Hey guys! I'm so happy with the number of reviews I got! I'm proud of you all. Each and every one of you. :D Though you can definitely work on finding the chapter sooner, because I was up like all night checking the reviews every like three minutes. :( You could say I was slightly disappointed...
Anyways, this is the first time I end up using someone else's POV besides Everdeen's. It starts and ends with Everdeen's POV but in between that, I have Damion's POV. I think it went pretty well, and we shall see what you all think of him by the end of the chapter.
Everdeen POV
After many conversations and a whole lot of negotiating, my parents and coach finally decided it would be alright if Kendra came down for the ice show. I would meet her after dress rehearsal ended and she was going to stay in my room with me.
I had been counting down the days, and finally, the time has come. Today is the day of the dress rehearsal.
I was so excited, and Kendra had told me she had a surprise for me too. She told me it was big and that Kayla had okayed it too, but I I really couldn't figure out what it might be.
I haven't worried about it at all though because Kendra and I are super close, and she knows me better than anyone else in the world. Better than even my parents. So she always knows what I'd like and what I wouldn't like. Sometimes she doesn't agree, but that's inevitable. Sisters don't always agree on everything.
Practice went okay. I landed everything that was in my program, so I wasn't worried for dress rehearsal, plus even if I fell, it was just the dress rehearsal. I had three more shows after it anyway.
Damion was here. Again. He'd been here almost everyday since I first met him, and something in the back of my head tried to convince me it was because of me. Of course I'd immediately told myself there was no way that was true, but the thought was persistent.
By now, I was backstage getting changed and getting all my make-up on, because the show starts in about an hour and they have us get ready early.
I was wearing the purple dress Kendra loved so much for the opening that everybody participates in, and the make-up matched perfectly. Mostly purple, but with a little blue, just like the dress.
One thing I hated about skating is that you pretty much had to wear make up because you're so far away from the judges and the crowd that you just need that little something to make your features pop. It's the only time I ever wear make-up. Ever.
I have always hated make-up though, even though I know back in Minnesota, everyone at Kendra's school practically coated themselves in make-up. I thought it just made them look ugly. I though make-up was supposed to enhance your features, not ruin them. So I just don't wear it.
Anyways, by the time I finally finished getting my make-up on, I felt like those popular girls from Kendra's school because in skating, you had to put a lot on. In all honesty, I felt like one of those giant barbie heads that kids get to put make-up on and end up putting on half the jar of lipgloss on her lips, and then they look stupid.
I walked back to the locker room and found Julia and Melody in the same room I was assigned to. I smiled brightly, glad to have my two good friends in the same room.
"Hey guys." I greeted.
Melody practically bounced over to me in excitement and gave me a hug. "Hey! I'm so excited for the show. It's going to be super fun. I'm worried about falling though, it'll make me look stupid." She confessed.
I smiled down at her. "Don't worry, I fall in shows and competitions all the time. If you fall, I'll fall at some point too." I reassured her with a smile. I mean, what did I care if I fell once in a dress rehearsal. My sister knew I could skate, so she was going to know I'd done it on purpose, and if it makes Melody feel better, then why not?
She shook her head. "No! Don't do that! You're Everdeen! You can't just fall in an ice show!" She told me.
"I can't?" I raised an eyebrow amused.
She shook her head. "Of course not!"
I laughed. "Alright fine. But don't worry about it. You'll be just fine. Promise." I told her, and I picked her up and swung her around just a little bit.
She laughed. "Hey! Damion does that to me too. Oh yeah, he's coming for the show tonight too! He said he'd try to come to the other ones too, so that if one performance is better than the other, then he'll get to see the best one." She smiled.
I smiled back at her. "I think that's smart of him."
Someone knocked on the door and I went over to open it.
It was a girl I recognized as Alice. She was a tall brown-haired girl with a golden tan. "Ten minutes until show time. Coaches want us out there in seven minutes at the very latest." She told me.
I nodded. "Thanks." I said and she moved on to the next door.
I turned back in to look at Julia and Melody. "Get your skates on. Show's starting soon." I told them.
The smiled and went to put on their skates, as did I.
Before I knew it, I was on the ice behind the curtain, facing the flag while the star spangled banner played.
