Chapter 10
‘Twas the night before the Winter Festival and all through Mt. Shiveer, not an animal slacked as they all worked hard to prepare for the morning’s festivities…
I was sitting in the Hot Cocoa Hut in the forever winter-like land of Mt. Shiveer with my three best friends. We were all enjoying different heated drinks. Astron had decided to try their coffee, Amy and I had steamed milk (lightly sprinkles with dark chocolate shavings), and Denaé had a hot chocolate.
We were chatting casually, the heat making us sleepy and the faded light relaxing us. Well, I was fairly relaxed, and I could tell Denaé and Astron were, but Amy’s eyes were wide and she was constantly rubbing her paws together which she did when she was stressed.
“Amy,” I said calmly to get her attention. “Everything is going to be alright, okay?” I told her. “Just relax and you will do great!” I put a paw on her to stop her from moving so much. She looked anxiously up. I interrupted her worrying train of thought. “It is all just for fun.” I reminded her. Our gazes locked. She broke away and looked at her milk. “Yeah I know…” She sighed. There was a short pause. “Thanks. I think I am better.” I saw her back relax from its tense state. I smiled, glad she was calming down. The fox suddenly tensed up again and she whipped around to look at me. “But oh what if someone gets hurt? It will be my fault.” She jumped in her seat. I waited for her to stop her panic. “Amy,” I said sternly, gripping her shoulder. She looked up at me again.
Astron was watching and then spoke up. “We’ll keep a good eye on Raven.” He assured her, winking. Denaé piped up. “Yes. And I am sure you will do well! Your routine is amazing.” She smiled. Amy blushed. “Thank you. I am sorry I keep losing my nerve.” Of course, we forgave her.
Our conversation didn’t last for much longer… and neither did our drinks. So we soon finished up and cleaned up, deciding to head back to the school for a good night’s sleep.
We had begun back to where the busses were. The sky was a fading blue, turning into indigo and the slightest hint of stars were beginning to appear. It was a lovely evening. I closed my eyes, enjoying the soft mountain wind. Tomorrow was going to be a perfectly wonderful day.
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It was the very first day of the Jamaaliday Break. There was not a single solitary homework assignment whatsoever for an entire three weeks!
We were in the Hot Chocolate Hut once more. I was sitting at a table with Denaé and Astron. Amy was with Coach Bridget and the other skaters at a table near ours.
“I decided to bring good luck cupcakes for you all!” Bridged declared. She pulled a box from her bag and opened it up, revealing beautifully decorated cupcakes with different coloured frosting and sugar sprinkles. “You guys deserve it.” She smiled. The coach had decided to wear pink, sparkly makeup over her eyes just for the competition.
“Each of you may pick one,” Bridget said, holding out the box. Evica was the first one to pick one. She got one with the most icing: a red cupcake. Chantelle picked a pink cupcake, Raven purple and Amy white.
“I am feeling an unhealthy sort of envy…” I said, watching them eat their home-made desserts. Bridget heard this and turned around. “Oh, we have plenty of extra!” She exclaimed. “Here, come sit with us and have one!” She motioned for us to come to sit. “Oh, thank you! How sweet.” I smiled graciously at her, standing up and taking a seat at their table. My friends followed.
“Ew…” I heard Evica mumble. I had sat beside her. She began scooting her chair away from me like I had some sort of disease. I ignored her and her issues. I picked a cupcake, Denaé and Astron copying.
We all sat together as Bridget instructed her students on how the competition was going to work and what they needed to do to prepare.
“In the end, remember this is all just for fun! It is not important to win, just to have good sportsmanship and to enjoy it.” The deer finished. “I am so proud of all of you.”
There was a little more chatting and laughing, eating a lot of sugar and conversing before Amy decided it was best to start getting ready and to prepare herself.
“I am going to freshen up now.” She said, standing up. “I will be back in a little bit.” She walked over to where our bags and coats were, fiddled around there for a while, before heading to the washrooms with her cosmetics.
This action inspired Chantelle to also leave the table and enter the closet. Evica followed shortly after and the two spent an eternity in there before Chantelle finally left for the washrooms. “I’ll be back in a sec,” Chantelle called. Evica looked up. “Okay, I am coming too though, I am just getting my stuff. I can't find my eyeliner.” There was more shuffling sounds and some unzipping before Evica left the room and followed her friend.
I licked my paws clean of every last bit of icing, savouring the sweet flavour. “Thanks again so much,” I said to the coach. She smiled. “Of course, Isis.” She finished zipping up her stuff.
Raven took a long time to finish her snack, and went straight to the washrooms, her outfit in her paws. She had dark eyeliner on but wasn’t as obsessed about her looks as the other girls, so didn’t bother applying another unnecessary layer of “powder and paint.”
Within a little while, the females returned from the ladies' room, all decorative in their skating outfits, glittery earrings and sparkling makeup. Everyone was ready to begin the competition.
“I am so nervous-excited,” Amy whispered. She had on a tight dress that was dark plum and covered in glittery sparkles that looked like sugar. She had cat’s-eye makeup and a pretty necklace with a butterfly and crystal pendant. She looked beautiful. “nervousited maybe?” Denaé asked. I laughed.
There was suddenly a loud sound from outside, like a horn being blown. Bridget gasped in excitement. “We are just on time…” She said, turning to look at us with a grin. “The skating competition is about to begin!”
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It is time! It is time! Come back soon to find out what happens during the party! Will everything go as planned?
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