05. Practice makes Perfect

❝ You earn your trophies at practice, you just pick them up at the competitions. ❞

"What" I stuttered "I can't skate, I no" my heart raced in my chest.

"Don't worry, I won't let you fall" he must have sensed the terror that had to be audible on my face.

"I just.. no"

"Don't you trust me?" he studied my face

"It's not that I don't trust you, I just don't want to skate"

"How can you analyse skating and not be interested in skating at all"

"I never said I was not interested in skating, I just don't want to get on the ice" I got why he was curious, why he wondered.

"Hey guys" Yuri greeted as he entered the rink.

Victor didn't respond immediately, but his face lit up.

"I will make you a deal, if Yuri gets a medal in The Cup of China, you will skate with me, if not I will drop the subject and never mention it again" he held out his hand and I contemplated.

"Okay" I shook his hand.

"Do you know the amount of pressure you are putting on my shoulders" Yuri joked and started warming up.

Victor had a smile on his face that seemed plastered and glued to it.

After warming up they immediately started with the toe loop. With a new sense of confidence the both of them focused. Victor still had a hint of a smile, but his brows were furrowed.

I could nearly hear his brain cracking, he was wondering how Yuri managed to only land it once.

The only thing I read on Yuri's face was determination, he was certain he would succeed and I admired him for it.

After an hour of two they were pretty lost. Yuri had landed the toe loop, but not more than once. It was as if there was no progress.

"Victor can you illustrate one more time" he nodded glad for something different. Yuri was at the edge when Victor made his way to the middle.

He started and landed the toe loop three times, perfectly.

"Okay Yuri try again" I instructed him.

The two changed positions and Yuri gave it a go. He landed the first one, but when he tried to land the second one he slipped and was sprawled on the ice.

All at once it struck me.

"speed" I muttered to myself.

"What?" Victor asked.

"Don't you see? It's his speed, he goes into the first one, but because of it he does not have enough speed for the one to follow. You did not notice it because you don't need as much speed as Yuri does because you are taller." I explained "I am pretty certain that if you increase your speed you will be able to land more than one"

Both looked at me dumbfounded. "That actually makes a lot of sense, Yuri can you try it again? With the modifications of Ember" Victor asked. Yuri nodded and got ready to try it again.

Victor and I watched in anticipation. Yuri tried again but with way more speed this time. As suspected he landed the first one perfectly and then he got to the second one. I crossed my fingers as he touched the ice. He did not fall or slip up.

"I did it, did you see that" Yuri cheered as he made his way to us "it really worked, Ember you are a genius"

"yeah, she truly is" Victor gave Yuri a pat on the shoulder. Yuri went back to the middle and landed them with ease all because I had worked out what was wrong.

After the training the three of us left together, making our way towards a café. We had all deserved drinks, we needed to celebrate.

"To Yuri" we said as we clinked our glasses together.

I took a sip of my wine and looked at the both of them.

"How did you know what was wrong Ember" Yuri wondered

"Well" I said "I have been watching skaters struggle with jumps for a long time now, usually it is way easier to spot, but because I was so focused on the way Victor makes his jumps I never thought about the height difference. I just figured this out after I saw both of you try it, because the technique is the same" I answered, hoping to have satisfied them with my answer.

"Oh ofcourse, well thank you" Yuri is practically beaming with joy

We sit there for a long while drinking and laughing, we order some food and around 10 we head back to the resort.

We are all pretty tipsy and I can feel my feet slurring, alcohol was never a good combination even more so after the accident.

Yuri stumbles up the stairs first and all of us giggle. He makes it to his room and Victor seems to be least drunk out of the three of us.

"Alcohol and walking is not such a good combination" I mumble

He barks out a laugh and holds me by the waist.

I lean into him and hope I won't fall down. I don't remember much after this, but I wake up with a massive headache.

I groan and slowly open my eyes. When I look at the clock I see that it is 10:30, I never sleep this long.

Slowly I get up out of bed and notice that I am in my pj's, I don't remember changing...

I take a long hot shower, since I am late anyway I might take my sweet time. After I am done I quickly dress in a pair of blue jeans and a grey sweater.

Making my way outside I grab my jacket and scarf and quickly head for the rink. Even though it is way past breakfast I am in no way hungry.

When I get to the rink I quietly dip inside. Victor is on the ice and Yuri seems as horrible as I feel.

"Look our damsel in distress is awake" Victor jokes.

"Haha, very funny." I groan at the sound of my own voice, if it weren't winter time I would have brought my shades.

"Not so loud, my head can't take it" Yuri complains

I smile, knowing that I am not the only one in pain. I sit down without saying another word and start writing down the things I see. Yuri's jumps have really made a 180. The speed theory is really helping with more than just his toe loop and they now focussing on a triple toe loop before they will go unto the quadruple toe loop.

Everything seems to be going fairly fine, taking into account the major hangover that Yuri has. He was even more drunk than I was.

"Let's call it a day, rest a bit and take an aspirin, I think you need it" Victor pats Yuri on the back and he sighs in relief. He gets of the ice and dips into the locker rooms.

"So how is your headache" Victor asks as he makes his way over to me

"Don't get me started, I usually don't drink this much"

He again bursts into laughter. We walk out together and I tighten the scarf around my neck.

"It's 3:47 pm. What would you like to do" I look at my watch, debating what I should do.

"I would love to go back to the temple" His eyes locks with mine.

"do you mind if I come with you" I shake my head and we make our way to the temple.

There is fluff in this chapter, but trust me the next one is way better. Ember's backstory will be in the next chapter, what do you think really happened to her?