Livia's PoV:
I sighed. Why did I have to practice again?! I knew the event was coming up, but I had practiced 17 times already. Seriously, I was going to die of exhaustion. My coach, William, was going overboard with the preparations. Sure, the nobles were going to be attending, but I was already perfect at the routine. I could do it in my sleep! My muscle memory had it memorized. It was a bit hard in the beginning, but I hadn't stretched when we started. So now William is making us practice. Again. He's the same age as us, but he gets rights to talk to us as he's talking with children. He's the coach after all.
"HEY WILLY BOI!" I shouted at him.
"WHAT?! And don't call me that!" He pouted.
"CAN WE STOP PRACTICING ALREADY? MY LIMBS FEEL LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO FALL OFF AND IM PRETTY SURE WE NEED MY LIMBS FOR THE PERFORMANCE!!" I yelled.
"FINE! Let's take a break then. Also, stop screaming! I need my ears too! After all, I do have a job as a music teacher, unlike you unemployed ninny!"
"YAY! A BREAK!!! AND NO! I WON'T STOP SCREAMING WHAT'RE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?!" I screamed.
"Oh? What am I going to do about it? Hey! Line up! Thirty more practices everyone! Unless Livia here wants ro apologise..."
I really didn't want to practice again. I could hear the five other people's groans. They knew I had a huge ego and a lot of pride, but what they didn't know was that I do know when it's necessary to back down.
"Sorry Willy Boi. I won't do it again." I got a lot of surprised looks after that.
He sighed loudly.
"Fine. We're going to practice again after a 15 minute break! And Livia? Don't call me Willy Boi. The rink is usually empty, but if the men see you being so casual with me, they'll definitely report you."
I knew that obviously, but I had zero respect for men. Except Will. He was a nice person in general. He didn't care much about gender, and didn't discriminate {In case you're wondering, he's pansexual, but since this is a close minded world, he's seen as a normal straight person. ugh}. That's what was awesome about him. I showed my respect through actually associating with him.
15 minutes passed in a breeze. We practiced our solos a few more times and we were free to go home. Finally. Not like home was a better place than the rink. There was curfew, rules, punishments. All the stuff I hated. I really wished I could go into a place where everyone was more open minded, where men weren't such asses, and where I could fall in love with whomever I wanted, even if they were female. I waited until everyone left under the excuse that my legs were worn out and I would rest for a bit before leaving. Will came up to me after everyone left.
"Hey."
"Yes, Willy Boi?" he sighed.
"For the last time, don't call me that."
"Okayyyyy, whatever you say Willy Boi. What did you want?"
"I want to know why you're actually staying back. I know that you have the highest pain resistance out of all the six of us. I would too, if well, I was treated like you are."
"I'm fine Willy Boi! I just don't want to face my father right now."
"Are you sure? I'm worried y'know."
"I'm sure Willy Boi. I'll make sure I keep myself in tippy-top condition for the event ok?" I assured.
"I'm not only worried about the event. I genuinely want you to be ok. You're my friend." He was going to make me cry if he didn't stop soon.
"Okay Willy Boi! Now you were saying something about me being unemployed. Hmm? Oh! That reminds me, don't you have a class to teach? Or do you have a leave-for-consoling-a-completely-fine-friend today?" This was just an excuse to make sure no one say me cry, but it wad credible.
"OH MY STARS I'M GOING TO BE LATE TO MY CLASS! THANKS FOR REMINDING ME LIVIA!" He hurriedly picked up his things. He started running towards the road. He turned back.
"If there's anything I can do to help you, please tell me ok?" Then he ran the other way.
He was really going to smother me with his kindness. I looked around. There was no one. I let out a huge sob as I started crying. I got up, silent tears still streaming down my face. I put on my skates and slid to the centre of the rink. My tears dripped onto the ice, making soft plinking sounds as I slid around. I started doing a routine I once watched my idol do. My idol was crying at the time, so I thought it was fit for my condition too. To the end of the routine, my body racked up in sobs and soon enough I was on the ice, my head between my knees, bawling. I heard someone come in, but I ignored them. It was a common sight to see a female crying, though it was usually not in the middle of an ice rink. I looked up to see a pretty girl staring at me in shock. I didn't recognise her. I quickly wiped my tears away and smiled at her. She was still frozen. I stood up and wiped my face again, making sure no more rogue tears remained. I slid towards her. She was much prettier up closer. She looked like a noble, based on her clothes, but she was all muddy and scratched up. She was very disheveled, and her eyeliner was smeared. I smiled again, when I was about two feet away from her {Two feet is like the height of a toddler}. I then noticed that someone equally disheveled was behind her. It was a man. Our age too. I nodded in acknowledgement. I then looked at the girl.
"Hello."
[Word Count: 999]