With that being said, there had beena lotof buzz around Asha and Alice Avril. They’d attended the event together, hand in hand, looking like lifelong besties.
Safe to say the fans were eating it up, which didn’t bode well forus.
But I had an idea how we could rectify things.
Unzipping the costume bag, I changed into my dress rehearsal costume. Today, it was a pair of stretchy pants that looked like black jeans and a plain T-shirt.
When we entered the studio rink, Matilda was waiting for us. She already had her skates on and was smoothing the material of her plain pale blue rehearsal dress.
Thankfully, it covered more than her little shorts, but it was safer not to look at her when possible.
The studio rink looked completely different from where we had trained, with a huge seating area on one side for the audience and a panel on the opposite side for the judges. The space was blindingly white with the fresh ice perfectly resurfaced, a massiveStarson Iceilluminated sign hanging above the rink, and the walls designed to look like they were made out of ice blocks.
It was full of people, a loud buzz echoing around the room as all the professional skaters and their celebrity partners waited for the dress rehearsal to start. Matilda was chatting with Asha, her closest friend on the show, although from watching the press event footage, she and Alice Avril also seemed like our biggest competition. Spotting us, Matilda waved me over and pointed to the schedule with her other hand.
“Hey.” Her eyes crinkled at the corners with her smile. “I don’t think I’ve introduced you. Luca, Jack, this is my friend Asha. She’s partnered with Alice.” Asha offered a small wave, and I offered a politenod.
“You know, I loved her inTemptation. She wassospooky.” Matilda turned to Asha. I blinked, surprised that she enjoyed horror films. I’d pegged her as more of a Disney princessfan.
“Thank god, she’s not like that in real life; she’s actually so much fun to hang out with.” Asha glanced at the schedule again before turning back to Matilda. “We’re heading to that new bar in town after this. Do you all want to join?”
Matilda’s lips parted slightly, eyes searching Asha’s face for the correct answer. She knew Asha wanted her to go and that I probably wouldn’t want to. I had no idea what Matilda would decide if she chose just for herself. I doubted even she knew.
I’d seen my mother’s hesitant, anxious smile so many times before that I wanted to kick myself for missing the similarities.
She faltered only for a moment before saying, “Sure, I might be able to make it later. Luca is normally busy in the evenings, but I’ll be there if I can.”
“OK, amazing.” Asha clapped. “Also, would you be able to grab me on the way to the studio tomorrow, please? My car is still in the garage, but I can always call a cab if not.”
“Of course, no worries.” Matilda affectionately squeezed Asha’s upper arm. Asha wished us luck and headed toward the backstage area.
“We’re third in the lineup.” Matilda pointed to the schedule. “Which isn’t too bad. First or last is probably the best, but third will be fine.” The board said we should be in our places in twenty minutes, giving us enough time to warm up and stretch. Asha and Alice Avril were opening the show, and Noah and Sophia Arnold had the closing spot.
Twenty minutes later, we were waiting for our names to be called backstage. I don’t know what I’d expected, but I was surprised to see that the ice rink started backstage. The main rink was a regular oval shape, but one corner opened into a wide ice tunnel, which we would skate through from backstage, meaning that the audience couldn’t see us waiting to comeon.
We’d caught a glimpse of Nate and Jessica Bennett’s skate, which was the one before ours. It had been OK; we were better.
When I shared those thoughts with Matilda, she rolled her eyes, but I didn’t miss her small smile.
“A heads-up. We’ve got our first interview together after this.” Matilda skated in small circles, the slicing sound of the blades familiar and comforting.
“That’s fine. Do the reporters ask everyone the same questions?”
“Maybe, I’m not sure. Most of them will have already spoken to reporters at the press event.” There was no bite to her tone, but the reminder she’d attended alone was like a kick in the balls.
“Do you think that will have put us at a disadvantage?”
Her forehead creased, and a nervous smile played at the corners of her mouth.
“Honestly, Matilda.” I needed to know, because it affected whether I’d share my idea with her ornot.
“OK, it will have. But it doesn’t matter—” Matilda rushedout.
“Stop. It’s fine. I’m an adult who can deal with the consequences of my actions.”
“I know, but I feel bad for saying it. It was—”
I placed my hands on her shoulders, silencing her. “I fucked up. How can we fixit?”
