‘’You’ll be fine! Look, if you’re that worried, why don’t we head to the rink tonight? Blow off the party and spend some time just you and me. Treat me to a show on ice, and then you can take me for a milkshake afterwards. Deal?’’
Laurel smiled and hugged her friend. ‘’You’re the best!’’ she grinned. A bit of moral support was just what she needed.
As they entered the college ice rink later that evening, the friendly old security guard informed them that he would need to close up the building shortly. ‘’Oh really? You always close this early?’’ Laurel enquired anxiously.
‘’How long are we planning on staying?’’ Jennifer teased. ‘’I promised Mindy and Amy we’d meet them later.’’
‘’I just usually like to practice late, you know, when no-one’s around. I used to spend hours skating at night at our local rink, you remember? All the other girls had expensive coaching and would look down on me with my old tattered skates and unpolished skills. And I just feel like it’s gonna be even worse here. I just need a chance. I just need someone to train me properly and I know I can be really good, just like my grandmother was.
‘’Oh sweetie, I’m sorry, I’m sure we can sort something out.’’ Jennifer’s smile was kind and sincere but somewhere in her eyes Laurel could see a speck of doubt that startled her. Maybe her dream would never become reality. Maybe she just wasn’t good enough.
‘’Look, I’m here all night,’’ the security guard cut in with a friendly smile, ‘’And the only reason we close the rink is to stop all those crazy ice hockey players from having parties in here. If you want to come and practice on your own, then be my guest. But don’t tell anyone, ok?’’ he winked.
‘’ Thank you so much!’’ said Laurel grinning and hugging him. She had hoped her sob story would work. But it was all completely true so she didn’t think it was wrong to use it to her advantage and appeal to the goodwill of this sweet old man.
‘’I won’t whisper a thing to anyone!’’ she promised as she hurried happily into the arena with her friend, and brushed her negative thoughts away. She would just have to prove everyone, wouldn’t she? Especially that brutish excuse for a human being. She imagined his face scowling at her success and giggled to herself. Then wondered why on earth she was thinking about him, and why something stirred deep inside of her at the thought of his mocking but beautifully sculptured face. She glanced at her friend guiltily, as if Jennifer could read her thoughts, but she was unaware, gazing at the multitude of screens and audio visual equipment hooked up everywhere around the rink.
‘’Wow, this place is epic’’ she exclaimed looking around.
Laurel quickly tied up her skates, hopped onto the ice and started making figure of eight patterns, starting wide and getting gradually tighter and faster as her confidence grew. She finished with a small jump and a spin, her left leg held high above her head, the picture of elegance.
‘’Woo hoo!!’’ yelled Jennifer from the side. ‘’That was awesome!’’
Laurel soared over to her friend, beaming. ‘’That felt awesome!’’ she agreed. ‘’But listen, I think I just want to stay here a bit longer and practice some more. Do you mind if I take a rain check on meeting the others?’’
‘’’Course not’’ replied Jennifer with a grin, ‘’I’ll tell them you said hi. You owe me a milkshake though, don’t forget!’’
‘’Ha, as if you would let me!’’ Laurel winked as she glided off effortlessly, ‘’Thanks for this sweetie. I owe you more than a milkshake for getting me back on the ice!’’
***
After another hour of drills, routines, and practicing a few easy jumps and spins, Laurel took a deserved break and laid out like a star on the ice. The coolness beneath her was a welcome relief to her tired and aching body. She enjoyed the silence of the huge space and watched her breath escape from her mouth in steamy puffs. As she gazed at the hundreds of seats surrounding her she wondered what it would be like if they were all filled, everyone looking down, the spotlight on her.
She jumped up with renewed energy and performed her practiced audition routine to perfection, even ending with a triple jump, which she rarely managed to pull off. She laughed and bowed deeply, enjoying the moment. In her head the crowds were roaring deeply, cameras were flashing, people were calling her name, ‘’Way to go Pompoms!!’’ Wait a minute… She swung round to see the brute standing there laughing at her, hands moving slowly in an exaggerated clapping motion.