"Aren't you excited?" Kate squeals next to me. "This is going to be amazing Sasha, you have no idea."

"I guess so." I pout, sinking into my airplane seat.

I didn't want to go, I didn't even get to see Nate today before I left. He was so good at helping me with things and making me feel better. He was perfect and I had to leave him behind for the weekend.

Yesterday really hadn't been much better at school, people still passed remarks and teased me in the hallway. If it wasn't that, it was watching people whisper behind my back. It felt surreal and the fact that it could be true? That made it hurt twice as much.

Lord only knows what Sabrina would do if she really found out about that. I'd be miserable at school, more miserable than I am now or ever have been.

"Cheer up, three days without Nate isn't going to kill you." She insists and I groan looking out the window.

"It feels that way." I mumble. "I see him everyday."

"This is probably going to be good for both of you." She insists. "Spending time apart is healthy."

I knew she was probably right about that, but there was something distinctly amazing about having Nate wrap his arms around me. I didn't like the fact that we'd be away from each other on the biggest weekends either of us had had so far this year.

The amount of times I'd sit and think about Nate were starting to scare even me. I'd think about how long we'd known each other, how much I loved him.

I feel my phone vibrate, pulling it out of my pocket. The message was from earlier when we were at the gate, I hoped it was another message from Nate, but the name on the screen made me smile just as much.

*Good luck this weekend Sash, I'm rooting for you :) Thanks for everything you've done for me, good things are coming your way!*

The text from Micheal and I loved it equally as much. Micheal's chat with his parents had gone distinctly well, all of his worries were put to rest and, as I'd thought, they accepted him with open arms. From the few bits and pieces he'd mentioned, it had been fairly emotional. But he confirmed I was right, that it was nice to have told someone and for there to be no secrets.

I was incredibly proud of him, of course it wasn't a well known fact by everyone at this point. But slowly Micheal was telling a few people he trusted. We'd chat on the phone about it some nights and he seemed lighter. He was the same Micheal he always was, he just wasn't pretending anymore.

He even said Dean was thinking about telling his parents too. It overjoyed me, especially after telling me and how scared he was. The only person he really still had to tell was Irene. That was hard for him because he didn't want to hurt her. I knew he really did care about her, but their relationship was forced at this point.

I almost felt embarrassed for thinking my life was overwhelming. I couldn't imagine what Micheal was going through on the best of days, but I was happy he had someone like Dean to lean on. He said his parents even set him up to talk to a councillor and keep him on track.

With Micheal's issues starting to come back under control, things were starting to get easier for him. I think he was happier now and it meant one less thing I'd think about while I laid awake at night.

"Earth to Sasha." I hear Kate say next to me, snapping me from my thoughts.

"What?" I ask and she smiles.

"I said are you nervous?" She asks and I sigh.

"Yes." I mutter and she laughs a bit. "Just a few weeks ago I never wanted to do this again, and now I want it more than ever. I'm excited but scared at the same time I guess."

"That's totally normal." She assures me. "We've got rink time booked for tomorrow night so you can practice then, other than that just try and relax. The competition's on Saturday, it'll be over before you know it."

There were fifty-some girls competing in this competition, I had to be better than all of them. At the end of the day, I was just happy I was enjoying it again. I was happy I loved my routine and my practices and at the end of the day, I just wanted to put myself out there again. I wasn't going to give up, I had a second chance and I wasn't going to waste it.

"I just want to get it over-with, it's the anticipation I can't stomach." I tell her and she smiles.

"Well then let's get your mind off it." Kate suggests. She looks back over her shoulders seeing my parents in a completely different area of the plane. Johnathan knocked out across the isle. "Tell me about Nate."

"All I talk about with you is Nate!" I laugh and she laughs too.

"I know, it's adorable. You haven't said much about him since Sunday." She says, suggestively raising her eyebrows.

"That's because I've been dealing with other stuff this week." I tell her and she nods.

"I'm sorry about that." She says and I smile.

"It's alright, eventually everyone will get over it." I tell her and she nods.

"High school's rough, the people who have it the most figured out are the ones who get picked on the most. Don't let anyone bring you down Sash, you've got a great boyfriend and you seem happier these days." She encourages and I smile, leaning over for a hug and she wraps an arm around my shoulders. "You're better than who ever this Sabrina bitch is."

"Thanks Kate." I say and she nods.

"You're going to be amazing this weekend." She insists and I smile. "Just remember one day, when you're standing on the podium at the Olympics, remember who taught you what you know." She teases and I smile with a nod.

She suddenly reaches her hand out to mine and picks it up examining the new bracelet on my wrist.

"This is nice." She says and I nod feeling my body get warm, remembering the night I got it. "Is it from Nate?" She asks and I nod.

"He gave it to me on Saturday, he has one like it." I tell her and she smiles. "But they stick together, he said it was to remind me we're connected when we're far apart."

"Aw." She gushes. "So they're magnets? That's literally so cute."

"I know!" I say and she laughs.

"You know he probably wishes he could be here with you right?" She asks and I nod.

"I know he does." I whisper and she smiles. "I wish I could be with him too."

"I can't believe how fast you feel for this guy." She whispers.

