Disclaimer: This is a story about a relationship between two men if this offends you or you are not of legal age to read it (18 or 21 depending on where you live) please click the little "x" and the top of the page. Other wise enjoy
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First off I want to thank everyone for being so patient in waiting for this chapter and for everyone that has been sending me comments and suggestions about the story. I am planning to take some of the suggestions that y'all have given me and use them as the story develops. I was originally planning to write this chapter from Chris's point of view but as I was sitting down to start writing it I realized that what will be going on will be best told from Brian's. I do plan to write some chapters from Chris's point of view to give a new aspect and different view on the story. I hope everyone keeps reading and enjoying the story as it progresses and please keep sending me comments and suggestions.
A True Love Chapter 3
I guess its now or never I thought to myself as I stepped out on the ice for the first time in three years.
I tentatively stepped out onto the ice but stayed close to the wall so I could help Chris if he needed it, but also because I was worried about my ability to stand up on the ice. Chris followed me out on the ice but he stayed hanging on to the wall and pulled himself to where I was standing. For the first few minutes we were on the ice I helped Chris keep his balance and showed him how to push off to start moving and how to stop. While I was helping him it helped me build up my courage to move around more on the skates.
"So are you ready to venture out away from the wall now?" I ask Chris after a little while.
"No I don't want to fall and not be able to get back up and have to crawl back to the wall." Chris was laughing as he said it. He was a still a little unsteady on his feet but he was getting better.
"Ok, will you be ok by yourself for a little while, I want to go take a few laps around the rink."
"Go ahead I will be fine, I think I am figuring out how to stop and may join you in a few minutes." As Chris was saying this he hit the wall again. After I stopped laughing at Chris I went and make a couple laps around the ice and everything started coming back to me from the years before. I kept looking over at Chris to make sure he was doing ok and hadn't fell and hurt himself. I stopped over by where he was after a little while to see how he was doing. I watched him for a few minutes and he was doing a lot better then he had been doing when I left him earlier.
"How's your knee and ankle holding up?" Chris ask when he got back to the spot I was standing by the wall.
"They are doing fine, I have my braces on under my jeans" I said has I caught him when he was about to fall.
"So, do you feel like trying any of those fancy moves that you were doing on the tapes that we watched?"
"I don't know it's been awhile since I tried any of those, I know that I can't do any of the jumps" I was kind of hesitant to try anything since it had been so long.
"You don't have to if you don't want to babe; I just wanted to ask since there aren't that many people here." Chris put his hand on my shoulder and gave me a reassuring squeeze to let me know the decision was mine.
"I may go back out and try a couple things to see if I still know what I am doing, you going to be ok for awhile?" I was trying to stretch out my legs the best I could in a pair of somewhat baggy jeans.
"Go I will stay over here and watch" He gave me a gentle push off the wall.
I made a few rounds around the ice and made some turns and skated backwards, as I looked over to check on Chris I saw him and Tyler leaning on the wall and watching me and Chris had a big smile on his face. I waved at them when I went by them backwards; as I made the turn I started to do a few basic spins that I was confident that I could do. As I was coming out of the spins I felt alive for the first time in a long time and the person I was before started to come back to life. Every time I came back around in front of where Chris and Tyler where I did a different spin and started to do ones that I had used when I was competing and started to do different combinations of some of the spins. After a little while I completely forgot about my knee and ankle and started to skate like I was in practice again. I stopped when I say a little boy that had fell and was having trouble getting up, and helped him back to his feet and made sure he was ok.
"Mister I was watching you and you are really good skating, I wish I could do some of the tricks that you have been doing." The little boy told me when I helped him get back to the wall.
"Thanks buddy, I have been skating for a very long time, and I am Brian how old are you?" I ask as I kneeled down on the ice to his level.
"I am six and my name is David" The little boy smiled when he was talking to me.
"Well David, I have been skating since I was your age and maybe the next time I see you here I will teach you a couple tricks that you can do if it's ok with your parents."
"That would be awesome, I hope I see you again soon" His eyes lit up when he heard me say that. While we where talking a lady came over to where we were talking to check on him. David told her that he was ok and that I had promised to teach him a trick the next time I saw them there. She told him that they had to home soon and I could tell the little guy wasn't happy.
