"Question?" I fire off as soon as I open the car door.

"Answer," Ryder replies while assessing the cut on his cheek in the mirror.

Last night after sledding, Ryder and I drove a few towns over and went to dinner where we knew we'd be safe. As we were leaving I slipped on ice and pulled poor Ryder down with me. His face hit the ground and he scratched his cheek. He thought it was funny, I still feel horrible about it. I made him come up to my apartment when we got back to school to let me clean it up. Apparently my Finding Nemo band aids weren't his speed because they are no longer piled on his face.

"Do you want to play in the Olympics?" This morning Tristian, Parker, Luna, and I went to breakfast and were talking about the recent Olympics and how Team USA Figure Skating did surprisingly bad. We all have Olympic dreams, I feel like most athletes who play a sport that is in the Olympics do, but now I wonder. Is hockey like gymnastics or figure skating where making an olympic team is the peak of your career or is it more like basketball where most pros turn down the opportunity.

"The Olympics? I never really thought about it honestly."

"Wouldn't making the team be cool?"

"I guess, I mean it's kind of like making the all star game they are obviously picking the best players. Last Olympics NHL players couldn't play so I guess I didn't really think about it being something I could or would do."

"Did they do it this year?"

"Yeah a few guys went but a lot of the best opted for the all star game and to relax with family."

"If asked, would you go?"

"Well I am probably not good enough to get asked but I guess if I was it would depend on one thing."

"If you made the all star game," I ask because everyone knows the all star game is scheduled during the Olympics so the season isn't disrupted for three weeks for no reason.

"Nah, who made the figure skating team. I could never live your dream without you there."

Instantly my heart stops and then takes off wildly. I am a pile of mush in the passenger seat at Ryder words. He only wants to go to the Olympics if I am there? Me? As if my crush on Ryder wasn't already making me into some giddy little kid. I am fucked and the fact I think he has a crush on Maya is doing all sorts of things to me. Yesterday when he asked about her I swear I wanted to throw myself out of the moving car. I mean I want Maya around too and originally I wanted Ryder and Maya together but now... now I want him for myself and I am not sure I can keep ignoring that, no matter how much they're into each other.

Lunas 'be careful' warning from Valentines day rattled around in my head. So much for no feelings. I am not even sure where these feelings came from honestly because when I told Luna I didn't have feelings I wasn't bluffing. They kind of came out of nowhere and all this time spent together is not helping them subside.

"Interesting," I squeak when I finally get my body to function properly again.

When we get to the rink we walk inside to find Barb sitting on the bench covering her face while Josh paces back and forth. "Everything ok?" I ask them gently. Ryder behind me is tense and I know it is because he is not good with emotions, his or others.

"Don't worry sweetie, just a little leak."

Josh lets out a bitter laugh and points to the soaking wet floor. "Just a little. I know this is the most important month of the year for both of you but we may have to close for a little bit. Just until we can get the funds together to get this all fixed. I am going to go down to the bank tomorrow and see if I can get a loan. But don't you kids worry I will try to get it back open as quickly as possible."

"Josh don't worry about us seriously we will be fine. Is there anything we can do?"

"God no you two are so sweet but we have this under control. Thank you." Barb tries to force a smile but I can tell she is on the verge of tears.

"Honey, let's go in the office and let these two practice. Francesca has a competition this weekend and Ryder is in playoff season; they need all the practice they can get."

Josh takes his wife's hand and they both sadly walk to the office. Ryder and I just stand there stunned. The mood has changed so quickly and the air is so thick it feels like it is hard to breath. "This sucks," I say quietly as we both sit to put our skates on.

"I feel so fucking bad. They're the nicest people and I feel like they can never catch a break."

We both sigh as we get on the ice. Josh and Barb were nice enough to let us have extra time this week since we are on spring break so our normal hour of ice time is two hours today. We both are quick to bury ourselves into practicing to numb the sadness. Normally during practice during water breaks we will check in with each other, maybe talk or tease each other but today is two hours of hard skating and dead silence. It is almost eerie how quiet it is. My music is just loud enough I can hear it over our skating and heavy breathing and there is a steady drip of water that I can see is slowly driving Ryder mad. I am not sure if it is the noise itself or the situation that has him so livid but as time winds down he is pushing himself harder than I have ever seen.

"Ry," I interrupt when our two hours is well over and Ryder is breathing so heavy he sounds like he's about to collapse.

He stops short and steps off the ice pacing in front of me in his skates. "I hate this Beck. I hate feeling helpless to two people who have given me so much." He pulls his hat off and aggressively readjusts it on his head.

"Me too. I can't stop feeling guilty about taking the money back because we had to share time."

"I didn't take it back," Ryder says softly. The realization that I took it and he didn't hits both of us at the exact same moment.

