Girls Only! by Beverly Lewis Page A

blue.
    “With Natalie Johnston?”
    Jenna’s mouth dropped open. “How’d you know?”
    Livvy told her about meeting Natalie and her studentsat the ice rink. “I see her working with her skaters several times a week. She seems really nice.”
    “My mom thought so, too. She interviewed her yesterday and toured her dance studio. I can’t wait.”
    Livvy’s heart sank. She wished she could say she was signing up. One thing at a time, her mother had always said.
    “It’ll be tough juggling gymnastics and ballet,” Jenna told her. “But I have my goals. And I decided not to try out for cheerleading.”
    “Me neither.”
    Jenna spooned up her chocolate ice cream. “Gotta keep focused.”
    “Speaking of that, I have a date with an ice rink,” Livvy said, grabbing a napkin out of the holder. She wiped up the melted mess off the table before excusing herself.
    “I’ll come by later,” Jenna said. “We can walk to my house afterward.”
    “Okay. See ya.” Livvy hurried the few yards through the café to the mall.
    She wasn’t too surprised to see Mr. Sterling again. He was wearing blue dress pants and a white long-sleeved shirt. He looked dashing, almost younger than his years. As usual, he sat on his favorite bench.
    Someone else was there, too. Mrs. Newton, all decked out in bangles and bows.
    “Ready for the show?” she asked, looking at both of them.
    “Skate away,” said Mrs. Newton. “That’s why we’re here.”
    Mr. Sterling inched up his shirt sleeve, studying his wrist watch. “Her Grace is right on time.” He chuckled and settled back against the bench.
    “I’ve learned my lesson about being late!” Livvy remembered the strange assignment she’d written for her homeroom teacher.
    Taking her time, she pulled on her skates. She’d learned so much already right here at this mall rink. By herself. Yet, to be honest about it, she knew that most of her practice methods had come straight from Elena. All those years with such a super coach . . .
    Livvy had come to accept the fact that she could only go so far on her own. Somehow, it seemed all right. Because today she would not daydream about performing for a huge audience. Today she would skate her heart out for two wonderful people. Two of her biggest fans.
    Above all, she would enjoy her skate session for herself. I’ll just have fun , she promised.
    She took the ice with more energy and dash than she’d ever known. At least since her arrival here.
    First one spin, then another. Fancy footwork across the width of the rink. Next, Livvy flew into the air, smilingas she practiced her jumps. She was having such a good time.
    When forty minutes had come and gone, she could hardly believe it! And she wouldn’t have known it if Mr. Sterling hadn’t waved his hands in the air. “Time for a break,” he called, motioning her to the sidelines.
    She flew across the ice to him.
    “Good, clean skating this afternoon.” He leaned on the railing that circled the rink.
    “Thanks.” She was surprised to see that he’d abandoned his bench. And glancing back, she realized that half of her audience was missing. “Too bad Mrs. Newton couldn’t stay around.”
    He nodded. “Oh, but she saw some splendid moves before she returned to work.”
    The playful flicker in his eye made Livvy wonder why Mrs. Newton had really come.
    She took a quick drink from her water bottle.
    “Olivia . . . I want to talk to you about something.” She couldn’t help but chuckle. “Do you have some more suggestions for me?”
    He pulled out his note pad, grinning. “What do you say I give you a few pointers?”
    “That all depends on how much you charge.”
    He reached for his pen. “We’ll settle that little issue later.”
    “You used to coach some of the very best skaters back east, didn’t you?”
    His eyebrows flew up and hovered over his pensive blue eyes. “You’ve done your homework on me, I see.”
    “I sure did. I called Elena, my former coach, and she