by Jo Cotterill
‘Really?’ For the first time, a glimmer of hope appeared in Zac’s eyes. ‘It’s a real deal?’
‘Yeah, of course.’
‘It’s a thousand pounds, Tania,’ said Zac. He swallowed. ‘A thousand pounds! All that money!’
A thousand pounds had never sounded like that much to Tania, but she could see just how much it meant to Zac. ‘You could buy new skates,’ she said, as though it had only just occurred to her.
He nodded. ‘I know. I can’t believe it. I honestly thought I would have to give up skating with you. I could never have got together that much money for new skates.’ His eyes suddenly narrowed. ‘Hang on a minute. Did you have something to do with this?’
‘What?’ Tania panicked.
Zac didn’t look angry though, more amused. ‘Was it you who put my name forward for the grant?’
‘No,’ said Tania. ‘Honest. I didn’t.’ Which isn’t exactly a lie, she told herself, because there isn’t a grant at all.
Zac looked at her for a moment, head on one side. It was clear he didn’t believe her. Then, with three strides, he was in front of her and his strong arms were round her, hugging her to him. ‘Thank you,’ he said in her ear. ‘Just – thanks.’
Tania’s breath had caught in her throat. The sudden warmth of Zac’s body made her dizzy. ‘I didn’t have anything to do with it,’ she protested weakly.
‘Yeah, yeah.’ Zac let go of her, and grinned. ‘Course you didn’t. Listen – will you come and help me choose my skates? If I get the money? I haven’t got a clue where to start.’
‘I’d love to.’
Zac sat down on the bench and started to unlace his boots. ‘I’ll post the reply tonight. They say I can have the money within a week if I qualify. All I have to do is take the postal orders to the post office and get cash in return. I could be wearing new skates this time next week!’
Tania joined him, sitting on her hands so he couldn’t see them trembling. She glanced at Zac’s bandaged foot. ‘The new ones shouldn’t do that to you either, not once they’re properly broken in.’
‘Oh, I hardly notice this now.’ Zac straightened the bandage. ‘It’s not as bad as it looks. Besides, I never feel injuries while I’m skating. Isn’t that the same for everyone?’
Tania opened her mouth to say no, she’d been hurt several times while skating and had felt every twinge, but that wasn’t completely true.
‘You had a nasty fall today,’ said Zac. ‘Is your knee OK?’
Tania had forgotten it, but she peeled back her leggings to reveal a large swelling bruise. ‘It hurts now,’ she said.
‘But it didn’t before,’ said Zac. ‘Me too.’ He reached out a hand, and gently touched the side of the bruise. ‘You should get some ice on that to stop it getting any worse.’
Tania was very aware of how close they were sitting. Zac’s arm brushed hers, and she could feel the heat from his leg on her own.
‘Tania …’ said Zac, very quietly. She lifted her face to his. His eyes were large and solemn. She felt as if she were falling into them. His hand brushed a stray strand of hair away from her cheek. Zac’s gaze moved down to her lips. ‘Um …’ he said, but his voice shook.
Time stopped. Tania couldn’t move – wouldn’t have wanted to, even if she could. It was as though she was being pulled irresistibly towards Zac. She leaned closer … her eyes began to close … his hand stroked her cheek …
‘Tania!’ came Brock’s voice. ‘Your excitable friend is waiting for you!’
Libby! thought Tania. Not now!
Zac’s hand fell away. He blinked, and pulled back. ‘Uh …’ he said. ‘You’d better …’
Tania looked away, blushing furiously. ‘Right,’ she said. ‘See you tomorrow then.’
‘Yeah. I’ll let you know when I hear about this grant thing.’
‘Cool. Fine. Well, er – have a nice evening.’
‘You too.’
Chapter 14
Don’t let go of him
‘HE NEARLY KISSED you!’ Libby was contrite. ‘And I blew it for you! I’m so sorry! You must hate me for ever!’ The two of them walked out of the building together, Tania glancing around anxiously to make sure no one could hear their conversation. ‘Me and my big mouth! I ruined everything, I’m so sorry!’
‘Of course you didn’t,’ Tania told her. ‘Maybe it was a good thing you interrupted. Him and me … well.’
‘What?’
