Ceilings

Vi shoved her hands deep into the pockets of her hoodie as she walked into the rink, her boots crunching faintly on the rubber mats. The cold hit her immediately, the sharp chill biting at her face and ears. She had always loved this part of her day, the way the air smelled like ice and effort, the promise of the smooth surface waiting to be carved up by blades. But today felt different.

Coach Sevika’s voice echoed in her mind. “I've set you up for lessons with Caitlyn Kiramman.” Vi snorted to herself. “I think you both could benefit from this experience” As if she wasn’t already bracing for some prissy, stuck up skating princess to tell her how she was doing everything wrong. She wasn’t thrilled about this, she didn’t need some figure skater with perfect posture and glittery costumes judging her hockey technique.

But then again, her edges did suck, and she couldn’t deny that Caitlyn knew her way around the ice. She’d seen her during practice sessions, gliding around the rink like it was second nature. Vi might not have liked the idea of this lesson, but she wasn’t stupid enough to ignore someone who could actually help her.

She rounded the corner to the ice, spotting Caitlyn already standing at the edge, leaning lightly against the boards. Even without the rhinestones and stage lights, Caitlyn looked like she belonged out there. Her posture was impossibly upright, her skates perfectly laced, her face unreadable.

Vi hesitated for a second, pulling her hood tighter around her face, before stepping forward.

“You Kiramman?” she asked, pretending as if she didn't know exactly who she was. her voice was sharp, partly to mask the nerves creeping up her spine.

Caitlyn turned her head, her expression blank and unreadable. “Yeah. Vi, right?”

“Yep,” Vi said shortly, shifting her weight. She pulled her gloves out of her pocket and started putting them on. “So, what’s the plan? You gonna twirl around and show me how to be graceful or something?”

Caitlyn arched an eyebrow, a flicker of annoyance crossing her face. “This isn't the time to be joking around. We’ll start with your balance and edges. The rest can come later.”

Vi rolled her eyes but stepped onto the ice, the familiar scrape of her blades grounding her as she pushed off. “Alright, Princess,” she muttered under her breath. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”

Vi gritted her teeth as she skated to center ice. Caitlyn Kiraman joined her, skating there like she owned the rink, her perfect posture and icy stare making Vi feel about two inches tall.

“Alright,” Caitlyn said, her tone cool and precise, “let’s start with your edges. Show me a few crossovers, forwards and backwards.”

Vi rolled her eyes, muttering, “Yeah, sure, whatever you say, Coach.” She pushed off, deliberately a little looser than she should have been. Her forward crossovers were fine, maybe not perfect, but they got the job done. Backward crossovers were trickier, and she knew they were messy. Still, she hated the way Caitlyn’s sharp gaze followed her every move, like a hawk waiting to pounce.

“Stop,” Caitlyn called, her voice cutting through the rink. Vi skidded to a halt, frowning as she turned around.

“You’re all over the place,” Caitlyn said, her arms crossed. “Your weight isn’t centered, and you’re putting way too much pressure on the wrong edges. You’re basically skating flat footed.”

Vi blinked, annoyed. “Flat footed? I’m on skates, genius. That doesn’t even make sense.”

Caitlyn’s brow furrowed. “It does if you actually understand edge work. Your outside edges are a mess, and your balance is awful. If you don’t fix that, you’re going to keep tripping over yourself.”

Vi felt heat rising in her cheeks. Who did this girl think she was? “Oh, I’m sorry,” she shot back, crossing her arms. “I didn’t realize I was taking lessons from the Ice Queen herself. Look, I’m not trying to be a ballerina out here. I just need to skate good enough for hockey.”

“And that’s exactly why you’re here,” Caitlyn snapped, her tone growing sharper. “Because “good enough” isn’t cutting it. Do you think I care about your slap shot or whatever? If you can’t skate properly, you’ll never be as fast or as agile as you need to be.”

