Read Frozen Barriers for Free Online Page B

lips.
    Emily shifts slightly, but speaks up, “Hi, Courtney. It’s a pleasure meeting you. Yes, I remember Josh and Jeremy. It’s been a while, but you guys haven’t changed that much.”
    I laugh at that statement. Obviously, she didn’t believe that because she completely ignored me at the rink a little while ago. Emily must notice my attention to her statement, as she turns her head toward me and cocks her eyes as if asking me, What the fuck is your problem?
    Oh yeah, time for the games to begin. I bow my head, so only she can hear me. “Barbie, obviously, we all can’t look the same after eight years or else you wouldn’t have completely ignored my presence at the Forum just a few weeks ago. But, hey, we all can’t be as perfect as you.” Somehow, I think I may have sounded more annoyed than I wanted because she seriously looks wounded by my words and on the brink of tears. Shit. Her mouth drops open, and she turns her body away from me so all her attention is back on the rest of the group. Courtney, however, blatantly kicks my shin under the table, letting me know she heard my statement, and I guess it didn’t come out as I intended it to.
    “So, Emily,” Suzanne says, “what have you been doing all this time since you left the Forum club? I don’t usually see you on Facebook much since I graduated from college.”
    “My mother had me transfer to Boston Skating Club, and I attended Boston University for a while to major in geography, not that it did any good, though, since I’ve only been allowed to skate competitively for the last five years. I probably would have been able to stay in touch more had it not been for training and school.”
    Josh leans up on the table. “Funny you and little brother over here never ran into each other. He was apparently some hot shot on campus while he played hockey at BU.”
    “I never spent a lot of time on campus while I was there. I did a lot of my courses online because of my training schedule. Most of my competitions were during the school year, so I was either on the road or at the skating club until the season ended,” Emily explains with sadness in her voice.
    “Wow, you must be really good then if you travel that much for competitions. What’s the one place you’ve been to that you’ve absolutely loved?” Courtney’s eyes light up. “I love traveling. I just don’t have the money to go very far, but someday.”
    “Well, I love the traveling aspect of competing, which is why I majored in geography at BU. I love history, environments, and cultures, but I never really got to experience much of that while away. Probably the most visually stunning city I’ve been to is Paris,” Emily says with more enthusiasm.
    “Don’t let her fool you, Court. Emily here is the shit when it comes to skating! She ditched my skating club back in high school because she was that good. Isn’t that right, Em? In fact, she’s going to be one of the top contenders for the National Championship in Boston this year.” Suzanne is so excited she’s jumping in her seat.
    Not trying to be mean, but more inquisitive, I ask, “I’m surprised you’re still skating after all this time. I mean, for a figure skater, you’re what twenty-two now? You must be starting to think of what you want to do once your competing days are over.”
    Again, Courtney kicks my shin under the table. What the fuck? I scowl at her as she gives me a stern eye. What did I say?
    Emily looks at me, clearly taking my statement the wrong way. “Jeremy, I know I won’t physically be able to compete much longer, and although it’s not my first love, I really have no choice in the matter. As for what I plan to do after I am done, I’m not sure. I’ve never had that option to think about. My life. I’ve always had dreams of what my life would have been if not for skating or my parents, but I’ve never had that choice. So, if you want to sit here and try to make it sound as though I’m washed up at