Page 20 of Side By Side
“You sent Walker videos?” She turned to her sister, dropping the smile.
“Yes, because he and I both want you to find another partner, and you don’t seem at all interested.”
“Of course, I’m interested. But I also met him today, and I wasn’t impressed. He kept calling me ‘dude’ and asked me if I played Fortnite. What is Fortnite?”
“It’s a video game.”
“I don’t play video games,” Chandler replied.
“You don’t have to date the guy. You just have to skate with him. If he plays video games to unwind, who cares? You don’t have to play with him. You have to train with him, turn him into the partner you need to get the committee’s attention, skate at the Olympics, fulfilling your dream finally, and then, do whatever you want. Become a coach, like me. Commentate, if you want. Hell, buy a place like this or something.” She looked around the Ice Park.
“Buy a– What?” she asked, seeing her sister getting distracted.
“Your scores.” Catalina nodded to the scoreboard in front of them that displayed Chandler’s scores, which were good despite Cat’s earlier comments.
Well, they were good for this competition, but not for the real thing. Still, for not having skated individually in a long time, Chandler wasn’t mad at what she saw.
“You wouldn’t make the team with those scores,” Catalina stated and stood.
Chandler stood as well and walked off with her toward the changing room.
“Cat, I’m trying here. You sprung this whole thing on me, and I had to pull a routine out of my ass.”
“No, we pulled one out that you’d skated well back when you used to skate on your own. And you might do okay with your performance here, but if you spun that extra spin when you were supposed to stop at that last note in the song, you would’ve scored even lower than you did here. You know better, Chandler. God, it’s like you don’t even care.”
“I don’t care?” she asked and pulled her sister to the side of the hallway to let other skaters walk past them. “I haven’t had a carb in years, but I don’t care?”
“Then, why aren’t you trying to find a new partner?”
“I am. I can’t help it that I don’t like Fortnite guy. He may be a good skater, but I get a vibe from him that he’d show up to training late or not show up at all. He likes to skate, but he’s not driven like I am. If he were, with his natural talent, he would’ve been an Olympian already.”
Catalina looked around before she nodded and replied, “I get it, okay? But we’re scraping the bottom of the barrel here, Chandler. I’m running out of options. It’s possible that if you pick him, we can work with him, refine the natural talent he has, and turn him into an Olympian; one that would skate with you and maybe help you win a medal.”
Chandler turned her head just in time to see Belle walking with someone toward the ice, and she decided to just go for it. It was now or never, given the time they had to find her a new partner.
“I have an idea,” she told her sister.
“For a partner? I’m all ears. I don’t think you’re going to make the team as a–”
“You know how they’re adding same-sex partners to the competitions now? I sent that article to you. Did you read it?”
“Yes, I read it. But are you aware the Olympics is not–”
“No, not the Olympics. But I just need to make the team, right? Show them how well I can partner while we find someone else for me. Maybe even give Walker enough time to recover. He’s always been a fast healer, according to him, so there’s a slim chance he could be ready.”
“Very slim. And you can’t count on that.” Catalina crossed her arms over her chest.
“What about making a real splash? By myself, I don’t think I have a chance of making it. You and I both know that. But with a good partner, I might.”
“I’m sorry; are you suggesting a female partner?”
“Yes,” she replied.
“You want to skate with another woman?”
“I think we should consider it. You just said you were scraping the bottom of a not-all-that-full barrel.”
“But a woman?”