On Thin Ice
Автор
Signe Larsen
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Maya’s used to being the invisible girl at the rink—until Jaxon Ryder, the hockey player who once stood up for her, returns as the Maple Leaf Gliders’ new star. Their reunion is awkward, electric, and complicated by Savannah Quinn—the bully who now has power through her father, the team owner. As Maya fights for her figure-skating dream, one wrong move could cost her far more than pride.
Chapter 1: Their First Meeting
MAYA
The crisp winter air brushes against my rosy cheeks as I glide across the ice. This is where I feel truly alive, out on the ice on my skates, and I love that we have a lake near our home where I can skate almost every day in the winter.
My heart is pounding with excitement and just a hint of nerves…it is a perfect blend of emotions to keep me on my toes and focused. I’ve been practicing my double spin for weeks now, and today, the ice feels like my stage. I just know this is the day I will get it.
The bustling crowd of skaters around me fades into a blur as I focus on the smooth, glistening ice beneath my trusty, yet worn-out skates.
With a deep breath to steady myself, I pick up speed, feeling the thrill of the moment surge through me. I bend my knees slightly, ready to launch into the spin that’s been eluding me. Just as I’m about to take off, a sudden jolt from behind sends me sprawling forward.
The cold ice slams against my body, and a sharp pain shoots through my elbows and knees.
Dazed, I look up to see Savannah towering over me, looking down at me with all the disdain a ten-year-old can master. “Oh my gosh, Maya, I’m so sorry! I didn’t see you there,” she says, her voice dripping with a sweetness that feels more like poison.
She is wearing brand new professional skates and designer clothes. But why wouldn’t she? Her father, Mr. Quinn, owns the local hockey team, and her family is rich.
As I struggle to rise, feeling the sting of the ice against my palms, I hear her whisper to her friends, just loud enough for me to catch every cruel word. “Can you believe she’s still using those old skates? And look at her clothes, they’re practically rags.”
The laughter that follows sends a flush of embarrassment to my cheeks, making them burn even hotter than the cold air around me.
I glance down at my skates, the ones that have faithfully carried me through countless practices, the ones I have kind of outgrown, but my mom can’t afford to replace.
My clothes, lovingly chosen from thrift stores, suddenly feel like a glaring spotlight on the fact that my mom is a single parent who cleans at the local skating arena, trying to give me a good life.
The giggling girls skate off, and just as despair starts to creep in, a shadow falls over me. It’s Jaxon, a boy from the class above mine, his eyes filled with genuine concern. “Hey, Maya, let me help you up,” he says, offering his hand.
I am slightly surprised he knows my name. Jaxon’s family is also among the wealthier around here, and I know he is a talented hockey player. So we do not really hang in the same circles.
His touch is warm and reassuring, a stark contrast to the cold ice and Savannah’s icy demeanor. With his help, I manage to stand, brushing off the ice and snow from my clothes.
“Thanks, Jaxon,” I murmur, grateful for his kindness.
“No problem,” he replies, shooting a disapproving glance toward Savannah and her giggling friends. “Don’t let them get to you, Maya. You’re an amazing skater. Nothing wrong with old skates.”
“Except them being too small,” I say with a sigh, instantly feeling bad toward my mom. “But I manage.”
He nods. “I could talk to my mom. My sister skated for a bit, but it wasn’t really her thing. I think we still have the skates…”
“I am not a charity case.” I cut him off. I hate the idea of being in debt to anyone.
He looks a bit surprised, then shakes his head. “I didn’t mean it like that.”
With a renewed sense of purpose, I turn and skate back to the center of the lake. “Watch this,” I tell him, a smile breaking through my earlier embarrassment. I pick up speed, bend my knees, and this time, I launch into the double spin with confidence.
As I spin, the world blurs into a beautiful whirl of colors, and when I land, the applause from Jaxon drowns out the distant giggles of Savannah and her friends.
