Page 67 of Oh, Flutz!

“I think that might be the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”

“Shut up.” The smile fades, and she rubs her temples, sighing. “I can’t believe we’re in fifth. I don’tgetfifth. Except for that one time.” A black look flashes across her face, and I bite my lip.

Maybe it isn’t just the seniority thing. They don’t take us seriously, it’s true, but I can’t help but wonder if it’s more because of me than because of Katya. Like, she’s the reigning Worlds silver medalist. I’m…not. Maybe if Lian had hooked her up with someone with more experience and credibility, instead of bending over backwards to save me, Katya wouldn’t be this short of a win.

“I know,” I say, averting my eyes. “I’m sorry.”

She squints at me. “Don’t apologize. No point. We just have to make sure we win next time.”

I can’t help but grin at her. Guess she’s still full of surprises. “Sounds like a plan, sunshine.”

“Goddamnit!”

It’s a little less than an hour since we’ve been done for the day, and I’m walking down the hall after taking a shower when I hear a familiar voice coming from the off-ice room.

“Nyet, ya nye znayu.”Silence. “Yes, I already looked there.” More silence, then a scoff. “I just got it refilled.Ya nye narkoman,Misha.”

I stop halfway through the door, pausing with my hand on the frame. Who is she talking to?

“Fine! You’re no use anyway. Bye.” An aggressive click-off, then a mumbling string of angry Russian that gradually grows louder. “Idiotskiy, proklyatiy sukin syn—ugh!” The sound of something thumping against the wall thuds around the corner, and I walk in just in time to see Katya with her hands to her head, pacing back and forth.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” she snaps, before turning her back to me and bending over to pick up a toiletries pouch and all the stuff in it that’s now scattered all over the floor.

I edge closer, crouching down to her level as she’s on her hands and knees, frantically searching the collection of strewn wipes, Q-tips, and foil packets of Advil for something.

“What are you looking for?”

“None of your business,” she bites, and I scoff.

“I’m trying to help.”

Katya deflates, shoulders slumping as she wipes her hair out of her face. “It’s…a little plastic container. It’s yellow, looks kind of like an egg—”

I lower myself, scan the floor, and spot it rolled all the way behind the couch. I scooch myself like a worm until I’m close as I can get, flailing my arm out until I finally get ahold of it. “Got it!”

I grasp it, then stand on my knees and hold it up in triumph, shaking it like a pair of maracas. “What’s in this thing, anyway?”

She tries to grab it, but I grin, holding it just out of reach. One of the only things I’ve got over her is our height difference. Maybe I’m just tall, but next to me she’s tiny, considering she barely comes to my shoulder.

“Give it back,” she hisses, and I smirk.

“What, this thing?”

“I’m not kidding, give it to me.”

I raise my eyebrows, pretending to think about it. “What are you gonna give me if I do?”

Katya doesn’t smile. “Now.”

“I don’t know, maybe I’ll just—” I start opening it, and Katya’s face erupts in panic as she tries to pry my hands away, but the halves pop apart, spilling little blue capsules over my palm.

We both stand there, staring at them.

“What are these?” I ask, trying to keep my voice casual and non-accusatory and completely failing at it.

“Nothing,” she mutters, trying to grab them from me, but I close my hand around her wrist.

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