Look out for the <>! 

Funny story, I should be planning my vacation for Europe right now. But this chapter was calling my name, more like screaming it. I just had to post it. Enjoy this chapter a little early! 

Song for the start of the chapter!

I shook off my nerves as I looked around at the stadium, half-filled with people for the senior ladies' short program. Silently, I set up for my program as the arena grew quiet, waiting for my music to start, just like I was. Here I went. After months of training, I was ready for this. I belonged here. "Ellis da Souza! You got this!!! Kick some ice," I heard my brothers cheer for me.

I smiled up at them, and mom as my eyes fell on the empty seat next to mom. For a second, I felt my heart sink, thinking dad would be here by now since I saw him in my practice yesterday. I let out a shaky breath as the music started.

My heart raced out of my chest as I pushed forward and set up for my first combo. I skated backwards and reached back for a triple lutz double loop which I landed it with strength. A smile came to my lips, knowing that today will be a good skate. I felt powerful with every passing push. I just had to do a few more of those jumps flawlessly during the three-minute song, then I would land myself on the podium for the short program.

Before I knew it, I only had one more jump to land. I was out of breath, but knew I would get bonus points if I landed it. I could feel my legs shake under me but I refused to think about that, knowing I had to keep pushing if was going to be on that podium. This year would be my year, I was going to nationals; I was sure of it.

I turned backwards and set up for a triple salchow. I pushed up from the ice, then crossed my feet in the air and a second later, I was landing back on the ice. Holding the landing made me smile, knowing I had this in the bag. I turned forward and set up for the last spin as the music ended. I checked out of the spin and held my ending pose as a smile came to my face and the crowed cheered. This program was almost perfect and I was proud of it.

My vision blurred, truing the crowd into blobs of color, although I didn't worry about that now as I blinked the tears from my eyes and did a fist pump. All I could think of was that I gave it my best, and it was fantastic. I took a deep breath and waved to the colorful blobs.

"Yeah, El!!!!" I heard Cami cheer out to me from somewhere in the crowd.

I waved again, then skated off the ice, wiping happy tears as I got off. I leaned against the wall as I tried to catch my breath. Breathe in, breathe out. Come on, I need to breathe.

Kris wrapped her arm around me, pulling me to the kiss and cry as we waited for my scores to be called out. I let out a shaky breath as my vision cleared. This was the scariest part of the program, now I would be judged on a program that I thought was flawless. "That was pucking fantastic El," Kris said as she squeezed me. "I'm so proud of you."

I nodded between breaths. "That was pucking fantastic, wasn't it?" I grinned at her.

"I think you under-rotated that triple salchow at the end so you might get some points shaved off for that."

I frowned lightly with a nod, afraid of that since I didn't think I jumped up high enough for that last jump. "But I think I'm still in an excellent position. I just need to get a 53.9 to knock Taylor off the second-place podium."

"And the scores for Ellis da Souza are as follows..."

Suddenly, the crowd grew deathly quiet, and I shut my mouth as my attention shifted to the announcer. My hands shook as I sat under them in an attempt to warm them. I waited patiently for the group of numbers to be called. But as the announcer recalled the numbers, ringing came to my ears and for a second, I couldn't hear anything. I rubbed my ear, hoping that it would help, and it did.

"Which gives Ellis a total score of 56.8," the announcer said as the ringing died out. I covered my mouth in hopes to contain my excitement as the crowd cheered again. Those numbers played on repeat in my mind as the announcer continued, "which currently places her in first place."

I let the words sink in as my eyes well up with tears. I was standing in first place for sectionals after the short program.

Kris hugged me tightly. "Great job El. Great job."

I knew that there were another four more girls to skate after me and I probably wouldn't stay in first place for much longer but there was a good chance that I would make second or third place. "We just have to wait and see if I'll stay on the podium," I said as I stood up from the kiss and cry area, waving one more time to the crowd and the camera, then stepped away.