From that day on, Jaxon and I became friends. He even convinced me to accept his sister’s skates, even though I insisted on working for them, helping his mom sort some boxes from the attic.
I might even have grown to kind of have a crush on him over the years…but like most things, our friendship broke, and then he moved away to a high school with a better hockey team…and I haven’t seen him since.
SIX YEARS LATER
I glide across the ice, pushing myself to the limits of my abilities. The skating rink is quiet this early in the morning, the silence broken only by the soft scrape of my skates and the occasional distant shout from the hockey team getting ready for practice in the locker room.
I like skating at this time of day. I like having the ice to myself so I can lose myself in the movements.
I focus my mind. My muscles ache, a familiar reminder of the hours I’ve spent here, chasing my dream of becoming an Olympic figure skater. It is all I have ever wanted to be…it is all I can imagine being. If I fail, I do not know what I’ll do.
Every jump, every spin, I pour my heart into it. I know I have the raw talent and the heart for it, but without the polish and training that money can buy, it feels like I’m always skating uphill.
The cost of lessons, the right equipment, the competitions…all of it adds up, and it’s a struggle to afford it.
My mom has always done her best and supported me as best she could. She has worked extra hours and put me before herself, but it is just beyond what she can give me. I can’t let that stop me, though. Not when I’m this close.
As I finish my routine, my breath comes in fast, heavy gasps, and I glance at my watch. I need to hurry; I have a shift starting soon.
I can’t afford to be late… I can’t risk losing my job and the benefits, like the use of the rink in the off-hours. I skate toward the edge of the rink, my mind already shifting gears to the tasks ahead.
Just as I’m about to step off the ice, I see her. Savannah, the daughter of the ice hockey club’s owner, and my fiercest competition on the ice.
She’s leaning against the boards, her arms crossed and a smirk playing on her perfectly painted lips. As so many times before, I curse her perfect looks and brace myself for whatever she’s about to say.
“Hurry up, Mackenzie. The real skaters have to practice,” Savannah calls out, her voice dripping with condescension. “And those changing rooms aren’t going to clean themselves, you know.”
I feel a flush of anger but force it down. I can’t let her get to me. Not now, not when I’m so close to achieving my dream. Getting in a fight with the owner’s—my boss’—daughter would be much worse than being late. It would risk me losing everything.
I give her a tight smile and skate past her, my focus already on the day ahead. I’ll clean the changing rooms first, I’ll work my shift, and then I’ll be back here, on the ice, chasing my dream.
As I skate past Savannah, trying to ignore her looks, she calls out again, her voice echoing across the ice. “Hey, Mackenzie, have you heard that my dad bought a new player for the club?”
I shake my head, not really caring about the latest developments in ice hockey. It’s not my sport, and I don’t have the time or energy to keep up with it.
“A real star player,” Savannah smirks, clearly enjoying having something to hold over me. “I would’ve thought you’d have heard. It’s Jaxon Ryder.”
The name hits me like a punch to the gut, and I stumble, my skate catching on the edge of the exit from the rink. My face slams into the cold, hard edge of the open gate, and I wince, feeling the sting high on my cheek. Damn, that is gonna bruise.
My mind races back to Jaxon, my best friend from when I was nine years old, and the next four years. We were inseparable back then, dreaming up adventures and sharing secrets. But life took us in different directions, and I haven’t seen him in about six years.
Savannah’s laughter cuts through my thoughts, sharp and mocking. “Always such grace, Mackenzie,” she says, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Maybe you should stick to cleaning the changing rooms instead of trying to skate.”
I push myself upright, ignoring the pain and the embarrassment. I won’t let her see how much her words…or Jaxon’s name…affect me. I take a deep breath and head toward the bench to take off my skates. My mind still reeling from the unexpected news.
As soon as the players leave the changing room, I will clean it. Has he arrived? Is he in there now? I do not want him to see me.
Jaxon Ryder is back. And suddenly, my world feels a lot more complicated.
