Dance of a Lifetime

by Frank Downey

  "And we've squirrled a lot of money away," Sophie told her, "and we have a few more endorsement deals coming up after school gets out for the summer. So I'm not going to be working when Warren's in med school. Except we'll probably still choreograph. And that's mostly going to be me if he's in med school."

  "And that'll make things a lot easier," Warren said. "Having Sophie home with the kid."

  "Well, if I have my way, kids by then," Sophie grinned. "I want him to put another baby in me as soon as the Olympics are over."

  "And I won't take much convincing," Warren smiled. "We always said we wanted a houseful of kids. We just started too early. As much as we love Betsy, and we're glad we had her, it's not easy," he sighed. "Kris, try not to get pregnant until college is over, OK? It's easier." Then he grinned. "Of course, why on earth am I telling this to my innocent, naive, virginal sister?"

  Kristin blushed bright red, and got a strange look on her face.

  "OK, hold on!" Sophie burst out. "I saw that blush! And that sheepish little look!"

  "Huh?" Warren said.

  "Warren, I think innocent, naïve, and virginal is erroneous," Sophia grinned. Kristin gasped, and blushed deeper. "Well?' Sophie demanded, still grinning.

  "Oh, all right," Kristin sighed. Then she smiled softly. "New Years Eve."

  "Congratulations!" Sophie said.

  "OK, I'm slow on the uptake," Warren said.

  "Tom took my virginity on New Year's Eve," Kristin confirmed softly.

  "Wow. Color me stunned," Warren laughed. "Was it OK?"

  "Yeah," Kristin grinned.

  "He didn't push you, I hope," Warren said sternly.

  "Tom?" Kris laughed. "Yeah, right. Warren, in the way he treats girls, Tom's like you. I initiated everything."

  "Yeah, I remember that," Warren laughed.

  "I'll bet you do," Sophie chimed in.

  "No, this was my decision," Kris continued.

  "Any regrets?" Warren asked.

  "Not one," Kris smiled. "Oh, and he's moving, because his coach got a better opportunity. He's moving to Acton."

  "That's great!"

  "I can't wait to go to nationals!" Kristin enthused.

  "Oh, isn't that sweet," Warren teased. "She's all excited to go see her big brother skate. I'm touched, Kris, I really am."

  "Whatever you say," Kris laughed.

  They arrived at Nationals, which were in Denver this year, January 10th. Warren celebrated his birthday the next day-his 21st-by practicing. "Well, at least I will be able to buy the champagne for our one-year anniversary," he joked. On the next day, there was a phone call in their hotel room. Curtis wanted to meet him, to talk. He specifically asked for Warren. Sophie, knowing why, just laughed.

  Warren was commonly thought-and obviously by Curtis-to be the reasonable member of the team. Sophie was the loose cannon. Of course, that only works if you don't know, as Curtis didn't, that both the Pink and True Colors exhibitions were Warren's idea. They both knew this existed, and they both found it amusing. Neither of them were afraid to break rules-and Warren was the one whose artistic vision more often strayed "out there". Not that Sophie disagreed with any of this, mind you. But the vision of the team that lots of outsiders had-that of Sophie the extremist twisting Warren's arm to go along with her-was erroneous.

  Warren was willing to play his part, however, and met Curtis at the coffee shop in the hotel.

  "First question. Any surprises with the exhibitions?" Curtis asked.

  "No," Warren laughed. "You've seen I Knew The Bride. If we do two, the other one will be to an REM song called At My Most Beautiful. It's romantic, it's sweet, and it's fully clothed. No worries."

  "OK. There has been a hubub within the USFSA at that Sports Illustrated article. Some people were offended by it. But, I have to tell you, some people, well, it made us think of a few things."

  "Do you really think there was a problem from the organization because of Sophie's pregnancy?"

  "From some people, yes," Warren told him. "We had things said."

  "Look, having a young skater get pregnant hasn't really happened," Curtis said. "We didn't know how to handle it."

