Sparks
Chapter one
An Asian, a Russian, and a thief
"Pardon me!" they yelled as they manoeuvred through the streets of people. Dodging passed and through shopping bags and stray children. The city blocks went by as they turned corners and moved like a snake through alleys. They came out between a pastry shop and Target, giving a quick glance behind them to make sure they were home free, they made a left like they were going back to where they came from but using the main streets. "They'll never learn! It's impossible to get me! HA!" they were quick on their feet but moved like a fierce wind, citizens could hardly tell you what they just say other than 'a black fog'. At one point they almost crashed into someone carrying boxes but duck and spun right under them yelling an apology as they did. For the dead of winter in Chicago there wasn't a lot of ice to slip by and help with the get away, but they made the best of it.
Who they are turned a sharp right and let out an 'oof!' as they fell to the hard cement. Looking up they saw an Asian man and a Russian man bundled from the cold but jackets still welcoming a breeze. The Asian man let out a hand to help them up and they took it.
"I'm sorry sir, I didn't see you!"
"Oh no, it's fine miss. You seemed to be in a hurry."
"That doesn't excuse why I was so oblivious to my surroundings! I could've hurt you and that's inexcusable." she bowed
"Miss please! No one got hurt, it was an accident. That's all there is to it." he said trying to get her to straight up.
"If I may ask why were in such a rush?" the other man said
"Oh, uh...I'm late for a club meeting. You see, I'm in my school's ballet club and our school has fallen on hard times so they're starting to get rid of clubs unless the clubs get donations to survive. So I was out here in the dead of winter and someone mugged me and took my coat and all of my collections. That's why I don't have a coat and only a shabby hoodie. But I don't care about that, if I don't bring in any money our club will close and if I can't dance then I'll lose my scholarship and be kicked out and since it's a boarding school I'll have to go back home but my parents can't support me and my five brothers and sisters so I'd be forced to drop out of school and work to help them and probably end up on the streets again." she almost began to cry, almost. The Russian man couldn't help but pull her into a hug while the other man stared.
"What is your name miss?" he said pulling away from the hug
"Jesse Eisenberg sir." she said smiling the slightest smile
"Well Jesse Eisenberg, I know what it's like to have a passion for something that can not be replaced by anything else, and if you lose that passion, you lose yourself." he looked at the other man with soft eyes. "I will help you, how much did you lose in donations?"
"About $260."
"That much really? Ah well no matter I will give your donations back and then a little extra."
"You don't have to sir, that's a lot of money. I should just accept the outcome and start packing."
"But I want to." he pulled out his wallet and started counting "So here is your stolen money back." he gave it to her and slipped his wallet back into his jacket.
"Thank you sir!" she hugged him, he was a little surprised but then he hugged her back and then she pulled away.
"There she is! That bitch took my engagement ring!" this person was pointing at 'Jesse Eisenberg'
"Shit! Gotta run fellas! See ya around!" and she dashed off while they stood there flabbergasted.
"What was that all about?" the Russian asked.
"Viktor, I think that was a scam artist."
"So there is no ballet club, Yuri?"
"No I don't think so... Let's just continue walking." Yuri started to pull his hand but Viktor didn't move, he just thought. There's something about her, something I don't know. Once Yuri pulled a little harder he moved he moved and stuck his other hand in his pocket.
"Yuri,"
"Yeah Viktor?"
"She took my wallet."
"Of course she was a pickpocketer." and they continued walking.
They finished their walk at a place with a sign reading about the men's Grand Prix Finals. They enter the arena and looked at it with normality. For being Chicago is wasn't as flashy as other places. They decided they were hungry so they went to the joint restaurant. The hostess led them to a table and said the waitress would be by shortly. She was by rather quickly and had her pen and pad ready in hand.
"Hello, I'm Maybell and I'll be your waitress this evening. Would you like anything to drink?" they just sat there stunned. This is the same girl! Her hair is up but her clothes are the same besides her hoodie is gone. But I know those lying green eyes! This is Jesse Eisenberg! "Excuse me are you okay? You're both staring at me and it's unsettling."
"You're Jesse Eisenberg!" Yuri yelled and everyone turned to see if it was true.
