"So if we fill this out.....there! You've officially applied for your try-out!" Kate says finishing the finial line of the forms and I smile watching her email a copy of it to herself. "In a few months time you'll be that much closer to skating in the Olympics."

"Oh my god." I say shaking my head. 

"It's seriously surreal huh?" She asks and I nod, feeling a smile pushing up onto my face. "Watch your ACL till then." She teases and I sigh, trying to avoid laughing. "Sash, you can laugh. It was a joke."

"I just figured....you know it was probably pretty upsetting." I say and she shrugs.

"It was." She confirms. "I felt like I didn't know who I was anymore, but we have to be able to look back on the challenges life throws at us and laugh at ourselves. I found my new passion, coaching you." She says and I smile, leaning over to give her a hug.

"Thanks Kate." I say quietly and she nods, giving my forearms a squeeze.

"I'm so proud of you." She says and I smile a bit. "Anyway, enough with the sappy stuff. How were your first two weeks back at school?"

"They were alright, thank god it's Friday." I sigh and she laughs.

"What, is that Sabrina bitch still bothering you?" She asks and I shake my head.

"No actually, the school suspended her until she's dealt with through the police." I say nonchalantly and Kate nearly chokes on her coffee.

"What?" She asks and I laugh a bit and nod.

"Yeah, my parents....they got the police and an attorney involved. She's in a lot of trouble, apparently she and her shitty partner-in-crime Jake have to make a formal apology." I sigh. "I don't even want one though, I literally couldn't care less because I know it isn't sincere."

"Look, from what Nate said about that girl, she doesn't seem like the type that lets anyone tell her what to do. The fact that your school is really angry with her for this should be a good sign." She reminds me and I nod, seeing how she might be right. "So if it's not her, why the excitement over the weekend?"

"Life's just busy." I tell her. "When people found out about the skating and the Sabrina thing, on top of dating Nate....well let's just say I've made some new friends."

"Oh you're too popular huh?" She asks in a teasing voice. "That must be awful-"

"Ha-ha." I say cutting her off. "And I'm not upset about it, everything's just go-go-go. I love having these new friends and I like that I'm not sitting at home on Friday nights anymore."

"Well that's great Sash." She says and I nod. "Just....don't lose the great friends you have already."

"I won't." I tell her shaking my head. "Irene hangs out with us most of the time, other than her I wasn't really that close with any other girls." I assure her and she smiles. "Kate that's the last thing I'd do to anybody, I know how bad it hurts to get left behind by your friends." 

"I guess so." She says and I smile. "So any plans for tonight?"

"Yeah there's a sleepover tonight at Mel's, there's only a few of us going. It's to comfort Irene over the break-up."

"There's nothing like men to bring girls together huh? Especially new love or break-ups, trust me it's a serious bonding thing." She assures me and I laugh.

"Well I'm looking forward to it." I tell her and she nods. 

"So how's Nate?" She asks and I feel my cheeks flush.

"Nate's amazing." I tell her and she smiles. "He helps me so much with everything and our relationship finally feels more normal. No distractions, no hiding, no brothers or family members interfering. It's perfect."

"So how long have you been going out now?" She asks and I sigh.

"From when we made it official?" I ask and she nods. "Five weeks?"

"So you've passed your one-month?" She asks excitedly and I feel my eyes widen.

"I guess we did." I say, now realizing it for myself. "But we've never celebrated anything like that, we celebrate more-so how long we've known each other, big days. Stuff like that I guess."

"Well I still maintain the opinion that you guys are the sweetest couple on the planet." She says with a sappy grin. "And I'm guessing you two are enjoying all of this new down-time together?" She asks suggestively, raising her eyebrows. 

"Kate!" I huff, smacking her arm.

"I'll take that as a yes." She says and I roll my eyes. 

Suddenly my phone vibrates and I see Nate's name on the screen. I smile and look outside, seeing him standing next to the open door of his car.

"He's here." I say quietly, getting my things together and she elbows me. "Thanks for meeting me Kate, you're the best." I tell her, giving her another hug and she gives me a good squeeze.

"Of course Sash." She says and I smile. "Call me if you ever want to hang out."

