NOT AGAIN (Chapter 88)

They were on the ice at the University of Wisconsin, in their first practice with Kathy Sleighter, their new coach there. She had met them over a cup of coffee, chatted a bit, and then asked them to do their programs from last year, so she could see them run through a couple of completed programs from close-up. "I wasn't at Nationals the last two years--I took a break from coaching to have a kid--so I've only seen you two on TV."

They ran through last year's original dance and free dance, then skated up to Kathy. "Oh my God, I can't believe your speed! You guys can get speed from the smallest movements, it's incredible."

"That's always been one of our strengths," Sophia said.

"That's a good question. What do you consider your strengths?"

"The speed thing, an ability to skate close together that's almost innate, a romantic style of presentation that appeals to an audience," Sophia said.

"Musical awareness, good choreographic sense, and we're a couple on the ice, not just two people skating together. We also match well physically." Warren added.

"What about weaknesses?' Kathy asked.

"Sometimes we get too into the music," Sophia said. "We go with our first musical instinct, and not necessarily our first technical or difficulty-enhancing instinct. We can be sloppy, especially on compulsories. Oh, and we can't act worth beans," Sophia added with a smile.

"Our musical choices can be anachronistic or unusual, which I consider a strength but others don't. Our line, the pointing of toes, that kind of stuff, needs work. Plus, we're mismatched in ability to some degree," Warren said.

"Oh, here we go again," Sophia said with a chuckle.

"What do you mean?" Kathy asked.

"One member of this team is a better skater than the other member of this team," Warren said. "Hint: I'm not the better one."

Kathy just laughed. "Warren, I did not see much disparity. Honestly. She's better on turns than you are, by a bit, and that's all."

"This is a very old conversation," Sophia told her. "When we started skating together, I was a lot better, because I had the dance background. He's caught up, but I can't convince him of that."

"Well, I hear it, actually. On the internet, and from commentators," Warren pointed out. "I don't know if that's just because she grabs more attention than I do, that might be it."

"What do you mean?" Kathy asked.

"Everybody watches her no matter what I'm doing," Warren said with a laugh.

"He's got a complex about this," Sophia said.

"Not really. I just know what is. Hey, if I were in the audience, I wouldn't be watching me, either."

"Maybe we can accentuate you, Warren, more than you have been," Kathy pointed out.

"Why? Heck, we're third in the world. If it ain't broke, don't fix it, right?" Warren said.

"Actually, our new OD does accentuate him, because there's so much fast footwork, which is his strength," Sophia pointed out.

"Let's see it," Kathy told them.

They ran through "If You Can't Rock Me" as Kathy watched, taking mental notes.

"Great. Let's see the new free dance." They did "Romeo and Juliet."

"OK," Kathy said. "Go get changed. We'll have a cup of coffee and talk."

They did, and met her in the snack bar a few minutes later.

"OK, here's my thoughts, and my plan. The OD is great, and it's on its way to being stupendous. No worries, we just need to touch it up."

"Agreed," said Sophia.

"OK. Romeo and Juliet needs work, but it's got the beginnings and potential to be fantastic. I love the concept, I love how you guys carry it out, but it needs work. Right now, that's the program that highlights two of your weaknesses--it's too reliant on the music, and it's too Sophia-centric. We need to add more difficulty, and especially more difficulty for Warren."

"OK," said Warren.

"Here's my plan. We nail the OD down now, because we need that right away. You can't do another OD at Skate Canada; you need to do a swing, so we need it ready for then. When you guys can skate it in your sleep, then we go to work on Romeo and Juliet. If it's not ready, and you have to do the Sinatra program for Skate Canada--heck, for the whole Grand Prix--who cares? Just as long as Romeo and Juliet is ready--and I mean really ready--for Nationals and the Olympics."

"Hmmmm. Never thought of it that way," Warren said.

"It's a good plan, though," Sophia said.

"Agreed," said Warren.

"Great!"

------------------------------------------------------

Classes had started, and Sophia had a problem. He was in her American History class, and his name was Michael Bjornsen.

He was a transfer, from Wisconsin-Green Bay, and was a sophomore Computer Science major. And he was seriously infatuated with Sophia.

