Chapter 1

The air in the arena always smelled the same before a big competition, a mix of cold ice, sweat, and nervous energy.

Tonight, it felt different, heavier.

U.S. Nationals were tomorrow, the gateway to the Olympics.

My Olympic dream, my Grandma Rose' s dream, rested on these next few days.

I was Elara "Ellie" Vance, America's golden girl, or so they said.

The final team practice for synchronized skating was about to start, the one where they finalized the Olympic roster.

I was a key member. Or I thought I was.

I searched for my skates in my locker, but they weren't there.

Panic started to rise in my chest.

Ethan, my boyfriend, walked over, his smile a little too bright.

"Looking for these?" he asked, holding up my skates.

Relief washed over me, quickly followed by irritation.

"Ethan, not funny. We' re about to go on."

"Relax, Ellie. Just a little joke."

But then Tiffany Hayes, his childhood friend and my rival on the ice, slid up next to him.

Her smile was pure acid.

"Ellie, darling, you look a bit stressed," Tiffany said, her voice dripping with fake sweetness.

I ignored her. "Ethan, I need to get ready."

He nodded toward a side door. "They' re in the old equipment room, just down that hall. I put them there to keep them safe for you."

It sounded odd, but I was running out of time.

"Hurry," I said, more to myself, and rushed down the corridor.

The equipment room was at the very end, rarely used, dark.

I found my skates on a dusty shelf.

As I turned to leave, the heavy door slammed shut.

Click.

The lock turned from the outside.

I rattled the handle. Locked.

"Ethan?" I yelled, my voice echoing in the small, cold space. "Ethan, this isn't funny!"

Silence.

Then, I heard his voice, muffled through the thick door.

"You're a skating prodigy, Ellie. One missed meeting won't stop you."

His tone was light, almost careless.

"Tiffany needs this spot on the synchro team. She really does."

My blood ran cold.

Tiffany. This was about Tiffany.

"Ethan, open this door!" I screamed, banging on it with my fists. "Please!"

His voice came again, further away this time. "Don't worry about it, Ellie-baby. You'll be fine."

Then, only silence.

The cold of the room seeped into my bones, but a deeper chill spread through my heart.

He knew what this meeting meant. He knew.

And he chose Tiffany.