Ice Princess
Summary: AU, Riley/Lucas. Riley Matthews is one of the best intermediate figure skaters in New York, and on the verge of qualifying for Nationals. Riley won't give the Texan hockey player Lucas Friar the time of day, knowing she doesn't need a distraction. But Lucas, has never seen a princess before, and won't let her slip through his fingers.
A/N: I know, I know, there is a figuring skating movie with this same title, but you have to know that figure skating will be the only thing these two have in common. Riley is a Princess, we all know that, and that is why I chose this title, alrighty? Now, I welcome you all into the stunning and glamourous life of the elite figure skater, Riley Matthew; quirky high schooler by day, graceful figure skater by night.
So I really wanted to incorporate a Joshaya relationship, so both Lucas and Josh play teammates on the Bobcats NYU team – the actual NYU mascot right there folks. Maya… well you'll just have to wait and see. :)
Chapter 1: Princess of the Axel
Riley Matthews ignored the chill of the open ice rink and let her lungs inhale a deep breath of the cold air. The lights were dimmed and she stood alone in the middle of the white surface counting the beats of the song she had playing on her stereo that she'd memorized and tapping the spikes of her skate against the ice. The ice rink had been her second home for as long as she could remember, when her mother enrolled her in her first can skate lesson with all the other tykes. The feeling of gliding across the ice unable to stop herself was exhilarating and watching the older students perform flawlessly gave her a goal to work towards and suddenly, she was in love. Figure skating was her life; it was the perfect constant. Now, seventeen years old; she was the best she's ever been, always a soloist.
The second that her queue sounded, she pushed off with her right foot and dashed across the centre of the ice, catching speed with each stride. Cool air flushed against her skin as she turned on her left skate and pushed herself off the ice for her first jump; the Triple Salchow, tucking herself together and spinning three times, to land on her right foot and begin to concentrate on getting the stepping of her next jump correct. The Axel was by far her trickiest jump; in fact many figure skaters won't even attempt it for that reason. She's only ever landed it a few times and never in front of an audience.
She just had to get her footing perfect. Riley began to pump her arms in preparation for the jump, again pushing off on her left foot, and crossing her legs the moment her feet left the ice. To watch it would have looked so graceful, but Riley hardly ever felt graceful. Still; she had to smile at the feeling of flying through the air.
Against her better judgement and preparation, her landing was off canter completely, as her right foot gave out let the rest of her body fall over top of it. She tumbled and slid across the ice, letting out a frustrated sigh. It wasn't the first time she had missed the jump and it definitely wouldn't be the last, but it always seemed like she was taking two steps backwards every time she failed.
Rotating her right ankle slowly, she realized that maybe she was pushing herself a little too hard. The only way she was ever going to stand out to any judges was if she landed that Axel.
One day she was going to skate for the entire world and show everyone what she was capable of; but for now, she would settle for her imaginary audience that cheered every time she entered the arena.
Her soundtrack came to a pause, and Riley looked up to see her coach standing in the home bench, leaning against the side boards. Riley wiped the ice off her body and made her way across the ice.
"Great work today, Riley," Katy Hart said, opening the gate for her. Riley smiled; Katy had been her coach for the past ten years, and has taught her nearly everything she knows about skating. It was also pretty sweet that Riley got along so well with her daughter as well, because they were the best of friends.
"Thanks Katy, I'm still struggling with that Axel though," Riley said, taking a seat in the player's bench.
"I saw, and I'm starting to think that maybe we should cut it from the routine and add another Lutz or maybe a loop," Katy told her honestly, crossing her arms in front of her.
"Why? I've landed the Axel before! That's more than what most can say, and it's the only way I'll ever come close to the Nationals title. I just need to perfect it, and get a little bit stronger," Riley argued. She's worked far too hard to give up now.
"I just don't want you to hurt yourself," Katy replied. "How's the ankle?" Katy's glare dropped to the ankle Riley knew was beginning to swell slightly. Riley hesitated, one hundred percent sure that her coach could see right through her. You couldn't teach someone for so long without learning their greatest strengths and weaknesses.
