"The End of Auguste"
By Lena Alexandrovskaya
Her soft footsteps echoed through the huge, empty ice arena. It was a practice arena for Olympic hopefuls; dreams were either realized or shattered right where she stood. As her dark brown eyes scanned the rink for her new student, she couldn't help but notice how nice the place smelt. It wasn't of perfume or flowers but of fresh air - a wild freeness. The scent invigorated her. A smile spread across her face suddenly, though there was not one thing she could point out that made her do so.
A large buzz of the scoreboard broke her trance as the reality of her surroundings tuned back into her. She was now standing next to the side boards that were seperating the ice from the arena seats.
Soon, across the rink from her, she saw a man skate on the ice. He must have been her student!!
"Hello?" Her high, almost childish voice beckoned loudly. The skater stopped quickly.
"Hi," the man said back, his voice not as enthusiastic as hers.
She waved energeticly. "Hi! I'm your new choreographer, Aria." She sat in a nearby chair and sat down the bag she carried. Out of it she took her white figure skates. She just about ripped off her tennis shoes to strap them on. "You must be Yuri."
Yuri skated over toward Aria, leaning his crossed arms on the boards. "Yes. My name is Yuri Mayakov." His bland expression startled Aria as she looked up from tying her skate. "Well," she said softly, her enthusiasm dying. "I've got a great program lined up for you."
Yuri'seyes closed slightly, as if his head hurt. "That's great."
Aria finished tying her last skate and stood up idlely. "I've watched tapes of your previous programs and I've choreographed in some new moves and combinations you haven't done before."
Yuri, as if bothered by it, skated down the boards to open the door for her. "I'm happy."
Aria skated out onto the open ice. 'Wow,' she thought. 'I've never had a figure skater despise me so much. How can I break the ice and convince him I can help him reach his dream?' She sighed, 'Just keep being friendly.'
"Okay, are you ready to warm up some jumps?"
He nodded in her direction and skated off around a bend. Her eyes followed him. "I hope you don't mind but I'd like to practice some of them with you."
For the first time since they met, his eyes met hers. For a moment she was in shock; his eyes were such a deep, oceanic blue, the depth of them seemed to go on forever. She noticed then how much taller he was than her. "What?"
One side of her lips raised in a half smile. "I like inter-active learning!"
Their eyes still locked, he finally let a faint, comfortable smile out. "Alright, sounds good."
Aria skated off behind Yuri, to observe the height of his jumps. "First we will do all the doubles: First a 2 toe, then a 2 salchow, then a 2 lutz, and then a 2 axle okay?"
He'd jump, then she'd mimic. His height was outstanding. "Okay, now the triples." Still, his height was unbelievable...she tried to mimic, popping out of the 3 axle.
Aria skid to a stop, ice shavings flying everywhere. "Are you feeling lucky today?"
Yuri looked to the ceiling and then back at her. "A little. Why?"
She laughed. "You feel like attempting quads of all those jumps?"
Yuri bit his bottom lip. "Not an axle...but the rest I will try." He skated off at full speed once again, this time Aria staying behind to watch, hoping for the best. If he hit a couple of those quads, he'd be roaring to learn his new program. It would do wonders for his attitude, too.
Quad toe.....good! Quad salchow....also good!! Only the lutz left. There it goes...and down he goes.
Aria skated over to him briskly. He was just sitting there, his hands on his knees. "You did great! Two out of three! That isn't bad in the least bit! We just have to keep going after that lutz!"
He sighed and looked at her. "You know, you are right. I just need to keep practicing that quad lutz--I have the toe-loop and the salchow!!"
Yuri got up to his feet swiftly and started around the curve again. "I'm going to get that lutz one of these days."
***
Dear Diary,
Today was my first day with my new student, Yuri Mayakov. He's from Russia, but can speak English very well. (Isn't it a coinsidence that he's from Russia and I'm Russian-American?)