Tania tried to look as though she didn’t care. ‘It wouldn’t really work, would it? We’re so different.’
Libby’s jaw dropped. ‘What’s that got to do with anything? He’s gorgeous! And wow – when he skates – I mean, wow! Of course, you’re really good too,’ she added hastily.
Tania couldn’t help but laugh. ‘Thanks.’
‘I meant,’ said Libby carefully, ‘that I’m used to seeing you be amazing on the ice. But he was doing stuff I’ve never seen before. And making it look so easy too! I think you’re a perfect match.’
‘Do you really?’
Libby put an arm around her friend. ‘Yes, I do. And now you know he likes you too. Oh, I think I’m going to cry! It’s so romantic!’
‘Libby, you’re being silly …’
‘And you know what?’ Libby suddenly broke away. ‘He’s good for you. Not just skating, but good for you. You’re a lot nicer since he’s been on the scene.’
‘Nicer?’ Tania felt hurt. ‘What do you mean?’
‘Well, you know how I said you never came out with us any more, and how you were getting so serious and, like, stressed all the time? It’s as if that Tania has gone and a new friendlier one is around.’ She looked searchingly at her friend. ‘You told me about being scared. Of falling. Are you scared now?’
‘Not so much.’
Libby nodded. ‘It’s Zac, isn’t it? I don’t know how, but he’s helped you through it.’
Tania blushed. ‘Yes. He has.’
Libby sighed. ‘There you go – a match made in heaven! It’s like a fairy tale! Next thing you know, you’ll be skating at midnight, all lit up by a mirror ball, and …’ Her expression suddenly changed. ‘Oh good grief, what time is it?’
‘Uh … just after six?’
‘I have to go!’ Libby exclaimed, reaching into her bag and scrabbling furiously.
‘What’s the matter?’
‘Have you got a lipstick?’
‘What? No, I–’
‘I’m supposed to be meeting Scott!’ Libby cried. ‘I said I’d watch his band rehearsal!’
‘Band?’
‘Yeah, he’s the singer. He looks so hot when he sings, Tan, you wouldn’t believe it.’ Libby stopped for a moment and considered. ‘Though actually, he’s not quite as hot as Zac, now I come to think of it …’ She caught sight of Tania’s expression and laughed. ‘Don’t worry, I’m not going to steal him from you. Besides, from what just nearly happened, I don’t suppose I’d stand a chance.’ She gave Tania a quick hug. ‘See you tomorrow. Sweet dreams.’ She giggled and dashed out of the car park.
Tania walked slowly over to where her mum was waiting in the car, head down over the newspaper. The recent conversation with Libby was vanishing out of her memory already – all she could think about was Zac’s face, dizzyingly close, and the thought that one more second, just one tiny second, and his lips would have met hers. And Tania wished that Libby hadn’t chosen this very day to come and watch the session.
Zac was nervous. ‘Do I look normal?’ he whispered to Tania, glancing around the street.
‘No, you look paranoid. What’s the matter?’
‘I’ve got a thousand pounds in cash in my pocket. In cash, Tania. For God’s sake don’t let me get mugged. I still can’t believe the money is in cash. The woman at the post office looked at me like I’d robbed a bank when I handed over the postal orders. Four for two hundred and fifty each! It took her about half an hour to count all the money out! If I wasn’t holding it with my own hand, I wouldn’t
believe it was real.’
‘Calm down. We’re going straight into the shop, right? It’s not as if we’re going to wander around waving it at people.’ Tania, grinning, pushed open the door.
‘I don’t even know where to start,’ muttered Zac as he took in the shelves and shelves of boots, blades, guards, cloths, tape … ‘I’ve never seen half this stuff before.’
‘We start with him,’ said Tania, pointing at a sales assistant, who looked up. A smile flashed across his face and he hurried over, giving Tania a hug that lifted her off her feet.
‘Tania Dunn, well I never!’
‘Hello, Stu,’ said Tania. ‘Didn’t think you’d remember me.’
Stu spread his hands expressively. ‘How could anyone forget you?’
‘That’s not necessarily a compliment.’ Tania poked him in the ribs. ‘This is Zac.’
‘Uh-huh …?’ said Stu meaningly.
‘He’s my skating partner,’ said Tania, shooting Stu a look that said, ‘Don’t even think about saying he’s my boyfriend.’
