The "Axel Wall" wasn't just a metaphor. To Jen, it felt like a literal mountain she had to climb while wearing lead boots.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtZM5iKeZy
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Because the rink was expensive and ice time was limited, John moved their training to the school’s old gymnasium after hours. The smell of floor wax and stale basketball sweat replaced the crisp ozone of the rink.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG6UhZQ66va
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"If you can't rotate on land, you'll never do it on the ice," John explained. He was holding a "spinner"—a small, curved piece of plastic designed to simulate the friction of a blade. "An Axel is the only jump where you take off forward. It’s a leap of faith, Jen. You have to trust that your body will find the ground."60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKO2wHZ1UNg
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"I trust my body to find the ground," Jen joked weakly, wiping sweat from her forehead. "Usually with my knees first."60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡByi71Zj0wM
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John didn't laugh this time. He stepped closer, reaching out to adjust her posture. His hands moved to her waist, guiding her hips to align with her shoulders. The gym was silent except for the distant sound of a janitor’s mop in the hallway. Being this close to him, without the barrier of thick winter jackets and scarves, made Jen’s heart skip a beat.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7UgYGkHR9t
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"Close your eyes," John whispered.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQAPHf2h6q
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Jen obeyed. She could feel the warmth radiating from him, the scent of peppermint faint on his breath.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡywX5BkiRGY
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"Feel your center of gravity," he said. "The world is spinning, Jen. The ice is moving. But inside, you have to be a pillar of steel. On my count, I want you to jump and try for a single rotation. I’ve got you."60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJOT8Ddg2K
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"One... two... three!"60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVm37yvM9tm
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Jen launched herself. For a split second, she felt the exhilarating sensation of weightlessness—until her sneakers hit the hardwood at the wrong angle. She stumbled, her weight throwing her backward.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGqlWoAOcV
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John’s arms were there instantly. He caught her, pulling her flush against his chest to stop her momentum. Jen’s breath hitched. Her hands were resting on his forearms, feeling the hard, lean muscle built from years of skating.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbAj3OXDsRu
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They stayed like that for a beat too long. John didn't let go immediately. He looked down at her, his dark eyes searching hers with an intensity that made Jen feel like she was under a spotlight.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLrcrko2DzC
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"Why are you doing this, John?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper. "Sasha was right. You’re a Junior National star. You should be practicing your own Quads, not catching a girl who can't even land a dry-land jump."60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mfD1jhnHc
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John let out a long, shaky breath and leaned his forehead against hers. "Because when I was at the top, I was miserable. I had all the medals, but I felt like a machine. Watching you... seeing the way your face lights up when you land a simple crossover... it reminds me why I loved skating in the first place."60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7POKNLEKz
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He stepped back, though his hands lingered on her arms. "You’re not a 'charity case,' Jen. You’re my reason for coming back to the ice."60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPNcLWrYyH
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Later that evening, they sat on the bleachers, sharing a bottle of water. The moon shone through the high gym windows, casting long, silver rectangles across the floor.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyLPztNTxA
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"My dad used to tell me that skating is like a conversation with the ice," John said, staring at the empty gym. "But after we moved, I stopped talking. I just performed. I was depressed, Jen. I’d sit in the locker room after winning a gold medal and feel... nothing. Just cold."60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGU2g0RlD8l
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Jen reached out, tentatively placing her hand over his. "Is that why you came back?"60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0I6gILDVh0
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"I came back because I realized I left my heart in that sandbox in our old neighborhood," he said, turning his hand over to interlace his fingers with hers. "I needed to see if you were still here. And seeing you skate today... seeing you pass those tests... it’s the first time I’ve felt warm in five years."60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1YITXVKWT
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Jen felt a surge of "Medalist" fire in her chest—not for the sport, but for him. She realized then that she didn't just want the gold medal for herself. She wanted to win so she could stand beside him. She wanted to be a partner he could be proud of, not just a student he had to protect.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiH7o0zm2yr
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"Teach me the Axel," Jen said, her voice full of newfound steel. "I don't care how many times I fall. I'll do it a thousand times if I have to."60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjsmCE1ko3p
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John smiled, and this time, it reached his eyes. "Then let's get back to work. We have three hours until the janitor locks up."60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmZfFNTrJ9
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The rest of the night was a cycle of jumping and falling. By the time Jen’s mom pulled up in the parking lot to pick her up, Jen’s legs felt like jelly.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡED9xpkgA8d
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As she walked to the car, she saw Sasha Miller’s sleek sports car driving past. Sasha slowed down, her window tinting low enough for Jen to see her icy stare. Sasha didn't say anything, but she revved the engine before speeding off.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9MLazA1Eg
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The message was clear: The gym is one thing. The ice is another.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Ymy2rWDnY
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Jen got into her mom’s car, her hand still tingling from where John had held it.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtoMy75fEZW
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"You look exhausted, honey," her mom said, reaching over to squeeze her hand. "Was it a hard practice?"60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8J1vuAAqLp
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"The hardest," Jen said, looking out the window at the moon. "But Mom? I think I'm finally starting to fly."60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUbkvPS7CPE
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