Well, it's not getting off to a good start. Either he was tired (it was 6am, after all) or he got a bad vibe from me. The first and foremost thing I need is his cooperation or else perfection can not be reached, like his coach and my boss, Ilia, said.
Hope the rest of our sessions will get easier. I'll write more later.
Love, Aria Dmitriev
***
A light wind blew into the window next to where Yuri lay on his bed. His blonde hair fell onto his forehead as he thought about the week gone by. It was the absolute weirdest time he ever had. Everytime he went to practice, his stomach felt funny and his throat felt dry and caved-in. His performances were well liked by his coach and he was memorizing the program his choreographer was teaching him. And he practiced his quad lutz everyday. And somehow through it all, he felt strange. His accomplishments were great and he felt he could achieve more, but something ailed him.
He rolled over in the dark blue of twilight. His thoughts trailed off as the candle on his night stand danced for him. The orange light flickered, illuminating his face. A tear ran down his cheek as he closed his eyes tightly. After a moment the midnight wind blew out his candle and he was asleep.
***
"OH MY GOODNESS!! Did you see that?!?" Yuri ran across the ice, his blades creating deep wedges in the ice. Ilia and Aria ran out onto the ice, their regular shoes slipping beneath them, frictionless.
Both Yuri's coach and choreographer wrapped him in a hug. "I told you that you could do it if you believed in yourself! And you did it!" Aria yelled in joy.
"If you do that quad lutz next month in Munich - you'll be in the record books!"
Yuri had a grin from ear to ear. "Wow! That was great. Just think, if I could do that quad, triple, double lutz like I do the quad, triple, double toe - WOW!"
Aria took him by the shoulders. "I'll put that into your routine! First we'll do your quad, triple, double combination - your wonderfully low sit spin and for the finale - quad, triple, double lutz! Wow, this is wonderful." She danced around on the ice for a moment and then added, "And a whole bunch of triples inbetween."
Ilia clapped loudly. "One month down and look at all the things we've accomplished as a team! I'm glad we found you, Aria Dmitriev, you work well with Yuri and I."
"It's an honor, Ilia - I'm glad that Yuri and I eventually clicked."
The three of them made their way off the ice and to the arena seats. Ilia said, "I've gotta go, you two, so see you later! Keep it up, Yuri."
"Thank-you!" Yuri called after Ilia. His excitement radiated; his face glowed.
"Hey, Yuri," Aria called to him. "To celebrate, would you like to go out to dinner with me?"
Yuri's heart leaped into his throat. That sick feeling returned in his stomach and his throat got dry. He hadn't felt like this since their first week of practice. "Sure...." he finally spit out.
"Alright, I'll pick you up at 7. That gives you an hour to get ready." Aria got up, slung her bag over her shoulder and made her way out of the arena. "Bye!"
"S...see you!" His nerves seemed to calm as she disappreared behind some seats. "This means I have to dig out my best suit."
***
She looked stunning. Her hair was down in natural curls that draiped across her shoulders like a veil. The brown of her hair was so dark it looked like velvet. Her skin was like ivory, so her big brown eyes stood out. She wore a dark green, very conservative dress that fell to her ankles.
"Hi, Yuri," Aria said finally, standing in his front doorway. He stood infront of her, speechless at her beauty. "Are you ready to go?"
"Yes." He tred out onto his front steps and closed his front door. His shiney dress shoes sparkled in the street lights. He adorned a dark grey suit with a shimmery blue tie. His blonde hair was swept to either side, instead of his usual "in the face" practice style. His blue eyes shone as they made their way to her car.
As they sped off, Yuri looked at her green dress and realized he should've opted for his green shimmery tie so the two of them would match.
"So," Aria said, her usual smile still lingering on her face. "Where do you want to eat tonight?"
Yuri sniggered. "I don't know. I'm not from around here! Bring me anywhere where they have good steak."