As soon as that ended, the announcer said a few words before we skated out to our spots and once everyone was positioned, the music started.
As soon as I heard the music, I got into it and really sold the performance.
About half way through, I spotted Damion in the crowd, though I don't know why that fact brought a little flutter to my heart.
By the time the routine was almost over, I finally found Kendra. But that's not all. Next to Kendra, was our three best friends Dylan, Rose and Holly.
With renewed excitement, we finished the program, and I felt really good afterwards.
When we finally got backstage, my mind was spinning.
So that was the surprise Kendra had worked on for me. I was smiling so hard, that my cheeks started to hurt. Kendra always has known exactly how to make my day, and she's done it again.
Not for the first time, I thought about what a wonderful sister she was, and I wondered what I did to deserve her.
I was smiling like an idiot when I got into the room where Julia and Melody were already taking their skates off. As soon as I walked in the door they noticed.
"What's up?" Julia asked.
"My twin sister brought our three best friends down to see the ice show." I told them happily.
They both smiled widely too.
"Can I meet them Everdeen?" Melody asked me sweetly.
I shrugged. "Depends on if we have time. They're probably all exhausted no matter how much they try to deny it. Back home in Minnesota, it's already eight o'clock, and traveling tends to make you really tired."
She nodded. "Alright."
Silence followed, but it was a comfortable silence. After my skates were off and dry, I headed out of the locker room, and into the skater section of the crowd.
I should have already guessed it would happen, but I was so excited about the fact that the four people I was closest with out of the entire world were actually here in Seattle, that I jumped in surprise when none other that Dylan gave me what my friends and I call a flying tackle hug.
"Oh my gosh I've missed you so much!"
"You did great!"
"I can't wait for your solo!"
"Oh my gosh it feels like it's been forever since I last saw you!"
I laughed at them because they said this all at the same time, so I couldn't even make out who was saying what.
"Hello to you too." I laughed quietly, for there was a group of skaters on the ice.
They laughed as in turn, they each pulled me into a hug.
"When do you have your solo?" Dylan asked me.
I had to think for a second. "It's the seventh number in the second half of the show." I told her with a smile.
They groaned.
"That'll take too long!" Holly said.
I laughed at them. "You'll live through it Holly. I promise." I told them. "Besides, Julianne Christe has a solo too and she's probably going to be going to Nationals with me this year. Now you guys can see a little of what I'm up against."
Rose, being the smart one who thinks things through nodded. "Yeah, that makes sense. I'm sure you're much better than her though."
I shrugged.
"What's everyone like here?" Kendra was eager to know. "I'm sure they're not as cool as us, but are you meeting new people? Are they nice to you? Because if they're not I'm going to drag you right back to Minnesota missy."
I laughed. "Everyone's fine. Julianne and I have become really close, I call her Julia now though. Her little sister Melody is adorable and she's like the younger sister we always wanted Kendra. Yes, of course they're nice. They're probably afraid to be mean to me anyways, they all know about my going to Nationals last year, I have a feeling even if they didn't like me they wouldn't be rude or anything like that." I told them.
Holly nodded. "Are there any cute guys?" She asked wagging her eyebrows.
I rolled my eyes and launched into my usual speech about boyfriends. "Is that all you think about? How many times have we talked about this? I don't want a boyfriend. They just take up all your time. Think about it. Alicia used to be the best soccer player our school had until she got together with Brett and she quit the team. We lost every game the next season without her. I love skating and I would never give it up for a guy. I don't care who he is, skating is my one true love."
Holly rolled her eyes. "Now that you live in Washington though, you have tan boys who are on the beach all the time! They're tan!"
I rolled my eyes once again. "Holly, I told you, I don't need a boyfriend until I'm like twenty five. I just want best friends like you guys."
They all hugged me after that.
Holly, being Holly, had to make a joke about guys after though. "Alright fine. But you're so missing out! Did you see that tall guy with the huge muscles in the crowd?" She asked.
I laughed, knowing exactly who she was talking about. "Yes, I did. That's Damion, Julia and Melody's brother. He's pretty nice too. There's another guy who looks a lot like him down in La Push too, but he's slightly shorter. Still like a foot and a half taller than me though." I laughed thinking of Seth.