  "Well maybe you should've talked to the Canadian Federation. I wonder if they feel good about completely abandoning Kristy Sargent when she got pregnant years ago? 18 years old, unmarried, her boyfriend dumps her, her partner dumps her, and the federation writes her off. It's a miracle she was able to come back and start winning Canadian championships again. At least Sophie and I had each other."

  "Look, an unmarried skater getting pregnant at 19 is a scandal."

  "What is this, 1950?" Warren laughed. "Happens all the time, Curtis. It was a mistake and an accident and bad timing, but a 'scandal' it was not. The fact that some people at the USFSA thought it was is what frosted our bottoms."

  "OK. I do think you guys might have had a bit of a legitimate complaint on that. But why do these things build on each other?"

  "What do you mean?"

  "It's a constant game of one-upsmanship."

  "You're wrong," Warren told him. "The only thing we've ever done as one-upsmanship was True Colors. Pink wasn't. Pink was an artistic choice based solely on that. We didn't think of how anyone would react."

  "Come on, Warren! How would you think there wouldn't have been a reaction to that!" Curtis said.

  "You read the SI article. It's all in there. Michael Weiss. And, I have to say, that we got criticism and Allison Bowman didn't-well, that really pissed us off. Jesus, Curtis. First of all, we choreograph our own stuff so we don't skate a step we haven't designed. Can Allison say that? Someone made her skate that program. And that program bordered on kiddy porn. Sophie and I are adults. And we look it. Every pedophile that watched nationals is drooling over Allison. Quite honestly, I almost called her 'camp' and offered to do her exhibition this year, but she's coached by Ron Aztov and he's a complete ass. They're playing with fire with her, and she's a talented skater. And we get the flack from you."

  Curtis sighed. "Well, I thought you'd be reasonable. We were trying to use you as an example." He sighed again. "We knew that would never work with Ron Aztov."

  "Ah," Warren said. "I see. But it was still stupid, Curtis. Allison needs protecting. She's 15-well, she's 16 now-she still looks 13. She's a minor. If you go after Aztov in the guise of protecting Allison, you'd be looking like an organization that cares about the skaters. Since Sophie and I make our own decisions, and everybody knows it, you going after us only makes you look like prudes."

  "Yeah, but it wasn't just Pink. It was the Maxim thing, too."

  "Curtis, the Maxim thing was the greatest bit of publicity that American ice dance has gotten in a very, very long time-and you know it."

  "We're not sure we want that kind of publicity."

  "Remind me to remind you that you said that, when the television negotiations come up again," Warren laughed.

  "Touche," Curtis laughed back. "But True Colors was over the top."

  "Yep," Warren agreed. "We don't do things halfway."

  "Well, it's done, so that's why I wanted to talk to you-to make sure this thing doesn't escalate any further."

  "We won't if you won't. Curtis, don't push us."

  "Look, you're part of an organization."

  "Oh, fuck that," Warren told him. "Come on, Curtis, do you really believe that all-for-one bullshit? And we're the two people with more friends among our fellow skaters than anyone! But we don't react well to being pushed, no matter what fancy title someone has."

  "You need more discipline."

  "I am self disciplined, as is Sophie. We only react when pushed to the wall. Curtis, you need to remember that you are dealing with two rape victims, OK? When you push us into a corner, our first instinct is to go for your balls. That's never going to change. Stop pushing, and we back off."

  "Fine. How do we end this, right now?"

  "Easy. The way it stands now? We've made our point-however, to keep it from escalating, you
need to swear to me that the judging at this championships is on the up and up."

  "I swear it. That was an idle threat. The judges, in fact, have been specifically told not to pay attention to anything except what goes on on the ice here. It's been made clear. We don't need any more questions about the legitimacy of the sport." He sighed. "However, I can only speak for American judges, Warren. It might be different at Worlds. There are elements in the ISU that are pissed off at you-and the Eastern European, and Italian, and French judges have never liked you guys anyway."

  "Fine. That's not your problem. We won't take it as such. If you tell me American judges haven't been instructed to hammer us, that's good enough for me."

  The National Championships themselves were anti-climactic. The four defending champions-Warren and Sophie, Tom, Liz, and Brett and Andrea-won without a problem. The biggest near-upset was Evan and Shawna barely beating Courtney and Ryan for the silver.

