Delaney’s scores. I was nervous. Very nervous. Suddenly her scores flashed on the jumbo-tron.  129.63. Plus her short program scores, 75.68 equal: 205.31. She was in third place! Tanya in first, Rowan in second, and Delaney in third. I had to beat her.

                “Please welcome to the ice, Carmenn DiGiovanninni, from Northern-Boston Skating Academy!” boomed the announcer.

                It was my moment. Again.

“Come on, go show America Carmenn DiGiovanninni,” coach said.

                My music started, and everything started to happen so suddenly. Jumps whizzed by flawlessly, strong footwork, and well positioned spins. Then it came to my layback right before my triple axel. The thought scared me a little, so my layback wasn’t at its best, but I rotated it three more rotations then needed.  That should earn points.

                Then it came.

                I stroked out to the center of the ice, and then I leaped into the air.

One…Two…Three.

The cold air flushed my cheeks, and my bangs were brushed out of my face. I felt that great feeling. A picture of Nana flashed into my mind. Then a picture of Regional’s with Kasey crying in the locker room, quitting. I wasn’t a quitter, I wasn’t going to quit whether I landed this triple axel or not.

Finally my blade skimmed the ice. I squeezed my eyes shut. When I felt my foot fully on the ground, I snapped my eyes back open.

I landed a triple axel.

I smiled bigger than ever.

The crowd applauded.

My program ended.

I smiled back at the crowd, collecting two stuffed animals, and a rose as they were littered onto the ice.

I skated over to coach. She was smiling her big showgirl smile. My life felt so…landed.

~

“What are they?” I asked. I had shielded my eyes, to scared to see my scores.

“142.6! Plus your short program makes itm209.35! ” Coach shouted, “Carmenn DiGiovanninni is taking home the silver!”

Tanya with the gold. Rowan with the Bronze. And I, Carmenn DiGiovanninni with the silver.