Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 93699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
I debate muting her for the day when an unknown number calls.
“Hello?” I answer.
“So you blocked my other number?” Travis’s deep voice comes over the line.
“You mean the other twenty numbers you’ve tried this week?”
“Twenty-six, but we don’t need to count.”
“Yes, I blocked you,” I say. “I think that’s quite obvious.”
“That hurts my feelings, Tati.” There’s a smile in his voice. “I’ve been in a lot of pain about it.”
“Don’t ever call me that.” I scoff. “We aren’t friends, and if you’re the slightest bit hurt, it’s what you deserve.”
“Why haven’t I seen you at the SportsPlex this week?”
“Please hang up so I can add this number to my block list.”
“I was hoping you’d finally let me apologize.”
“For what?”
“For whatever you think I did to make you mad at me last weekend. I’m very sorry.”
“Apology unaccepted.”
“Fair enough.” He’s still smiling; I can tell. “Then let’s start over and pretend like you and my sister aren’t enemies.”
“What? Never.”
“Okay, okay.” He lets out a low laugh. “Let’s pretend you’re meeting me without any ties to her, then.”
“So you’ll just be the asshole who left me messages about how I’ll never beat my top competition?”
“You should consider those as motivational mantras or keepsakes.” He pauses. “You can also re-listen to them on your loneliest nights if you like. I’ve heard my voice can be quite the turn-on.”
I end the call and block him again.
An hour later
I’m spinning at the center of the ice with Tchaikovsky’s notes floating around me.
My ruby red dress is fluttering in the air, and I know without a doubt that I haven’t made a single mistake over the past two minutes.
As I’m raising my arms above my head to complete the second to last camel spin, I open my eyes and notice that the entire crowd is already standing to its feet.
The final note hangs in the air, and my body comes to a complete stop.
The entire arena erupts with applause.
“TA-TI-A-NA! TA-TI-A-NA!” They scream my name and toss roses and teddy bears onto the ice.
Smiling, I look over to where my stepsister and father should be—where my mother used to sit when she was alive—but their chairs are empty.
Surprise, surprise.
I swallow the lump in my throat and wave to everyone else who actually gives a damn.
After picking up as many rose bouquets as I can, I skate to the edge and snap on my blade covers. Then I head to the waiting area.
“You were perfect, Tati!” Miss Price hugs me so hard I drop a few blooms. “Fucking perfect. I couldn’t find a single flaw in your performance.”
“I’m sure the judges will find something.” I look up at the board. “I bet they’re all waiting for ‘you know who’ to perform.”
“She’s not on the program anymore.” She loops her arm through mine. “I heard that her registration fee didn’t clear in time, and I haven’t seen her here today.”
WHAT?
Before I can ask where she heard that rumor, my scores begin appearing on the board.
10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0
A perfect score?
I stare at the numbers in utter disbelief.
While Miss Price squeals with joy, I slide a hand under my sleeve to pinch myself, to make sure this isn’t all a dream.
Tears fall past my cheeks, and my face appears on the Jumbotron.
As if on cue, the crowd gives me a second standing ovation, this one even louder than the first.
A cameraman and a reporter step in front of me, ready for the post-performance interview.
My voice is locked in my throat, though.
No matter how hard I try, I can’t get a single word to fall from my lips.
It’s probably best that everyone thinks I’m crying over this first-time achievement and not over the fact that it feels so damn incomplete.
My mother isn’t here to cheer me on or tell me that she’s proud.
My number one nemesis isn’t witnessing move one step closer to dethroning her from the top.
I have no friends to celebrate this moment with when the lights go out.
I might as well be dreaming after all…
ACT TWO & A HALF
BOY CHARMS GIRL
TATIANA
Back Then
A hundred miles away from Reno
Later that night
I’m standing in the arena’s deserted parking lot, fantasizing about the day I’ll have my own car so I won’t have to wait around after events. Tucking today’s medal under my sweatshirt, I vow to wait five more minutes before ordering an Uber.
With seconds to spare, Harlow’s Honda speeds through the lot, swerving in front of me.
“Hurry up, Tati!” She rolls down the window. “We’re already running late!”
“Late for what, Harlow?” I slip inside and buckle my seatbelt.
“I’ll explain everything when we get there. I brought an extra outfit in case you don’t want to look out of place.”
I look over at her, eyeing the deep plunging cut in her sparkling pink party dress. It’s a custom Chanel piece that doesn’t belong to her.