Chapter 1

                                    

                                          
"Yuri." 
                          
I open my eyes slowly, brown engulfing my vision. For a moment I was slightly shocked, confused, but once my worries are confirmed, I smile softly. 
                          
"Hey, Yuko." 
                          
"How are you feeling?" She questions. I close my eyes, shivering as I remember the horrid attempt at the Grand Prix Finale. I couldn't help but chuckle under my breath.
                          
"What are you saying? I'm perfectly fine. Completely normal." I say, trying not to express how bothersome the topic truly was.
                          
She raises an eyebrow and frowns, sighing. "You come home after five long years, do a little skating, and then pass out on my turf? Don't tell me you're fine." I looked down at my shoes guiltily.
                          
"Tell me the truth, Yuri." 
                          
I bite my bottom lip, opening my mouth to say something, anything, but no words will escape. I sigh softly.
                          
"Unfortunately, it's not that easy." I chuckled sadly. I look up into her eyes, my face shading a light red as our gazes interlocked.
                          
I start to unlace my skates, feeling her burning glare on my body. I blush deeper in embarrassment, trying to quicken my pace. I then grab my skates, my right hand scratching the back of my neck.
                          
"I'm.. I'm gonna go now. Sorry for staying so late." Her expression only shows confusion, but I ignore it, standing up and turning around. I couldn't help biting my lip as I walked away from our previous heartbreaking conversation. I knew that if I had said anything more than what I did I would've started to cry in front of her, and that's definitely not what either of us would want. 
                          
I walk outside, goosebumps appearing on my skin due to the cold night air. For a moment I slow my pace, staring up at the stars as I grip my hands together into fists. I couldn't stop the tears that brimmed my eyes.
                          
How does he do it? I wondered. How is it that he never once fails to execute a beautiful performance?
                          
I shut my eyes tight, my lip quivering as my heart broke. It felt like I had let everyone down. Everyone I cared about. My feet began to run at a fast sprint as I drowned out all of my pain.
                          
Maybe I should just retire.
                          
Who would even care?
                          
It's not like many people care about me in the first place, let alone my skating.
                          
It felt like I had been running for an eternity, when in reality, it had only been for one bridge length. As soon as I felt my feet hit the gravel of  the pathway to my parent's resort, I began to walk, sighing.
                          
I stopped for a moment, resting my hands on my knees as I breathed ecstatically.
                          
God, I'm seriously out of shape.
                          
"Y..Yuri?" 
                          
My eyes shoot open, my mouth sealed shut as that word rang through my head.
                          
Wait, where do I know that voice from? It sounded familiar, almost as if it were..
                          
My eyes shot open, my heart beating erratically, and surprisingly, it was no longer because I can't run for shit.
                          
There's no way. Why would he be here?
                          
I glance up slowly, my eyes widening as they stare into blue.
                          
My body freezes.
                          
Time completely still. 
                          
"Ah, hello, Yuri!" He laughs cheerfully, running to me and excitedly shaking my hand. But I just stood there, staring.
                          
I felt like a creep for staring at him for this long.