Back to the Dream Page
Chapter 3
"You guys! Hurry your little butts out here! We need to hackey sack before we go out there for good luck!" Lance says, rushing Justin, Chris, and Joey out of the dressing room.
"Geez! He's taking your job JC!" Chris kids, noting that Lance is actually being the one to order the others around.
JC smiles and says, "If he wants it and can handle it, this group is big enough for the both of us."
"That's all I need! Two fathers to tell me, the supposed baby of the group, what to do!" Justin says, rolling his eyes.
"Guys, we need you on the ice now! Be careful as you walk out there, okay? JC, nod your head when you're ready to begin singing and we'll cue up the music," a man with a headset on directs.
"But we haven't hackeyed yet!" Lance protests.
"Sorry guys. We have to get going. You can hackey later, before you go on again. Now go!"
JC looks at the rest of the guys and motions for them to follow them. Justin gives a sigh and slips the hackey sack into his pocket. 'I hope that doesn't mean that we are in for some bad luck today!'
The ice is slippery but all five make it out onto the middle of the ice fairly well without falling. JC cues the music and the group begins to sing with all of their hearts, ending the National Anthem with a salute. However, as they try to walk back, Justin and Lance both fall onto the ice, causing for some laughter to echo throughout the arena. JC, Chris, and Joey all try to help the fallen two up but have little success and fall down themselves. Before any of them realize, a few of the ice skaters have come out onto the ice to help them get up.
Justin smells a familiar feminine scent before realizing that a female is currently grabbing a hold of his arms and helping him up. Once he is on his feet, she slowly escorts him off the ice and asks, "Are you okay?"
Realizing that he could stop looking down at where his feet are going, Justin looks up and says, "Yes. Thanks for the help. That was so..."
"So what?" she asks.
"You know, you look familiar."
"Kristi, you're needed on the ice. You're up now!" a man who is obviously her coach says, interrupting their conversation.
She looks back regretfully at Justin and says, "Sorry, I have to go. I'm glad you're okay." She smiles and turns to the ice, taking in a deep breath before going onto the ice.
"Ladies and Gentlemen! Welcome to the US Figure Skating Championship Qualifications. We have a large group of talented skaters out there today who will perform twice. First up on the ice is Kristi Chan," the announcer announces, prompting a huge round of applause to erupt.
'She must be really good for that type of response,' Justin thinks as he watches the girl who helped him off the ice glide gracefully into place and begin her number.
"Justin! Come on! We're going to hackey sack now!" Joey calls to him, placing a hand on Justin's shoulder as he approaches him.
"Hang on. I'll be right there."
"Watching a girl in a rather short skirt... I wonder why you're delaying the game now... Not!"
"Shh..."
Joey shrugs and heads backstage. Soon, Justin feels someone else standing right next to him and looks over briefly to see JC. "She's pretty good. Who would have thought that your savior would save you again," he comments, puzzling Justin.
"What are you talking about?" Justin asks, watching as the girl launches herself into the air, doing a fast past spin in the air.
"Don't you recognize her? The girl you searched endlessly in the hospital for before you were discharged? The girl you swore you would never forget? Don't tell me that you did forget her. She's your candy striper!"
"No way!"
"Shh... Yes way. I can't believe you didn't see that."
"Well, I only got to see her for a little bit before she went on the ice! I knew her scent was familiar and the way she looked, it triggered something."
"I guess I just placed her for you. Here's your chance to finally talk to her Justin!"
"I hope so. Wait, she's gliding to a stop and finishing! What score did she get?"
"Hang on! She's stepping off on the other side of the ice rink and taking a seat to see them posted. Oh my God! She got a near perfect! Missed it by .05!"
"That's incredible!"
"I know. However, it seems that you can't talk to her now."
"Why?" Justin asks, looking at JC.
"Because she's heading into the general direction of the women's dressing rooms and also, there are some fans of ours that look like they are getting a bit too crazy to see us."
As JC says this, Justin hears the fans screaming their usual screams and nods to JC. "I guess it will have to wait. Count of three, turn their way, smile and wave, and head into the back, okay?"
"Agreed. One... Two... Three!" JC counts off, turning around, smiling and taking off for the back with Justin at his side.
"About time you came back here. Hurry up! The five of us have to play if we are going to not face embarrassment out there again!" Chris says, kicking the hackey JC's way, who then kicks it to Justin who doesn't even attempt to kick it.
"Hello! Justin, where are you?" Joey asks, waving a hand in front of him.
"He's in shock. I just pointed out that his girl saved him yet again," JC states.
"What in the world are you talking about?" Lance asks.
"The girl he was searching for at the hospital is the ice skater who helped him off the ice. Her name is Kristi I think. I wonder if she remembered him."
"I really hope so!" Justin lets out, regretting his admittance as soon as his friends burst out laughing. "Shut up idiots!"
"Justin's got a crush! Justin's got a crush!" the other four chant, running into the dressing room as Justin chases after them.
Five hours later, the group finds themselves preparing to go back on the ice. "I guess it's done Justin. You must have missed her second skating," Joey says, observing that the judges are busy going over their papers.
'Dang it!' Justin thinks, kicking himself for taking that nap and playing those few video games with the others.
"Maybe you'll still see her. Come on, we have to go out there and perform "It's Gonna Be Me." Let's go!" JC says, leading the group towards the ice, and climbing the platform that is rigged since their falling incident to get them onto the ice and for them to perform on. When they are done, they exit the ice the same way they came on, jump off the platform and stand by the side of the ice rink as the announcer gets ready to announce the winners.
"Well, here is the moment everyone has been waiting for! The top five girls chosen to compete in the Championships are: Jennifer, Rachel, Christina, Annie, and Kristi! Congratulations girls and we'll see you all in eight months!"
"She did it! I have to go talk to her!" Justin exclaims, getting ready to run over to where she is standing only a few feet away. She turns around at that moment and matches his gaze. She smiles and begins to walk towards him as the media falls down on both of them and begin asking each questions, blocking their view of one another. Justin could feel himself being ushered in the opposite direction that he wanted to go, but feels a strong arm yank him out and begin dragging him. He looks at the person and realizes that it is one of the bodyguards. 'Thank God for them!' Justin thinks as he begins to run at his own pace, away from the media, away from the loose fans, but regretfully, also away from his possible soul mate.