Chapter 5
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Ryan asked.
"For the 5th time, Ryan, I am positive," Kelly said, getting up on the pond of ice in the park after Sarah finished clipping her blades onto her shoes, "My stage fright should go away if I can't see you guys, and just because I can't see what I'm doing doesn't mean I should give up."
"There's that optimistic spirit," said Sarah, "that 'never give up' attitude, that 'you can't hold me back under any circumstances' perseverance."
"I get it, Sarah," Kelly said.
"Sorry."
"And I guess my biggest fear this whole time wasn't stage fright," said Kelly, "I was afraid I would fall and embarrass myself in front of everyone."
"Don't worry," said Ryan, "We'll be there to catch you if you do. We're family. Through every step…"
"And turn…" added Michael.
"And spin…" Sarah jumped in.
"And jump!" Kelly smiled, happy that they were there for her.
"And seriously," said Michael, "What's the worst that could happen?"
"Well, I could jump at the wrong time, land in the snow, conk my brains out while I'm weak, and kill myself."
"Perhaps, I worded that wrong," said Michael, correcting himself, "What's the worst that could happen?"
"Michael, I get it!"
"Someone didn't get much sleep last night," said Ryan.
"Ryan, none of us did," said Sarah.
"Oh, right."
They helped her out until the sun rose and then ran back home before the others could wake up and notice that they were gone. They continued like that every morning for the next week, waking up at 5 am, grabbing their stuff, and running off to the park to practice.
* * *
Exactly one week after Kelly's accident, she was as good at skating blind as she had been when she could see. It had taken her 5 years to land her double axel. Now, she had taken only 3 days. Kelly had developed a new relationship with her brothers and sister through this, as well. Every time she had threatened to fall, her family would scoot onto the ice and catch her before she could even slip.
The day after the one-week anniversary of her fall, Benny called the team together to talk. "Those alien guys that attacked us last week were the only ones that came after us. Maybe Zadavia was wrong about them being out to get us."
"You very well may be right, Benjamin." It was Zadavia (TV again). She was the only one who called him "Benjamin" instead of "Benny" when he wasn't in trouble. "In fact, other than those aliens, every attack on anyone for the past week has been on other ice skaters. Maybe someone is out to get them and sent those aliens after you so that you couldn't stand in their way."
"She could be right," said Kelly, "Maybe someone only wanted me because they saw me skating."
"Which is exactly why I need you to go undercover to that skating contest in a few days and investigate on who might be causing this."
"Well, I—What?!"
"I thought you said she shouldn't be out in the field until her sight regains," Lexi pointed out.
"And she shouldn't," said Zadavia, "But that doesn't mean she can't still help somehow."
"Well, how is she going to skate if she can't see?" asked Tech.
"Actually, we've been working on that for a week now," said Sarah.
* * *
Kelly was actually better on the ice now that she had been working with her brothers and sister. She was able to do a triple Lutz and a double axel in 20 seconds flat.
"Did you even know you were that good?" asked Daniella. Kelly shook her head. "I think we've got our skater."
Tech smiled. If he had known what was going to happen because of their fight, he would never had said any of the stuff he said. But, it looked like she had only improved because of it.
Kelly had thought the exact opposite. If she had listened to him, none of this would have happened. If she had known it would only make her better, she would have been caught between a rock and a skating rink. The first branch of the competition was that night. Could she do it when she couldn't see?
Kelly was able to squeeze in some practice laps before she had to be backstage. There was at least 5 other skaters and the top 3 would advance to the next part of the competition. It was easy for her.
First skater. No rhythm, 3 falls, spiral balance at a level of 2 out of 15, and the best part was the end…when it ended.
"If the other skaters are as bad as that, the competition is in the bag," Sarah advised her sister. Kelly smiled. She knew that it wasn't likely to have more than one bad skater in a juniors' competition.
Next skater. 5 spins, 3 jumps (perfect landing every time), perfectly balanced spiral, and 17 points rhythm-wise (again out of 15).
"Sure, no problem," Duck said.
"You know, you're not really helping with the pre-show nerves," said Kelly, "Was it really that bad?"
"Worse," said Lucy, "It was that good."
"Just let her go," Ryan said, pushing his sister onto the ice, "She's up next."
Kelly waited for the call, hardly breathing.
"Kelly, Kelly, Kelly!" Sarah said, grasping her sister's hands, "Deep breath."
Kelly inhaled.
"Let it out!" Nadine cried.
Kelly gasped for breath. "It didn't work."
"It usually doesn't," said Ryan, pushing her out.
"You're not really helping all that much either." Kelly finally slid to the center of the ice.
(Ashley Tisdale and Lucas Grabeel's "I Want it All" plays)
Kelly started the routine.
Imagine having everything we ever dreamed
Don't you want it?
