Chapter 3
The porch swing creaked as Joyce pushed off with her foot, swaying back and forth. Hannah had called and texted a bazillion times, but Joyce ignored every attempt. She'd tossed and turned all night, trying to make sense of her uncle's ridiculous decision to move himself and Hannah clear across the country.
The back door opened and Danielle stuck her head out. "Wanna go for a run?"
"No, thanks," Joyce said.
"How about a smoothie?"
A smoothie? Tempting. "What kind?"
Danielle stepped out on the porch and raised herself up to sit on the railing, facing her sister. "What kind would you like?"
Joyce shrugged. "Whatever you want is fine with me. No kale, though. Yuck."
"How long you planning to sit out here and feel sorry for yourself?"
"I'm not feeling sorry for myself."
"Really?" Danielle gestured to the pile of Kleenex next to her. "I guess your allergies must be acting up again."
"Very funny," Joyce said. "I'm ticked at Uncle Thomas for taking Hannah and moving clear across the country away from Aunt Buffy."
"Now we're getting somewhere." Danielle said. "Maybe Uncle Thomas will change his mind."
"You know Uncle Thomas as well as I. He has always been afraid that Hannah will be called like I was. So, I doubt he will change his mind."
"Joyce? Danielle?" Dawn came out on the porch. "Want to go meet the new neighbors?"
"Not really," Joyce said. "We were going to make some smoothies and go for a run."
"You could run by their house," Dawn slid onto the swing next to Joyce. "Dad saw the kids outside earlier and they've already got a new puppy."
"Wow. That was fast," Joyce said.
"We could jog by and say hello if they're out. Want to?" Danielle asked.
Joyce shrugged. "I guess." It was better than sitting around, thinking about Thomas and Hannah moving away.
"Come on." Dannielle said as she tugged her older sister to her feet. "Meet you back here in ten."
Joyce went inside and changed her clothes, her chest tightening just thinking about coming face to face with Sydney Gray. What were the chances? Drawing a ragged breath, Joyce grabbed her shoes and padded downstairs. Danielle was already outside, one hand on the porch railing as she stretched. Joyce pulled the door open and sat down on the top step, slipping her feet into her shoes.
"How far do you want to run?" Danielle asked, shaking out her legs.
"I'm supposed to do forty-five minutes of cardio and then I do thirty minutes of yoga on the Wii fit." Joyce tied her laces in a double knot.
"I'll pass on the yoga, but I think I can do forty-five. Are you about ready, Joyce?"
"Let's go." Joyce led the way down the street.
"Slow down, Joyce, not everyone is a Slayer," Danielle called as Joyce began to pull away from her.
"Sorry," Joyce said as she slowed down so her sister could catch up. She noticed a a raven-haired, blue-eyed boy stood in the new neighbor's yard, tossing a ball to a yellow lab puppy. Her heart thrummed in her chest and it wasn't from their workout. He was tall, with a light tan and broad shoulders. He wore a Seattle Sounders jersey, neon green shorts and black Adidas soccer shoes.
He looked up and waved. "Hey."
Joyce stopped running. She was speechless. She licked her lips but no sound came out.
Danielle glanced at Joyce but kept jogging toward the boy. "Hey. I'm Danielle, this is my sister, Joyce. We heard you were new to the neighborhood."
"Dylan Gray," he said. "Nice to meet you."
"Is that your puppy?" Dylan asked.
"That's Lila Jane. We just got her. Want to play?" Dylan handed Danielle the ball.
Joyce looked at Dylan and her heart leaped into her throat. The air between them practically crackled with electricity. He was about the hottest thing to move into the neighborhood in quite a while.
"Sure." Danielle tossed the ball for the golden ball of fuzz and Lila chased it down, tail flitting back and forth as she retrieved it and dropped it at Danielle's feet.
"So, you guys go to Preston Heights?"
"We do." Joyce said.
Danielle threw the ball for Lila Jane.
"How's the soccer team?" Dylan asked.
"Pretty good." Danielle said. "I'm more of a hockey girl, but I think the soccer team went to state last year. There's lots of club soccer around here, too."
"A hockey player, huh? I should introduce you to my sister. She's a figure skater."
Joyce froze. "What's her name?"
"Sydney Gray. Ever heard of her?"
Joyce's heart pounded in her chest. I knew it. "I think I saw her at camp. I'm a skater, too."
Dylan's eyes lit up. "Really? She just got back from camp, right before we moved. Boy, she is not happy about leaving her club."