I watched as the next girl stepped on the ice to complete her program, unable to take my eyes off her, wanting to stay and watch the rest of the skaters. I couldn't help myself, I had to see how well they did next to me. Quietly, I sat down by the boards on an empty seat as the next skater set up for her program.

Kris followed my lead and sat next to me, rubbing my shoulder with a smiled as she buzzed with excitement. "I think you'll get second. Those others to skate don't have the technical scores that you do."

"Except her," I said as I pointed to the girl on the ice. She had gone to nationals 2 years in a row and this time would make it her 3rd time. She was younger than me by a year, but she had more talent than I wanted to admit.

Kris nodded. "I heard her triple axle has been shaky though."

I nodded as I watched the skater start her program and set up for a triple axel. I couldn't help but hold my breath, knowing that if she landed it, it would put her in first place.

She jumped off the ice and as her toe hit the ice again; she fell.

I gasped, knowing how disappointing a fall like that was. I had been in her shoes before. She would get some points knocked off. But sadly, the most detrimental effect would be that this would knock her confidence down. I couldn't help but feel excited for myself, but I also felt sorry for her knowing that a fall at the start of the program plays with your mind. She might not even reach the podium for the short program because of this.

"And there we go. See, what did I tell you?" Kris said with a smile as she pointed to the girl getting up from the ice. With that, Kris stood up from the chair and looked at her phone. "I'm heading back to the hotel. I'll see you tomorrow." She brought me into a hug again, which made me realize I had never seen her this excited before. "You worked so hard for this. I'm so proud of you."

"We worked so hard for this," I said, knowing that without the right coach, I wouldn't be here.

She nodded with a smile. "Get some rest, see you bright and early tomorrow morning," she said and walked off, to go to her hotel for the night.

I took a deep breath in, feeling as if I could breathe easier now that I completed my short. But I wouldn't be able to fully breathe until my long program was finished tomorrow. For a moment though, I could celebrate the minor victory of today since my time was done for tonight and I could now rest, relax, and get ready for tomorrow.

I turned back to watch the girl finish her skate. A frown was clear on her face as she set up a flying camel. She checked out of the spin and fell on the ground again as the music ended and her face full of tears. I frowned back at her, knowing she wouldn't make it to the podium for the short program this year. My heart ached for her, since I understood her pain too well.

I watched the last three skaters skate nearly clean programs, one of them knocking me down to second place, but second was still good and I was happy with that place.

As the Zamboni came out, the senior ladies' short programs were done. I shivered as the machine passed me. Even with my coat around my shoulders, I was freezing, colder than I normally was at the rink. I pulled my coat closer as I stood up from my seat, blowing on my hands to warm them, to no avail. With a sigh, I decided it was time to get my skates off and walked to the locker room in silence.

I walked into the locker room with a grin on my face and excitement buzzing within me. I felt like a Tesla tower shooting sparks into the air. I actually had a chance to make it to nationals this year. Just the thought of it caused goosebumps to run up my body. Finally, after all these years of practice and effort, my dreams were finally coming true.

Breaking me from my thoughts was the sound of my name.

I looked up and saw mom with a huge grin on her face. "El, that was amazing," she said as she walked over to sit beside me. "Oh, I'm so proud of you." She wrapped her arm around me and squeezed.

I smiled as I took my skates off. "Thank you. I'm proud too."

"Cami's skating next round. Want to stay for that?"

I nodded with a smile. "Of course I do," I said as I unlaced my second skate from my foot. "Give me a minute? I'll be out there in a few. I know where you're at."

She nodded, knowing I needed a bit of time to decompress since I always did after a skate. I needed a moment to think about what I did and how to improve or just savor the moment of a job well done in silence and peace. "I'll see you out there then." She stood up from the bench, then walked out the door.

I lived for moments like this. I tried to slide my foot out of my skate but struggled to take it off. It felt like my grip wasn't good enough around my skates. I pushed as hard as I could and finally; the skate popped off. Breaking me from my thoughts was a ring on my phone, causing me to look down to see it was Garret. "Hey," I said excitedly as I answered the phone.

"Hey, how was it?" he asked.

