Eat, Sleep, Skate

Chapter One: Pinky Swear

A/N: Ok so I get that she is Russian but wouldn't it be a pain for me to use google translate then put the English words under it? I see no point when I can just force you to use your imagination. And sorry if the information isn't correct I'll have to bend it a little (or a lot) to fit the story line. I mean no harm by writing this and using real peoples names. I do not own any of them but I do own the idea and their personalities.

My name is Julia Lipnitskaia. I'm a Russian semi-professional figure skater and I'm currently on a bus in America. Yes, America. After a 9 hour flight to New York then another flight of around 4 hours to 5, I'm dead on my feet. We have to be strong though so hopefully we'll be able to stop for coffee before we get there. Russia is meant to be feared, and it will be, I swear that. I've been chosen to represent my country in the Goodwill Games along with many of my friends.

Most of us met while we were on the same team at Nationals, and other competitions. The Goodwill Games are like a mini Olympics. Made especially for kids like us. We are the best of the best. We come under the rule of one coach as our trainers can't come to America for three weeks. Her name is Svetlana Ivanova. She used to be a professional Olympic gold medalist but was injured during a competition when she was 21. So she became a coach and here we are 15 years later. She's very nice, she lets us call her Sveta, but is understandably tough on us. She wants us to be the best as much as we want to be the best.

"Julia!" I jump up from my seat, my eyes flashing open to see a Styrofoam cup with steam escaping the side of the lid right in front of my face. "Not as strong as I'd like but it might perk us up a little before we get there." the blond haired girl sitting next to me says.

I manage a drowsy smile at her and take the cup into my hands, taking large gulps in my impatience to awaken and burning my tongue in the process. Well there goes a few taste buds. I suddenly feel hot as the warm coffee sends a flush of heat through my body, along with the added hot temperature of California which is like fire to me right now. I want to strip off my heavy Russia jacket but we are going to be pulling into the center in ten minutes and if I take it off I wont want to put it back on.

"Thanks Elena." I tell her as my brain starts to focus again. She smiles and Anna pops her head over the seat in front of us, her face beaming "Valeria says we're going to get interviewed. That means I get to do your make up!".

I smile too and get up to throw the now empty coffee into the plastic bag near the front of the bus, returning to my seat just in time for Anna to pull out her make up case. Anna started dabbing foundation and cover up under my eyes with practiced ease. She's been doing this since the three of us became best friends at the Russian Nationals two years ago.

"I cant wait to get there and meet the other countries." Elena says excitedly as Anna moves on to eyeliner, "Me either! This is going to be so awesome. Plus I heard foreign boys are hot." I tell her, wiggling my eyebrows during the last part. "Stop moving," Anna commands although even she cant help the laugh in her voice as she swipes mascara over my lashes, I roll my eyes jokingly as she adds "Plus, we're the foreigners here.".

"Well they'll always be foreigners to me." I tell her defiantly and Elena laughs "Yeah they'll always be in that special place in your heart labeled 'Foreigners'", she says in the same way you'd say 'you'll never forget them' about someone you love, while making a heart with her hands.

Anna turns to face Elena and starts working on her makeup "So Anna what are you most excited about?" I ask her, she shrugs "Everything and nothing at the same time.". Elena pulls back from the make up brush "What do you mean by that?", Anna just shrugs again "Its just that we do this all the time. Go to a competition, compete, win. All we do is eat, sleep, and skate.".

Elena sighs "Yeah, I guess when you love something like how we love skating, your life just tends to revolve around it." then perks up, "I hereby vow that this competition will be an adventure." she announces and holds out her pinky finger. I latch mine on "No holding back.", Anna winds hers around our fingers "But," she interjects "no matter what happens, we skate." she announces as the bus comes to a stop, "We skate." we repeat.

And I know that nothing can break this promise. I can feel it.

Anna quickly finishes Elena's make up and we follow the hockey players off the bus to get our bags.

Our bus is white with blue and red lettering that says Russia on one side and the logos of our sponsors on the other side.

As soon as our teams feet touch the ground the cameras are going off, asking if our team is going to fill the podium like last year's games. And some other things that I couldn't understand, whether is was because of the yelling over each other or just all the English I don't know.

They crowd around us. An array of flashing cameras crowd around us and start asking questions. The ice dancers of our group talked to them since they are the oldest, they are around 18 and have little trouble communicating in English while the rest of us are still learning in school.

A lone woman dressed in what appeared to be a professional looking blazer and matching skirt. She had her hair up in a neat bun. "Hello team Russia! Welcome to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum! Come with me Ice Skaters." she motioned for us to follow her through the crowd which quickly became distracted by the rest of the Russian teams; hockey, track, swimming, gymnastics, soccer, archery etc.

The woman started leading us across the grounds.

We all put on identical smirks, and all teams we passed looked equally intimidated. This place was huge! I could see the green and white Irish team behind us and the black jackets of Team Iceland behind them. As we walked the speakers all over the place was telling us updates on the games. My head swung around trying to take in as much of the beautiful coliseum as I could. "Welcome to Los Angeles California and the Junior Goodwill Games! Where teams from all over the world have arrived to compete in both winter and summer events," the speakers blasted as we walked in "The USA is expected to score well in the medal count. Especially in basketball, swimming, and hockey. And here comes USA hockey now. Led by Gordon Bombay," Coach froze in shock and anxiousness when they said the name of USA's coach. I nudged her forward and she broke out of her thoughts, giving me a nod to signal that she was okay and we continued walking, Coach taking her place in the front of our group.

