Life's A Beach
Chapter 16
Edward crossed the finish line and straightened up from his skating position. With his hands on his hips to maximize the air he could pull in to his lungs, he let his skates carry him down the track. He beat the other skater, a good kid from Washington State named Mike, by a good ten seconds but this was a preliminary round so that was pretty much to be expected. Edward remembered being Mike's age and just starting out at the national level. The kid had done unexpectedly well getting to this round of nationals. Because of his national ranking, Edward had a bye for the first two rounds, meaning he didn't have to skate until the field had been cut by half. Mike was his first race of the day.
He heard the sound of skates behind him, and pushed down the hood of his sleek, aerodynamic suit. He'd gotten his hair cut that morning, just so he didn't have to stuff so much of the shaggy mess under the tight hood. It was a race day tradition, and Bella had gotten a kick out of it. He pretended for a few minutes that he was going to get it buzzed, just to see what she'd say. Edward grinned, remembering how her open mouth stare gave away her panic at the thought of him with a buzz cut, while her words assured him that anything that made him skate better was fine with her. Not for the first time that day, he thanked his lucky stars that he'd nearly tripped over her on the beach that first day.
Edward held his hand out as Mike skated up behind him. "Hey, good race Mike."
"Thanks Edward" said Mike. After shaking Edward's outstretched hands, Mike put his hands back on his knees. He sucked in a deep breath. "You're gonna be awesome at the Olympics."
"We'll see" said Edward. "Maybe next time it'll be you." He wanted to encourage the kid, though they both knew he wasn't ready this time around. "Keep working the way you are and I'll see you out here again next year at Regionals, right?"
"Sure Edward" said Mike. "See you – and thanks again for the advice." Mike was a little awestruck to be skating against Edward, and when the more experienced skater had given him a tip before the race about his toe position at the starting line, well, Edward went right to the top of the kid's list of favorite people, not just favorite skaters. They both cleared the track and headed in opposite directions.
Edward headed over to Coach to review the race and talk strategy for the next one. A shrill whistle caught his attention and he looked up to see his cheering section clapping and yelling. His eyes had spotted Bella before the race started. It settled him, seeing her in the stands, hands clasped and his favorite smile on her face. He wasn't exactly trying to show off for her, at least not in the preliminaries, but it gave him an extra lift to know she was there with their other friends. Edward gave them a grin and a thumbs up before turning to listen to Coach. He pulled on his warm up suit and stretched as they stood there, not wanted his muscles to tighten up between races.
"Good timing and good pacing, Edward" said Coach. "Just where we wanted you to be for this round." He looked at the schedule and the notes he'd made on it. "I figure you have an hour before you need to be ready to go again. Get some fluids and relax." Coach gave Edward an appraising stare. "I saw that tip you gave Newton before the race."
"Yeah, well, he's a good kid" said Edward, a little embarrassed. He didn't think anyone had noticed.
"You'll make a good coach someday, Edward. You're good with the other skaters, the young ones." Coach grinned. "But it isn't gonna happen this year. I'm too young to retire, and you've got some hardware to collect, if I'm not mistaken."
Edward opened his mouth to reply and was pushed nearly over the bench. His knee missed the bolt connecting the bench to the floor by inches. "What the….James. What the hell do you think you're doing?" He jumped up to face his nemesis.
Tracker was ready to race in the next pair and played off bumping into Edward. "Sorry man" he said, though it was clear he was anything but sorry. "Little too much energy, you know? Too bad I don't have a way to work some of it off." He looked suggestively toward the stands where Bella and Alice sat next to Rosalie. "Who's the blond chick?"
Coach stepped in between them before Edward lost his cool completely. "Get out there and warm up, James."
"I will" he said, skating slowly away. "Not that I'll need it against this loser." His voice was loud enough to make sure the guy he would race against heard it.
Edward shook his head. He wanted to win as much as the next guy. OK, more than the next guy, or he wouldn't be here. But this was the American National Team trials and he wasn't going to take anyone for granted – or be so rude to someone who could potentially be his teammate on the Olympic team, now or in the future.
