x P

rete. The windows were tinted so the sun could not come in. There were screens all around t

another declared me the best at speed. This place was my home. I knew every scratch on the

ng a purple bag sitting by the

. She wore a gray jacket and black pants, her hair pulled back tightly. Without her usual competi

ard her. "You are in

ary said your dad gave me permission to skate here.

aid. "This is a place for serious

voice was smooth and devoid of feeling. "Just sta

She was graceful, but I could tell she was not

e volume made the figure skater jump. The heavy bass shook the glass panels around the rink, cutting off he

-five minutes, I made it nearly impossible for her to train. I did not

ng still. She was covered in ice shavi

said. "Your music is terrible.

e replied. "Something

usiness suit was waiting for her by the gate. It

Sarah said. "W

d around. "W

said. "Your grant has been revoked. You can still skate

pped the plastic edge of the gate so tight that her knuckles turned white. I could

your funding, glitter girl. Yo

ce behind me. "Shu

was standing on the stairs, watching us

y father said. "They do not wan

find another place to skat

ot have time. You do not have the

ou are going to skate with her. You are going to help her

s dead serious, and he was d

aking a loud, scraping noise on the ice. "You

thing you need to know about this ice, Miss Frost. You are going to train with my son. You will start tomorrow morning.

against the glass wall. "Dad, no way. I do not want to

thing that would change everything. His voice was colder than the ice under our feet. He looked a

n by five o'clock tonight. If you refuse, you will not just lose your national team slot.