dancing on thin ice

There was a snack bar inside the rink. It was a small town, it was used for both local hockey games and training. That was just normal. Syd sat at one of the tables while they were waiting for Layla. A Friday morning, it wasn't normal for her to be late. Scrolling aimlessly on social media until they heard a bag hit the floor and the chair be pulled out.

“Hello.” she smiled taking the seat across from them.

Pocketing their phone, Sydney smiled back. It was weird to have their childhood best friend back again.

“Oh hey.” looking around, like they were expecting something else. “Where's your other half?”

"Who? Jasper?”

“Yeah.” they answered back simply.

“Who knows. He texted me he was here, I don't know where he actually is.” pulling out her own phone to check if there were any other texts from him. “I don't know dude. Two years away feels weird. Things feel different but they look the same. If that makes any sense.”

“It does.” nodding along as they agreed. “Same old boring town, same people.”

Looking over, seeing one of the younger skaters coming down the hallway towards them. She was a pair skater, and Syd spent most of their two year hanging out with her. She was viewed as a little sister to the single skater. Sydney would commit crimes for this girl.

“Dawn!” Sydney called out. Waving at the girl, she stood in her tracks. When dawn spotted them, she headed their way.

“What's up?” she asked as she took the free seat next to them. “Do you need something?”

Dawn looked at the girl across from them. She just nodded at dawn, wearing a pull over hoodie with the hood up. She was recognizable. Dawn could tell who she was. It wasn't hard, they had been at the same competition venues. Dawn looked up to a lot of pair skaters, she was trying hard to keep her cool.

“I figured this was a good time to introduce you to my childhood best friend. I've told you about jupiter before right?” dawn hummed to show she was still listening. “Okay well stop staring or you'll scare her away.”

“Sorry. I just really loved your long program. The way you guys pushed all your jumps to the second half and you barely showed you were exhausted. In my opinion your scores should have been much higher.” she started rambling, Syd knew it was coming. Dawn loved talking about things she had interest in. “is it also true jasper can throw you seven feet with no issue? Have you measured how far? Can you throw him? I've heard so many things. Is that one true though, assuming you're pretty strong. Can you lift him?”

Syd watched Jupiter's brain work. Trying to pick apart all the questions that were asked. It took her a second but she started answering each of them.

“Thank you, we worked really hard on the program so i'm glad you liked it. We haven't measured but he can throw me a pretty far distance. I only learned I can lift him out of spite. I'm not sure if i could throw him, i could try. Usually he's too busy lifting me however.”

“Wow.” Dawn smiled as she answered. “What about your training weeks. I hear you guys were training over 70 hours a week in japan.”

“Yeah, that was on ice and off ice training.” nodding as she spoke. “We were trained pretty hard to reverse some of the bad habits we formed. To be honest we were a little lazy until we started training with the coaches we did.”

“Wow.” she repeated. She always loved pair skating and held pair skaters to a whole different light than others. It wasn't the best to live, but she was young and excited. She will learn one day.

“It's Dawn's first year competing in seniors, she won bronze in the juniors with her partner.” trying to think about it. “Not last season but the season before. Right?”

“Mhm.” dawn hummed a little. “I took a year off because i had to get a new partner. My old one was taken out of skating. But our first year the senior division.”

“That's always exciting. I can't wait to compete against you.” Jupiter smiled. She knew they most likely wouldn't make it far. However that could be said for any skater really. “Who's your new partner?”

“Oh. spencer, he's been training here for a while.”

“I think I know him. He was one of the little juniors that jasper used to hang out with right?” looking at Sydney for an answer.

“Yeah. he's been training here since he was like four i think.”

They spoke for a little longer. Dawn asking questions and Jupiter answering them quickly. The girl was just curious. It was hard not to be, the skaters to watch this season included jasper and jupiter. They were making their way up the ranks. Together, the team was aiming for gold.

“Dawn!” a man's voice called, her head whipping to where the sound was coming from. “Come on we're working on your jumps!”

“Who's your coach?” Jupiter asked while she was getting up from the table.

“Oh he's a new coach. At least at this rink.” picking up her water bottle, tucking in the chair before she started stepping away. “He's really nice!”

The two of them waved at the girl as she ran back. Jupiter looked back at Syd for a second, getting up. Syd followed as the girl walked.

“Where are you going?”

“I'm hungry.” taking out her wallet while she was looking at the vending machine. “Wow. two years later they still have shit options for the snacks. How do you live?

“I don't. Layla usually brings her healthy snacks for me.”