"Oh! You like steak?" Aria looked over at him. "So do I. I know of the perfect place. You'll love it!"
"Perfect," Yuri said. Soon a silence fell upon them that was most irritating to Yuri. He had to break it. "So, are you of Russian descent?"
Aria nodded. "Yes, both my mother and father are directly from Russia. They moved here 19 years ago, two months before I was born."
"That's interesting. So, you're 19? I would've thought you were older."
"Why is that?" Aria asked as her gaze was directed back at the road infront of her.
"Well," Yuri was struck unprepared. "You are a professional ice choreographer. I am only an amatuer skater and I jut turned 18."
"Yeah, well, age isn't anything but a number, now is it?" Aria knew all along how close in age they were. Before she got to meet Yuri face to face, she knew they'd become friends because of that fact.
Yuri sat back in his seat. He just then noticed the violin music playing on her car stereo. She seemed like a lady with class.
Before long, they were sitting across from each other at a table for two in a nice restaurant with a small candle splitting the table into two halves.
Aria had a dreamy look about her. "This is a great way to celebrate a perfect quadruple lutz, huh?"
"Yes, it is, thank-you!" Yuri folded his hands on the table infront of him. He had big, athletic hands that went perfectly with his powerful body. Inside, to the contrary, he was quite sensitive.
"You're very welcome. It's necessary you get the praise you need to to keep going strong until our first competition in Munich." Aria laughed. "Enough about skating! Tell me about yourself."
"Oh." He still barely knew her, but it'd be rude to say no. "Well, I like classical music, especially Russian composers. I like to travel and I like video games. My favorite colors are white and blue because that's what color the ice is."
"Cool." Aria cleared her throat. "I love classical music, as well. I love frogs, hence my favorite color, green. I like to travel and to dance. I love Russia and anything to do with Russian ancestory." She chuckled and said sarcasticly, "It seems as if I've known you my whole life!"
They both cracked up in unison. It was the first time Aria had seen Yuri grin on his own free will. She just looked at him laugh and it seemed to block out the rest of the restaurant. The bustle of dishes and the intamate conversations were hundreds of miles away - Now it was only Aria and Yuri.
"Are you ready to order?"
The voice was startling to Aria. "OH!" She yelped and slammed her delicate hands down on the table, rattling the silverware. "I'm sorry," she murmured.
The waitress smiled. "I'll give you a moment to think, okay?"
"Yes, that'd be great, thank-you."
Yuri looked sidelong at her, an eyebrow raising in curiousity. "What was that all about?"
Aria looked down at the table cloth, ashamed. "Sorry - I must have been in another world."
"That's alright, daydreaming is the next best thing besides skating." Yuri comforted her. "I do it all the time."
The two friends looked at their menus in syncronization. The uneasyness that seemed to dominate the begining of the night had deminished slightly; to both of them, it did seem as if they had known each other forever.
***
Yuri got to the rink early on purpose the next morning. He sat down on a cold bench to put on his skates, as he did every morning. But this morning seemed different to him for some unseen reason. He was a lot more energetic and was more motivated to learn than ever before.
Aria had that affect on him.
He noticed that when he was with her he felt whole, almost like a requirement of his life had been fufilled. In his years of living, he thought he had loved things. True, he did truely love his mother. But when it came to girls, he was never quite sure if it was love or just puppy love. The feelings he felt for Aria seemed to be love but he didn't believe in himself enough to admit that to himself. He had been burned before by "love" one too many times in his life.
The ice longed to be cut by his blades; he opened the door and moved over the ice as if floating on air. He took laps around the outside oval as if speed skating. His hair blew back, his eyes intent on the next curve. His white shirt and tight black pants flapped around the nooks and crannies of his muscular body as he prepared for a triple axle. His attempt was successful, he smiled to himself. He hadn't practiced an axle in weeks. Aria would've been proud if she would've seen it....
"Nice axle!"
