Page 77 of Chasing Gold, Catching Her

Only third.

Which meant that maybe she really would not go anywhere after all.

Beside her, Arkadiy suddenly smiled and patted her shoulder.

“Well done,” he said firmly. “You skated almost cleanly, not counting the under rotation on the axel, and the quadruple lutz was not perfect either, but we’ll work on it, we’ll fix it, overall it was almost clean, very good, Alisa.”

What if it still was not enough?

Then, when she had already gone toward the locker room, Lev and Hermann caught up with her in the corridor.

“Well, can we congratulate you?” Hermann immediately began talking, although it was obvious that he understood absolutely nothing about how figure skating scores worked.

“This axel, what the hell was that, Alisa, awesome show?” he waved his hand indignantly. “And the quadruple lutz! Lev and I nearly died while you were jumping it, honestly, I don’t understand how you people survive this at all.”

Lev just shook his head with a small smile.

“The axel was almost good,” Lev only said quietly. “The two of us jumped them so well… and the quadruple lutz too… honestly, I’m surprised that you landed that one. Good job though, Arkadiy trained you well.”

“Thank you,” Alisa answered softly.

She nodded and was already about to leave.

“Listen…” he said, looking at her so seriously. “I’m sorry about that day. Sorry that I lost my temper and yelled at you, and it was so fucking stupid, because it wasn’t your fault at all, okay? I’m very sorry.”

“I forgive you…” Alisa answered quietly, and then immediately lowered her eyes because her voice trembled traitorously. “And I’m sorry too… I replied aggressively, and you needed support then, and I…”

She did not finish.

Lev simply pulled her into a hug with one arm and rested his forehead against her shoulder, she was almost exactly his height with the skates on.

“I’m sorry…” he repeated.

“And I’m sorry…” Alisa whispered back, and for some reason it made them both laugh a little through the awkwardness.

“Well, are you two moving on with your tragic reconciliation or what?” Hermann interrupted dramatically, raising his eyebrows and clutching the poster to his chest. “Because I’m standing here like the third wheel in some terrible romantic movie.”

“We are not lovers, Hermann.” Alisa said with a serious face and then finally looked at the poster again and burst out laughing.

They had really chosen the most ridiculous photo possible.

“Hermann, you’re an idiot,” she laughed.

“Thank you, I try.”

“Well, are you moving on with qualifiers now or what?” Hermann asked again. “Or are you done for today?”

“Hermann, of course not,” Lev rolled his eyes immediately. “Tomorrow is the free skate, then they’ll add up the points from both programs, and only after that the committee decides who they send to Beijing for the second qualifiers.”

“Ah,” Hermann nodded, although it was obvious he still did not understand anything. “Right. Damn, it’s so complicated with you girls, honestly, if I had to live like this, I would simply die from stress in advance.”

Alisa only laughed softly and hugged him too.

“Well then, boys, maybe wait for me after I change and shower? We could go get coffee.”

“I’m absolutely in favor,” Lev said at once.

“And I’m in favor too,” Hermann nodded importantly.