Page 53 of Jesse and the Ice Princess
"Who are you, and what have you done with my uptight friend?"
She shrugged, not able to put it into words. She'd disappointed her parents, but they disappointed her too. This was her life, and it took her this long to realize that.
Hadley unwound Charlotte's braid and started to work. "Does this mean there'll be more kissing?"
She'd given her friend a play-by-play of her night at Jesse's followed by a run-down of her parents' lecture. "No. I still need to stay focused. I might not be doing it for them anymore, but I have my own goals."
"Do you think you can win your competition next weekend?"
"I know I can." It was the biggest one of the season, and would draw skaters from across the state, but she could do it.
"That's my girl."
Charlotte watched the strands of dark hair fall around her, thinking of all the compliments she'd gotten on her shoulder-long locks. None of their words mattered. As she'd said to Hadley, it was only hair. Besides, she'd rather they admire her for her drive and her skill.
Hadley hummed while she worked, forgoing all further questioning about Jesse. Despite her crush, she'd been excited about him kissing Charlotte.
Charlotte, on the other hand, still didn't know how to face him. She'd managed to avoid him at school, but every time the final bell rang, she wished she could head to hockey practice instead of going home to run alone.
After a while, Hadley stepped back. "Perfection."
Charlotte lifted her eyes to the mirror. They widened as she took in the dark hair hanging just above her shoulders in waves. It brushed her neck when she moved her head. The girl staring back at her wasn't the uptight ice princess. She was... something else, something new.
Hadley bent down and hugged her from behind. "You look beautiful, but now that we've made a mess, it's time for me to go." She winked and released Charlotte.
Charlotte laughed.
"I have a wicked test to study for."
"Hads..." Their eyes locked. "Thanks."
"Anytime, babe." She blew a kiss and sauntered out the door.
Charlotte stared at herself in the mirror for a moment longer before she grabbed the broom to sweep up the mess of hair on the floor.
In her baggy jeans and long-sleeved flannel shirt, she doubted anyone would recognize her. They were her Saturday clothes, a day when few people actually saw her. If she tried to leave the house in jeans on a school day, her mom wouldn't let her go.
"Charlie," her dad called up the stairs. "Come down here, please."
"I'm studying, Dad." She wasn't ready for another "talk" with them. Eventually, she'd give in and do as they wanted, but she still needed her space.
She bounced onto her bed and slid her laptop over. Studying wasn't a lie, but it wasn't school that held her attention. Instead, she'd been watching video of the Venice hockey team someone posted online.
Switching back and forth between that and video of her competitors next weekend meant everything else slid to the background. Figure skating. Hockey. Both fed a different part of her, and she wasn't sure which she hungered for more.
She laid on her stomach and kicked her bare feet into the air.
A knock on the door reverberated through the room. With a sigh, she turned over. "Dad, I'm not—" It wasn't her dad.
Jesse stood in the doorway, his hands deep in his pockets. "Hey."
She scrambled to sit up. "Um... hi."
He stepped into the room, his eyes zeroing in on her computer screen. "Are you watching the Venice team?"
"I... uh... just wanted to see what you guys were up against." Her cheeks flamed.
"They're good." He crossed the room and sat on the vacated bench in front of the vanity, his eyes never leaving hers.