"Sir, Jesse Eisenberg is a man and an actor. I'm thankfully not Jesse Eisenberg. Would you like to order now?" her voice was the same and everything was the same in her look,damn she's a good actress! "Why don't I come back when you're ready to order." she began to leave.
"No wait, we're ready!" she had her pen ready "I think I'll have a hot tea with lemon."
"And I'll have a coffee!"
"Great, I'll go put that in now before you think I'm Zach Galifianakis." she stalked away.
"That was for sure Jesse Eisenberg, wasn't it Viktor?"
"What?" he was lost in concentration for making a paper snake from a straw wrapper "Sorry Yuri, I didn't hear you."
"Nevermind." their drinks came soon enough and then they order which was out not soon after. They ate and Yuri paid since Viktor's wallet was stolen, he couldn't care less about the money he lost, he cared about the pictures of Yuri in there, and if that isn't the sweetest thing I don't know what is.
There was an announcement that that the warmup was starting and the two made their way to the stands, still perplexed about the waitress. They found seats close to the front of the rink and watched them all skate.
"I just don't know why she would lie to us like that. First she steals from you and then she acts like it never happened and embarasses me in front of the restaurant, that was uncalled for. No what was uncalled for was when she kept saying the names like I was supposed to know who they are. How would I know who Zac Efron is? Or Channing Tatum? Or Benadryl Cunningsnatch? Who even are they?"
"I thought his name was Blenderdick Spilshnsplash?"
"Either way it was wrong of her."
"She kinda reminded me of Yurio."
"How so? She's lying, rude, aggressive, loud-ish, short, the same hair before he grew it out, okay I'm getting it now. All she needs is some animal print and they're twins."
"I wonder how Yurio is? I haven't seen him in a while."
"We saw him just a few months ago."
"We saw him at the last Grand Prix Final."
"Yeah you tried to get me to dance again after I won."
"I like it when you dance. It gives me life and hope."
"Hope for what?... Oh. Okay."
"The warm up is over. Skaters please make your way off the ice." the announcer said
"Looks like it's starting. Can you tell me again why we had to come to America to watch when we could see it on T.V.? Like really, no one we know is competing here."
"I wanted to see it in person plus I've never been to Chicago before. It's a new adventure I get to go on with you, Yuri."
"Well when you put it like that..." he was blushing "Oh look it's starting."
"After all this time you still get embarrassed by me. How adorable!" They skaters started and finished, each performance something to be proud of but nothing to captivate Viktor. About halfway through the programs Yuri would ask "Well?" or "Anyone stand out?" and no one would. Sure they were good but they weren't what he saw in Yuri. He saw lightning in his heart, fire in his soul. He's never seen it in anyone since.
"You really didn't see anyone that stood out?" they event for the day was over and the were heading out of the rink for the night. The sky had turned navy and the white moon was reflecting itself in the snow.
"Sadly not Yuri. No one had anything compared to you."
"Not everyone is me Viktor, everyone has a different spark inside of them and some glow brighter than others. You'll most likely never find any spark exactly like mine again. You'll need to look for others."
"But I only want a spark like yours. Your's gave me something I never felt before."
"Damn it I left my bag inside. Stay here and I'll be right back." Yuri ran inside while Viktor watched.
"I hate it when you leave but I love watching you go." Viktor said
"What?"
"Nothing Yuri. Just hurry back." He began his tread inside once more. Making his way back to the rink. He was gone for a good five minutes before he came sprinting out and yelling for Viktor.
"VIKTOR YOU HAVE TO SEE SOMETHING!"
"What? Oh Yuri. Can we leave now? I'm hungry."
"Viktor you have to see this!"
"See what? The snow? Yes it reminds me of Russia."
"Just follow me! Come on!" he ran ahead and when he saw Viktor moving slower than he, he ran back and dragged him back through the doors. They were once again standing next to the rink.
"Yuri why are we back in here?"
"Be quiet and watch." Music was playing but it was a song neither have heard but it was If I die Young by The Band Perry. A morph of blonde hair flew by not giving heed to the two observers and they danced the ice with great speed and delicate touches. Who ever they were resembled a ballerina and a gymnist. They moved with such grace and with the words and the beat of the song almost like it was playing your for your heart. The step sequence was something for kings and jumps almost cleared the gates. So that's what I saw. She danced as if she was the singer and that if she died, this is what she'd want. She was born for the ice. As soon as she ended there was applause. Viktor Nikiforov was standing and clapping at the ballerina, and she looked confused, frightened, and proud. As if having someone to clap was the eighth wonder of the world. After their eyes met she immediately left the ice sprinting on her skates.