  Warren and Sophie got to do both exhibitions. I Knew The Bride was well received, as it had been all fall, and the reception for At My Most Beautiful was rapturous. Liz did a thing that Warren had worked up for her, a playful number skated to Martina McBride's My Baby Love Me (Just The Way That I Am). Crash was in the audience to see it, he had flown out to Denver for Nationals.

  And Allison Bowman, who had moved up to the silver, did another kiddy porn number. This time, Curtis did say something to the press. "If we speak out about the Kellehers, two adults that do their own choreography, we have to speak out about this. This isn't Allison's fault, but her coach has to get his act together." Allison was distraught, but Warren caught up to her and quickly offered to choreograph an exhibition for her next year. She accepted. Her coach blew a gasket, but Warren told Allison, "Don't forget-coaches and choreographers work for you, not the other way around. Don't put up with it. He's got no say. This is your decision." Allison agreed-and Allison's mother, a nice woman who loved and worried about her daughter, backed her up. Allison would be visiting Boston to work with Warren and Sophie this summer. She asked Warren to do her competitive programs, as well. After checking with Liz-who didn't have any problems with Warren and Sophie doing both of them, even though they were competitors-Warren and Sophie agreed.

  "Another one for the stable," Sophie laughed.

  "Yup, because Liz, Tom, and Andrea and Brett all want to come to us again."

  "What a nice little sideline we've developed!"

  Chapter 133 - It All Falls Apart

  After Nationals, Warren and Sophie headed back to campus for spring semester. It would still be a challenge, but Warren's schedule was a bit more reasonable-three less credits, no labs, no Embryology and Genetics in the same semester-and Sophie's was manageable as well.

  They managed to grab a little more time for themselves. They were lying in bed one evening in February, after having made love.

  "Hey, I forgot to tell you," Warren said. "I heard from Crash earlier today, in between classes. He called." Warren grinned at Sophia. "He heard from his first-choice law school. He got in."

  "And where might that be?" Sophie smiled back.

  "UCLA."

  "Oh, man, I'll bet Liz is thrilled."

  "He called her last night. He told me he heard this scream come from the other end of the phone."

  Sophie cracked up. "I'll just bet. Well, look at this. Both of our long-distance relationships are resolving themselves. Crash is moving to LA, and Tom's going to be a mere hour away from your sister."

  "Yup. Boy, has my sister changed, or what?"

  "See what good lovin' will do?" Sophie giggled.

  "Yeah, I'll say. Hey, I always hoped that she'd find someone to get her out of her shell. Tom shattered her shell. Although, I must admit, I'm flabbergasted she's already slept with him."

  "She told me a little secret," Sophie grinned at him, "but I'm not sure it's something you want to know about your baby sister."

  Warren mock-glared at her. "Fine. Go ahead. You can't bait me like that."

  Sophie giggled. "Apparently, Kristin found out, and in one hell of a hurry, that she really really likes sex."

  "Oy. Ah well, I know she's careful." He looked at Sophie. "Speaking of careful, we need to watch out for that International Date Line thing again, what with Worlds being in Beijing."

  "Don't worry, Snugglebear, got it covered. Once bitten, twice shy, and all that."

  "No little sister or brother for Betsy?" Warren teased.

  "Sure. Just not now." She looked up at him slyly. "Once we get past this whole both of us in school and going to the Olympics thing, I plan to let you knock me up at will."

  "Ah," he laughed.

  * * *

  About a week later, there was a knock at the door. Warren answered it.

  "Alexa! How are you?" he said, letting her in.

  "Hey, Prep Stud," she teased. "Hiya, Betsy. Where's Sophie?"

  "Class. What brings you around?"

  "Just wanted to see you. We haven't had much time to hang out this year."

  "Don't I know it. Want a coke?"

  "Love one." They sat in the living room, chatting, watching Betsy toddle around.

  "So, how's Mike?" Warren asked.

  "Great. Do you realize we've been together for two and a half years? Me? With one guy that long?"

  "It must really be love," Warren teased.

  "It is. The M word has come up in conversation."

