Page 10 of Thrown for a Loop
Joon-ho puts his head in his hands. “Duuude.No.”
But Zoe’s lips quirk up at the corners. “Yeah, I’ll give you twenty bucks to ask her that question.”
“I’d do it if I thought she’d get the joke.” He unzips his bag and pulls out his skates.
“Oh my God, where did you get those?” Joon-ho asks, staring at the battered boots. There’s duct tape on one of them.
“Goodwill,” he admits. “But I sharpened the blades myself.” He also put custom footbeds into them, because he wasn’t born yesterday.
“He can’t even jump,” Joon-ho says to Zoe.
“I can too jump,” Chase argues. “I just can’t do triples. Or most doubles.”
“Then what are you even doing here?” Zoe asks.
“People keep saying that,” he says, lacing up one skate. “But I’m the only one on this bench who’s putting skates on. Are we going to warm up or what?”
Ten minutes later, all three of them are stepping out on the rink. Chase strokes cautiously to center ice, trying to remember how figure skates are supposed to feel. After all, that whole “toe pick” scene fromThe Cutting Edgeis a real thing that happens to hockey skaters who try figure skates. And the elevated heel pushes his center of gravity forward by a degree, which requires an adjustment.
On the other hand, the longer blade means a longer glide, which feels like flying. It takes him only a minute or two to find his stride.He pumps past the other skaters, whips his body into reverse, and then glides neatly into back crossovers. He takes a deep breath of chilly rink air and pictures his mom chasing him, a big smile on her face, her hand-knitted scarf flying in the breeze.That’s it, Chasey! Now try it on your lazy leg, too.
He switches sides a couple of times until that feels natural. And then, what the hell, he throws a toe loop and lands it cleanly. It feels like time travel, with his mom’s voice reminding him to keep a soft knee and extend his arms. Hot pretzels from the concession stand. Cocoa with tiny marshmallows.
He glides to a stop and finds both Zoe and his pack of boys watching him. “Is that all you’ve got?” Ethan asks. “A single?”
It totally is, but Chase smiles. “Just warming up, kid.”
“He looked hot doing it,” Joon-ho mumbles.
Zoe lets out a startled laugh, and when he turns his head, he catches her following their conversation.
She looks away.
“Listen,” Joon-ho says. “Just don’t offer to demonstrate.”
“Why not?” he asks, wondering how he can make Zoe laugh again.
“Dude,” Ethan says. “Justdon’t. She’ll eviscerate you.”
The coach’s whistle blows, and all conversation ceases.Immediately.He’s kind of impressed.
“Good morning,” Coach Pat says briskly. “We have ninety minutes to cover all six takeoffs. We’ll start with the toe loop and work our way up. Who’s going to demonstrate first?”
There’s a deep silence. He would have expected all the bunheads to raise their hands, eager to impress the head coach. But instead, they’re all shifty-eyed and silent. Even Melanie, who’s sneaking glances at him.
He raises his hand in the air.
“Uh-oh,” mutters Ethan.
Sister Walsh—that’s how Chase thinks of her in his head, because she’s his coach’s sister and kinda stern, like the nuns from his grade school—turns reluctantly in his direction. “Since everyone besides Coach Merritt lacks bravery, I suppose we’ll start with him. And with that unhinged toe loop I saw from him a few minutes ago.”
Oh, she’s one ofthose—the kind of coach who thinks that belittling people makes you powerful. Chase still grins, because he’s had a lot of experience with people like her, and he just isn’t scared. “Mold me, Coach Pat. Fix my evil ways.”
There’s a nervous titter from all around him. But Sister Walsh only frowns. “Fine. What are the rules of a toe loop, Hotshot?”
“Um…” It’s been a decade since he was taught this, and he’s probably going to bungle it. “Plant the toe pick of your nondominant foot behind your body. Fling yourself upward from the other leg. Then make yourself small and twirly for a whole rotation, until you land it like a badass.”
He hears a few giggles, but they’re quickly snuffed out by a glare from the coach.
