Chapter 2
Coach's Announcement
Emery's mind raced as she stood there, her heart still pounding from the sudden shift in plans. Sharing the ice with Ryder Kessler? It felt like a nightmare. She had worked so hard to carve out this time for herself, to perfect every move, every jump, and now she was supposed to split it with him?
The sounds of skates scraping across the ice and the hum of the rink faded into the background as Mr. Bellamy walked away, leaving the two of them to simmer in their mutual frustration.
Ryder's grin was smug, like he'd already won. "I guess this is going to be interesting."
Emery clenched her jaw. "Yeah, sure. Interesting," she muttered under her breath, trying to control her annoyance. She couldn't afford to waste time. Every minute on the ice counted.
"You know, you might want to work on that jump of yours." Ryder's voice broke through her thoughts. "It's a little… sloppy."
She glared at him, her hands curling into fists. "You don't know anything about my jumps, Kessler."
His smirk deepened. "I know enough."
Before she could snap back at him, a loud voice interrupted their exchange.
"Alright, alright, break it up, you two."
Emery turned to see Coach Lara stepping onto the rink, her short blonde hair glinting under the rink's fluorescent lights. The coach's sharp eyes scanned both of them before she crossed her arms over her chest and gave a decisive nod.
"I see you two have been getting along like fire and ice." She paused, letting the words hang in the air, and Emery felt a rush of heat spread across her cheeks. Coach Lara was known for being blunt, and it was clear she wasn't about to sugarcoat things.
Emery's fingers tightened around the railing as the coach continued, her voice firm but not unkind. "I've been watching both of you for a while now. You're both talented—there's no denying that. But you're stuck. You've hit a plateau."
Emery's stomach dropped. She knew it was true. Her technique had been getting sharper, but there was a level she couldn't quite break through. Maybe it was the pressure of the upcoming national championships. Maybe it was the constant self-doubt. But she wasn't about to admit that to anyone.
Ryder, on the other hand, didn't seem fazed. His shoulders were relaxed, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes. Competition, perhaps, or a hint of impatience.
"To get past your limitations," Coach Lara continued, "you need to break out of your comfort zones. And what better way to do that than by working together?"
Emery's eyes widened. "What do you mean—working together?"
"You two are going to be sharing ice time for the next month," Coach Lara said, her eyes gleaming with a mix of challenge and encouragement. "You'll both work on your strengths and help each other with your weaknesses. Ryder, you're a powerhouse on the ice, but you lack the precision that comes with discipline. Emery, you have the discipline, but you need more of the raw power and agility that hockey requires. You'll both teach each other."
The words hit Emery like a punch to the gut. She had never once imagined herself sharing her precious ice time with someone like Ryder Kessler. They were from completely different worlds—hers a world of grace, technique, and individual performance; his a world of raw power, competition, and team dynamics.
"This is ridiculous," Emery muttered under her breath.
Ryder, however, didn't seem as opposed to the idea. In fact, he looked almost... pleased. "I think it sounds like a great challenge," he said with a grin that made her skin crawl. "I can teach you some of the hockey drills. You'll probably end up faster than you already are."
Emery's eyes narrowed. "I don't need hockey drills, Kessler. I need to perfect my routine."
"Perfecting your routine won't make you a champion," Ryder shot back, his tone still taunting, but there was an edge to it now. "You want to win, don't you?"
Emery's breath caught. She did want to win. Badly. But this wasn't the way she imagined getting there. She had a plan. She had a vision. And now that vision was being derailed by a cocky hockey player who didn't understand the dedication it took to be a figure skater.
Coach Lara stepped forward, her expression hardening. "This is happening, whether you like it or not. The plan is simple: You'll both train together, and you'll be held accountable for your progress. The goal is to learn from each other—embrace the differences, and build on them."
Emery wanted to argue. She wanted to throw out a dozen reasons why this was a terrible idea. But something in Coach Lara's unwavering gaze stopped her. There was no room for defiance, not here.
"Fine," Emery said through gritted teeth, her pride battling her sense of duty. "I'll do it. But don't expect me to be happy about it."
Ryder's grin widened. "Oh, I expect nothing less."
Coach Lara nodded, satisfied with their agreement. "Good. Now that we're all on the same page, let's get started. You two will meet here every evening, just as you normally would. But instead of working solo, you'll be working together. Don't waste my time—make it count."
With that, she turned on her heel and walked off the rink, leaving Emery and Ryder standing in the midst of their uneasy truce.
Emery's mind raced. Was this the worst idea in the history of figure skating, or was it a chance to break through her barriers? She couldn't decide, but one thing was for sure: the next month was going to be a lot more complicated than she had anticipated.
As Ryder skated toward the far side of the rink, his presence felt like an anchor in her chest. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. She wasn't going to let this disruption derail her dream. No matter how obnoxious, cocky, and infuriating Ryder Kessler was, she was going to prove that she could handle this.
Even if it meant sharing the ice with him.