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Chapter Four

Off the Ice

When Issy woke up, she was lying in a clean white bed in a large room with lots of other beds in it.

‘Hello, my dear,’ said an ice sylph with short grey hair and a kind, no-nonsense manner. She was the school’s Matron. She poured Issy a glass of water. ‘I’m glad to see you awake. That was a nasty fall you took!’

‘I … I fell?’ mumbled Issy. Then it all came back to her. Touching her head, she winced. It really hurt!

‘You’ve got concussion,’ explained Matron. ‘The doctor says you’ll be right as snow in a day or two. But for now, I’m afraid you’re stuck in here. Don’t worry, you’ll still have time to practise for the competition once you’re better,’ she added. ‘I know that’s all you girls think about.’

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The competition! Somehow Issy had forgotten all about it. Yes, of course, she thought dazedly. She needed to practise.

‘Would you like to see Sophy?’ Matron asked with a smile. ‘She’s been waiting outside for hours.’

Sophy! Issy tried to sit up as their row came back to her. Ouch! Her head throbbed and she fell back against the pillows. ‘Yes, please,’ she said faintly.

Matron went off and a few minutes later Sophy came rushing in. ‘Oh, Issy!’ she cried, dropping into a chair beside Issy’s bed. ‘Are you OK? I’ve been so worried.’

Issy nodded. ‘It’s just concussion, Matron says. I’ll be OK in a day or two.’

Sophy grinned in relief. ‘That means you’ll still be able to be in the competition.’

Issy pictured the double axel at the end of her routine. She swallowed. ‘Yeah, isn’t that great?’ she said weakly.

‘And Is, I’m so sorry about our row,’ Sophy went on quickly. ‘I shouldn’t have said anything about Jo.’

‘That’s OK,’ said Issy awkwardly. ‘You were right. Jo does get at people too much sometimes. I shouldn’t have stormed off like that.’

Sophy looked uncomfortable. ‘You only did because she’s your friend and I was being horrid about her. I don’t blame you.’ She took a deep breath. ‘I – I suppose I’m sort of jealous.’

Issy stared at her in surprise. ‘Jealous? What for?’

Sophy gave an embarrassed shrug. ‘Well, you do have a lot in common with Jo, and – and the two of you are in the same dorm together, and –’

‘Sophy, don’t be daft!’ cried Issy. ‘I’ve got much more in common with you! No one else understands at all about how cool this land is.’

Sophy bit her lip, looking as if she wanted to believe Issy. ‘Really?’ she said.

‘Really,’ Issy assured her. ‘You’re my best friend, Sophy. Nothing can change that.’

Sophy’s face cleared. ‘Sorry,’ she said sheepishly. ‘I was being really stupid, wasn’t I?’

‘Yes!’ said Issy firmly and they both laughed.

‘Oh, I almost forgot!’ cried Sophy. She opened her bag. ‘I borrowed some books from Madame Longley for you to read, and Cobweb gave me some chocolate for you. And here’s your toothbrush too.’ She put the things on Issy’s bedside table. ‘Is there anything else you’d like?’

‘No thanks, this is brilliant,’ said Issy. Sophy was the best friend in the world!

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Matron reappeared, striding briskly across the sick bay. ‘I think that’s probably enough time now, Sophy. Issy needs to rest.’

Sophy nodded. ‘Bye,’ she said, getting up. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow. I guess you’ll be desperate to get on the ice as soon as possible to make up for missing today.’

‘Yeah,’ Issy said slowly. She waved as Sophy left. Then her smile faded as she thought again about practising for the competition. Issy realized she didn’t want to. What’s wrong with me? she thought in confusion.

Troubled, she picked up one of the books Sophy had left and tried to lose herself in the story. But although she stared at the words, all she could think about was the competition. She relived the moment where she had taken off into the air on her double axel, felt herself spinning, losing control …

No! Issy quickly stared at the book again.

The next morning the doctor said Issy could leave the sick bay, but that she wasn’t ready to do anything too active yet. Issy felt a rush of relief when she heard that. It is too early to get back on the ice, she told herself. It was a bad fall. He’s right. I need some time to recover.

Not sure what to do with herself, she wandered down to the rink while the others were having their lesson.

The three groups had all finished their footwork exercises and were now working on jumps and spins. The ice hummed with activity as the girls whizzed past, hardly noticing Issy as she stood in the shadows on the wrong side of the silver barrier. She shivered slightly as she watched them, feeling strangely shut out from the bright, busy world on the ice.

Milly picked up speed, her white skates a blur. Suddenly she leapt into a double axel. Issy caught her breath in alarm, not letting it out again until Milly had landed gracefully, gliding away across the ice.

Issy’s heart thudded wildly. I … I must still be a bit woozy, she thought. Maybe coming down here hadn’t been such a great idea.

As she started to turn away, there was a hiss of blades nearby. ‘Hey there!’ said Jo cheerfully, pausing at the barrier. ‘You’re out of the sick bay then. How are you?’

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‘Fine,’ said Issy, trying to smile.

Jo cocked her head to one side as she regarded her. ‘You look like you need cheering up, Is.’ A gleam came into her light-brown eyes. ‘And guess what? I think I’ve got just the thing!’

‘What?’ asked Issy in surprise. She hadn’t really expected Jo to notice that she was feeling down.

‘I’m not going to tell you yet,’ said Jo with a grin. ‘But it’s going to be amazing, I promise!’ Madame Li called to Jo then and she skated off, calling over her shoulder, ‘Just wait and see!’