An Ice Queen for sale (Alice) novel Chapter 1

Chapter 1 Farewell

Alice

I rushed out of the building of the skater’s training room, trying to hold back my tears of goodbye. They were so nice to me, like always. I have got a beautiful necklace from my team to remember the time spent with them.

It was so hard to leave. My trainers were with me for three years, but to leave my best friend, Lucas, was the hardest. We have skated together since we were four years old.

We competed together at our first Junior Championship, and since then we always appeared in competitions together. We tried to skate in pairs a few times, and we got used to each other quickly. Our trainers said we could try to compete like a duo, but I was happier as a solo figure skater.

“Alice, wait.”

I closed my eyes when I heard him shouting. I turned around to see him running after me. His blonde hair was messy and his blue eyes were full of sadness.

He gasped for air. I knew he felt more towards me than friendship and I was thinking of trying to be with him recently, as he was the only boy who I ever got closer to, and I liked him too. I thought I could fall in love with him perhaps later.

But to think about that was too late. I knew arguing with my stepfather would end up badly, and I would be the victim, not him. I had no choice. I had to go.

“Didn’t you think about staying? There are so many good universities in Montreal. Why do you think the USA is better?”

I could not answer him in words. I just stepped closer, hugged and kept him tight.

When I heard the bus was coming, I let him go; I kissed his cheek, and I got into the vehicle hurriedly.

I sat down on the other side. I knew I could not watch his sad figure through the window. That would have broken me completely.

I wiped my tears, and I tried to watch the familiar view, but I saw nothing.

I left the bus one stop earlier than I should have. I wanted to walk a little, hoping to clear my mind, but I was still in the same state when I got home.

When I stepped in the front door, I heard my mum.

“Alice, is that you? Come and eat dinner.”

I did not say a word. I was not even sure she made dinner for all of us for real, but I just strolled to the dining room and sat down. There were three plates of cooked food awaiting us.

I was not surprised my stepfather had sat there already.

I hated him; He never touched me. I hated him for the years of mental abuse that he caused for me, and for the mental and physical harm he caused for my mother.