Yuri stopped cold in the middle of the ice. His face had a mystery enraveled in it. His expression was unclear and very hard to read. His small, extremely Russian eyes had a sparkle that had never been there before. His lips curved down into a satified pout. "Thanks!"
Aria came clammering down the stairs of the arena. "Sorry I'm so late. Traffic was horrible this morning!" She sat in a chair and dug intently in her bag for her skates. Yuri excitedly skated over to her and slammed his arms down on the boards playfully as she finished tying her skates.
She stood and made her way out to the mirror like ice while saying, "I thought today we could maybe work on some graceful choreography." She seemed a little bit more serious to Yuri. "I was researching some VHS tapes last night of your past performances and your moves were okay. But if you want to get the gold in Munich, you have to be as graceful as you would be if you dancing with a partner."
She skated over to him and took his hand, his face struck dumbfounded. "That's why today, I'm going to skate with you as if we were competing in pairs."
Aria's face, still as serious as stone, she led him to the middle of the rink. "I'm going to follow your lead. Now, treat me as if I were made of feather light paper and act like a gentleman. No lifts, no jumps - just dance steps. You can lead me around all you want." She took his other hand in hers and smiled. "Don't look so worried. It'll be fun."
After a minute of hesitation, Yuri started to skate around, Aria following his every move. 'Wow', he thought. 'I'm actually touching her soft hands.' Soon his movements became more relaxed and he felt comfortable spining Aria around and to dance with her closely, with that lovely feeling of ballroom dancing.
He laughed. "Aria!" he exclaimed, exasperated. "How am I doing?"
"Great! Keep it up! Just think about fluid movements."
Having a grand time, he held Aria by the waist and lifted her off the ice. Aria laughed, overwhelmed by the strength in his arms. Air whipping all around the couple, time seemed to stand still.
Until Yuri lost his balance. Together they rose, together they fell. Yuri fell backwards, his tail-bone hitting the ice hard. His hands still on her waist, Aria came tumbling down from heaven, landing on his chest. As they lay there, their faces only inches apart, a bond formed between them. Student didn't get mad for a dumb "pairs" drill. Teacher didn't get mad for a lift she had clearly said should not be done. Aria lifted her head off of Yuri's chest and looked to see if his eyes were open. They were open, and staring back at her with as much or more intensity.
"Are you okay....Yuri?" Aria whispered, her sweet breath covering his face.
He gently put his hand on her back, maybe to comfort her if she had gotten hurt. "I'm fine. You?"
"I'm fine." Putting her hand on his face, they nuzzled noses. Before either of them knew what was happening, their lips touched. Yuri finally decided it was the time to kiss her, so he pressed his lips against hers. To his surprize, she kissed him back.
As quickly as the moment had come, it had passed. Still slightly kissing the air, Yuri opened his eyes to see Aria already standing up, a new seriousness struen across her face. Her hand was out-stretched to him.
"Need a hand getting up?" She inquired as if nothing had even happened a moment before. Aria's gesture was like a slap in the face to Yuri; anger took him over like an ambush.
"No, thanks," he answered, his eyes narrowed. He sat up and rested his hands on the ice, palms down. "I can get up myself."
Suddenly, from behind Aria, someone covered her eyes. "Guess who??" The relaxed voice cooed.
Aria grabbed his wrists and flung his hands off her eyes. A grin bigger than any Yuri had ever seen formed on her beautiful baby face. "SERGEI!" She gasped, trying to act more excited than she felt. Guilty, her eyes darted between Sergei and Yuri. She turned around swiftly to wrap him in a hug.
Yuri sighed, his body getting cold from sitting on the ice. As he watched Aria and Sergei reunite, an infuriation whelled up from the core of his being. How could've he let himself fall for another gorgeous, courtious, smart, funny girl that just let him down like all the rest?
"Yuri? Earth to Yuri?"
Yuri opened his eyes and slowly rose from the ice. "Yes?"