"Amazing. I skated clean. Placed second," I said as I put him on speakerphone then picking up a skate to dry it with an old kitchen towel.

"I knew you could do it. You skate tomorrow for your long program, right?"

I nodded as if he could see it. I put a fluffy soft guard on the dry blade. "Yeah. Tomorrow is the real test. Gosh, Garret, I'm so close, I can taste it."

"I know you'll do good. You're the best skater in the Portland area after all."

I smiled at his words. "Thank you."

"So I talked to the guys about the C cuts," Garret said, changing topics a little too quick for my liking.

I nodded, not wanting to talk about this subject now. What I really wanted to talk about was my short program, not about the hockey and figure feud. "And what have they decided?"

"They'll try to patch up this week and see if they have time to continue it. But they want to see an immediate improvement of the potholes from the figure skaters."

I wanted to take time to think about his words, but right now I couldn't focus on anything but my skating. Just to shut him up I said, "sure, I'll talk to the girls about it."

"Thanks, El. Hey anyhow, I have to go. I knew you would do well. I'll talk to you tomorrow."

I felt my heart drop. I wanted to talk more about my staking but he seemed too busy for that. "Sure, talk to you later," I said and hung up the phone. I looked at my dry skates and quickly chucked them into my bag with force, not feeling satisfied with the conversation.

With a coat in hand and ugg boots on my feet, I walked out of the locker room to join my family to watch Cami skate.

With little effort, I found mom and sat next to her. "Is dad here?" I asked her.

She shook her head. She was disappointed, maybe just as much as I was. "No. Like I told you last night, his flight got delayed."

I never addressed that I saw dad yesterday. I thought he would just show up at the hotel after the rink but by time I got to my room; he was nowhere to be seen, and I quickly went to bed, too tried to look for him. When I left this morning, I didn't have time to ask about him. So by now, I felt confused since he saw me skate yesterday. Instead of protesting it, I just went along with the conversation. "When will he get here?"

"Tomorrow morning."

I nodded. I was no stranger to dad missing my competitions, but I swore I saw him. In fact, I know I saw him here yesterday. But why was he not around today? Why did he make up a lie that his flight was delayed? Did he have something better to do than watch his only daughter skate? "Ok."

"Representing the skating club of Portland Oregon, Camila Lopez!" the announcer said over the speakers, brining my thoughts back to this ice rink. The crowd cheered, and I shouted out Cami's name loudly as I watched her skate onto the ice. I leaned forward, placing my hands on my knees to watch her better.

You can do this, Cami.

She positioned her body in a way I have seen a million times over. She looked at me and smiled as she waited for her music to play.

Suddenly, the song started, and she went off. Just like I knew the song by memory, I knew her skating like the back of my hand. She was too nervous, I could see as she leaned forward as she skated. She set up for the first jump and landed it with a bit of a struggle.

I cringed. She wasn't focused. Come on, Cami. Pull yourself together. She needed to have a clear mind to skate, but something was bothering her. I knew I should have talked to her yesterday. She wanted to talk to me, but I never went back to find her.

After a long two-and-a-half minutes, her program finally finished causing me to cheer loudly. That wasn't the best work she had done, but she didn't fall so no major points would be amiss. "Yeah, Cami!"

She looked over at me with a smile, although I could see she was a bit upset, then waved to the crowd and skated off the ice.

"That was good, wasn't it?" mom asked me, referring to Cami's skate.

I nodded. "It was decent."

There was silence as the announcer came on. "And the total score for Camila Lopez is 45.2"

I cheered louder. With her being the last one to skate, it locked her into fourth place for the short program. If she skated a clean long program, she stood a chance to qualify for nationals this year.

"They're going to do the award ceremony next. You should get down for that," mom said with a nudge.

I nodded as I stood up, only to loose my balance and stumble back to my seat.

"El, are you ok?" she asked with concern.

I nodded at her. "Too much excitement. I'm fine," I said, brushing her off as I stood up again then carefully, walked down the stairs to get to the ground floor.