The narrator droned on about his home team "they are looking fit and anxious to begin the Competition." there was a slight pause before he continued speaking "And into the coliseum now comes Russia! Expected to fill the podiums in archery, gymnastics, and figure skating. Currently led by the Russian ice skaters and their coach, Olympic gold medalist, Svetlana Ivanova. Having come straight out of winning last year's Goodwill Games and the European Continental Cup, Russia is expected to leave jaws hanging."

Our team smirked wider and high fived eachother.

As we walked the woman started speaking to us.

"Hello, My name is Sandra Elias, your coordinator, guide, and tutor for your time here. But you can just call me Ms. E" she spoke in Russian but it was a little shaky so Coach decided to speak to her in English. "Hello. I'm Svetlana. You may call me Coach. You can talk to us in English, if we are confused or if we are confusing you we'll speak in our home languages.". She nods, smiling gracefully at us.

"Well if you kids need anything, feel free to come to me. Now I have room numbers and roommates for you.". We whispered excitedly amongst each other until Sandra got back our attention. "Now before I forget, your sponsors have provided you with clothes that we have gotten with information from your information forms. If there are any issues I'll be right down the hall from your rooms. I'm in 1285."

She handed Sveta the clipboard and she started naming off people who then ran off to find their rooms. When she got to my name I listened intently, hoping I wouldn't forget the number.

"Julia, Elena, and Anna. You three are in 1279." she handed us each a copy of our key and we rushed into the building. Elena turned a corner yelling "Whoever gets there last has to do 5 extra laps on Wednesday!", Anna picked a different hallway and sprinted down it. I sighed and starting walking down the opposite hallway. I attempted to ask for help but all I could find was Italy and Spain and they weren't much help. To busy trying to ask me out and asking whether I had any hot friends to introduce them to, or they just didn't understand me so I continued on my journey down the hall.

I was attempting to keep my focus in front of me but ended up just watching the numbers on each door, completely and utterly lost. 1678...1679...1680

I walked completely into what I'd guess is a wall, bouncing off it and landing on the ground. I looked up to see the most beautiful dark brown eyes I'd ever seen. Of course I'm used to seeing a lot of grey and blue eyes, I've seen a few brown like Sveta's but none like these. None so dark and bright at the same time.

None so happy.

I was so busy staring at his face that I didn't even notice the hand held out to help me up.

Well this is embarrassing.

I'd bumped into a person.

A hot person.

What do I do?

I hesitantly grabbed his hand and he lifted me to my feet as if I weighed nothing. He was smiling and said something I wasn't expecting. What came out of his mouth was "You okay there little lady.".

I giggled slightly at that. He was American. Although most Americans know not to speak to Russians, apparently we are manipulative, emotionless, and cold, especially the cold part. Or at least that's what they think.

I wanted to smile at him, I started to even. But I stopped it and just nodded "I am okay.", then frowned deeply as something came to mind. Would he be able to understand me? My accent was pretty heavy.

He nodded looking slightly relieved. What did he think I would do? Attack him?

"Well then its nice to meet you. I'm Dwayne." he told me and smiled once again "I'm…" I was cut off by a yell from down the hall behind me "Lipnitskaia!" and sure enough 3 seconds later Elena and Anna come running in "Oh thank god your okay!" Anna said and hugged me, concerned for my well-being, while Elena seemed a little distracted. "Who this?" she asked motioning to the boy standing in front of me, he broke out of his awkward reverie and gave her a polite smile "Hi.".

She and Anna shared a look, smirked, stated "We've got to go.", and started tugging me down the hallway. "Bye Dwayne!" I yelled and flashed a smirk which was as close as he'd ever get to seeing me smile, looking back at his puzzled yet amused face.

When he were about 5 hallways down they turned to me "So Dwaaaaayne?" she teased, wiggling her eyebrows like she always did when we talked about boys.

I blushed slightly but was quick to hide it "Yes, I just ran into him. Literally.", "And you like him." Elena persisted and I rolled my eyes "I just met him. Its not like I'm going to fall for him just cause he has an adorable accent, and a nice build, and eyes that just make you wanna melt every time…" I blushed again at what came out of my mouth.

"Aww Lena, I think our little baby is in love," Anna said like a parent would, wiping fake tears and placing her hand over her heart ",they grow up so fast.".

I scoffed playfully "You're only two months older than me. And I'm older then Lena.", Anna rolled her eyes "We all know that if it were either one of us you'd be teasing too.".

Elena smiled, looking a little too smug with herself, as if she realized something. What's going on in that little hellion's head.

"That's true. Very true." I admitted, and as we started walking to where I guess our room is I pulled Elena to the side slightly "What are you think you evil blonde genius?", "Thank you. And seeing how happy you were about just thinking this American guy got me thinking.".

"His name is Dwayne not 'the american guy'." I corrected then caught on to what she was saying "You think we should set Anna up with someone? Really? How can you even think of that? Especially what happened last time!".

Anna gets really insecure around boys. There was a little nutrition scare two years ago when she met someone, then he left her for someone else..

Then again. If we find someone that likes her for her, it might boost her self esteem.

Elena smirked "Oh we can do much better then that.".

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