Vi clenched her fists. “Yeah, because figure skating and hockey are totally the same thing. You twirl around in sequins, I’m trying not to get checked into the boards. Pretty different.”

Caitlyn stepped closer, her eyes narrowing. “Skating is skating. Edges, balance, control… they’re the same, no matter what you’re doing. You don’t like it? Fine. Keep skating like that and see how far it gets you.”

Vi’s chest tightened. She wanted to fire back with something, anything, but Caitlyn’s words were starting to hit a nerve. She knew she had room for improvement. That was the whole reason Coach Sevika had sent her here. But hearing it laid out so bluntly by someone like Caitlyn, perfect, polished Caitlyn, made her blood boil.
“You think you’re better than me just because you can spin around in circles?” Vi snapped. “At least I’m not out here trying to look pretty for judges.”

Caitlyn’s jaw tightened, her voice cold like the ice they were standing on. “And at least I don’t make excuses when someone points out what I’m doing wrong.”

Vi glared at her, her hands balled into fists inside her gloves. She wanted to yell, to skate away, to do anything but stand there and take this. But deep down, she knew Caitlyn was right, at least about her edges. She hated that even more.

Finally, Vi let out a frustrated sigh and looked away. “Fine,” she muttered, barely loud enough to hear herself. “What do you want me to do?”

“Start over,” Caitlyn said, her tone softer now but still firm. “This time, listen.”

Vi nodded, though her pride still stung. She pushed off, her skates cutting into the ice, and decided to give it another shot.

Vi pushed off into her next set of crossovers, this time focusing on what Caitlyn had said about balance and edge control. It wasn’t perfect, but it felt smoother. She glanced at Caitlyn as she slowed to a stop near the boards, catching the other girl’s sharp eyes narrowing, her arms still crossed.

“Well?” Vi asked, smirking. “That better, or am I still skating like a baby deer?”

Caitlyn sighed, rubbing her temple. “It’s... a little better. You’re still uneven in your transitions, and your outside edge on the left skate is weak.”

Vi raised an eyebrow, her smirk widening. “Weak, huh? Guess I’ll just have to build it up. Maybe you can hold my hand next time. For balance, of course.”

Caitlyn blinked, clearly caught off guard. Her mouth opened slightly, but no words came out for a second. She looked away quickly, her cheeks faintly pink. “That’s... not necessary. You just need to focus on your technique.”

Vi chuckled as she skated closer, resting her hands casually on the boards. “Come on, Princess, lighten up. You’re way too serious. I bet you don’t even crack a smile when you land one of those fancy spins, do you?”

Caitlyn glared at her, though her blush deepened. “It’s not about smiling. It’s about precision and discipline. Something you could use more of.”

“Precision and discipline,” Vi repeated, leaning in just enough to make Caitlyn shift uncomfortably. “Yeah, I can tell you’re all about that. So serious, so focused. Must be exhausting being perfect all the time.”

“I’m not perfect,” Caitlyn shot back quickly, her voice defensive.

Vi grinned, catching the slight crack in Caitlyn’s icy exterior. “Could’ve fooled me. You’ve got that whole ‘cool and untouchable’ thing down. Kinda hot, honestly.”
Caitlyn’s eyes widened, and she took a step back, nearly bumping into the boards. “I—what?”

Vi’s grin only widened. “Relax, I’m just messing with you. Mostly.”

Caitlyn cleared her throat, clearly trying to regain her composure. “We’re here to work on your skating, not... whatever this is.”

“Whatever this is,” Vi echoed her piltovan accent teasingly. “Got it. No more compliments. I’ll just focus on my weak left edge.” She pushed off into another drill, but not before shooting Caitlyn a wink over her shoulder.

Caitlyn stood there, her arms stiffly crossed again, her face still a faint shade of pink. She exhaled sharply, muttering under her breath as she watched Vi skate away.

As the hour wound down, Caitlyn called out, “Alright, that’s enough for today.” She tried to keep her voice steady, but Vi’s relentless teasing had left her feeling more frazzled than she cared to admit.

