Out With the Old, in With the New
Blast From The Past
I felt the familiar cold air rush through me as I entered the rink. I started off my short morning practice by skating a few laps as I went over my routine in my head for my competition this afternoon.
Figure skating. It was my life. Tessa Schultz, a nationally known figure skater heading off to the Olympics in just a year. Ever since I was 5, I fell in love with skating. The adrenaline pumping as I perform spins, the roar of the crowds, winning a medal. It was such a rush.
My coaches, Sophie and Mark Collins, were the absolute happiest couple I have ever met and they were also great coaches.
"Come on Tessa, we have to get off the ice before the players come for their turn!" said Sophie, just as I finished my performance for the third time.
"I'm coming, Soph. What time is the competition at again?"
"10, so you might wanna get some rest."
Looking at the clock, it was only 6:30. Though I was supposed to get off the ice, I decided to stay for a bit, taking my time. As I'm skating over to the door, I bump right into someone and fall backwards.
"Oh! I'm so sorry!" I heard a voice from above.
"No worries, it was my fault, I was daydreaming." I look up to see a familiar face. Patrick Kane. "Pat? Is that you?"
"Yeah Tessie, it's me! I haven't seen you in like, I don't know, uhh.."
"7 years."
*Flashback- 7 Years Ago*
I'm walking down the steps to the subway with the faint smell of the New York hot dogs, while crying. I can hear the faint noise of the subway just leaving. Here's my chance. Jump Tessa. Jump. All the pain will be gone in just a minute. I take a step.
"Hey there. I saw you crying and just wanted to make sure you're okay."
I look up to see a boy smiling at me with those blue, blue eyes.
"Yeah, I'm fine."
"You sure? Where you headed? You should come hang with me and my boys."
"I'm fine, really. Thanks for the offer but I need to get going."
"Ok, whatever you say."
I hear a subway getting closer. I take a deep breath as I am getting closer to the edge. Thump. Thump. Someone grabs my arm and says, "Hey! You were really close to the edge! You looked like you were going to fall in!"
Shit. There goes my chance. I walk off, ignoring the boy.
"Well, aren't you gonna say anything? Oh, come on. Let me take you home. Where do you live?"
"I live in Buffalo. I don't think you would take me all the way home."
"You live in Buffalo? I do too! I was just heading home anyways. Let me take you."
He showed me to his car and we drove in silence. He tried to start multiple conversations but I would only give one word answers. Eventually, he stopped the car and asked me what was really wrong. I tried to ignore him but he was persistent.
"Look. I tried to kill myself okay? You ruined it by grabbing my arm. Can you just take me home already?"
And with that, he drove on. Once he dropped me off, he said, "Don't ever do that to yourself. There are people who care for you." and he walked away.
The next day, I walked to school. For the third time this year, I am walking into a new school with no one to talk to once again. I never really made friends. I liked to be alone.
"Hey! You're that girl I drove home last night! Are you a new student here? What's your name?"
"Yeah, I'm new. It's Tessa. Tessa Schultz." Trying to ignore him, I walk off.
"Well, I'll show you around." He grinned at me with his blue eyes. Man, he sure has a killer smile.
*A Few Months After*
"I'm going to miss you so much Pat!" My best friend, Patrick Kane was just drafted to the Chicago Blackhawks and though I was happy for him, we'd be in different states.
"I know Tessie, I will too. I will call you everyday and you can visit me in Chicago whenever you want. Just finish high school and maybe you could go to uni somewhere in Chicago! Don't worry."
"Ok. Bye Pat. Call me soon." Pat was two years older than me, therefore, I would have to last my last two years of high school on my own. Pat and I met just a little under a year ago. We became very close and he saved my life. He means everything to me.
*Present Day*
"So, uh, you have a competition today?" Pat said awkwardly.
"Yeah. Just getting some extra practices." Well, this is awkward.
"Well, it was great to see you but I have to go to practice. We should get together sometime. What hotel are you staying at?"
"I think it's the one right across the street. 8th floor. Room 812."