  "It's a frickin' parade to the altar, isn't it?" Warren laughed.

  "With you and Sophie in the lead, big surprise. And then Cait and Paul. Cait asked me to be her maid of honor."

  "Yeah, she's asked Sophie to be a bridesmaid. I'm going to be one of Paul's ushers. So, how are you dealing with monogamy?"

  "Fine. Really. I guess I'm a one-guy girl at heart, now that I've found the right guy," Alexa grinned.

  "Yeah, well, that's guys," Warren grinned.

  "Oh, that. Well, Mike knows about and doesn't mind my occasional dalliances with girls."

  "Ah," Warren laughed.

  "Just once in a while," Alexa told him. "Mike knows I'm bi. I kind of have a girlfriend. Her name's Eileen and she's a junior. She has a very steady boyfriend herself, both her guy and Mike know all about it. They're friends, so they'll go out with the boys, you know, and Eileen and I will stay in," she grinned.

  "Whatever works," Warren said.

  "Yeah. Well, you can't talk, I know all about Jessie."

  "Touche."

  "Anyhow. How are you holding up? I know things have been hectic."

  "Better this semester than last, but, yeah."

  "How do you manage?"

  "No sleep, no sex," Warren laughed. "Well, not enough sex. Not for the two of us."

  "Three times a day isn't enough for the two of you," Alexa teased.

  "Not quite but close," Warren admitted.

  "How is Sophie dealing with that?"

  "Better than you'd ever suspect," Warren told her. "She's fine. Horny, yes, but fine. It's different when you're living together. She sees what I'm going through with my schoolwork."

  "True."

  * * *

  Worlds were at the end of March in Beijing. It was a long flight, and Warren and Sophia were glad to get it over with. They rested in their hotel, then went to find some friends.

  Tom Bellamy was the first they happened upon. "Hey, Tom, how's my sister?" Warren asked with a laugh.

  "You're sister is great," Tom laughed back.

  "I figured I'd ask you-you see her more than I do."

  "Yeah, and even I don't see her enough. Soon, that'll all change. Thank goodness. I can't wait to move."

  "When?"

  "Terri's going up in the next month. I'll follow after the tour."

  "You doing the whole tour?" Warren asked him.

  "Yeah. Well, almost all of it. I'm taking a week off in May." He grinned. "I have to take some chick to her junior prom."

  "Cool," Warren laughed. "I'll bet she's thrilled."

  "Yeah.
She knew it would conflict with the tour, so didn't think I was going to take her. I surprised her."

  "Good!"

  They were soon joined by Liz, and the four of them took off to discover Beijing.

  * * *

  It started right away, with the first of the two original dances, the Bossa Nova. It looked to Sophia and Warren that the Judging Mafia had expanded. It wasn't just the usual suspects-Russia, Italy, France, Ukraine. Nope, Germany was in on it, the Czech Republic, Hungary, a few others. People were jockeying to move their teams up, and got in on the pre-judging. The ones left out in the cold were Sophia and Warren, the British team, and the Irish (who had no judge on the panel). The French finished a laughable first, the young Russian team were second, the Italians third, the Hungarians fourth, and the Ukrainians fifth. Sophie and Warren finished sixth. Brenneman and Watts, the Brits, were all the way down in ninth. Evan and Shawna were dumped to eleventh.

  Things didn't change much in the second original dance. The young Russians and the French flip-flopped, leaving them tied for first. Sophie and Warren beat the Ukrainians, putting them tied for fifth. But the lines were pretty much set, and Sophie and Warren had virtually no chance at a medal. Especially after the judges for the free dance were drawn-and the panel included judges from the five countries that were ahead of them, plus the Czechs and Germans, who were in on it.

  They finished sixth. The most laughable part was that the French, Borisina and Dravouche, won-with one of the most boring, simple, and tedious free dances in memory. If the Russians, Kuznetsova and Vassilyevskiy, had won, there might have been some justification. Their free dance was, at least, good. But too many people saw this terrible free dance win, saw the British team light up the audience with a powerful and difficult dance and finish ninth, and saw Sophie and Warren's terrific Aaron Copland dance finish sixth.