"You know I will." I tell her, sliding my laptop into my bag. "See you later." I whisper, getting out of the chair and giving her a quick wave. I hurry out to Nate's car and he smiles as I walk over and give him a hug.

"Hey gorgeous." He says and I smile. "How was coffee?"

"It was amazing, I'm officially all signed up for my Olympic try-outs." I tell him and he raises his eyebrows.

"That's great Sash." He whispers, giving me a quick kiss. "What are you up to tomorrow?" He asks and I furrow my eyebrows. 

"Absolutely nothing." I tell him and he nods.

"Good because tomorrow marks a very special anniversary." He whispers and I pull back feeling confused. "Come on baby, doesn't the day April eleventh mean anything to you?" He asks and I feel my eyes widen.

"I didn't realize it was tomorrow!" I tell him and he nods, pulling his dog-chains out of his shirt. 

"I compared the dates and everything, it's the ten year anniversary of meeting you."

"The day we both enrolled in that beginner spring course." I tell him and he nods. "I was just freaking out because I realized we've been going out for a month and we didn't celebrate it-"

"Believe me Sash this is a way bigger deal." He says and I smile.

"I love you." I whisper, wrapping my arms around his neck.

"Love you more." He says and I laugh, too happy to fight with him about it. "So, dad's away and mom won't be home until later. Do you want to come over and hang out for a while?"

"I'd love that, tonight's girls night." I remind him and he nods.

"Right, what time is that?" He asks and I smile.

"Mel said seven." I whisper and he smiles.

"Well get in and we'll figure out how to make use of two and a half hours." He says and I feel my body heat up a few pleasant degrees.

I walk around to the other side and let Nate drive us to his house. I couldn't wait to spend this time with him. 

The drive is quick and soon enough he's opening my door for me and taking my hand, leading me back to the house. Then we're kicking off shoes and tossing jackets and bags away, before I can even think about what to do, Nate lifts me off the floor and carries me up the stairs to his room.

He sits on the bed and brings me down with him so I straddle his lap. I give him a quick kiss and then reach down to pull off my shirt, but he grabs my hands.

"We don't have to spend our time this way if you don't want to." He tells me and I sigh.

"Do you not want to spend our time this way?" I ask and he shakes his head quickly.

"Of course I do, this is all I've been thinking about since Tuesday when Irene needed you. I just want you to know we don't have to spend our time together like this." He says, cupping the side of my face and I smile.

"Baby I know we don't, but I want to. We've spent plenty of time together this week, this is what I want." I assure him, running my hands over his chest. He takes a deep concentrated breath and I smile. "I miss you." I breathe and he nods.

"I miss you too." He whispers, pressing his lips against mine. I feel heat work its way back through my body and I quickly lose the ability to breathe. I find myself yanking off my shirt and tugging at his as well.

I feel his hands all over my skin, on my hips, my arms, my back, my breasts. Everywhere he touched me felt like fire burning across my skin. I reach down to the space between us and start undoing his pants, feeling him undo my bra. 

The air was completely electric, it was impossible to take a breath. Everything felt suffocating but in the best possible way. He then slides his hands into my leggings, squeezing my butt and I laugh a bit breaking the kiss.

I grab his belt loops pulling me flush against him and I groan feeling him pressing against me. One of his hands moves from my butt to the front of my body, past my underwear and I press my lips together. I grab his shoulders feeling my body continuing to heat up when he pulls back.

"Why'd you stop?" I whisper, not thinking clearly and he smiles running his nose along mine.

"Baby we have two hours at least, we have all the time in the world." He reminds me and I smile, pulling him back for another kiss.

>

"Call me when you're free tomorrow." Nate says, parking in front of Mel's house and I nod, leaning over to give him a quick hug.

"I will." I whisper and he smiles, giving me a quick kiss on the cheek. "Thanks for this afternoon."

"Anytime." He whispers back and I laugh a bit to myself. "I love you, have fun and if anything goes wrong give me a call, I'll be over as soon as I can be."

"I love you too." I tell him and he gives me a squeeze. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Bye Sash." He whispers and I smile.

"Bye Nathan." I tell him and step out onto the pavement.

He waits until I'm up to the door and it opens before driving away, he's honestly too sweet for me sometimes, making sure I'm alright and safe.