"Ok. I'll see you after practice!" he smiled at me. The same smile he always had.
Figure skating. It was my life. Tessa Schultz, a nationally known figure skater heading off to the Olympics in just a year. Ever since I was 5, I fell in love with skating. The adrenaline pumping as I perform spins, the roar of the crowds, winning a medal. It was such a rush.
My coaches, Sophie and Mark Collins, were the absolute happiest couple I have ever met and they were also great coaches.
"Come on Tessa, we have to get off the ice before the players come for their turn!" said Sophie, just as I finished my performance for the third time.
"I'm coming, Soph. What time is the competition at again?"
"10, so you might wanna get some rest."
Looking at the clock, it was only 6:30. Though I was supposed to get off the ice, I decided to stay for a bit, taking my time. As I'm skating over to the door, I bump right into someone and fall backwards.
"Oh! I'm so sorry!" I heard a voice from above.
"No worries, it was my fault, I was daydreaming." I look up to see a familiar face. Patrick Kane. "Pat? Is that you?"
"Yeah Tessie, it's me! I haven't seen you in like, I don't know, uhh.."
"7 years."
*Flashback- 7 Years Ago*
I'm walking down the steps to the subway with the faint smell of the New York hot dogs, while crying. I can hear the faint noise of the subway just leaving. Here's my chance. Jump Tessa. Jump. All the pain will be gone in just a minute. I take a step.
"Hey there. I saw you crying and just wanted to make sure you're okay."
I look up to see a boy smiling at me with those blue, blue eyes.
"Yeah, I'm fine."
"You sure? Where you headed? You should come hang with me and my boys."
"I'm fine, really. Thanks for the offer but I need to get going."
"Ok, whatever you say."
I hear a subway getting closer. I take a deep breath as I am getting closer to the edge. Thump. Thump. Someone grabs my arm and says, "Hey! You were really close to the edge! You looked like you were going to fall in!"
Shit. There goes my chance. I walk off, ignoring the boy.
"Well, aren't you gonna say anything? Oh, come on. Let me take you home. Where do you live?"
"I live in Buffalo. I don't think you would take me all the way home."
"You live in Buffalo? I do too! I was just heading home anyways. Let me take you."
He showed me to his car and we drove in silence. He tried to start multiple conversations but I would only give one word answers. Eventually, he stopped the car and asked me what was really wrong. I tried to ignore him but he was persistent.
"Look. I tried to kill myself okay? You ruined it by grabbing my arm. Can you just take me home already?"
And with that, he drove on. Once he dropped me off, he said, "Don't ever do that to yourself. There are people who care for you." and he walked away.
The next day, I walked to school. For the third time this year, I am walking into a new school with no one to talk to once again. I never really made friends. I liked to be alone.
"Hey! You're that girl I drove home last night! Are you a new student here? What's your name?"
"Yeah, I'm new. It's Tessa. Tessa Schultz." Trying to ignore him, I walk off.
"Well, I'll show you around." He grinned at me with his blue eyes. Man, he sure has a killer smile.
*A Few Months After*
"I'm going to miss you so much Pat!" My best friend, Patrick Kane was just drafted to the Chicago Blackhawks and though I was happy for him, we'd be in different states.
"I know Tessie, I will too. I will call you everyday and you can visit me in Chicago whenever you want. Just finish high school and maybe you could go to uni somewhere in Chicago! Don't worry."
"Ok. Bye Pat. Call me soon." Pat was two years older than me, therefore, I would have to last my last two years of high school on my own. Pat and I met just a little under a year ago. We became very close and he saved my life. He means everything to me.
*Present Day*
"So, uh, you have a competition today?" Pat said awkwardly.
"Yeah. Just getting some extra practices." Well, this is awkward.
"Well, it was great to see you but I have to go to practice. We should get together sometime. What hotel are you staying at?"
"I think it's the one right across the street. 8th floor. Room 812."
"Ok. I'll see you after practice!" he smiled at me. The same smile he always had.
8/24/13