Vi skated over, stopping with a practiced ease that Caitlyn grudgingly noted. “So, how’d I do, Coach?” she asked, her smirk firmly back in place.

Caitlyn gave her a critical once-over. “Better,” she admitted reluctantly. “Your balance improved once you actually started listening. But your outside edges still need work, especially on turns.”

Vi laughed, leaning casually on the boards. “Aw, thanks, Princess. That almost sounded like a compliment.”

Caitlyn rolled her eyes, grabbing her water bottle from the bench. “Never.”

“Too late,” Vi quipped, pulling off her gloves and stuffing them into her pockets. She paused, tilting her head. “You know, you’re not as scary as people say.”

Caitlyn froze mid-sip, lowering the bottle slowly. “Excuse me?”

Vi shrugged, grinning. “People talk. They say you’re all ice and no heart, but I don’t know. I think there’s more to you than that. Not much more, you're still a bitch. but... some.”

Caitlyn stared at her, torn between being offended and flattered. “Do you ever stop talking?”

“Nope,” Vi said cheerfully, pushing away from the boards.

As Vi made her way toward the exit, she suddenly stopped and spun back around, skating up to Caitlyn, who was gathering her items.

“Hey, wait a second,” Vi said, her grin mischievous. “Before I go, how about you show me one of those fancy skating tricks you’re always doing? You know, a spin or a jump or something.”

Caitlyn looked at her, raising an eyebrow. “A ‘fancy trick’?”

“Yeah,” Vi said, leaning casually on the boards. “Come on, I’ve seen you out here. You glide around like a freaking swan or something. Show me what you’ve got.”
Caitlyn sighed. “This isn’t part of your lesson.”

“Technically, the lesson’s over,” Vi shot back, her smirk widening. “Consider it... a bonus round. Unless you’re scared.”

Caitlyn rolled her eyes but got to her feet, stepping gracefully onto the ice. “Fine. One “trick”. But pay attention—I’m not doing this again.”

Vi straightened up, clearly enjoying herself. “Oh, I’m all eyes, Princess. Blow me away.”

Caitlyn skated to the center of the rink, the smooth, practiced movements of her warm-up betraying years of muscle memory. She took a deep breath, pushed off, and launched into a flawless layback spin. Her body arched beautifully, one arm reaching gracefully above her head as she spun faster and faster, the sound of her blades carving the ice filling the rink.

Vi watched, her smirk fading as she stared. Caitlyn slowed to a stop, transitioning into a controlled spiral that showcased her balance and precision before skating back toward Vi.

“There,” Caitlyn said flatly, stopping in front of her. “Happy?”

Vi blinked, then let out a low whistle. “Okay, I gotta admit—that was impressive. Like, actually impressive.”

Caitlyn tilted her head, trying not to look smug. “I told you. It’s all about balance and control.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Vi said, waving a hand. “You’re good. I get it. But, uh...” Her grin returned, teasing. “Can you teach me how to do that? You know, when you’re not busy being perfect.”

Caitlyn blinked, momentarily caught off guard. She looked away, her cheeks faintly pink. “That’s... not exactly a hockey move.”

“Who cares?” Vi said, widening her grin. “It looked badass. Might throw off the other team if I whip that out during a game.”

Caitlyn shook her head, suppressing a small smile. “You’re impossible.”

“And you’re starting to like me,” Vi countered, skating backward with ease. “Admit it, Princess.”

“Not a chance,” Caitlyn replied, though her voice lacked its usual sharpness.

As Vi lingered near the boards, still grinning, Caitlyn exhaled sharply, slipping back onto the ice.

“Alright, fine,” Caitlyn said, skating up to her. “I’ll show you something simple. But don’t get your hopes up—you’re not going to look like a figure skater on your first try.”

Vi’s grin widened. “Princess, if anyone can pull it off, it’s me.”