Stu’s plucked eyebrows rose into his hairline. ‘Your partner? Tania, since when did you go pairs?’
‘She hasn’t,’ Zac said, sticking out his hand for Stu to shake. ‘She’s been forced to take me under her wing and polish me up. Only for another month though.’
‘I see,’ said Stu. ‘Well, aren’t you the lucky one? Plenty of boys who’d give their right arms to be in your skates.’
‘I know,’ said Zac. He glanced at Tania, who tried not to blush. She’d spent most of the previous night wondering what it would be like to kiss him.
‘Well,’ said Stu, his sharp eyes missing nothing of the exchange, ‘what can I do for you today?’
‘Zac needs new skates,’ said Tania. ‘Boots, blades – the lot.’
‘Are we talking your skating level?’ said Stu, his eyes narrowing. ‘Couple of hours a day, advanced jumps, all that?’
‘Yes.’
‘Right,’ said Stu. ‘You don’t want to be looking at these shelves then.’ He put an arm round Zac’s shoulders, which was difficult as Stu was a good six inches shorter. ‘Come through here …’
Tania followed them into the back room, which was twice as big as the front room and crammed from floor to ceiling with boots. Zac’s eyes widened further. ‘Good grief.’
‘What do you usually wear?’ asked Stu. ‘Reidell? Risport?’
‘Umm …’
Tania came to the rescue. ‘He’s been wearing a second-hand pair,’ she said firmly. ‘This will be his first pair of brand-new boots.’
Stu looked surprised, but Tania’s glare prevented him from asking more questions. Instead, he said brightly, ‘Right then. Better get you measured up and see what you like.’
Stu became the model of efficiency, measuring Zac’s feet to within a millimetre, explaining about the different stiffness of boot, ‘See, these are less flexible but give your ankle more support in the double and triple jumps,’ and pulling boot after boot off shelves for Zac to try. Soon the floor was littered with items.
‘I thought they came with the blades attached,’ said Zac.
‘No no no.’ Stu waved his hands. ‘Boots and blades are bought separately at this level.’
‘How much do they all cost then?’
Stu shrugged. ‘How long is a piece of string? Up to a thousand pounds per pair of boots – blades extra, remember – and over that if you want them custom-made.’ He glanced at Tania. ‘Yours are all custom-made now, aren’t they?’
Tania felt uncomfortable, knowing that her custom boots and blades cost way more than the thousand pounds Zac was about to spend. ‘Yes, in America. I send them the measurements and they send me the boots.’
‘You should really do the same,’ Stu told Zac, ‘but if you’re doing this show then you won’t have time to wait for them.’
Zac was looking bewildered and a little alarmed. ‘I can’t spend that much.’
‘How much have you got?’ asked Stu bluntly.
‘A thousand pounds,’ said Zac, colouring.
‘Any flexibility on that?’ asked Stu.
‘No,’ replied Zac firmly. ‘That’s everything – all in.’
‘Ooookay,’ said Stu. ‘Then we’d better get thinking and sorting. ’Cos you want to leave a bit over for hard and soft guards, maybe a bag, cleaning cloth – all that malarkey.’
‘Don’t worry,’ Tania told Zac. ‘Stu’s an expert. He’ll make it work.’
‘Course I will.’ Stu winked. ‘And I might even invoke my employee privileges and see if I can get you a bit of a discount.’
Zac squirmed. ‘I don’t want any special treatment.’
Stu looked astonished. ‘All my customers get special treatment,’ he told Zac, almost sounding offended. ‘But Tania’s friends are more special than most.’
‘Stu fitted my first pair of skates,’ Tania said.
‘She was this high,’ Stu added, indicating a point on his own leg. ‘And didn’t say a word.’
‘You were very kind,’ said Tania.
Stu waved a dismissive hand. ‘I get all sorts in here,’ he said. ‘Shy, loud, naughty. You were a very quiet one. To start with, that is. By the time you were coming for your third pair, I couldn’t shut you up!’
‘Stu …’
‘I’m serious!’ Stu turned to Zac. ‘In all my years of working here, I never saw a child more excited about skating. Couldn’t stop talking about it – waltz jump this, mohawk that. Lived and breathed it, didn’t you?’ He put an arm around Tania. ‘I thought then – if any child has the potential to be a star, she has.’
