Chapter 10: Challenging Competition!

Garth was laying on the bed and focusing attentively to Yuri's practice routine that he had done for this year's competition on his phone. It looked simple, but difficult. He'll have to make sure to get every detail perfect if he was going to stand a chance against the fierce competition.

"Yuri~!" Victor called, poking his head out of the hotel bathroom. He had just taken a shower from the looks of his wet locks. "Once I'm dressed we can go to the rink, if you like?"

"Actually, I was going to go alone," Garth said, not looking up. Victor's smile faded.

"Are you sure you don't want me to come along with you?"

"Yes, I'll be fine," Garth nodded. "Besides, I want to surprise you."

"I do like surprises!" Victor smiled again. Garth sat up and joined in on Victor's smile.

"I know. I might do something different than what I've been practicing."

"You're changing the routine? Isn't it a bit late for that?"

"You're the one who told me I need to do the opposite of what people think, right?" Garth questioned as he began lacing up his shoes. Victor was skeptical, but thoughtful.

"That's true. I suppose it will be alright for now, but I don't want to make it a habit."

"Don't worry, I'm just making a few adjustments," Garth assured him. He stood up and grabbed his backpack. He turned towards the door, but Victor hugged him tightly from behind.

"Be safe," he whispered. He tried to kiss his cheek, but Garth pulled away and walked out the room before Victor could do so. Victor stood there, staring at the closed door. Was Yuri mad at him? He shrugged it off and began drying his hair.

When he got to the rink, Garth began his stretching exercises. He watched Yuri's routine video again before putting on his own skates and trying the performance on his own. It wasn't perfect the first few times and he had forgotten some of the steps. He was frustrated at himself. This was much harder than he expected. He remembered how he use to always mock Yuri's practice performances in the past, always thinking 'please, it's not that hard!'. But this will be Garth's first time performing on the ice, and it was a different story.

Ever since he was a child, he loved ice skating and wanted to do it himself one day. He had practiced everyday, although no one understood why he wanted to practice such a sport. But his idol was what caught his attention. Garth was certain he was good enough, but now that he was actually performing in front of others, he was nervous. He hated it! Nervousness was a weak emotion, a feeling of doubt. Garth never doubts himself!

After what seemed like the tenth time he practiced, Garth was confidant enough to add his own twists to the routine. Instead of a toe-loop here, he'll make it a triple toe-loop there. Yuri sometimes changed his routine steps, true, but Garth will make the routine fit himself.

When he posed for the end of his routine, he heard someone clapping excitedly. Surprised, he turned and saw Yuri's best friend Phichit.

"Yuri, that was amazing! Was that a new routine?!" he asked with a big smile. He must have come to practice for the competition too and was carrying his skates. Garth felt embarrassed that someone had seen him perform, but quickly relaxed and nodded. He was still a bit out of breath. He skated over to meet Phichit, who wrapped his arms around his 'best friend'.

"It's been forever, but we're competing on the same ice again! I can't wait, you know?!"

"Yeah, it'll be exciting," Garth tried to sound enthusiastic about the idea. He hesitated, but wrapped his arms around the other skater.

"Is Victor here?" Phichit asked him. "I don't see him anywhere."

"I wanted to make it a surprise for him."

"Gotcha. I'll keep it secret."

Phichit began his exercises as he continued talking to Garth. Turns out the other skater has been spending a lot of his free time sightseeing and blogging about random festivals he attended in other countries. He had been meaning to talk with him again, but he figured his 'friend' was busy with the skating competition.

"Yeah," Garth answered. "Victor and I have been a bit busy."

"Hey, since you're here, Yuri, you can watch me perform my routine! Might not be as unexpected as yours, but I hope you still like it."

"Sure," Garth nodded. He didn't care, in all honesty, but he knew this was one of Yuri's closest friends. Phichit seemed happy that Garth wanted to stay and made his way out to the center of the rink. He performed his routine and Garth found himself paying close attention. Phichit was competition and definitely looked like a skater Garth would have to look out for.

"What do you think?" Phichit asked him when he ending his routine. Garth smiled.

"It wasn't bad."

"'Wasn't bad'?" came a voice. "You and Phichit will be lucky to even get a high score."

The two skaters turned their attention to the Canadian 'ice king' Jean-Jacques. He had his arms crossed and smirked at the two.

"Hey, JJ!" Phichit smiled. "Been a while!"

Jean saluted Phichit. "What's up, Phichit?"

Garth knew that Jean was in the Las Vegas competition and he began to feel nervous again. He knew Jean was one of the greatest skaters and easily would have won the gold medal last year if it had not been for his panic attack. He was determined to leave everyone in the 'snow' this year, as he put it.

"This is just practice," Phichit told Jean with even determination. "Just wait until the real performance, Right, Yuri?" he nudged Garth's arm playfully. Garth wasn't so sure, but he nodded.

"Yeah.."

"You losers are all going to be sorry once you see what I have in mind for my routine!" Yuri Plisetsky shouted as he approached the four. The younger Yuri had found another leopard print t-shirt from the looks of it, typical for the big cat lover. "That includes you, Katsuki! Don't think I'm going to hold back!"

Garth merely stared at everyone with a bleak face. He was starting to feel overwhelmed. Seemed everyone was over confidant and more than enough prepared for the competition but him! Was he going to impress everyone, or should he just quit?

"No, I can't quit!" Garth thought to himself. "That will just make Katsuki a laughing stock. There is no way he'll let himself back out of this, so I can't either."

He swallowed before giving the other three skaters a confidant look. "I say give it your all. I still have the best routine."

Jean looked amused, "Do you?"

"Just wait until the competition," Garth nodded. "I'll show you all what I can really do!"

Phichit and Yurio stared at their friend in surprise. Sure, they've seen Yuri determined, but there was something in his eyes that bothered them.

Without saying another word, Garth walked past them. If he was ever going to have a chance, he'll have to play dirty.