She thought about calling Wells again, but his knee injury had put him out of skating for good and she knew it was an unreasonable request. Talked 2 abby & ur in luck! Bellamy blake is currently looking 4 a new partnr 2! LOL - M. Clarke groaned as she read the text over again, Marcus’ use of text talk never failed to amaze her as much as confuse her. Taking a deep breath, she turned the engine of the car on and set off home.Īs it turns out, Marcus did know someone who was looking for an ice dance partner. They said their goodbyes and Clarke hung up. He wasn’t her first choice of coach, but since technically her coach was Finn’s, there wasn’t much she could do about it now. She had met with him a couple of times, at functions her parents held. Marcus Kane, as Clarke recalled, was a very serious trainer. “I’ll see if Marcus knows anyone looking for a partner.” Abby said. “What am I gonna do, mom?” She asked as she rubbed her forehead, a headache already forming. The International Skating Union had no choice but to disqualify him from pairs ice dancing, so Clarke was left without a partner. Finn also missed the fine print in his contract that said he had to give six months’ notice before changing partners, which he hadn’t done. He explained this to his coach and to Raven, but not well enough. They’d done a few competitions but Finn had wanted to change partners. Finn had been ice dance partners with Raven Reyes since they could both skate, they’d basically grown up together on the ice. It’s over, I can’t go to the Olympics.”Ībby stayed quiet while Clarke explained everything. He already had a dance partner that he didn’t end his contract with. “Hey honey,” Abby’s voice seemed to calm Clarke somewhat. If anyone could find a way out of this, it was Abby. She took a deep breath and did what she always did when she was stressed or upset, and called her mom.Ībby Griffin, two times Olympic champion in ice dancing, knew almost every single person there was to call regarding ice dancing. She felt a lump form in her throat at the thought of not being able to compete, it had been her dream to compete at the winter Olympics since she understood what the Olympics were. How was she supposed to find a new partner now? How could he do this? The Olympics were in a few years, and the competitions were in less than a month. She hadn’t moved from the parking lot, too upset and angry to drive anywhere yet. Finn called after her, but she didn’t turn back.Ĭlarke gripped the steering wheel until her knuckles were white. She picked up her duffel bag from the locker room and made her way out of the training centre. “It’s nothing we can’t stop, Finn.” She said as she pulled her arm from his grasp. “I thought we had something good here,” he tried, grabbing her wrist.
“Your contract said you had to skate with Raven.” Finn sighed. “We can’t,” she replied, shaking her head. “No, Clarke.” He cut her off and she sighed. “There’s been a misunderstanding with my contract.” He said, his eyes pleading with her. Now, just months before they were set to go to competitions and get ready for the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, he’d been disqualified. They’d trained together almost every day for just over a year. So, she’d agree to dance with him and had even changed her entire team and management to fit to his schedule. But he had charisma and stage presence as Abby had put it. Clarke had been reluctant to choose Finn as an ice dance partner to begin with, he was cocky and he often showed up late to practice. “Sorry doesn’t even cut it.”įinn rolled his eyes and Clarke let out a groan in exasperation, rubbing her forehead as she contemplated what this meant for them. “We have been training for this for months.” Clarke ground out. Finn looked away and Clarke crossed her arms over her chest. People near them startled, but she was too angry to care.