I yawned loudly. I had to go for figure-skating practice in the morning at
8am. I brushed my teeth and took a bite out of my granola bar. I put on my
clothes and went down to the rink. All of the figure skaters were already
there, except for Haylie. Haylie was ALWAYS late.
"Better start warming up Jean. The coach will be here any minute," Xenia said to me. She had, what the teacher's like to call "leadership qualities"
I did my stretching and a few minutes later, the coach arrived.
"Okay now, students, I have some news-"
"Sorry! Sorry! Sorry I'm late coach!" Haylie interrupted, rushing out onto the ice.
The coach sighed and Haylie blushed. "Anyway, like I was saying, I have news for all of you. The figure skating competition date has been changed from the 10th of May to the 25th of April as one of the judges will only be able to make it for this date."
"But...but the 25th of April is less than four weeks away!" Eilynn said frantically.
Everyone started whispering.
"Students, we have no time for this. We have to be ready! So from now on, training will be longer and more intense and there will be training on weekends too"
We all nodded silently. This was not going to be fun, let alone easy.
The coach grew stricter and stricter everyday and everyday, we were pushed to the limits.
"Ermm...Jean, are you okay?" Ken asked.
Oh me? Okay? Well, lets see, I have had nothing but hell for the past three weeks from my coach. My teachers have been pushing me to excel. I don't get more than three hours of sleep everyday and my face is currently buried in my omelette...how do I say all this in one word?
I mumbled something in Chinese.
Ken's eyes widened.
"What did she say?" Portman asked.
Ken swallowed hard "You don't want to know"
"Just hang in there" Adam said encouragingly.
I didn't reply. I fell asleep on his chest. This was relaxing...this was nice...this was...
"Haylie?" I asked, waking up.
"We have to go for training"
I groaned and got off the bench. I waved goodbye to them, my eyes still half closed.
Haylie grabbed my arm and dragged me out of the lunchroom.
~ Competition day~
"Okay! Today is the day that I want to get through quickest and most painlessly as possible," I whined.
"You're going to be fine" Charlie assured. Yeah! Easy for him to say!
I looked at the food on my plate and ate it up. An hour more till the competition;
I put my skates and costume into a bag. It had the words "Eden Hall" written across it.
I boarded the bus and we headed for the venue.
I could see Adam sitting in the stands from backstage. This was going to be good.
Adam's ~POV~
"Is it starting yet?" I asked anxiously.
"No"
Five minutes later, the competition began. And Eden Hall's very own Meiryl Parker was up first.
She got into a pose and skated to the tune of...F*** it! I don't want you back
We all stared at her. All her moves were so...aggressive...wonder what got her into a flurry.
"Oh! I know her! I dumped her for Lisa Thomas last week" Louis said
"Gee, from the way she glared at you just now, I would have never guessed," Charlie said sarcastically and Louis mumbled something under his breath.
Jean's ~POV~
I watched as Meredith and Jonathan skated off the rink.
The coach walked over to us "Okay everyone. I am pleased to say that you all have done very well and thus, we are tie with Sandra Cocker's Gratitude School for the first place. So Jean will have to beat Claire Catrine for us to take home the Gold."
Everyone gasped and looked at me. I hate being last. The decider.
Just then, there was a call for me to get ready. Everyone pushed me to go and I walked over to where all the other competitors were and took my position. In front of me was Claire Catrine. She gave me a sly look and turned away. Freaky!! The announcer called her name and she skated onto the ice.
I watched her skate to the tune of Me, myself and I and though it pains me to say so, she was good. Her moves were strong and her landings were light. She ended with a score of 7.5 from the first judge, 8.0 from the second judge, 7.4 from the third and 8.2 from the fourth; those were the scores that I had to beat
I watched her skate off before I skated onto the rink.
The song Miracles happen came on.
I twirled, spun, skated as gracefully as I could. I could see every wonderful moment run through my mind. I looked at the stands. I could see all of the Ducks smiling at me.
I was so happy! I had it all. The moves, the energy, and most of all, the support.
I ended my routine and the crowd cheered.
All schools met on the ice.
"Now, for the moment we've all been waiting for. Jean's score."
The first judge held up the score of 7.5.
The second judge held up the score of 8.0.
The third judge held up the score of 7.4.
And the fourth judge held up the score of...8.3!!!
There was a loud cheer and we took our bright, gold trophy.
We were all celebrating when the fourth judge waked up to me
"Congratulations on your win. Hey, I know someone from Singapore that could take you to international level. You will have to study there for three years tops but it's a small price you have to pay, so what do you say?"
I bit my lip. Small price? I have a life here. But I have a life in Singapore too...
I thought about it for a while before I replied "I think I'll stay here, in Minnesota." I looked at the Ducks' smiling faces.
He nodded his head and left.
"Well, glad that's settled. Let's go to the diner to celebrate" Charlie said loudly
Everyone cheered.
"Sure" I said. "But we need two extra seats."
"Why?"
"For us. Hey Adam"
Adam's jaw dropped "McGill? Larson?"
"Yeah. Your friend, Jean asked us over." McGill said POLITELY.
"YOU DID WHAT?!?!" The Ducks yelled.
"Look, you can all be friends after matches. Everyone deserves a chance." I said quickly "Right Adam?"
Adam just looked at me.
"Right Adam?"
He looked at the Ducks. They just smiled at him (not at Larson or McGill though)
"Yeah" He said finally.
We all smiled and headed for the diner. I just walked along with them. Adam, Larson and McGill had a nice chat. Charlie made up with Lynda and most of the Ducks were almost cool with McGill and Larson. Adam kept his social status with the Ducks and things worked out great. At least...that's for as long as I was here anyway!