“Is she still making you eat those energy bars?

Scoffing a bit. Syd rolled their eyes. “Its layla.”

“Right, why did I even ask.”

Handing off a candy bar, Jupiter bought a second one before hopping back to the table they sat at before. Sitting there quietly while Syd just stared at her. Jupiter staring back, honestly she didn't know why Syd was staring.

“What?”

“Noting.”

“I'm back for three days and you're staring at me like I just murdered a child.”

“Nothing. I just thought Will had you on this like a strict diet.”

“It's a meal plan, not a rule book.” she shrugged. “I'm allowed to eat unhealthy things. Just not in big quantities. Anything is fine to eat as long as I don't go overboard.”

“Right.”

Jupiter honestly felt a little weird about it. It had been about a year since she had any strong urges to revert to her old ways. It must be weird. Not seeing your best friend for two years, syd was scared she was still the same as she left. But that just wasn't the case.

“I'm fine. I swear, my meal plan is to help me grow a better relationship with food. That's all.”

Syd just nodded. It was weird to see someone completely different than who they used to be. Layla wasn't here, even if she was syd would still eat the chocolate anyway. The same rules went for them. Nothing in excessive amounts. Needing a specific body type for figure skating was hard on both of their mental states.

"Your hair is black again.”

“Only half it.” Most of the time Jupiter's hair was thrown into two braids. Showing off the split dye job she had done last night at two am. “Do you like it?”

“Yeah it looks nice.” looking behind her, syd could see the male coach looking a little angry. For what? They had no idea. “Wilbur is coming.”

Turning around. Jupiter sighed and picked up the wrapper from the table. Throwing it away before grabbing the bag she had dropped. As she threw it over her shoulder, Will stopped walking. Crossing his arms a bit. She was ice ready, after her morning run and work out she got a ride to the ice with him. Jasper however was nowhere to be seen.

“Where is he?”

“I don't know.” shrugging as she gestured down the hall. “Probably down in the men's locker room?”

“Skate on and warm up in five minutes.” he spoke with authority. If he was being honest, he had next to no issues with Jupiter. On the other hand, Jasper was always testing his patience.

Bringing up a hand to salute him, her own little way of poking fun at her adoptive father.

“Will do.” she nodded, watching him head down towards the men's locker room. Looking at Syd. “Jasper is in trouble.”

“How do you know that?”

Smiling as she waves a hand in front of her own face. Making crazy eyes. “The look in his eyes. Jasper is about to get yelled at.”

Laughing as they got up. Following the girl, after watching her push in both chairs. The two friends walked. Jupiter opening the door for Syd, following after. Somehow it always gave both a chill. They both always forgot how cold it was in the rink.

“While we’re on the topic of Jordan….” Syd mentioned as they both stopped at a bench. “Are you two-“

“Dating? No.”

“Okay, but-“

Cutting off Syd again, she remembered how much they hated that. “I haven’t slept with him.”

“Let me finish. Damn.” Stopped as they were pulling their skates out. “Do you live together?”

Watching her tie her skates up. She was pretty fast at it, Syd always took a longer time. They would have to make sure both were tied to the same tightness or they refused to get on the ice.

“Oh.” Laughing a little. “Yeah we do. As you know, Wilbur and layla are my legal parents. Of course I live with them. Jasper's folks moved back to New York while we were gone so he moved in with us when we got back.”

Before Syd could respond. Will was yelling for Jupiter.

“Ice! Now!”

“for fucks sake.” Rolling her eyes a bit as she stood, heading the wall as she took off the skate guards.

“What?”

"Will is yelling. Jasper did something to piss him off.”

Syd just nodded. Watching the pair hand off their guards to the coach before they took to the ice. They watched the door, waiting for Layla. Their feet started to bounce, forgetting about their skates. Usually if Layla was going to be late she would just text Syd. This morning no text, no warning.

Sighing as they took their skates out of their bag fully. Syd just started getting ready to go on the ice. They had done this day in and day out. It was fine, they knew what to do.

“Syd!” Will called over. Motioning for them to come .

Quickly tying up the skates. They made their way over. Instinctively they started to play with their nails.

“What’s up?”

“Layla woke up with some pain today. She didn’t want to get out of bed and make it worse.”

“Is she okay?” Syd was quick to worry. “Is it her hip? Is it okay?”

“She’s fine. But you know how she is.” He tried to reassure them. Layla was fine. “She's at home with a friend. She just wants me to make sure you're doing what you're supposed to. She said `that you have the choreo for your short program?”