Aria's warm brown eyes sparkled as she took a hold of Sergei's hand. "Yuri, this is my boyfriend, Sergei Fyodorov. Sergei, this is the skater I'm choreographing for, Yuri Mayakov."
Yuri towered above Sergei. "Yes, I know Sergei. We've met at many competitions."
Sergei's blue/green eyes glittered. "It's nice to see you again, Yuri."
"Yes, it is nice, Sergei."
Sergei ran a hand through his light brown, highlighted hair. "Well, I guess I'll leave you two to your practice." He could sence the uneasiness between the three of them. As he backed towards the door, he stuttered, "See you a...at home, Aria."
***
After the fall....
The night seemed to roll in like fog. A light wind blew through Aria's hair as she sat by an open window in her apartment reading a book. A faint smile brushed her lips as she read the love story, thinking of Sergei all the while.
A knock at the door startled her. She marked her spot in the book and proceeded towards the door.
"Who is it?" she chimed, her hand already wrapped around the golden door knob.
"It's Yuri!" An unsure voice rang back. Aria swung the door ajar, stunned.
"Hi, Yuri!" She exclaimed. "What has brought you to this neck of the woods?"
"Well, I came to see if Sergei was home. I haven't seen him in awhile, so I wanted to catch up with him."
Aria laughed. "It's funny because he just left about 40 minutes ago. He said he was going to get me something I'd 'love him forever for'. He should be back soon, though."
"Oh." Yuri backed out of the doorway, polite. "Then I should check back in....?"
"NO, NO!" Aria grabbed his arm and pulled him into her living room. "Come on in and wait inside. He should be back any minute now."
Yuri smiled. "Thank-you." He entered and instantly took a seat on the couch. Aria sat across from him in the chair where her book lay.
For a moment, neither of them said a thing. Then Yuri said, his voice hushed, "I'm so sorry about what happened today at practice."
The smile ran away from Aria's face. "It's forgotten," she said flatly.
Yuri's eyebrows went down. "No, that's not all. I feel as though I need to explain myself." He coughed, tensely. "Since the day I met you, I've had the biggest crush on you."
"Stop," Aria interupted. "I don't want to hear how much you love me and why you kissed me. I just want to forget about it. I love Sergei."
Aria got up and made her way to her and Sergei's bedroom. "Now, to change the subject," she called out to Yuri. "Can I offer you a beverage while you wait for Sergei to return?" As she said that, she dug through her drawers to find her cell phone. She needed to tell Sergei who just happened to drop by while he was gone and to get home right now.
"No, I'm fine," A loud voice answered. Aria turned around to find Yuri in her doorway. His hands were buried in his pockets, his fox-like eyes slits. "What are you looking for?"
Aria quickly dropped the phone and bumped the drawer closed with her hip. She let out a short breath, fiddling with her necklace. "Oh, nothing."
Yuri inched in towards her, the darkness of the night engulfing them both, she hadn't bothered turning on the light when she entered. "Please, Aria, I have to tell you how I feel, or else a question will linger in your mind at every practice, every competition." Every word he spoke inched her deeper into the night; until she hit the edge of her bed and was forced to sit down.
Aria, in that moment, decided that Yuri ment no harm and just needed to get his strong feelings out into the open. "Okay," she whispered. She patted the bed with her hand. "Sit; tell me what you are feeling. It'll probably make both of us feel better."
Yuri lightly took his place next to her and faced her properly. "Well, lately I've been feeling an intence power between us. I mean, everytime I look into your eyes, it's like I'm looking into forever. I dont' know if you can see it or not. But I know you felt it today when we were dancing on the ice together. And then when we fell into each others arms - You kissed me back. If you have no feelings for me what-so-ever, then why....?"
He wasn't sure how to finish his whole speech, but he turned his eyes away from Aria in shame. Tears burned the edges of his eyes, but he was too proud to let them flow free. Aria put a hand on his shoulder. "Yuri, look at me! I'm so sorry you feel this way...."
