For the next two days, Issy practised her routine over and over again. To her delight, the double axel started to get easier. It was such an amazing feeling to leap so high and spin so quickly through the air.
‘Very good, Issy,’ commented Madame Letsworth when Issy had got the double axel right twice in a row. ‘You’ve made real progress with that jump.’ She turned away and blew her whistle to signal the end of the lesson. ‘All right, girls, that’s enough for now. We’ll have an hour’s break for lunch and then it’s time for your ballet class.’
Sophy skated across to join Issy as they left the ice. ‘You’re doing great with your routine. I saw that last double axel – it was fantastic!’
‘Thanks,’ said Issy with a grin. She remembered their conversation from before and, though she understood what Sophy had been saying, she still privately thought Sophy could maybe push herself a bit more. Still, Issy didn’t want to upset her so she smiled. ‘You’re doing great too. I hope one of us is going to win.’
As they changed out of their skates, Jo came over. ‘Hi, Is,’ she said, ignoring Sophy. ‘Maisie, Milly and me are going to go sledging. Do you want to come?’
‘Yeah,’ Issy said eagerly. ‘You’ll come too, won’t you, Sophy?’ She saw Jo and Sophy look at each other.
‘I think I’ll give it a miss,’ said Sophy. ‘I want to go and see the frost fairies in my dorm.’
‘OK, you do that,’ Jo said quickly, linking arms with Issy. ‘Come on, Is. Let’s go!’
It was fun sledging at lunchtime, but Issy kept thinking about Sophy and wishing she was there too. She caught up with her as they got changed into leotards and tights for their first afternoon class – a ballet lesson. Sophy seemed quiet and Issy had the feeling she was a bit upset. She could have come sledging, Issy told herself. But she still felt a bit bad.
In the ballet class, the girls all lined up at the long barre. Though Issy had done lots of gymnastics, she had never done ballet, and she found the moves difficult to get the hang of. Some of the other girls, like Milly and Jessica, had taken ballet for years and were very good at it, sweeping down into their pliés and rising up on their toes with their arms perfectly extended to the side, their movements flowing and smooth.
Madame Breshnev, their ballet teacher, checked each girl’s posture as she walked past. ‘Graceful lines, please!’ she called. ‘And rest.’ She went down the room to the music box.
As the girls relaxed, Cecilia, who was a few girls in front of Issy, gazed at herself in the mirror. ‘Oh, gosh, I haven’t got a spot, have I?’ she murmured worriedly, touching her chin. ‘Maybe the frost fairies can make me some spot cream …’
From behind her, Issy heard Jo sputter with laughter. ‘You know what Cecilia should do to show she’s brave enough to be the Ice Princess?’ she hissed to Issy. ‘She should go out in public with a hair out of place. Now that really would be brave!’
Issy giggled. Several other girls nearby had heard too. Sniggers floated around the classroom.
Cecilia had been so busy looking at her reflection that she hadn’t caught the remark. She looked at the giggling girls, her face confused. ‘What’s up?’
Jo smirked. ‘Oh, nothing.’ Her eyes glinted. ‘You’d better get some make-up on that spot though before you frighten the frost fairies!’ She grinned round at the others as she spoke.
Cecilia flushed. Issy saw Sophy open her mouth, but before she could say anything there was a bang as Madame Breshnev hit the floor with her stick.
‘Pay attention, please, girls! Now, from the start. First position …’
After class, Sophy seemed in a bit of a mood, grumpily shoving her ballet things into her locker.
‘What’s up?’ asked Issy.
Sophy made a face. ‘Jo.’ Glancing over her shoulder to make sure they were alone, she whispered, ‘I just don’t get why you’re friends with her.’
‘What do you mean?’ said Issy in surprise.
‘What do you think?’ Sophy’s hazel eyes flashed. ‘She was really mean to Cecilia back in class. Making everyone laugh at her like that and saying those things about her spot!’
Issy’s cheeks grew warm. Jo’s comment had made her giggle along with some of the others. ‘But I said something about Cecilia too, the other day,’ she pointed out uncomfortably. ‘What’s the difference?’
Sophy looked exasperated. ‘Because you didn’t do it to make everyone laugh at her. Jo is always getting at people and I think it was a horrible thing to do. Afterwards Cecilia couldn’t concentrate at all. I was watching her and she was really upset.’
Issy felt all hot and bothered. She couldn’t help thinking Sophy was right and she did feel guilty now for laughing at Cecilia, but she also didn’t want to be mean about Jo. ‘She didn’t say it to be horrible,’ she said defensively.
Sophy raised her eyebrows and stared at Issy.
‘Oh, you’re taking it all too seriously!’ Issy grabbed her things and headed for the door. ‘I’m going to go skating.’
Sophy sighed, looking as if she already regretted the row. ‘Issy …’
But Issy was already gone, banging the changing-room door behind her.
When Issy got on to the ice, she still felt upset and cross. She plunged into her routine like a whirlwind. No matter what problems she had, skating usually made her feel better. But right now it didn’t seem to be working its magic.
She landed the first double axel badly, wobbling on her right leg and tumbling on to the ice. She sighed as she got up. She had managed it before! Suddenly it almost seemed like it was Sophy’s fault that the jump was difficult again. Issy hated arguing with people. Why had Sophy got in a mood? Couldn’t she see that Jo just liked messing around?
Cecilia’s hurt face flashed into Issy’s mind. Maybe Sophy does have a point, a little voice at the back of her mind said.
Issy slammed it away. Just skate, she told herself. She zoomed about the ice, faster and faster. She’d do the double axel again. Ready … and … now!
Issy flung herself wildly into the air, spinning like a top. Once … twice … another half a rotation …
As she landed, Issy’s feet shot out from under her. Before she could scream, she hit the ice … and then the world went black.