“Yeah I do.” They nodded.

“Perfect. Go do some warm ups then get started on that, if you need anything I’m right here.”

Giving them a small nod. Syd headed out on the ice, doing warm ups and laps. In all honesty, it is always hard for them to focus. Their mind would wander a lot if they had anything but skating to worry about. Today it happened to be their coach and someone they consider family.

They were a kid when it all happened. They went to all the competitions. They were training to do their first junior competition the next year. It was an accident, no one would ever drop their partner on purpose. Especially not Will. At the time, Wilbur and Layla were pretty serious in their relationship. They worked well together and they possessed a lot of talent. He would never drop her. Before the competition season started Layla had suffered hip injury.

However, with treatment and physical therapy she was certain she could perform on it. She was cleared to skate, so she did. Everyone thought the performance was going fine. It was going great. Until Wilbur had lost his grip slightly, next thing they both knew Layla hit the ice. He didn’t react fast enough and failed to catch her. In one quick moment her career was over. She was told, if she were to finish the season there was a chance she’d never skate again. After the fall she was too scared to go back on the ice. Even after the surgery and all the physical therapy, she decided it was best if she just hung up her skates as a professional. Layla was someone Syd had always looked up to, they never stopped and they never will.

“Syd! You okay?”

Will called out. Noticing they were spacing in an out of focus. They were thinking too hard.

“Sorry!” They called back. Rolling their shoulders back before starting on their jumps.

Will hung up his skates as well. Of course he felt enormous amounts of guilt, how could he not. Both decided they didn’t want to end their lives in the skate world. Instead they went through the process of becoming coaches together. Being so young and coaches, they helped with the little kid classes. They didn’t make a whole lot of money off it, but they started to coach the kids at the rink who’s parents could only afford to pay little amounts.

Now however, Will was coaching an insanely talented pair. The two just needed to get their shit together. Layla was coaching someone who was on their way to gold. They were making a real name for themselves. Layla coached another skater named Trevor. Their bond with their skaters was amazing. That’s what they strived for.

Syd's bond with Layla was great. They viewed her as a mother figure. Layla was unbelievably supportive of them. If Layla wasn’t at a competition, Syd always did horribly. Sometimes it would be popping jumps, other times it would be falling out of rotations. It didn’t really matter. Layla played a key part of Syds success.

“Fuck. I’m sorry.” An apology ran out of their mouth as soon as they made contact with another skater. Maybe they were too wrapped up in their head at the moment. “Oh it’s just you.”

Carefully, Syd pushed off him to get up. Careful not to slice his fingers off at all.

Groaning while he held the back of his head. “It’s okay.”

“Are you good?” Jupiter held a hand out for him. Watching him take it.

“That’s gonna leave a mark.” He mumbled to himself.

“Are you okay?” Syd also repeated. They could joke all they wanted. At the end of the day, they were terrified they were going to be the reason for someone ending their career.

“I’m fine,” he responded.

Dusting off his hands on his pants. He just smiled at Syd.

“Are you guys good?” Will yelled out, waiting for a response from any of them.

“We’re good!” Jasper called out. “So do you make an effort of running into guys or am I an exception.”

Jupiter hit his chest. “Gross. Stop hitting on people for once.” Hitting him again while he was just starting at Syd. “They are off limits.”

“Woah woah woah.” He held his hands up. “Syd is their own person. They can talk to me if they please. Isn’t that right Syd?”

Sputtering a bit. Honestly Syd wasn't used to this. They hadn't been flirted with too many times. Choosing just not to respond at the moment. They didn't know how to.

Before they left to train abroad, he never really talked to them. He was always just the best friend's partner. He couldn't really make a move because he wasn't confident in himself at all. Jasper used to be so closed off and quiet before he left. Just like Jupiter, this was a whole new person Syd was looking at right now.

“Well.” jasper looked at Jupiter, then back at Syd. “ guess I'm not allowed to talk to you.”

The way he smiled at them, it made them have to take in a bit of air. Jasper got taller and more attractive, he grew into his looks. He knew the effect he had on people. Maybe it would come to bite him in the ass. He didn't really care if he was honest.

Skating off to the wall, getting his head checked out. Even if he was fine Will would have made him do it.

“Please don't date my partner.” Jupiter begged. At the moment Syd couldn't place the emotion in her voice. She watched Syd gaze follow jasper as he left the ice.

They didn't say anything back. Giving an excuse that they had to get back to training. So they did. Leaving this situation for another day.