"Don't think about it, Edward." Coach was mad enough for both of them. "Focus on the next race."
LAB
Bella breathed a giant sigh of relief when Edward crossed the finish line ahead of his opponent for the second time today. She watched as he pushed the hood back and ran his fingers through his neater but still shaggy hair. She was mesmerized watching him skate. The way he would push away so powerfully at the start, the smooth, almost hypnotic stroke of his skates against the ice, the way his long arm would swing as he made his way around the track. The sleek, skin tight suit didn't hurt either.
"Awesome" exclaimed Emmett. "That lap was four seconds faster than the one before it. And the competition is getting a little tougher every time so he's gotta step it up. Maybe a little more arm action next time."
Rosalie just stared at him. "Since when did you become an expert on speed skating? What are you, Edward's new coach?"
"I just wanted to know more about it, so I watched You Tube." Emmett grinned. "I can still work the TV remote with my other hand." He waved his pink cast around, nearly hitting Jasper in the head.
"Watch it, you big lunk" said Jasper, making sure Alice was safely out of Emmett's way. "You're dangerous with that thing."
Bella kept her eyes on the ice until Edward turned around and looked up at her. When she caught his eye, she blew him a kiss. The grin she got in return was like watching the sunrise over the ocean. It brightened everything. She felt her emotions well up, she was so proud of him. He'd already warned her that they wouldn't get to talk until he was done for the day.
"One more race today, B, and then he's through to the final rounds tomorrow." Jasper snatched the papers out of Emmett's hand. They were keeping track of the competition, who was still left to skate, and when Edward would be on the ice again. Bella was so glad all her friends were here. She would have been here anyway, whether or not they were able to go, but it was much more fun this way.
"Hey, who's that guy?" Alice looked over Jasper's shoulder. "He's fast, really fast. Almost as fast as Edward."
"That's Jacob Black" said Bella. "He finished just ahead of Edward in their last competition. Next to James, he's Edward's biggest competition."
"How many people go to the Olympics? Three?" Rosalie stood on her toes to watch as Jacob blew by his opponent.
"Just two for long track" said Bella. "I'd rather see Jacob make the team than James. At least I wouldn't have to worry about what stupid schemes he's coming up with to throw Edward off his game."
"Don't worry about it, sweetie. Edward's gonna be just fine, no matter what." Alice squeezed her friend by the arms. "You can't show him you're worried."
"I won't" said Bella. "He doesn't need any more stress."
"Oh, we'll have him laughing tonight, Baby Bells. He'll be so relaxed for tomorrow, it'll be like a walk in the park." Emmett winked at her. "Right, Rosie?"
Rosalie rolled her eyes. "Whatever you say, Pinkie."
LAB
The rest of the afternoon went by quickly. Edward had one more race, which he won with ease. Bella noted the way he always spoke to his opponent after the race, offering his hand and some kind words. Before they knew it, it was time to leave for the day.
Though Emmett tried to talk them into a night on the town, Edward and Bella decided to stay in and order room service. They'd make an early night of it, since Edward had to be back on the ice early in the morning.
"So" said Bella "how did you feel it went today? You looked amazing out there."
Edward wrapped his arm around her and kissed her hair. "It's good. I'm where I wanted to be at this point, and I feel good. Tomorrow's going to be a lot more intense, you know that."
"What happens tomorrow?" She gently stroked his arm, feeling the powerful muscles.
"Three races. The first one will be against someone pretty high up in the standings, probably this guy named Erik Yorkie. He's a good skater, but I can beat him." Edward shifted so he could tuck Bella under his chin. "The next race will be a semi-final, either against Jacob or against this guy named Garrett who you probably saw today. He's coming back from an injury, so I'm not sure what he's got left, though he skated really well today. And then, if I make it through that, a final. Probably against James."
"I don't like James, and I wish you didn't have to skate against him. I just don't trust him." Bella knew she was pouting, and that there was nothing he could do to change it. "I hope somebody beats him."