"I bet." Joyce rubbed the soft downy fur on Lila Jane's belly, wracking her brain for something kind to say about Sydney. But all she could think about was the murmurs of appreciation from the people in the stands when Sydney landed yet another incredible jump in front of all the skaters and coaches.
"You're pretty good with that puppy. Maybe you should come by more often," Dylan said to Danielle.
Joyce's stomach vaulted into a series of backflips. She swallowed hard. "Don't you think you should ask your parents?"
Dylan glanced back at the house. "I would, but they took my twin sister over to check out the ice rink. Summers and Summers Skating Rink?"
"Yeah, we know it," Joyce said.
"Our mom and aunt own it and that's where Joyce skates," Danielle added.
"Well, you'll definitely have to come back by and meet her then. She'll be excited to have another skater in the neighborhood."
Joyce pasted on a smile. "Yeah, sure. Sounds great. Danielle and I will come by tomorrow and say hello."
"Looking forward to it." Dylan smiled. "Nice to meet you. Thanks for saying hi."
Joyce managed a wave then followed Danielle back down the driveway and through the neighborhood. First Uncle Thomas decided to move away with Hannah and now she'd probably have to watch Sydney Gray demonstrate her perfect short program every single day from now until Thanksgiving. Her stomach clenched. Only the top four skaters advanced from regionals. How could she move on to sectionals if she had to out-skate Sydney Gray? What an epic disaster.
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"I can't believe you're going to let her try out. That's not fair." Joyce fisted her hands on her hips and glared at her aunt and mother.
"Joyce, calm down," Dawn said.
"Sydney's a talented skater," Buffy added. "But nothing's been decided yet."
"What about the other skaters you turned away?" Joyce grasped for anything that might convince them to change their minds. "None of them get a special tryout."
Buffy sighed. "With Hannah leaving and with Thomas taking the money he was giving me for coaching her, though he didn't have to pay me to coach her, it still hurt. So much so that we need a new skater to fill in the short fall. Nothing has been decided, okay."
"Honey," Dawn said. "Want to tell us what's really bothering you?"
Joyce huffed out a breath. "I'll never make it past regionals if she skates here."
"Doing well at regionals is based on your talents and abilities," Dawn said. "Not those of the other skaters."
"But I watched her at camp, Mom. She's so awesome. I'll never—"
"That's enough, Joyce Buffy Harwood-Summers," Dawn said and Joyce instantly knew that was the end of the conversation. "Healthy competition only makes you better. Buffy, I think it's time for her session, don't you?"
"I think you're right, Dawn," Buffy agreed.
Joyce nodded as she set out to skate a couple laps around the rink. As she passed Taylor Quick who leaned against the boards, she heard Taylor call out to her, "Hey, Joyce. What's up?"
"Hi, Taylor. Ready for school on Tuesday?" Joyce skated in wide figure eights, waiting for her friend to join her.
"I guess. I can't believe summer's almost over." Taylor skated to catch up with Joyce.
"Did you hear about Hannah?"
Taylor nodded. "She posted on Facebook. Totally bummed. Especially since she's moving away from …" She motioned toward Buffy.
Joyce nodded in agreement as she stroked her blades against the ice, picking up speed. "Have you talked to her?"
"I sent her a text but she didn't answer. It's like she's already gone. I'm sorry, Joyce. This stinks."
"I know," Joyce agreed. "It's the worst news ever."
Taylor shook her head as they rounded the corner of the rink and skated back toward Buffy.
"Wait. There's more," Joyce said. "Sydney Gray is going to try out here."
Taylor snowplowed to a stop. She narrowed her eyes and stared at Joyce. "You're kidding."
"True story. Ask Aunt Buffy and Mom."
Taylor glanced at Buffy and Dawn and skated toward Buffy. "It is true?" she asked.
"About Sydney Gray," Buffy said knowing her niece would tell her friends, "yes. With Hannah leaving I have a spot open. And with my ex-taking the money he was giving me to train Hannah I need a new skater."
Taylor nodded as she sighed. "I'm sorry about Hannah, Ms. Summers."
"Thank you, Taylor," Buffy said as Taylor rejoined Joyce and the two of them took another lap, skating in tandem.
"Joyce," Buffy called from across the ice. "Let's start with combo spins today. I want to see a camel-layback-sit, with or without a spread eagle. Your choice."
"Got it." There wasn't a spread eagle in either her short program or her long, but she knew better than to argue.
Joyce mentally played the music for her short program in her head. She loved the thrill and excitement of a great jump, but the artistic elements of spinning well were just as fun to practice. Skating in a wide arc, she rotated her hips out, feeling the stretch in her leg muscles. Spreading her arms, she tipped her chin and glided sideways across the ice in a flawless spread eagle. The air was cool on her face and a section of her ponytail blew across her face, but she didn't care. This is what she loved about skating.
