Clarke's breath condensed in front of her, floating up to the rafters as she took another deep breath. This was the moment, the moment she'd been training for, hoping for, dreading. She could barely feel her skates underneath her, the warm up session seemed a lifetime ago and her knees were jelly. You can do this. She felt his voice deep within her bones, a fire ripping through her, igniting life into her frozen form.
Then the music started and she was exploding outward, moving to thundering drums, sailing across the rising tide of violins. The jumps were barely a thought, as a constant a flow as her circular step sequence. She soared, rising above and gliding below with the supple bend of her knees. She loved this piece, and today, she became it. He blades dug deeper, held firmer than ever before. Clarke could feel herself reaching for the rafters, daring to dance on air.
She barely registered that the entire three and a half minute program had ended until Raven's delighted shrieks penetrated her euphoric aura. Then she was on her knees, her strength giving out in a sudden rush of breath and joy. Clarke forced her way back to her feet, remembered to bow to the judges and finally made her way, still feeling entirely out of body, to Ivan at the side of the rink. The smile on his face pulled her back to reality.
"I knew you had it in you," he beamed down at her. She took her guards from his hand and moved to sit on the nearest bench. Regionals didn't have the Kiss and Cry area featured in national and international competition, but they would be able to hear her scores before the next competitor took the ice.
Clarke slumped against the wall behind her, scarcely able to believe the program she'd just performed. She knew the jump elements were good, they nearly always were. Ivan had made sure she'd had picture perfect jump technique from the time he'd arrived to coach her. But to feel that elated throughout a performance, she'd never experienced that before.
"The score for Clarke Griffin, representing the Hudson Valley Figure Skating Club, is 85.59 giving her a total score of 125.58. She is currently in first place." Not that first place was a terribly big deal right now since there were still seven skaters yet to go. The score was good though, a personal best for Clarke.
She followed Ivan out of the rink, thankful when she could no longer hear the next competitor's music. This was her moment and she didn't want it ruined by some thirteen year old landing a perfect triple lutz triple toe or something equally insane. She reached down to untie her skates on autopilot, her fingers shaking as they tangled with the laces. Finally her skates were off and dried and her feet were firming back inside her sparkly tennis shoes.
"I'm so proud of you Clarke!" Her mother swooped down like a hawk upon its prey. For once she didn't tense at the words, or worry her mother was lying through her teeth. She'd skated well and whatever result came Clarke was more than satisfied.
"Seriously, honey, you were great out there." Her father clasped an arm around her shoulders. "We are so proud of you."
A grin split her face. "I'm so glad you were able to make it, dad!"
Jake Griffin gave her an indulgent grin. "As if I would miss by girl winning regionals."
"Dad," she grumbled, "I am not winning regionals. I'm not even sure I'll place to get to sectionals."
"I don't know," Finn's teasing voice cut in as he approached, "You were pretty awesome out there. Pretty sure you could have trounced a few of the guys too."
Clarke rolled her eyes, but a satisfied warmth tingled just below the surface of her skin. Raven appeared next to Finn, a resplendent grin lighting up her features. "Well I think it's time to crown the princess." Clarke glared at her, until Raven laughed. "But seriously, Clarke, you kicked all of the ass."
Finn glanced back at the rink, "and you only have to wait for five more skaters now."
"We already know how awesome she'll place," Wells interjected, patting Clarke on the back as he took a seat on the bench beside her. "Way to go, Griffin."
"Thanks, Jaha." Her face hurt from smiling so much, but Clarke could hardly remember a time in life she'd felt happier. All her friends surrounded her and she'd finally earned that feeling of being on top of the world.
Clarke barely listened to what Wells, Finn, Raven and her parents said as they chatted, the occasional bout of laughter filling the air. She was content to relax, to relive the scrape of her blades on the ice and the vault of her body through the air. It was only when Wells let out a loud whoop that she tuned back in, eyebrows raised in question.
"You won!" She blinked up at him, uncomprehending. A grin split his lips as he launched himself at her, his hug smothering her against his broad chest. "Clarke, you won North Atlantic Regionals!"
"But I was 6th in the short."
"You won the long, by a lot," Finn added, barely visible over Wells' shoulder.
Clarke rose from the bench, peeling herself free of Wells who went on to share congratulatory hugs with her parents. A flash of brown caught her eye as she turned and suddenly there was Bellamy Blake, standing across the lobby from her. The rest of the world fell away and all she could think of was his voice in her head as she flew across the ice. He held her gaze, eyes branding her until he abruptly nodded and looked away. A moment later he'd locked an arm around his sister's shoulders and they were heading out the door as if he'd never seen Clarke.