"Well, you know what they say, sweetheart. Better the devil you know than the devil you don't know. At least I know how he skates, so I'll be ready for him."
"If you both make it to the final, does that mean you both go to the Olympics?" Bella felt her heart race. This was really happening.
"Yes, if we're the final pair, we'll both make the team. As long as we both finish the race."
His words sent a chill through Bella, though she wasn't sure why. She wrapped her arms around him just a little tighter.
"Would you mind if we just went to bed early? I might not be able to fall asleep right away, but could we just watch a movie?" Edward rubbed his legs and stood, reaching his hand out to her. "I sleep so much better with you here, my love. You are my personal lucky charm."
"Of course, Edward. Whatever you need." She took his hand and they spent a quiet night wrapped in each other's arms.
Bella woke in the morning and found herself alone in the bed. At first she was worried that Edward hadn't been able to sleep, but she realized it was already 6:30 AM and past the time he said he would get up. She relaxed again when she heard the shower running. She took the time to go through her phone calls and text messages. Lots of support from friends and family for Edward today, and she remembered that his parents would have arrived late last night and would be meeting them at the arena. Far from being nervous, she was excited about seeing them again.
Edward in a towel was something to see. Bella turned bright pink as he caught her looking at him. "Sorry" she murmured.
"Don't apologize" Edward answered, leaning over to give her a kiss. "It's not like I haven't stared at you…"
"…in that little blue bikini" they said in unison, and burst into laughs. It broke the ice on what would surely be a tense day.
"Now get going, Miss Swan. We've got places to go, and you've got my parents to entertain."
She was about to answer him when she got a text message from Alice. She read it to herself.
"Got to talk to you. Can't shake this dream I had."
"What's up?" asked Edward.
"Oh, nothing" said Bella. "Alice says she didn't sleep well, which usually means she'll be bouncing off the walls." She wasn't about to tell him about Alice and her dreams.
An hour later, they arrived at the arena and met up with Edward's parents while the rest of the gang went out to breakfast. The first races would take place in about an hour, and Edward wanted to have plenty of time to relax before getting into his suit and checking his skates.
Esme and Carlisle were delighted to see Bella again. They'd spent a lot of time talking about the changes in Edward since Bella came on the scene. They agreed that she was good for him, and they were counting on her staying around for a long time.
As the four of them stood talking, Coach came storming around the corner. "Edward" he shouted.
Edward's head shot up. He was shocked to see his almost always calm coach so disturbed. "What Coach? What's wrong?"
"Bella, Esme, Carlisle…I'm sorry to interrupt but I have to talk to Edward."
"Of course" said Carlisle. "Edward, we'll just wait in the arena."
Edward stopped him. "No, I want you all here. Is something wrong? If something's wrong I want my family to hear it with me." Bella smiled inside at the thought of him including her as 'family.'
"Ok" said Coach. "There's been a change in the seedings. It's going to change the pairings for the semi-finals and final."
"What do you mean?" Edward felt his chest tighten.
Coach showed them a paper with the new seedings on it. For Bella's benefit, he explained that the seedings, a list of rankings, were usually determined by the performance at the last competition, but the committee had decided to change them based on the performance at yesterday's preliminaries. The seedings determined who would skate against whom.
"But this means…" Edward stared at the paper and then lifted his head to look at his coach. "This means if we all get through the first race, then Jacob and Garrett would meet in one semi-final, and James and I would race in the other."
"Yes" answered Coach. "Instead of meeting him in the final, you'll skate against him in the semi-final."
Edward turned and pounded his fist against the wall.
"But Coach, doesn't that mean…" Carlisle started, but Edward cut him off before he could finish.
"That's exactly what it means. Whoever wins this semi-final makes the final pair." Edward grimaced. "It means only one of us will make the Olympic team."
A/N – Back again with the usual disclaimers – all things Twilight belong to Stephenie Meyer. Thanks for sticking with this story – I hope you are still enjoying it! Things are getting a little rough, but stay with me.