‘We’re meant to be buying Zac’s boots,’ Tania reminded him.
‘Of course! Yes.’ Stu sprang into action.
An hour later, Zac and Tania walked out of the shop, Zac clutching a large canvas bag full of accessories and a slip of paper telling him when his new skates would be ready. ‘We’ll do a rush job,’ Stu told him, ‘to fix the blades. Should be able to pick them up in twenty-four hours.’
‘Thanks so much,’ said Tania, giving Stu a hug.
‘Is he good?’ he whispered in her ear.
‘Very,’ she whispered back.
‘Then don’t let go of him,’ Stu told her. ‘Anyone can skate on their own; it’s so rare to find a good partner.’
‘What did he say to you?’ asked Zac curiously as they walked away.
Tania felt buoyed up with a wild excitement. She had just spent a thousand pounds on Zac and he had no idea! And it had made him happier than she’d ever seen him. A naughty grin spread over her face. ‘He said he fancied you.’
Zac turned white. ‘He never!’
‘You did guess he was gay, didn’t you?’
‘Well …’ said Zac, shifting his new bag from one shoulder to the other. ‘I wasn’t sure.’
Tania laughed and relented. ‘Don’t worry,’ she said. ‘He doesn’t fancy you really. He was just saying good luck for the show.’
Zac relaxed. ‘Whew! You got me there.’
‘You’re so easy to wind up,’ Tania teased.
Zac laughed. ‘He’s a bit mad, isn’t he?’
‘I’ve known Stu for years,’ said Tania. ‘He’s the best.’
‘He seemed to know his stuff,’ said Zac. ‘Those skates are amazing.’ He chewed his lip. ‘I don’t know what I would have done without that grant. A thousand pounds gone, just like that!’
‘I don’t think anyone had ever paid in cash before.’ Tania giggled. ‘Stu looked a bit stunned.’
‘But so much money!’ said Zac. ‘On skates! These had better last me years. I’ll never be able to afford another pair.’
Tania looked thoughtful. ‘You remember I said you could earn money in competitions, don’t you?’
Zac shook his head. ‘Yeah, I know, but … I’ve only been skating for two years. I’m not good enough.’ He glanced at her. ‘Am I?’
Tania hesitated. ‘I don’t know. But you’re way better
than you used to be. And your jumps are better than mine.’
‘I don’t have the control though. Or the precision.’
‘That’s just practice. Look how far you’ve come already. You could start local. There are county championships, and then regional and national. You’d stand a really good chance against the other boys.’
Zac’s gaze hit her own. ‘I don’t think I’d want to compete solo.’
Tania was going to reply but her breath seemed to have been sucked away. What was he saying? Did he want to carry on skating with her? But that wasn’t the deal … she was a solo skater.
Wasn’t she?
Stu was as good as his word and Zac’s new skates were ready for the next day. ‘Wear them in slowly,’ Brock warned him. ‘Otherwise you’ll bust your feet. Just a few minutes for the first couple of days. And wear them at home, around the house. On carpet.’
‘My parents are going to love that,’ said Zac, grinning.
‘I mean it,’ said Brock. ‘Don’t do anything complicated on the ice until they’re properly broken in.’
‘How long will it take?’
‘Ten days,’ Brock said firmly. ‘So don’t throw out the old skates before then. Right, let’s see what we can do with this programme.’
The three of them worked hard on the choreography. ‘This is going to be different from anything else in the show,’ Brock called over to them at one point.
‘Is that a good thing?’ Zac whispered to Tania.
‘Look at his face,’ Tania said. ‘His smile couldn’t be any bigger. He loves your ideas.’
‘But are they any good?’ said Zac. ‘I mean, skateboarding is all very well on a board …’
‘They’re good,’ said Tania, and was surprised to find she meant it. ‘Honestly. It’s cool to be doing something other than axels and sit spins – I mean, to mix up the usual tricks with something completely fresh.’
‘Do you really like the programme?’ Zac looked hard at her. ‘There’s no point doing it if you’re not comfortable.’
‘I am,’ said Tania. ‘I didn’t think I would be, but I am. I really like this programme – it’s the most fun I’ve had in ages.’