"Well that's not surprising. Almost everyone our age is taller than you." Dylan said.
"Not fair! You're short too! Don't make fun of my height when you're only like four inches taller than me!"
She laughed. "Alright fine shortie."
I laughed and punched her in the shoulder softly. "Go back and watch the show. We'll have plenty of time to socialize when we get back to La Push." I told them.
"Fine..." They all grumbled before giving me one last hug and heading back to their seats.
Damion POV
Throughout the opening number, my eyes were practically glued to Everdeen.
Today she was wearing make-up for once. I wasn't sure what to make of it. I know she must have done it because of the ice show though, because this is the only time I've ever seen her with make-up on. I liked seeing her just the way she was, without make-up.
Watching her skate was probably one of my favorite things to do now.
I had a feeling she knew something was up, but at the same time, I didn't care because I got to see my imprint.
She was beautiful, and watching her skate really showed off her grace. The white background make her look all the better. Just watching her glide was amazing to me.
When she skated off the ice, I can honestly say that I was a little disappointed that it was over so quickly. I had to remind myself that she still had her solo in the second half though. That's what stopped me from getting up and going to find her right then and there.
I regret not being able to talk to her as often as I'd like. It's just that she obviously finds it uncomfortable when we don't speak, and I hate to see her uncomfortable.
Some very small girls had just skated off the ice when I heard someone speaking from a distance. Normal people wouldn't have been able to hear it, but I'm not normal.
My advanced hearing was able to pick up the sound of about four girls' voices.
"Oh my gosh I've missed you so much!"
"You did great!"
"I can't wait for your solo!"
"Oh my gosh it feels like it's been forever since I last saw you!"
Curious, I listened to the rest of their conversation, because the next group on the ice was very young and none of them were very good. At all.
I heard a laugh that I immediately recognized. It was Everdeen.
My suspicion was confirmed when I heard her speak.
"Well hello to you too." She said.
They all laughed and even I chuckled a little bit.
"So when's your solo?" One of them asked.
"It's the seventh number in the second half of the show."
"That'll take too long!" Another one complained.
"You'll live through it Holly. I promise." She told them. "Besides, Julianne Christe has a solo too and she's probably going to be going to Nationals with me this year. Now you guys can see a little of what I'm up against." She reasoned.
"Yeah, that makes sense. I'm sure you're much better than her though." The last girl said, and even though I'm Julianne's brother, I had to agree with her.
"What's everyone like here?" A girl who's voice sounded a lot like Everdeen, though I could hear a very slight difference. "I'm sure they're not as cool as us, but are you meeting new people? Are they nice to you? Because if they're not I'm going to drag you right back to Minnesota missy."
I waited eagerly for her reply. I don't know what I'd do if she went back to Minnesota. I'd have to move with her or something.
She laughed. "Everyone's fine. Julianne and I have become really close, I call her Julia now though. Her little sister Melody is adorable and she's like the younger sister we always wanted Kendra. Yes, of course they're nice. They're probably afraid to be mean to me anyways, they all know about my going to Nationals last year, I have a feeling even if they didn't like me they wouldn't be rude or anything like that."
My eyes narrowed. If anyone was rude to her, they'd have me to answer to.
The girl who Everdeen had called Holly earlier spoke next. "Are there any cute guys?"
I tensed, nervous for her answer. This could be really good, or really bad.
"Is that all you think about? How many times have we talked about this? I don't want a boyfriend. They just take up all your time. Think about it. Alicia used to be the best soccer player our school had until she got together with Brett and she quit the team. We lost every game the next season without her. I love skating and I would never give it up for a guy. I don't care who he is, skating is my one true love." She told them in an exasperated tone of voice.
I sighed. Not good. Not good at all.
She wasn't interested in me.
Then I realized that's not necessarily the case. She just wasn't interested in anyone as a boyfriend. That didn't mean I couldn't talk to her and be her friend though.
"Now that you live in Washington though, you have tan boys who are on the beach all the time! They're tan!" Holly insisted.
"Holly, I told you, I don't need a boyfriend until I'm like twenty five. I just want best friends like you guys." She said and I could picture the smile on her face. The words themselves hurt me a little. Twenty five. If Julianne's information was correct, she was only sixteen right now. Nine more years. It's just too long!