"Great hip rotation, Joyce," Buffy called from across the ice.
Joyce smiled. While she still had plenty of speed, she lifted her left leg quickly and leaned forward until her torso was parallel with the ice, spinning in four quick revolutions. She transitioned into a layback, spinning even faster, with her head dropped back and arms hugging her torso, leg flying closer to the ice to keep her momentum going. Fixing her eyes on the rafters of the rink, she gritted her teeth against the dizziness and spun faster. After six revolutions, the burning in her quadriceps reminded her it was time to change legs, the hardest part of the combination spin. Dropping her left leg to the ice, she dug in with her edge, propped her hands on her thigh and spun eight more times. Coming out of her sit spin, she skated a few strokes and finished with a flourish of both arms.
"Well done." Buffy applauded from where she stood.
Taylor skated over and offered high fives. "The best combo spin ever," Taylor said, her blue eyes sparkling as her palm connected with Joyce's.
Warmth flooded through her. "Thanks, you're the best."
Her enthusiasm was short-lived. The doors to the rink opened, letting a stream of sunshine spill in. Sydney Gray stepped in followed by her mother. They walked up to the boards, Sydney's expression very stoic as she glanced around at the other skaters. It was quiet as they all stared. Joyce's pulse sped up. This was not happening.
"Ladies, say hello to Sydney Gray and her mother, Mrs. Gray." Buffy instructed the girls while beckoning for Sydney and her mother to join them.
"Consider this your official welcome to Summers and Summers Skating Rink."
Mrs. Gray smiled brightly but Sydney just stood at the boards, head held high.
"Sydney, once you're warmed up, we'll start with a game of Simon Says," Buffy said. "For lack of a better phrase, it's sort of an icebreaker."
"That was not one of your best, Buffy," Dawn said in reference to the terrible pun.
Joyce tried not to stare as Sydney laced up her skates. She practiced her spread eagle at the far end of the rink, wondering what kind of elements her aunt or her mother would ask her to demonstrate for a tryout. Sydney stepped onto the ice and began skating. She still hadn't said a word to anyone. After several laps, she stopped in front of Buffy and Dawn, her blades kicking up a small pile of ice flakes. "I'm ready."
"Okay, then," Dawn said. "Taylor, why don't you start us off?"
Taylor smiled at Sydney and brushed a hand through her short, pixie style haircut. "Simon says, show me a toe loop."
Everyone landed their toe loops effortlessly.
"Joyce," Buffy said. "Show us what you've got."
Joyce swallowed hard. The whole point of Simon Says skater-style was to demonstrate a move that nobody else could emulate. Her chest tightened. What could she possibly do that Sydney hadn't already mastered?
"Um, Simon Says, show me a quadruple Lutz." Joyce pushed off, skating backward several strokes before using her toe pick to launch from the outside edge of her right foot, willed her body to spin four times in the air in opposite direction. She landed on her left foot with only a slight wobble.
"Sydney? Why don't you be Simon?" Dawn said.
Joyce groaned inwardly.
Sydney skated in a wide arc, hands on her hips. "Simon says show me a triple Salchow."
Joyce's heart lurched. She could do it, but it wouldn't be pretty. Buffy said she needed to work it into one of her programs, but it had always been one of the toughest jumps for her to master.
Of course, Sydney showed them all exactly how it was done. She was all grace and elegance as she skated across the ice, vaulted into the air from her inside edge, spun effortlessly through the air four times before landing like a raindrop on a leaf—on her opposite leg, of course.
Joyce's pulse sped up. She picked up speed as she skated across the ice. Her effort was doomed from the beginning. Whether it was from intimidation or fatigue, Joyce lacked the power she needed and couldn't spin more than twice. Flustered, she landed on the same leg she took off from—a huge deduction if this were an official competition. Cheeks flaming, she skated back toward the others lined up along the boards. Taylor offered a sympathetic smile but Joyce fought back tears.
"Looks like Sydney is the winner of that round. Congratulations, Sydney."
"Thanks." Sydney flashed Joyce a rare smile and Joyce couldn't ignore the triumphant look in her eyes.
"That's all for today, ladies. See you Monday," Buffy said.
"Come on, Joyce. Let's go do some retail therapy," Taylor said, patting her on the shoulder.
"I can't. Danielle and I have pets to take care of." She didn't usually pass up shopping, especially on a Saturday night. But Joyce wanted to get away from the rink as soon as possible. After being one-upped like that, she wasn't in the mood for a trip to the mall.