I feel something in me shatter instantly. I was so selfish for taking the money. Ryder didn't take it back, so why did I? Josh and Barb already are so good to me and I took advantage. Ryder pulls me into his arms as I let out a choked sob. "Why did I take it. I didn't need it. I just, I thought about the possibility of new skates and a new costume, for once fitting in, and I was so selfish."

"Shh, no you aren't Francesca." Ryder holds me tightly as I cry into his shirt. "Please don't cry."

"They needed the money Ryder and I took it. I took it and now look." For someone who is bad with emotions and never knows the right words to say, in this very moment Carson Ryder is my superhero saying all the right words to piece me back together.

"Francesca, that money would not have solved this and you aren't selfish, you understand me?" Ryder pulls me from where I am buried in his chest to hold my face between his hands. With more certainty in his voice than I have ever heard from him ever, he continues. "You are the least selfish person I know and you deserve new skates and a costume and all the other things. It isn't fair that they are in this situation but this isn't your fault. You took the money back because you needed it too. It isn't like you went out and blew it on something stupid, this is your entire future and these competitions are important."

"I feel terrible Ry," I whimper as he pulls me back into his arms, rubbing my back comfortingly.

"I do too," he tells me softly. I don't know how long we end up standing there in each other's arms but when we finally break apart Ryder wipes a tear off my face before putting a hand on each of my shoulders. "If I said I had a crazy idea would you help me?"

"I love crazy ideas," I tell him, sniffling away the last of my sadness.

"Come on, we are going to need help for this one to work."

Ryder throws me my shoes and hastily puts his on. He is already halfway to the door when I have my shoes on and my skates in my bag so I ran after him dragging my jacket behind me.

"Can you explain to me what we are doing?"

He holds up a finger while he types on his phone. I feel mine vibrate in my hand and check it quickly.

Ryder: Meet at Pickles in 20 minutes, assassins on pause until further notice.

Our phones begin to instantly blow up with both teams firing off questions just as confused as I am about what is going on.

"Ryder? Words please. I am not a mind reader!"

"Have you ever done a clinic," he asks while we exit the building, keeping up our swift pace to his car.

"Yeah as a kid my parents would sign me up for them at the local rink. They were cheaper than private lessons and always run by really talented skaters."

"Yeah and they were always super crowded, right?"

"Yeah?"

"Exactly. So even though they were cheap they brought in lots of money. And guess what, we have some of the best figure skaters and hockey players at our disposal with nothing to do all week. I say we rent the rink Thursday night and host our own to raise money for Josh and Barb."

"We don't know how to run a clinic and I am sure it is not that easy."

"Maybe, but the hockey team hosts some so I can ask Coach for some help and maybe use of the teams social media."

"What if no one shows? We are giving people like two days notice. We need to slow down a minute Ryder." I see the gears turning in his head and mine begin to as well. Ryder could really be on to something but we need a way to get the word out quickly.

When we park in the Pickles parking lot we can already see a bunch of our teammates inside. "Beck something is better than nothing right now and it will cost us literally nothing to try."

I mull it over in my head. I can feel Ryder staring at me waiting anxiously for my answer. "If a kid pees on the ice you're cleaning it, got me?"

"Why would a kid pee on the ice?"

"I was 4 and a half ok! Shit happens!" Ryder laughs as I jump out of the car.

"Aw my poor Beck wet the ice. Poor baby," he coos pinching my cheeks.

I want to curse him out but Bray, Parker, and Luna are standing outside watching us. "Fryder, what the fuck is going on?"

"Bray, I need you to make a sick ass poster, alright."

"Ok, Ryder I am going to need more details than that. Why are we all here?"

"Come inside guys, me and Ryder will explain."

Everyone inside shuts up as we walk in and watches us. "Thank you all for coming so quickly. A lot of you know Barb and Josh and have skated at the rink during your time here. They always treat us well and now it's time to pay it forward. They have a leak at the rink and don't have the money to fix it so if you are all willing to help, we would like to host a clinic this Thursday."

"Please," I add, trying to soften Ryder's more abrasive, demanding tone.

Quickly our team agrees. We all begin brainstorming, instantly using the huge chalkboard in Pickles to write down a ton of ideas. The owner of Pickles, who is also a former Michigan Hockey player, offers to supply food and drinks. The guys Coach and the rest of the of the teams staff quickly hops on board along with our figure skating coaches. Things are going good and the second we post about it people already start rsvping for themselves and for kids. We are doing two sessions: 1 for kids under 16 and 1 for people 16 and up.

"Today has been stressful," I yawn.

"Yeah let's wrap this up, wanna laugh?"

"Always," I smile, leaning my emotionally exhausted body against him.

"Assassins is back on," Ryder yells and suddenly everyone is scattering frantically. Ryder manages to kill Dunk and immediately take out whoever Dunk had, performing the most vicious double kill I have ever seen.

"That was cruel," I laugh when it is just us alone in the bar.

"Probably, but it was still fun."