"Sasha!" Mel sings opening the door. "I'm so glad you're here, come on in!" She says giving me a hug and I smile. "Oh my god you look flushed, are you warm or something? Can I get you a glass of water?"

"Oh no, I'm alright." I tell her, wishing my cheeks would just stop flushing.

"Oh I get it." She says with a smirk and I press my lips together, trying not to smile. "Nate dropped you off huh? Did you come from his?"

"Yeah." I say quietly and she smiles. 

"Well come in, it's just me, you, Rachel and Irene. We'll do face masks, eat food, chat. I just want this to be low-key, the poor thing went through a damn break up." She says and I nod.

"I know I feel horrible for her." I admit and she smiles. "Is anyone else here yet?"

"Nope just me and you, Rachel's picking up Irene on her way." She says leading me to the kitchen and we take a seat at the island. "So let's take this time and you can tell me all about your hook-up." She says and I laugh.

"Oh." I say with a shrug. "We-um....well I bet you could guess what happened." I tell her feeling my face turn more red. If I couldn't even discuss this with Nate, the chances of me talking about it with anyone else, even Kate, were always slim.

"Come on! Just give me a detail, one thing." She begs and I laugh.

"Like what?" I ask and she smiles.

"What's it like?" She asks and I sigh.

"It's really nice." I say quietly. "He's really sweet to me, he doesn't care about how little experience I have or the fact that I'm skinny and boney. It's the fact that he really cares about me."

"Aw you two are so cute." She says and I smile. "Sex where you feel connected seems to be the favourite for most people, it's all Rachel goes on about."

"What's it like to....well you know....do it with someone you're not in a relationship with?" I ask, genuinely feeling curious. I knew most girls in high school did the whole 'no-strings-attached' thing, I just wanted to know what seemed to be enjoyable about it. "And I swear I'm not judging, I'm just asking."

"It's alright." She says. "It gives me something to do, I spend a lot of time here alone. My mom's a full-time business woman, she's never here. I don't do it to string people along or use people, I really do care about the guys I mess around with, it just gives me someone to spend time with. It fills the void."

Jeez. 

"Most of the girls I used to be friends with, sex meant nothing. It was like shaking hands, that's not how I feel about it. I only do it with people I trust." She says and I nod. "No-strings-attached, everyone's happy."

"Interesting." I say and she laughs.

"I know that's not most peoples' thing and that's alright, one day I'm sure I'll have a Nate or a Damien. But that's not what I need right now." She says and I honestly see how that could make sense. Not everyone's the same and Mel wants support just like me, she just doesn't get it from only one person.

"I think it's cool that you seem to know what you want. Out of life, out of men, it seems like you have it together."

"Well I don't, I'm just good at pretending I do." She says and I laugh with a nod.

"Aren't we all?" I ask and she nods.

"God I can't believe....well you just seem like a good friend. I think we get along alarmingly well, I just can't believe I never met you before two weeks ago." She says and I smile.

"I'm glad we did, you're really the sweetest." I tell her and she smiles, pouting out her lips.

"You're going to make me cry." She teases and I laugh.

"Look I don't mind talking about any of this but, when Irene gets here let's maybe try and keep the conversation off of sex. I know that was something she used to talk about wanting to do with Micheal and they never did. I think it might end up being a sore subject."

"You have my word, I just want her to have some fun." She says and I smile.

"Knock knock!" We hear and turn to see Rachel and Irene in the front entryway.

"Who's there?" Mel teases. "Alright, are we ready for the best girls night ever?"

"I am." Irene says and we all clap and cheer. 

"Well everyone put on something comfy and I'll make drinks and order a pizza." Mel says. "Trust me Irene, you'll have so much fun tonight."

"Perfect!" Rachel says.

"Can you take them Rach, while I sort out food and beverage?" She asks. "You know where my room is."

"I'm on it Mel, let's go laddies!" She says and I follow her up the stairs.

It truly amazed me that someone would spend this much time in so much empty space alone. Mel's bedroom is incredible, over the top furniture, fairy lights coat the walls and celling. She has a king sized bed in the middle of her room and a full on sitting room off to one side.

"I know, it's no fair that her room is this nice right?" Rachel asks and I laugh.

"It's really gorgeous." Irene says.

"That couch unfolds into a queen bed, if memory serves." She says and we walk over quickly setting it up.