"He's not just a guy." I tell her. "He's a guy I love."

She smiles at that and the two of us settle in for the rest of the flight. I feel myself nod-off and start to dream, suddenly Nate didn't feel so far away.

>

"Come on Sasha! One more time!" Kate calls and I skate back to the centre of the ice, ready to start my routine over again.

Tonight was my final practice before the huge competition tomorrow. I was mildly nervous, but right now all I could think of was going back to the hotel and laying in bed. Then I could call Nate and talk to him.

So I start to go through my routine for the last time, landing my triples and spinning around on the ice. I felt solid about my routine, I had it down and it was really something I liked. It felt powerful to skate like this and I couldn't wait to put it in motion tomorrow.

After the end of a sweaty practice, I change and we get a cab back to the hotel. I was wiped from the flight and restless sleep I'd had last night. I was more than ready to sleep, but it would be incredibly hard given the stress tomorrow presented.

Soon enough we were back at the hotel, my parents had gone out tonight while I was at practice. It seemed like this trip was good for them, they'd been spending plenty of time together and it seemed like their relationship was rekindling.

"Is it cool if I go work on some stuff with Johnathan for a while?" Kate asks and I nod as we walk through the lobby. Kate and I shared a room, while Johnathan was just across the hall. My parents were further down on their own.

"It's fine with me, I'm just going to shower and call Nate." I tell her and she smiles.

"Remember cool-down stretch before bed, take your vitamins and get some rest." She says and I roll my eyes stepping onto the elevator.

"Yes mom." I tease and she nudges me.

As soon as I'm in my room I head straight for the bathroom. The shower is warm and the water rinses some of the stress away.

Then I'm on the floor of my room, using my foam roller to stretch out cramps and stiffness. Once I'm done with that I lay in bed and FaceTime Nate, wanting to see him so badly.

It barely rings when the screen swaps over and I can see a beautiful pair of eyes looking back. I smile instantly, feeling my heartbeat pick up. My boyfriend is so handsome.

"Hey baby." He says sitting up from his bed and I feel my smile get wider.

"Hey." I whisper and he smiles back.

"So how did everything go today? Did you do any sight seeing?"

"Some in the morning." I say with a shrug. "Then I went to the gym this afternoon and we just had our ice-time to practice."

"That's good." He says. "Feeling ready for tomorrow?"

"I could ask you the same thing." I remind him knowing the first game of his regionals is tomorrow morning.

"I think we're ready, but we'll see how it goes." He says with a shrug. "You didn't answer my question."

"I'm a little nervous I guess, but I'm just going to do the best that I can." I tell him and he nods.

"That's all you can do." He reminds me. "I'm sure you'll be amazing." I smile at him and lay back on the pillows.

"I miss you." I tell him and he sighs.

"I miss you too." He says quietly. "Laying in bed sucks without you."

"Tell me about it." I agree.

I look at his bed and pillows and I feel my face turn pink as I remember last weekend again. I was mad at myself that I was too messed up to do it again before I left. I just liked being that close, I liked knowing that he really did feel that way about me. I liked remembering him going slow and asking me if I was alright. I liked laying in bed afterwards, running my hands over his chest.

"Sasha?" He says and I snap out of my day-dream.

"Hmm?" I ask and he laughs.

"You've just been staring at me for two minutes....are you alright?" He asks and I nod, clearing my throat and feeling embarrassed.

"I'm great." I tell him and he laughs a bit.

"Does this setting bring back too many memories?" He teases gesturing to the space around him.

"Maybe a few." I admit and he chuckles.

"Try laying here every night." He whispers and I feel my mouth get dry. "It's dangerous."

"I bet." I whisper. "I can't wait to come back." He smiles a bit at that and laughs a bit making me smile.

"Neither can I." He says quietly. "I wish you were here."

I start to look over the half of his torso I can see, his shoulders and arms, the deep grooves and lines on his chest. The chain of his dog-tags shines in the dim light in the room and suddenly I wish I could be there too.

"Sash, you're doing it again." He says, making me laugh.

"S-sorry." I say quietly. "You're very good-looking."

"Well that makes two of us." He says quietly.

I suddenly yawn, feeling my eyes close and he smiles.

"Tired?"

"Incredibly." I answer.

"I can go if you want to go to sleep." He offers but I shake my head, settling down into bed.

"No don't go. Just.....talk to me until I fall asleep?" I ask, propping him up on my nightstand.

"Whatever you want." He says and I smile. "So you're staying at the Hilton right?" He asks and I nod.

"Yeah, not too far from the rink." I tell him and he nods.

"So it's just you and Kate huh? Having fun?" He asks and I laugh.

"Sure, I love having Kate around." I say and he smiles.

"When's your final skate tomorrow?" He asks and I think back on it for a moment.

"Should be around two-forty-five-ish?" I tell him and he smiles.

"You'll have to tell me all about it tomorrow." He says and I nod.

"I wish it could be in person." I mumble, feeling my eyes start to close.

"It'll feel like we're closer than you think." He whispers and I feel sleep starting to pull me under.

"I love you." I mumble.

"I love you too, goodnight." He says quietly and I give in, letting myself nod-off.