"Hey where are you going? Stop it come back!" Viktor started running after her "That was a beautiful program, did you choreograph it yourself? It was the best I've seen all day. Would you stop running please?"
"No one was supposed to see that. You shouldn't of been here, we closed for the night already."
"I left my bag so I came back for it."
"Well you got it so get the hell out." She said now attempting to take off her skates when Viktor grabbed her arm.
"Don't you dare talk to him like that."
"Viktor stop it. She's upset, it's fine."
"It's not okay Yuri, no one should ever talk to you like that. Especially when I'm right there with you."
"Viktor let her go."
"Listen to your boy toy, you loved him enough to quite. Don't you love him enough to listen?"
"Excuse me?" Yuri said "What gives you the audacity to talk to my husband that way? You obviously know who we are. But what makes you think that you can treat him like that? You can call me his 'boy toy' you can call me whatever but the moment you treat him less than you treat me is the moment you'll regret it, theif." Viktor let go and stood back, he'd never seen Yuri this pissed before. She didn't even move. "What we did was harmless, we watched you skate is all. I would say it's your fault for not locking the doors. So you know what? You can shove it."
"Sorry, I'm not a bottom." Maybell said
"Neither am I." Yuri said with confidence and pride.
"Wow you guys really are gay."
"Did you not see the rings?" Yuri said like she was stating the obvious.
"Yuri calm down. You're getting more heated than I was."
"Sorry Viktor but she crossed the line. You know what? I change my mind, she's not fit to be your student. Come on let's go."
"What? Student? Who Student? What? When? Student?" Maybell spilled out
"Viktor is looking for a new student, but I don't think you're the one." Yuri said
"If you're sure Yuri. Sorry but Yuri's opinion matters."
"What? No! I'm sorry for being rude! You just caught me off guard! I shouldn't have called you a 'boy toy' and please give me a second thought. I'll give the money back!"
"I KNEW IT WAS YOU!" Yuri screamed "Give it back now and I'll consider it." she ran to get the wallet and gave it back. "I'm sorry for tricking you."
"You should be."
"Hurray! My pictures!"
"What?"
"He has too many pictures of me and our dog in there. That's all he cared about."
"That's kinda cute."
"You think? It's more like he's trying to solve a crime on one of those cop shows."
"So about the whole 'Viktor's student' thing...?"
"We'll have to think on that. Viktor are you still hungry?"
"Yes!"
"Then how about you and I go to dinner and think it over?"
"Yes of course, but first" he turned to Maybell "Why did you lie and steal from us?"
"Well that sob story I told wasn't total lie. I was at school on a ballet scholarship and my parents couldn't for me to live at home and the club was shut down from low funding. I technically dropped out of school, going every few days after I got my job. I sent most of the money home but couldn't really afford to live for me. I wish I never sent the money home because my parents don't deserve it. They fight a lot so I'm out of the house most of the time so I am by choice homeless. I've gotten good on my feet and at pickpocketing so it's not hard to live out here on my own. I still practice ballet on my own and since I started here I got into ice skating. I'm seventeen now and this all happened when I was thirteen going on fourteen. But the part about the siblings was total bullshit."
"How do you live like this?" Yuri asked
"Well I've been in the system for a while. I've been passed around foster families and I have one now because they consider my real parents unstable and unfit for a kid so yeah. But my foster families will rarely see me and the state has grown accustomed to my high jinks and tomfoolery so they just let me do me now. Once one family says they don't want me anymore I move on to the next. I've turned it into a game to see how long one family will keep a delinquent like me around. The new record is three months."
"That's awful." Viktor said
"Not really, considering I've been stuck with people who reject me in the same week."
"Viktor are you ready for dinner?"
"Of course Yuri."
"Well come on you two. I'm getting hungry too."
"'You two...'" the words rang in her ears "You're taking me too?"
"Yeah, so hurry up."
"Aye sir!" she said standing in her unlaced skates and nearly falling
"You'll need some work."