Yuri looked up at her, his eyes a painful red. Her brown irises gazed at him the same way they had about a month earlier in the restaurant. "Yuri, I've gotta admit it, I really do like you a lot. And regardless of what you think - I don't regret kissing you. You're pretty much perfect: handsome, sweet, funny, cute -YOU CAN SKATE-" she giggled. "Don't worry about it. Now that your feelings are out in the open, everything will be okay. I mean, we can't be together, but we can still be good friends, right?"
"Aria," Yuri whispered. "Can I ask you a question?"
"Sure, go ahead."
"Can I kiss you again?"
Aria scanned the room. What would it hurt to have just one more kiss? She shrugged. "Yes, you may."
At first he acted like he didn't know what to do, like he wanted this last kiss to be perfect somehow. Finally, he ran his hand through her hair until it rested on the small of her neck. They looked into each others eyes, trying to see forever when their lips touched. After a few little pecks, their kisses got deeper and more passionate. They leaned back onto the bed when Aria realized what she had been talked into. She turned her face to the side and muttered, "Yuri...You only asked for one kiss...."
His kisses persisted as his hands traveled down to her pants. He grabbed at them, trying to pull them down. Horrified, Aria tried to roll out from underneath him. "Yuri!!" she shrieked. "Stop it now! That hurts!!"
Yuri breathed in her ear seductively, "You've been a bad girl; you need to be punished..."
"You're a *bad* boy!" She yelled, being serious. He let all of his weight oh her and she gasped, "YURI!! OH, MY GOD!" He ripped her button down shirt open.
"Give it to me..." he growled, but a second after he pulled his own shirt off and threw it on the floor, Sergei walked in.
Sergei stopped dead in his tracks after hearing the gasps and moans coming from down the hall. Then, seeing his friend and his girlfriend in bed together, his top blew off. "WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON HERE?!?!?" He flipped on the light.
Yuri leaped off of Aria to retrieve his shirt. "Sergei, hi! I can explain..."
"SERGEI!" Aria cheered and ran towards him, tears streaming down her cheeks, her face red. "I'm so glad you're home! I tried to call you but...."
"Stay away from me, you bitch! You've been cheating on me this whole time with....Yuri...." Infuriation took over Sergei's whole body. He rushed over to Yuri, his fingers rolled into fists.
"How dare you!!!!" Sergei screamed, his face only inches away from Yuri's. "I trusted you. How could you keep something of this magnitude from me??" Sergei bit his bottom lip. "Get out, Yuri. I need to talk to Aria."
"Sergei - I don't know what came over me - I'm so sorry..." Yuri pleaded.
Sergei's patience was running out. "GET OUT!"
Yuri gathered up his belongings and instantly left. Sergei covered his face with his hands. "Aria, what just went on there?" His voice was more calm then, but the resentment was still there.
Aria sat on the bed, curled up into a tiny ball sobbing her eyes out. She shook her head back and forth, all the while repeating, "I couldn't get him off of me...I couldn't get him OFF of me...."
Sergei took his hands away from his face. He felt so stupid for presuming that she had been cheating on him ~ he never even thought about rape. A soft, paleness came about him as the idea took him over. He literally ran to Aria and wrapped her in an embrace. "I'm sorry...." he cooed, stroking her hair, trying to stop her rocking. "I'm sorry....I didn't mean to assume the worst, Honey...."
***
She radiated a type of presence the whole cathedral could feel. Something about her made her stand out from the rest of the choir. Maybe it was her proud posture, her cocoa hair, her smile, her soprano voice. One who laid eyes upon her could never peel his eyes away. She wasn't the most beautiful woman; there was an air about her. She matched the choir around her, all wearing maroon robes, but a single beam of light seemed to glow on her alone.
"Hallelujah!...." The choir rang out, the sound bouncing off the high ceiling of the cathedral. Sergei could hear her voice destincly out of the many. He was in pure aw of her.