(Maybe)
Can't you see it?
(Kind of)
Imagine first audition after college
I get the lead
(A part for me?)
Well, of course
(Yeah, right)
You gotta believe it
(Keep talking)
You and I, all the fame
(Sharpay and what's-his-name)
Sound exciting?
(Inviting)
Let's do it then
(Listening)
Personal stylist, agent and a publicist
(But, where do I fit into this?)
With you, we can win
(Win the part?)
Think bigger
(Become superstars?)
That's better
Don't you see that
Bigger is better and better is bigger?
A little bit is never enough, no, no, no
Triple Lutz, perfect landing.
Don't you want it all?
You want it,
You know that you want it,
The fame and the fortune and more
You want it all
You want it,
You know that you want it,
You gotta have your star on the door
You want the world, nothing less,
All the glam and the press
Only giving you the best reviews
(Sing it!)
I want it all
I want it, want it, want it
My name in lights at Carnegie Hall,
I want it all!
Double axel, perfect landing.
Red carpet, rose bouquets,
Crowd waiting backstage
(I'm with her, don't stop me
I'm not the paparazzi)
Invitations, standing ovations
(Magazines?)
(Yes, please)
Gonna be celebrities!
Photographs, fan clubs,
Give the people what they love,
(Now you're excited)
(I like it)
(Let's do it then)
(Yeah!)
Times Square, jet-setters,
Sequels, hey, better
(New York today, tomorrow the world!)
Sold out shows
(Think bigger)
And the Oscar goes to…
(That's better)
So you see that
Bigger is better and better is bigger,
A little bit is never enough, no, no, no
Donut spin (very complex). Another double axel.
I want it all!
I want it, want it, want it,
The fame and the fortune and more,
I want it all!
I want, want it, want it,
I gotta have my star on the door,
I want the world, nothing less,
All the glam and the press
Only giving me the best reviews,
I want it all!
I want it, want it, want it,
Radio City Music Hall,
We want it all!
Here in the spotlight we shine, like a superstar.
When Broadway knows your name,
You notice you're a star!
During that instrumental section of the song, Kelly attempted another triple Lutz and fell. Duck groaned, Tech's ears drooped, Sophie sighed, Sarah simply thought, Come on, get up. You know you can.
Kelly got up and leaned against the wall of the ice, catching her breath for the part after the instruments cut off. When the song started up again, she stepped over to the center of the rink.
I want it, I, I, I want it,
(Want it)
I want it, I, I, I, I want it all
Ooh, I want it, want it
I, I, I,
I want it all!
Triple axel.
"She couldn't even land a double 2 weeks ago!" Sarah said.
"I know," said Tech, "Looks like all she needed was you."
Sarah smiled.
I want it, want it, want it,
The fame and the fortune and more,
I want it all!
I want it, want it, want it,
I gotta have my star on the door,
I want the world, nothing less,
All the glam and the press
Only giving me the best reviews,
I want it all!
Cross foot spin. Donut spin. 45 mph lay-back-spin.
We want it
All…………
Just like my vision! Kelly finished the routine and skated back to the stands where her family waited.
After the competition was over, Kelly went to the back room and unclipped her blades. As she got up, she bumped right into her dad. She knew it was him by the way he grasped her hand.
"I'm sorry! What? What are you sorry for?" They both laughed. "OK, you first." Laughing again. Who would have guessed that the 2 of them would be the ones to pull a "jinx" moment?
"I'm sorry," Kelly finally said, "If I had just listened to you, none of this would have happened."
"Well, if I hadn't been so hard on you none of this would have happened," Tech added.
"If you hadn't done that, this would still have happened since someone did this on purpose. If I had listened to you, I wouldn't have been there when that other person was, and the ice wouldn't have melted beneath my feet."
"And, therefore, we would never had caught them."
"We still haven't."
"Good point."
Kelly smiled. "Let's just promise not to get in each other's way again."
"Agreed." He held her hand tighter and then let go.
"The list is up!" It was one of the other skaters.
"Out of my way!" Kelly cried, pushing Tech so hard that he fell on the floor. Kelly met her sister at the board. "Sarah? Did I make it?"
"No." Kelly sighed. "You just scored second!" Kelly screamed.
"Whoa, there, wolf girl."
"Who said that?" Kelly whispered.
"Amy Crooks, the first place skater," Sarah answered.
Kelly turned to face her rival. "That's 'coyote'."
"Whatever," Amy said, "You're still not going to beat me when you and Shrink-a over here go to the next branch of the competition."
"That's Shrina!" said the third place skater from the other side of the room.
"Again, whatever, who cares?" Amy walked off.
"When we go to state, clobber her!" Sarah said.
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I know, really long, more lyrics than routine details. The next chapter will be better!