"Alright fine. But you're so missing out! Did you see that tall guy with the huge muscles in the crowd?" Holly laughed.
I had a feeling she was thinking of me. There wasn't anyone else in the crowd as big and muscular as me.
"Yes, I did. That's Damion, Julia and Melody's brother. He's pretty nice too. There's another guy who looks a lot like him down in La Push too, but he's slightly shorter. Still like a foot and a half taller than me though." Everdeen laughed, knowing who she was thinking of too.
I was so right. I was about a foot and a half taller than her. That's not only because she's so short, but also because I'm the alpha of the pack. My second in command, Liam, was only about one or two inches shorter than me.
"Well that's not surprising. Almost everyone our age is taller than you." One of her friends said and I had to agree. I chuckled a little.
"Not fair! You're short too! Don't make fun of my height when you're only like four inches taller than me!" She protested.
Her friends laughed. "Alright fine shortie."
Everdeen laughed. "Go back and watch the show. We'll have plenty of time to socialize when we get back to La Push."
"Fine..." They all grumbled until I heard them walking back and eventually they passed behind me.
I looked over to where Everdeen was and I saw her sitting on the bench quietly watching the performance. As I continued to watch her, I found that she was very polite and clapped enthusiastically for every act.
Pretty soon, Melody's first group number came out in sparkly blue dress and the six girls all took their starting pose.
I glanced over at Everdeen and I saw that she was smiling widely and paying attention to them.
I turned back to the ice and it was difficult to keep watching them and not watch Everdeen the whole time.
I noticed her lightly singing along to the music. I could just barely hear her singing over the music.
She sounded like an angel straight from heaven. I couldn't explain the beauty of it if I tried.
I caught myself with my eyes closed just listening to her voice halfway through, before opening my eyes to see that Melody had just fallen.
She got back up, and I could tell that she was blushing profusely only because of my amazing vision.
Everdeen was frowning, but clapping and singing anyways.
When the routine ended, she smiled very brightly and clapped for a long time, as did I.
She watched a few more routines before getting up and heading into the locker rooms.
I sat back and watched the routines and intermission came and went.
I looked down at the program in my hands and saw that Everdeen was part of the next group.
I smiled widely.
Everdeen POV
I stepped onto the ice and smiled. This was a much better program than opening. I loved this number.
I took my spot and the music started. I felt the movements, and just let it happen instead of forcing it. I smiled at my friends quite often, and even smiled at Damion once without realizing it.
By the end of it, I made my way back to the locker room for my last program, my solo.
I changed quickly, and had a little time to watch some more programs.
I walked out of the locker room just in time to watch Julia's performance.
I smiled and went to the top of the bleachers and sat down.
Her skating was truly amazing, and honestly, I was a bit worried about her taking my spot at Nationals this year.
When she took her ending pose, I screamed words of encouragement and clapped as loud as I possibly could before heading down to the ice, to get ready for my solo.
I warmed up a layback, and half my singles.
By that time, the announcer was just saying my name and accomplishments, and I skated out with a huge smiled on my face.
I took my starting pose and the lights came on, the spotlights right on me.
I landed my triple toe, and my double sow double toe. My spin was right on and I couldn't help being extremely proud of it. I fell on the second jump in the double axel double loop combo, but I got right back up to do my spiral and spread eagle. The next thing I'm supposed to do eventually is a pearl spin, but Kayla and I both agree that I'm just not ready to put it in yet, so instead I have a victory spin into another beilman. My triple sow was landed, but it was slightly under rotated and I landed with two feet. The next jump was supposed to be a triple triple triple jump, but I ended up popping the toe and the loop. The choreography was clean, and I ended strongly.
The lights blacked out and I headed off the ice. I was really proud of the way I skated, and I hoped I could do even better for tomorrow's show.
Yay! Awesome chapter huh? Longest yet. I gotta say, I was super proud of this chapter. Let me know what you think though, because for all I know, it was complete crap and I'm just going insane. So let me know. Also, did you like Damion's POV this chapter? Should I do his POV more than just this time, or was this enough for you to kind of see inside his head a little bit? Did your views of him change a little now that you know more about him?
Let me know, because trust me, I'M INTERESTED!
Thanks guys, have a great weekend!