She thought to herself, here we go again, but she knew that wasn't entirely accurate. He was not Eduardo, he was sweet and kind. And she didn't feel any sparks. But, boy, was he persistent.

"So, what are you doing this Saturday?" Michael asked her about a month into the semester, not for the first time.

"Mike, I'm busy," she said with a smile.

"Jeez, you're always busy."

"Mike, I've been trying to let you down easy, but that's not working," Sophia sighed. "I have a boyfriend. A very serious boyfriend."

"You do?"

"Yeah," she smiled. "I do like you, you know, and if I weren't attached, I'd think about it. But I am attached."

"No chance?" he asked her.

"Sorry. I've been with him for more than four years."

"Jeez, you should want some variety by now," Mike joked.

She couldn't help but laugh. "Nice try."

---------------------------------------------

Sophia never mentioned Warren's name to Mike. If she had, Mike would have discovered that his dream girl's boyfriend lived on his floor.

In fact, that evening, Mike was in Warren's room, bemoaning his plight. Papa Bear was also there.

"She's perfect. Beautiful, smart, sexy, funny, sweet. I've been asking her out since the first week of class, and she kept putting me off. She figured I'd get the hint and give up. No, not me--so she finally gets tired of my unceasing attention and spills the beans--she's got a boyfriend."

"Damn, that's rough," said Warren.

"Yup," agreed Paul.

"Ah, how would you guys know? You both have girlfriends. And Caitlin is a peach. I've never met yours, Warren."

"Yeah, she rooms with Cait, so it just seems I end up up there and Cait comes down here. You'll get to meet her today, though."

"Cool! Hey, be right back, got to use the can."

He walked back in about three minutes later.

"Damn! Guess what? My dream girl is walking down the hall. She just turned the corner--didn't see me. I ducked in here. Damn, what's she doing on this floor?"

"Maybe her boyfriend lives here," Paul pointed out.

"I know everybody's girlfriend on this floor, I think," Warren said. "Mike, what's her name?"

"Sophia. Sophia Daniels."

Warren tried to stifle his chuckle. It didn't work. "Well, Mike, I hate to tell you this, but she's about to knock on this door."

"Huh?"

"And another thing," Warren said, grinning, "I'd appreciate it if you didn't hit on my girlfriend, OK?"

Just then the door knocked. "Pookie?" Warren asked, and Sophia stepped through the door.

"Hi, Snugglebear. Hi Paul." Then she looked and saw Mike standing in the corner. "Mike? Hi, what are you doing here?"

"I live down the hall. I don't need to ask you what you're doing here, Warren just told me. I didn't know he was your boyfriend."

"Yup," she smiled.

"Great. Listen, I'll see you guys later, OK?" Mike hastily beat it out the door.

"There goes a lovesick human being," proclaimed Papa Bear. "Unrequited love sucks, I know that much."

"I know. He's a nice guy, too," Sophia said. "Damn, why did he have to fall for me? I hate hurting people."

"I know you do. If I had known Mike was the guy you were talking about that was hitting on you, I would have tried to let him down easy before this," Warren said.

----------------------------

Warren and Paul were eating breakfast the next morning, and were pleased to see Mike walk over with his tray of food to join them.

"Yo," he said. "Listen, Warren, I want to apologize for getting all goofy last night when Sophia showed up."

"No need," Warren said. "Been there, done that."

"What do you mean?"

"Look, when I first met Sophia, not only did she have a boyfriend, but said boyfriend…..well, let's just say that the boyfriend did not treat her well. So, not only was I dealing with the whole unrequited love thing, I also knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that she'd be a lot better off with me. And I was only fourteen at the time, and had never had so much as a date, much less a girlfriend. I shudder to think what would have happened if we hadn't finally got together."

"Yeah, I can see that," Mike said. "But, think of it this way--I know I've only known you for a month, but I know you well enough to have figured out that you probably treat Sophia like a princess."

"She'd agree with that," Warren said with a smile.

"Right. When 'the boyfriend' was just an abstract, I could dream, right? But when the boyfriend is Warren, my floormate, who I like--well, that's different. She's yours, I have no chance." He sighed. "Ah, hell, it was just an infatuation anyway. So, it was a little difficult yesterday, but I'm fine." He smiled at Warren. "Just so you understand what a lucky son of a bitch you are."