"Better start warming up Jean. The coach will be here any minute," Xenia said to me. She had, what the teacher's like to call "leadership qualities"
I did my stretching and a few minutes later, the coach arrived.
"Okay now, students, I have some news-"
"Sorry! Sorry! Sorry I'm late coach!" Haylie interrupted, rushing out onto the ice.
The coach sighed and Haylie blushed. "Anyway, like I was saying, I have news for all of you. The figure skating competition date has been changed from the 10th of May to the 25th of April as one of the judges will only be able to make it for this date."
"But...but the 25th of April is less than four weeks away!" Eilynn said frantically.
Everyone started whispering.
"Students, we have no time for this. We have to be ready! So from now on, training will be longer and more intense and there will be training on weekends too"
We all nodded silently. This was not going to be fun, let alone easy.
The coach grew stricter and stricter everyday and everyday, we were pushed to the limits.
"Ermm...Jean, are you okay?" Ken asked.
Oh me? Okay? Well, lets see, I have had nothing but hell for the past three weeks from my coach. My teachers have been pushing me to excel. I don't get more than three hours of sleep everyday and my face is currently buried in my omelette...how do I say all this in one word?
I mumbled something in Chinese.
Ken's eyes widened.
"What did she say?" Portman asked.
Ken swallowed hard "You don't want to know"
"Just hang in there" Adam said encouragingly.
I didn't reply. I fell asleep on his chest. This was relaxing...this was nice...this was...
"Haylie?" I asked, waking up.
"We have to go for training"
I groaned and got off the bench. I waved goodbye to them, my eyes still half closed.
Haylie grabbed my arm and dragged me out of the lunchroom.
~ Competition day~
"Okay! Today is the day that I want to get through quickest and most painlessly as possible," I whined.
"You're going to be fine" Charlie assured. Yeah! Easy for him to say!
I looked at the food on my plate and ate it up. An hour more till the competition;
I put my skates and costume into a bag. It had the words "Eden Hall" written across it.
I boarded the bus and we headed for the venue.
I could see Adam sitting in the stands from backstage. This was going to be good.
Adam's ~POV~
"Is it starting yet?" I asked anxiously.
"No"
Five minutes later, the competition began. And Eden Hall's very own Meiryl Parker was up first.
She got into a pose and skated to the tune of...F*** it! I don't want you back
We all stared at her. All her moves were so...aggressive...wonder what got her into a flurry.
"Oh! I know her! I dumped her for Lisa Thomas last week" Louis said
"Gee, from the way she glared at you just now, I would have never guessed," Charlie said sarcastically and Louis mumbled something under his breath.
Jean's ~POV~
I watched as Meredith and Jonathan skated off the rink.
The coach walked over to us "Okay everyone. I am pleased to say that you all have done very well and thus, we are tie with Sandra Cocker's Gratitude School for the first place. So Jean will have to beat Claire Catrine for us to take home the Gold."
Everyone gasped and looked at me. I hate being last. The decider.
Just then, there was a call for me to get ready. Everyone pushed me to go and I walked over to where all the other competitors were and took my position. In front of me was Claire Catrine. She gave me a sly look and turned away. Freaky!! The announcer called her name and she skated onto the ice.
I watched her skate to the tune of Me, myself and I and though it pains me to say so, she was good. Her moves were strong and her landings were light. She ended with a score of 7.5 from the first judge, 8.0 from the second judge, 7.4 from the third and 8.2 from the fourth; those were the scores that I had to beat
I watched her skate off before I skated onto the rink.
The song Miracles happen came on.
I twirled, spun, skated as gracefully as I could. I could see every wonderful moment run through my mind. I looked at the stands. I could see all of the Ducks smiling at me.
I was so happy! I had it all. The moves, the energy, and most of all, the support.
I ended my routine and the crowd cheered.
All schools met on the ice.
"Now, for the moment we've all been waiting for. Jean's score."
The first judge held up the score of 7.5.
The second judge held up the score of 8.0.
The third judge held up the score of 7.4.
And the fourth judge held up the score of...8.3!!!
There was a loud cheer and we took our bright, gold trophy.
We were all celebrating when the fourth judge waked up to me
"Congratulations on your win. Hey, I know someone from Singapore that could take you to international level. You will have to study there for three years tops but it's a small price you have to pay, so what do you say?"
I bit my lip. Small price? I have a life here. But I have a life in Singapore too...
I thought about it for a while before I replied "I think I'll stay here, in Minnesota." I looked at the Ducks' smiling faces.
He nodded his head and left.
"Well, glad that's settled. Let's go to the diner to celebrate" Charlie said loudly
Everyone cheered.
"Sure" I said. "But we need two extra seats."
"Why?"
"For us. Hey Adam"
Adam's jaw dropped "McGill? Larson?"
"Yeah. Your friend, Jean asked us over." McGill said POLITELY.
"YOU DID WHAT?!?!" The Ducks yelled.
"Look, you can all be friends after matches. Everyone deserves a chance." I said quickly "Right Adam?"
Adam just looked at me.
"Right Adam?"
He looked at the Ducks. They just smiled at him (not at Larson or McGill though)
"Yeah" He said finally.
We all smiled and headed for the diner. I just walked along with them. Adam, Larson and McGill had a nice chat. Charlie made up with Lynda and most of the Ducks were almost cool with McGill and Larson. Adam kept his social status with the Ducks and things worked out great. At least...that's for as long as I was here anyway!