Love Me Not

Chapter 10

“Eve smile,” Wakaba prompted and Eve acquiesced bitterly forcing a grin onto her face. She’d been roped into going out with Gabby, Kaetlyn and Wakaba to pick out costumes for their quartet. She’d known a however that it was just a conveniently timed excuse designed to get Eve out of the hotel and into the city so that they could get what they wanted out of her. 

The two boys had kept it incredibly close to their chest and refused to give out the details and all they knew about Eve’s response was from Alina her roommate. The 15 year old had just held the older girl close for hours once Eve had returned to her room not needing to ask any question. 

“What’s your performance about anyways?” Eve questioned shifting the focus off herself adeptly. 

Gabby looked at her sharply and Eve could tell that she knew what she was trying to do but tossing her hair behind on one side she answered, “It’s ‘With a little help from my friends’ –we’re like the female Beetles cause there’s four of us.”

“Sgt Pepper I like that,” Eve agreed playing through the song in her head. “So what were you thinking plot wise?”

“We are not sure but it will orientate around us providing support to each other that will allow us to do what we didn’t think we could.” Kaetlyn answered and Eve liked the concept. It worked will with the simplicity of the song and would convey well in a large busy show. 

“Where is Tessa?” Wakaba asked as though she had only just realised that the older Canadian skater wasn’t there.

Kaetlyn shrugged, “She said that she had to stay at home and recommended that we bring Eve along to fill her spot. I think her and Scott are having one of their arguments again.” 

“What’s happened?” Eve asked. The pair of them were the strongest power couple in the figure skating world on ice and off it despite not and Eve couldn’t imagine the two not playing their parts as the parents of the group. 

“Scott probably got back together with his girlfriend. The pair of them have an one and off relationship and whenever they get back together Tessa and Scott argue. It’ll blow over in a few days,” Kaetlyn explained breezily. “I’ll check on her once we get home to make sure everything is cool once we get back.”

“Sure,” Eve responded unsure of what else she ought say. 

They walked along in companionable silence for a few minutes until Wakaba pointed out that they had reached the mall. 

…

Inside the mall itself it was like another world to that outside with architectural features in the roof and slabs of marble that covered the floor. She could see the large enticing shop windows that opened up into the smaller individual stores, which were full of clothes 

Normally their costumes would be handmade and designed by professionals but for this task so to speak they had to come up with costumes themselves which meant that they would have to by the basic garment and then add the extra details to tie the costume together by hand. No one was looking forward to that grunt work which was why the girls had decided to go out together to make buying the base garments an enjoyable experience at least. 

“What’s the vibe you are thinking of going for,” Eve asked unsure of what to look for as they walked through the shopping center. There were no shortage of beautiful garments but they needed to know what they were supposed to actually be looking for. 

“We weren’t sure but were thinking to just get four relatively pretty simple dresses which are similar save in different colours and we can always add some rhinestones to jazz them up,” Kaetlyn answered looking pensive as though she was thinking through the groups discussions. 

Eve nodded appreciatively, “That would work. Are there any shops here that you know which offer what we are looking for.”

Gabby smiled, “Apparently there is aplace to go to buy budget figure skating costume which look half way decent. At least, Tessa, who knows everything about this tour back to front and is probably running it. recommended it to us. 

“What are you dawdling for then,” Wakaba complained gesturing for the other three girls to hurry up and join her in her march towards their destination. 

…

“That dress is beautiful,” Kaetlyn said approaching Eve and the younger figure skater started in shock. 

She snatched her hands away from the offending garment. “It’s nice,” she said nonchalantly. With a delicate neckline and lace sleeves whilst the skirt was a good length for her to skate in it looked as though it had been made for her.. The dress itself was a blush pink that was so close to white that one could almost not tell. It was beautiful and Eve could see herself dancing Dido in that dress. “How’s you costume hunt going on?”

“It’s good Wakaba and Gabby are currently fighting over who gets to wear the turquoise dress in the design that we chose as they can’t decide whose colouring it would suit better but Eve I known you for long enough to know that you are trying to distract me and divert my attention from the mater at hand. What are you thinking about.” Kaetlyn said her focus heavy on the younger skater and Eve averted her eyes to avoid Kaetlyn’s searching gaze. 

Eve shook her head firmly trying to turn Kaetlyn’s attention of herself, “Nothing it’s just a pretty dress.” 

“What’s your duet about cause you could use it for that.” Katelyn asked thinking for a few seconds. “You said that it was quite a lyrical performance.”

“No it wouldn’t work,” Eve said disagreeing emphatically. She could see herself dancing in that dress with Yas by her side but she blinked away the image. “Not anymore.”

“Eve are you okay,” Katelyn asked staring at the younger girl fiercely. 