Caitlyn ignored the comment, moving to the center of the rink and gesturing for Vi to follow. “We’ll start with a two-foot spin. It’s basic, but it’ll give you the feel for balance and control.”

Vi skated over, stopping a little clumsily in front of Caitlyn. “Alright, show me the magic.”

Caitlyn rolled her eyes but demonstrated the spin with ease. She bent her knees slightly, shifted her weight to the balls of her feet, and began rotating in place. Her arms moved fluidly, and she came to a smooth stop after a few rotations.

“It’s all about keeping your weight centered,” Caitlyn explained, straightening. “Start with a slight bend in your knees, then push off just enough to get a little momentum. Keep your arms out for balance at first, then pull them in as you spin to go faster.”

Vi nodded, stepping into position. “Okay, I’ve got this. Watch and learn.”

She tried to mimic Caitlyn’s movement, bending her knees and pushing off. At first, she managed a slow rotation, but her balance wavered, and she stumbled sideways.

Caitlyn bit back a laugh. “Not bad for a first attempt. Try it again, but this time, focus on staying centered. You’re leaning too much to one side.”
Vi frowned, determined. “Alright, round two.”

She tried again, this time keeping her weight more even. She managed a couple of clumsy spins before stopping abruptly, arms flailing to keep her balance.

“Better,” Caitlyn said, stepping closer. “But you need to keep your arms steady. If they’re all over the place, you’ll lose control.”

Vi grinned at her, wiping a bit of sweat off her forehead. “You make it look so easy. It’s annoying.”

“It’s called practice,” Caitlyn replied, though her tone was softer. “Now try it one more time.”

Vi nodded, taking a deep breath before pushing off again. This time, her spin was smoother, more controlled. She managed three full rotations before stopping, a triumphant grin spreading across her face.

“Ha! Nailed it!” Vi said, raising her arms in victory.

Caitlyn crossed her arms, a small smile tugging at her lips. “It’s a start. Just don’t try to spin in the middle of a hockey game.”

“No promises,” Vi said, skating up to her. “Admit it, though, I’m a natural.”

“You’re passable,” Caitlyn replied, but there was a faint warmth in her voice.

Vi nudged her playfully. “You’ll be teaching me those fancy jumps in no time.”

Caitlyn shook her head, already regretting her decision. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”

As they skated back toward the boards, Vi was still riding the high of her semi successful spin. She glanced at Caitlyn, a teasing grin lighting up her face.

“Seriously, though,” Vi said, wiping some sweat from her brow, “how are you so perfect at this stuff? Like, do you ever screw anything up? Or is it just all flawless twirls and sparkles 24/7?”

Caitlyn rolled her eyes, clearly used to this kind of ribbing. “It’s called hard work. Maybe you should try it sometime.”

“Oh, I work hard,” Vi shot back, skating in a lazy circle around Caitlyn. “But, like, it’s not just your skating. You’re like... annoyingly perfect. Perfect moves, perfect posture...” She paused, smirking. “Perfect body… bet you never even think about what you eat.”

The words were meant to be harmless, another flippant joke, but as soon as they left her mouth, Vi noticed the subtle shift in Caitlyn’s expression. Her jaw tightened, her eyes darkened, and her posture stiffened like she’d just been struck.

Caitlyn’s voice was quiet but sharp. “You don’t know anything about me.”

Vi stopped skating, her grin fading. “Whoa, hey, I didn’t mean anything by it...”

But Caitlyn was already skating away, her movements abrupt and faster than usual. She didn’t say another word, disappearing toward the opposite end of the rink, leaving Vi standing there, guilt twisting in her chest.

Vi sighed, running a hand through her hair. “Great job, genius,” she muttered to herself. She wanted to chase after Caitlyn, to explain, but something about the way Caitlyn had looked, hurt and angry, kept her rooted to the ice.

For the first time that morning, Vi felt like maybe she’d gone too far.