Sergei had a whole night planned for her after her big concert. Dinner in a vacant restaurant -so they could be alone- candle light, white roses ~ her favorite. Maybe a surprize or two, after all, the next morning was the Grand Prix Final in Munich that he and her pupil, Yuri, had to compete in head to head.
As he sat in a pew, he rested his weaved fingers in his lap. He adorned black slacks and a black jacket. Almost hidden underneath was a maroon dress shirt to match their robes. The sky blue of his eyes lit up as the stage lights alluminated the entirety of the cathedral. The last cord of the song blew the audience away as they clapped thunderously. So proud, Sergei stood, starting a large standing ovation. "Way to go, Aria!" He yelled, joy taking over his face. He clapped his hands together, loudly.
Aria's large brown eyes spotted him in the crowd; she brought her fingers up to her lips and blew him a kiss. As far as Sergei knew, Aria seemed naturally happy, but behind her smile hid the uneasiness she felt about the fight they had had the night before. For Sergei's sake, she hid her feelings behind locked doors. She loved him so much.
The Concert Choir took their bows as the audience hooted and hollered in amazment. Soon, the choir scattered, looking for their loved ones in the crowd.
"Sergei," Aria said, a relieved tone to her voice. "I thought you wouldn't come after what happened last..."
Sergei instantly put a finger up to her lips. "Sssshhhh..." he cooed, his eyes closing slightly. "That's not important right now. What is important is you!" He ran his fingers down the side of her face. "You did so wonderfully tonight."
"Thank-you!" Aria pulled him in for a hug. A little off-guard, Sergei put his arms around her.
"Let's get out of here," Sergei whispered in her ear.
She smiled, her cheek pressed up against his shoulder. "Okay."
With their arms draiped over the otherss shoulder, they proceeded towards the door. Instantly, they ran into a man with an ashamed look on his face. He held flowers out to her, asking for forgiveness.
"Yuri..." Aria began. She had no idea how to react to him. Should she be angry about the things he said and did to her, how he came into her apartment? Should she be glad he was back to his normal self?? "Funny seeing you here."
Yuri had a far off look in his eyes. "Aria," he said, flatly. His voice was so soft it was like listening to an angel. "I'm so sorry." He handed her the flowers as if they were a burden to him. "Sergei, I am also sorry. Good luck tomorrow."
Sergei had confusion written all over his face. His body went numb, his arm slipping off of Aria's satin covered shoulder. "Yuri," he said, trying not to start anything. "I don't know if I can ever forgive you. Especially since you had the nerve to come to Aria's concert to bring it up." Sergei took in a ragged breath, trying not to vent his anger. He curtly took Aria's hand.
Aria, her eyes never leaving the floor, shook her head. "I'm glad you came tonight, Yuri. At least I got to see you before tomorrow's competition." She looked up at him, tears rolling down her cheeks. "I could get you suspended for what you did to me last night. Maybe for the whole season. But you and your success means too much to me. If Ilia ever finds out, he could fire me for not keeping your mind on skating. Think about that! We can talk later." She covered her mouth, a sob trying to escape her throat. She croaked, "Let's go Sergei."
Sergei, full of concern, whiped the tears from her face with his thumb. In unison they started to walk, leaving Yuri further and further behind. Sergei looked back at Yuri, his eyes full of scorn. Yuri's shoulders dropped as he realized Aria had left the flowers behind. She had dropped them to Yuri's feet. How could he have treated Aria the way he had? He ruined everything, maybe even his chances at winning the gold.
How stupid am I? Yuri thought, the cathedral clearing around him. Sergei has been my friend since we were youngsters in St. Petersburg, Russia. How could I put him through so much pain? How could I hurt his girlfriend -my coach- in that way? The fact of the matter is: I love his girlfriend and I got angry that I couldn't have her. How stupid am I?
To Be Continued????
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