Eve stepped back quickly as though to get out of the situation and away from Kaetlyn and her searching gaze, “Why do you ask?” She wanted to lie but she couldn’t make herself do it. 

“You don’t look well Eve-you’re too pale, your eyes are puffy and slightly bloodshot and your smiles are too wide and fake,” Katelyn said perceptively and Eve shrunk into herself had she been so obvious. “ I’m worried about you. We all are.”

Eve shook her head and her hands clenched into loose fists, “I’m fine I promise. It’s just been a bit awkward with Yas recently.” 

“If you feel as well as you claim to then you must try the dress on—you’ll look beautiful in it,” Katelyn said sternly and Eve reluctantly turned to grab the dress and walk to the dressing room. She glanced back to see that Katelyn was talking to Gabby and Wakaba looking serious and she turned back quickly moving towards the changing rooms. 

....

“Yas we need to talk to you,” Gabby said headin around the corner. Yas’s eyes widened slightly seeing Gabby heading towards him flanked by Wakaba and Katelyn. 

“What about,” Yas said backing up a step or two away from the three girls who were heading at him.

Katelyn smiled brightly and Yas could tell that it was fake, “What went down between you and Eve

“Nothing,” Yas protested trying to back away from the three girls who were smiling at him intimidatingly brightly with their teeth showing. “We had a slight disagreement a day or so ago,” he finally said significantly abridging the truth.

“A slight disagreement.” Wakaba said raising an eyebrow dubiously as though to damn Yas for not speaking the truth. 

Yas ran a hand through his dark hair, “We argued. I said some things that I regret and I tried to apologise but she’s still mad.”

Gabby glances towards Katelyn before looking Yas her face murderous, “What did you do? She’d have forgiven you if you’d done almost anything to her.” 

“Tell us,” Katelyn said menacingly supporting Gabby. 

Yas looked down unwilling to tell anyone else but the three girls stepped forwards towards him and his resolve crumbled, “I was mad and might have told her she deserved to loose to Zagitova.” The words spilled of him as fast as they could and he glanced up as though to appraise their faces. 

Wakaba stepped forwards angry, “You did what?” 

Gabby grabbed her shoulder and whispered something in her ear that Yas couldn’t hear. “What are you going to do about it?” She asked. 

“I’m not sure I tried to apologise but I’m not sure how to make her forgive me,” Yas said appealing to them in the hopes that they would provide him with an answer. 

“You have one last chance otherwise we’re not going to let you get anywhere near Eve again. You better not mess this up because that girl deserves better than your crap.” Katelyn said staring down the Japanese skater. The three girls turned together and left Yas behind in the corridor. 

.... 

“Eve can you wait a second,” Eve heard a voice yell after her. She was going to try to find the other girls in the lounge—they had disappeared as soon as they had returned to the hotel leaving Eve to carry all the bags from their shopping in. They had been heavy and carting them to Kaetlyn’s room that she shared with Gabby had taken her forever and now she just wanted to sit down somewhere and relax. 

She turned to see Yas jogging to catch up with her and part of her wanted to run away or to ignore him as though he hadn’t spoken or called her name. Instead she merely raised her chin as though to confront him and asked, “What is it?” 

“I need to tell you about what happened on the first night on the balcony. I backed out of telling you before but I need to tell you.” Yas said his face deadly earnest. “You tried to kiss me but you were drunk so I didn’t want to take advantage of you so I kept it secret when you didn’t remember.”

“So you finally decided to man up and tell me,” Eve said trying to look unimpressed. She was relieved that she had finally gotten him to tell her the truth but that didn’t make it better. He hadn't told her for days and she couldn't help but feel it was too little too late. Besides its not as though this had any relation to what he’d said to her a few days ago. If all he had done was lie o her that she would have been able to forgive him but as it were apologising for this wasn’t exactly sufficient. 

Yas looked puzzled and slightly confused. “Wait so you knew all along even when I was trying to say something at breakfast and when I pretended that nothing had happened.” 

“I never forgot,” Eve said turning away from the other skater her memories flashing back to being stuck on that balcony and the freezing cold. “That’s one of the only parts of that night that I can actually remember.”

“So I’ve been stressing about telling you for no reason,” Yas said laughing at Eve before breaking off when she fixed him with a frosty glare. “Why did you lie?”

Eve looked down unwilling to meet Yas’s eyes. She had hoped that he wouldn’t bring that up because she had regretted that silly decision of hers almost immediately.. “Why didn’t you tell me?” She asked to turn the focus from herself onto Yas.

“I’m not sure,” Yas said after a few seconds looking thoughtful.

“Work that out and then we can consider talking again.” Eve said before turning to leave Yas alone in the corridor frozen whilst she hurried forwards away from him to find the others.