"It's fine, and it'll be as good as new tomorrow," Riley promised.
"It better, otherwise I'm cutting the Axel, understand?"
"Yes, ma'am," Riley saluted with a goofy grin spreading across her face, Katy's creased and stern face wiped away almost instantly. Nobody on earth could stay angry with Riley Matthews.
She took a deep breath and shook her head with a chuckle.
"What am I going to do with you?" she said to herself, knowing full well that she was in the presence of one of the best young skaters she's seen in a very long time. Katy looked down at her watch and pursed her lips. "The Bobcats are going to be out any moment, you know how they are," Katy told her.
"I know, every –
"second counts," the finished in unison, and Riley had to laugh. Those boys were arrogant and far too idiotic for their own good, but they were passionate, just like her; she'd give them that much.
"I'll clean up," Riley told her coach, untying her laces and wiping the ice off the blades.
"See ya tomorrow hun," Katy walked off towards her office, leaving Riley alone in the arena once again to her thoughts. She replaced her skates with black sneakers and slipped leggings over top of her tiny skirt. One of her favourite parts of skating and preforming in front of an audience was the stunning costumes she had access too. Through out of career as a skater, her costumes ranged from emotional swans, to caveman like attire. She was able to pretend to be someone else for a short amount of time and it was always entertaining.
"Good evening, Miss Katy," Riley heard the sound of a distant male voice call from down the hall behind her. She knew exactly who it was.
"Mr. Hunter," Katy acknowledged. Riley had to keep from laughing; every night it was the exact same interaction, nothing more, nothing less.
Riley turned her head to smile warmly at the hall man, with the beginnings of a scruffy beard browning his chin.
"Hey, Uncle Shawn." She put her skates into her blue Nike sports bag, and zipped up a thin purple sweater over top of her pink dress.
"Hey, kiddo, how's the ice?"
"It definitely needs the Zamboni today Shawn. So make sure you break the news carefully. You know how the boys get."
"Well every second counts," he told her trying to act disappointed, but smiling against his will. Riley tried to hide her smirk; the boy's from Shawn's team repeated that statement more times that she could count, and it was far more than worn out. "Don't worry, I'll use small words," he assured.
"Well, I wish I could talk, but I need to pick up Auggie." Truth be told, picking up Auggie was also working as an excuse to avoid seeing the hockey team. Every moment she wasted on seeing her Uncle Josh and his ego-centric pose, she was never going to get back, and she definitely did not have time for that.
"Don't keep the little guy waiting."
"Bye Shawn," she said, hoisting her bag up on her shoulder, and walking away.
Passing by the boy's locker room, she could practically feel the high levels of testosterone in the air like it was humidity. She rolled her eyes at the sound of their chatter one of the players bragging loudly about how wasted he got last night; she would never understand boys.
Just as she passed the door, she collided with a large body with enough weight to knock her balance off canter. One thing to know about Riley Matthews was that her grace and elegance did not translate onto the actual ground; no, she was actually the most ungraceful person in the entire world when she was not on ice. You would never know she was an intermediate figure skater with 15 years under her belt.
Riley was already dazed when she looked up to see concerned green eyes looking down at her. She almost missed the fact that there was an arm around her back and she was not sitting on the floor. The most handsome boy she's ever seen was holding on to her as if his life depended on it. His light brown hair was spiked and his dimples became more prominent as a smile spread across his face. The boy towered over her in his skates, but she saw the Bobcat's jersey, and she could suddenly see clearly again.
"Sorry," she said quickly, standing back up on her own, and picking her bag up off the floor.
"It's okay," he said softly, still in a daze himself.
The rest of the team was going to be out any moment, and she did not need to be here when that happened, she turned on her heel and before the boy knew it, she was halfway down the hallway, pony tail swinging in her stride.
He never got to know her name.
A/N: What do you think? Should I continue this story?