Quickly the three of us change, I slide on a pair of gym shorts and a hoodie Nate lent me several weeks ago. I pull my hair up into a pony tail and pull on a pair of comfy socks.

Once we're changed we're headed back to the kitchen where Mel has four tall glasses full of clear drink and mint leaves.

"Ooh you're just in time, mojitos laddies?" She asks and I shrug. I knew what was in a mojito and I knew sipping on one for the night wouldn't kill me.

"What's in it?" Irene asks. 

"White rum, mint leaves, simple syrup....just try it." Mel encourages. "The best way to get over men is drinking."

"Well Mel would know best." Rachel says and she rolls her eyes. Irene takes the glass and I nudge her.

"Together alright? I swear it's good." I tell her and she smiles, clinking her glass with mine. I drink it enjoying the light minty taste and Irene takes a sip giving me a pleasantly surprised look.

"You were right." She says and I nod.

"To girls night!" Mel says and we all tap our glasses together again.

She turns on music and puts out a bag of chips for us to eat before the pizza gets here. We enjoy the small chat and the laughs we get before the doorbell rings.

"Oh that's the pizza! How's my hair, what if he's hot?" Mel asks and I laugh.

"If he's hot then Irene should answer the door!" Rachel encourages.

"Yes!" Mel says walking her to the door. "I'll pay, if he's gross feel free to hate me." She whispers and Irene laughs. 

"How do I look?" Irene asks and Mel smiles.

"Great, I swear I'd give anything to have the skin you and Sasha have." She says and Irene laughs.

I don't hear much of the interaction at the door but I watched some smiles, hair flipping, laughter when I'm sure none of it was funny. I just shake my head and chat with Rachel until they're back.

"Guess what we got!" Mel sings, pizza box in hand.

"A pizza?" Rachel asks sarcastically and Mel rolls her eyes.

"I got his phone number!" Irene squeals and I laugh.

"No way." I say and she smiles, unzipping her sweater. 

"He wrote it on the top of my boobs." She says and I feel my eyes widen, seeing a ten digit number written across Irene's cleavage.

"Wow, how about that?" Rachel says raising her eyebrows. "He wouldn't have anything to write on if I tried that trick." She says and I laugh.

"Me neither." I tell her and she laughs.

"Well I don't see either of your boyfriends complaining so let's just eat." Mel says and we laugh as the box is set down on the island. I feel my mouth water and my stomach growl, my meds were starting to really kick in, today was the third day and aside from a small headache, they seemed to be working.

"I'm starving." I groan and Irene gives me a weird look.

"You're starving?" She asks and I nod with a quick laugh.

"It's crazy isn't it?" I ask and she laughs.

I couldn't remember the last time I felt hungry, but now that I did I was almost relieved. I actually wanted to eat and thanks to the over-the-counter meds I never felt sick. It was incredible.

"So is the rumour about figure skaters and ballet dancers true? Do you guys really eat like football players?" Mel asks and I laugh.

"Not for me." I tell her, I probably should be for how many calories I burn.

"Sometimes?" Irene says. "Not often."

"What's it like to do what you guys do?" Rachel asks and I shrug.

"It's a lot of physio, ballet practice everyday, long practices, coaches and routines. What we do is harder than just skating or ballet, it combines them. You need to be graceful and flexible, but coordinated and driven all at the same time." I tell them. "But I really like it."

"Oh yeah, there's really nothing like it." Irene agrees. "The worst part is getting my bikini line waxed all the time." I laugh a bit at that and so does everyone else.

"Sounds like hell, it hurts bad enough when they wax my eyebrows!" Rachel says and we all end up laughing again.

"Another round everyone?" Mel asks and I nod seeing my glass was empty. "I've got the stuff for margaritas, daiquiris, martinis after we're done with mojitos. The first one to drunk text a boy, is getting a Sharpie tattoo in their sleep." She threatens and I find myself laughing.

This night was so different from all of the others I'd ever had before in my life. This was what I wanted for so many years, girl time. I didn't have to seek it out awkwardly from the stiff girls in my club or ask Kate to go out all the time. I had....real friends.

"Sasha I'm looking at you, I know that's not your sweater." Mel says measuring out the rum and mix. "It's practically eating you alive."