Page 46 of Goalies Don't Date Ice Princesses

“Archer loves it too,” I said. “Not figure skating, but skating. Just for the fun of it. I think it’s what he misses most after...” My voice trailed off, unable to say the words.

“He’ll get back to it one day,” Mr. Jamison said. His voice was so steady, so certain, that I had no doubt he was right. “Just like how you’ll get back to skating.”

“I can’t,” I said. “Not the way I used to. The rink isn’t open much to students who aren’t on a team.”

“The rink isn’t open at night either but that hasn’t stopped you, has it?”

A smile forced its way onto my mouth, even as I tried to push it down. I guess I should have been surprised he knew. He seemed to be aware of everything that went on at this school.

“However,” Mr. Jamison continued, “as your teacher, I feel it’s my responsibility to encourage you to do the right thing. So, perhaps instead of sneaking in here at night, you could find another time to skate, eh?”

I smiled up at him, trying to put an innocent look on my face. “Like during classes?”

Mr. Jamison shook his head and let out a long sigh, but amusement crossed his face.

“As much as your other teachers would love that,” he said, “I was thinking something more akin to a club.”

“A club?” I repeated back.

“You’ll need one to replace skating anyhow for next semester,” he said.

“A club,” I whispered. It would be a way to keep skating without the competition. A way to convince Archer to get back to skating even if he couldn’t rejoin the hockey team yet. And, if there was any chance that my insomnia was going to go away now, it would allow me to sleep through the nights instead of through my classes. “Thank you, sir. I’ll look into it.”

But even as I said it, the same nagging doubt came up in my mind. If I was skating anyway, why did I quit the team? I could have kept going. I could have done it without abandoning my team mates when they needed me most, couldn’t I?

“Penny for your thoughts?” Mr. Jamison asked. I bit my lip and looked out, trying to think of the best way to say it. How to make him understand.

“I just... worry that I made the wrong choice,” I said. “In quitting. Like I ran away when I got scared instead of standing strong and facing my fears. Like I let everyone down.”

“Bri, sometimes the bravest thing we can do is admit when something isn’t right for us anymore. It takes courage to step away from something that no longer brings us joy or fulfillment. And it would only do a disservice to your team for you to stay if you heart wasn’t in it anymore.”

Maybe he was right. Maybe quitting figure skating wasn’t a sign of weakness, but rather an act of self-discovery and growth. The weight on my chest began to lift ever so slightly as I considered the possibility that I had made the right choice.

“But what if I regret it?” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

“Then you can always go back.” A heavy hand landed on my shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “Who says quitting is forever?”

I’d never thought about it like that but I guess it was true. I could go back if I really wanted to. I felt like a weight had been lifted off my chest and I could breathe again. I could go back. If I regretted it that much, quitting didn’t have to be forever.

“It’s getting late, Brielle. Go back to your room. Get some sleep.”

So I did. And for the first time in weeks, I slept through the night.

thirty

Three weeks later,I was sitting in the bleachers of Bredstone Academy. The bitter cold of the rink crept through my coat as I watched the skaters glide effortlessly across the ice. It felt strange to be on this side of the glass, no longer a competitor but simply an observer. My days were no longer filled with grueling training sessions and endless repetitions of jumps and spins. Instead, I found myself with free time and full nights of sleep, two luxuries I’d forgotten existed.

But as I sat there, watching the competition unfold before my eyes, a mix of emotions washed over me. Nostalgia for what I thought my life would be. Pride for my former teammates. Relief that I wasn’t there with them.

Next to me, Archer wrapped his arm around me, his touch warm and comforting.

"How are you feeling?" He whispered to me.

How was I feeling? It was a bittersweet moment for me. While I had chosen to step away from the world of competitive skating, seeing my friends excel in their passion. The burden I had carried for so long seemed was falling away. The pressure that had once suffocated me was now gone. For the first time in a long while, I could simply enjoy the artistry without succumbing to the pressures of competition.

"Good," I whispered, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips. It was a simple word, but it held a world of weight behind it. The decision to leave the competitive team had been difficult, filled with doubt and uncertainty. But as I sat there, surrounded by the icy air and the electric energy of the rink, I began to realize just how much I needed this break.

Archer squeezed my hand gently, his eyes filled with understanding. He had been my rock through it all, supporting me even when I doubted myself.

---