Warren smiled back, and said, "To a point. I am incredibly lucky, but I've also gone through hell for her, more than once. She's gone through hell for me, too."

"How serious are you guys?" Mike asked.

"Play your cards right, and you'll get invited to a wedding one of these days." Even Mike had to smile at that.

"Hey, guys!" They heard from behind them. It was Alexa. She came over and greeted Warren and Paul. Warren introduced her to Mike. They chatted for a bit, then Alexa made her way out the door.

Mike watched her go, then turned to Warren. "Who was that?"

"That was Alexa, one of my very best friends. She lives up on 15, she's a business major from Colorado."

"Wow. She's beautiful."

"That she is. Good kid, too." Warren smiled to himself.

-------------------------------------------------

A couple of days later, Paul and Cait were standing in front of Mike's room.

"Now, where do you want me to go?" Mike was asking them.

"To the ice rink, to watch Sophia and Warren practice."

"Practice what?"

"They are ice dancers," Cait told him. "In fact, they were third in the world this year, and they will be going to the Olympics hopefully in February."

"Wow, I didn't know that. That's cool, but I don't get much into ice skating, so why would I want to go watch?"

"Well," Paul said, "because Alexa is going to be there. I saw that look you gave her when you met her at breakfast the other day."

"I also know that she asked Warren about you, too," Cait said.

"Ah."

"It's perfect," Paul told him. "It's not a fix up. You're going to watch Sophia and Warren skate, right? She'll just happen to be there. And you'll have a chance to talk."

"OK. What the heck? Maybe I'll learn something about ice dancing, anyway."

------------------------------

Alexa was already there, and watched with interest as Mike walked in with Cait and Paul. He came over with them and sat down next to her.

"Hi!" she said.

"Hi."

"What are you doing here?"

"Ah, Paul and Caitlin convinced me I should come and watch this whole ice dancing thing."

"That's right, we'll get you cultured if it kills us!" Warren shouted from the ice.

"Could we have some skating, please?" Kathy told Warren and Sophia.

"You know, this was a lot more fun last year when you didn't have a coach," Paul teased. They actually all liked Kathy, who liked them right back.

"You just shut up, Papa Bear, or we'll get your ass down here," Kathy told him.

"Promises, promises."

They started working on Romeo and Juliet. Mike found himself watching, and enjoying it.

"I don't know nothing about ice dance, but it seems some of this stuff that they are doing is really difficult," Mike said.

"It is," Alexa told him. "What's considered difficult in ice dance is skating close together with complex footwork, and they do that a lot. This is actually a program that's not difficult enough yet--they're bulking it up with more steps and turns and stuff."

"Do you skate?"

Alexa laughed. "No. I just learned a lot watching them. It's fun for me, I like watching them. It's fascinating to watch these programs develop."

"I can see that."

"They're my best friends on campus, them and Paul and Cait there. I knew Warren first, and then got to know Sophia."

"Really?"

"Yeah. They were actually broken up for two months at the beginning of last year. That's when I got to know Warren. And when they got back together, I got to know Sophia."

"Damn. I should have been here last year."

Alexa laughed. "Got a thing for Sophia?"

"I did, until I found out she was the girlfriend of a guy I like a lot. Just infatuation, that's all."

"Well, if you had met her last year when they were broken up, you wouldn't have been so infatuated, because she was a shell of herself, from what I understand. It's a long story, suffice it to say that that breakup never should have happened. And they would have gotten back together in any case. Trust me, I know."

"Ah."

They chatted for a while after that, asking each other question about themselves.

"Hey," Mike said after a while, "are you busy Friday night?"

"No."

"You want to go out?"

"Love to!"

--------------------------------

Saturday morning, Alexa joined Warren and Sophia for breakfast.

"So, how was the date with Mike?" Sophia asked.

"Great. He's nice and sweet, and very funny. We went out to eat, then went to a party. I had a very good time. He walked me back to my room, gave me a kiss that made my hair stand on end, and then left. But we made another date for tonight."

"You didn't drag him into your bed?" Warren teased her.

"No," she smiled. "I figure I'll take it slow, let him take the lead. It'll be a whole new experience!"

---end of chapter----