Chapter 1 - The meeting

Two years later. Bexley’s P.O.V. “Mom! I’m heading out.” I yelled, grabbing my backpack. “Are you working tonight?” She yells back from the kitchen. “Yup,” “Drive safely,” “I always do.” My mother knows I still work at the ice rink. She used to as well, but it was simply too much for her after losing my father two years ago. I had kept skating for a few months after my father's passing, but seeing my mother breaking each time I took the ice, made me quit. But I couldn’t give it all up. Which is exactly why I work there four times a week and on weekends. My old coach tries regularly to get me back into competing, but I can’t do that to my mother. “Hey Sam,” I say, walking into the ice rink. “How are you today?” I ask as I do every time I come in. Sam is like that weird and fun uncle. He is there when you need him, but he won’t insert himself if not needed. “Same old, same old, Bex. How’s your mother?” He asks as he always does. “Dido,” I answered with a smile. I took out my schedule sheet for the night and took a quick look. “Did you know we have a new member?” He asks, looking at me with a knowing smirk. “No, I didn’t. Why are you looking at me like that?” I Ask with a deep frown. “No reason,” he says, his smile not leaving his face while he gets back to his work. “If you say so, I’ll get going,” “You do that.” Why is he acting weirder than usual? Shaking it off, I place my things in my locker and take out my skates. Stepping out of the staff's locker room, I make my way to the ice. While lacing up my skates, I finally notice that there's already someone on the ice. Don’t they know free skating is only at seven-thirty? There are still twenty minutes until then! I’ll have to talk to Sam about that. He knows he shouldn’t let anyone on the ice unsupervised. Even if I always get here early, he should have told them to wait until opening time, or at the very least, until I get here for my shift. As I’m about to tell them, I froze, mesmerized by the sight in front of me. Beautiful form, Elegant extension. Perfectly pointed tips. I can't remember the last time I’ve seen someone with such a perfect position. It reminds me of when my mother competed. They have the same lightness, but firmness at the same time. They are skating perfectly! She’s aligning herself for a Quad A! There’s no way she can make a jump with that level of difficulty! Skaters work on that move for years before even attempting to do it! How can someone as young as her even think she could try a move like this?! But to my utter dismay, she performs it perfectly, with a perfect landing! “How in the world…” I mutter out loud. At least I thought I muttered it, but I guess in this silent rink, my voice echoed louder and startled her as she turned around on her skates with a surprised expression. “Why are you watching me?! The ice is closed!” She says angrily. “For your information, yes, the ice is closed and only opens at seven-thirty. You are on the ice unauthorized!” I answer, lifting a brow and crossing my arms across my chest. “I have permission to be here! You don’t!” She says with a huff, skating to the side of the rink, not too far from me. “Actually, I do. I’m one of the assistant coaches and youth trainees. Who gave you permission to step on the ice unsupervised before opening hours?” I retort, getting annoyed by her belittlement. “I gave her permission.” Someone says from behind me. “Coach Henley? Why would you do that?” “Do I need to justify my decision to you?” He asks, c*****g an eyebrow. “No, sir,” I answer, lowering my head. Coach Henley… My parent's coach and my mentor ever since. He is the father figure in my life, along with Sam. He is strict with me, but I know it’s out of care. “You know I won’t allow just anyone without supervision on my ice. You shouldn't trouble yourself over a small matter.” He says with a deep sigh. “But, being alone here could be dangerous. What if she had fallen and gotten hurt? What would you have done then?” I retort a little frustrated. “I wouldn't have gotten hurt!” The girl says angrily. “Are you a prophet? Can you tell the future? An accident is just that! An accident! It can happen at any time! How can you think so little for your own safety?” I screamed at her. She looks at me with wide eyes, unable to reply to my outburst out of shock. “Bex,” Coach Henley says warningly. “Take a walk and come back in fifteen minutes. You don't need to go around behind all antsy with the young trainees. As I walked away, I heard the coach apologize to her. Why would he do that? And why is he treating her as if she’s someone important? I hate that I let my emotions out of control, but why would anyone put themselves at any risk like that? Especially with the moves, she pulled earlier. Who knows what could have happened if she had landed wrong? She could have broken her ankle, or even fallen on her head. Then what? No one would have been around to call for help if I weren’t there early! “Trouble in paradise already?” Sam asks mockingly as I walk by his desk. “You knew, didn't you? You knew there was already someone on the ice!” I say accusingly. “Had I not told you there were?” He says innocently. “Drop the act, Sam! It’s unbecoming of an old, man like you!” I say, storming out while he laughs out loud. As I step out, I lean my back against the building. Closing my eyes, I take in a few, deep calming breaths. The coach is right. I need to calm down and get my mind back in the game if I want to train our younger skaters properly. They don't deserve my frustration. After calming down, I make my way back in, only to cross paths with that girl. She looks at me from the corner of her eyes and scoffs as she passes by me. What nerve! I won’t let myself be affected by her recklessness any longer! It’s not as if I’ll see her again.