"Hey do you want to see a really cool trick that I haven't done in a long time?" I ask him to try to get him to smile again.
"Yes "He said and his eyes lit back up. I stood up for a second to ask his mom if it was ok if I took him over to where Tyler and Chris where standing so he could see me do one more trick. We skated over to where they where and I ask Tyler if he could do me a favor and kind of clear the ice for a few minutes that I wanted to show the little guy something before he left. While Tyler got on the PA and ask everyone to stand along the wall for a few minutes, I stretched out my legs and back again.
"What are you planning to do?" Chris leaned over and ask me. He had already taken his skates off and was standing outside the wall.
"Something that I never got to complete." I looked at him and smiled when I said it.
"Are you sure, I don't want you to hurt yourself."
"I am fine, I am feeling better now then I have in a long time, just trust me babe." Tyler came back and to see what was going on. As I started to skate away I looked back at Chris and winked.
"Just watch." I heard Chris tell Tyler as I skated off.
I started doing a couple more spin moves as I made my way around the ice, when I finished the last spin I took a deep breath and started to pick up speed as I made my way around the ice. All that was going through my mind at that point was the jump sequence that I never got to finish in Salt Lake, quadruple axel followed by a triple toe loop. When I made the turn back toward the end of the ice where Chris, Tyler and David were I made sure I had enough speed and when I got to the spot I knew I would have enough room to complete the jump I pushed myself up and started the jumps. When I finished the jumps everyone started applauding, I waved at them as I skated back over to where the guys were. When I got back to them Chris and Tyler both had looks of disbelief on their faces and David and the biggest smile I have ever seen.
"THAT WAS AWSOME" David yelled as I leaned stopped by the wall. "You are just like the guys that skate on TV"
"I am not that good, but thanks though" I laughed as I ruffled David's hair. That is when his mom said that they had to go, she also told me that they came skating every Friday night. After they left I turned around and looked at Chris and Tyler.
"Babe, that was fantastic" Chris still had a look of disbelief on his face when he said that.
"Dude where did you learn to do that" Tyler ask still somewhat shocked by what he saw.
"It's a very very long story; do you have to work tomorrow?" I ask him as I leaned against the wall.
"No tomorrow is my day off, Dad works on Saturday and Sunday so I can have the weekends to do things.
"Well if you are free, you should come over for dinner tomorrow night and I will tell you the story." I said as I skated over to the opening in the wall to get off the ice.
"I will defiantly be there, what time and where do y'all live?" Tyler ask as I was walking back over to where my bag was. While I was taking off my skates and putting my shoes back on I gave him the address and told him what time to be at the house. As I was packing up my skates a few people stopped and said that they thought the jump was awesome, one lady said that I should find a coach and try to become a professional skater. As we walked out to the car I couldn't help but smile, Chris held my hand the entire time and when we got out of the car pulled me to him and gave me the most passionate kiss he had in a long time.
"What was that for" I ask as he pulled away.
"Just seeing you do something that you love to do, and actually doing that jump after so long away from skating." He said as he leaned in for another kiss.
"Well, if I knew that is what it took to get you to kiss me like that I would have tired it along time ago." I smiled as we got in the car to head back to the house.
As we drove home I thought about how I felt about being on the ice again and doing some of the tricks that I hadn't done in a long time. The feeling that I had every time I used to be at practice or competing, it was a feeling like nothing else mattered and nobody else was there it was just me out on the ice by myself. For the first time in awhile the thoughts about starting to train again and attempt to make a come back were in the front of my mind. When we got back to the house I got a bottle of water out of the fridge and went and set outside on the patio. A little while later Chris came and set on the swing next to me.
"What you thinking about?" He ask as he laid his head in my lap.
"Just thinking about how lucky I am to have so many people who love and support me, and that I was stupid for trying to let part of me die" I was staring up at the stars as I said this. I noticed that living in the city you never really got to see them as clearly as you do with out all the lights. While I was looking up at the stars and listening to the sounds of the night I felt the necklace that my grandpa gave me against my chest and I smiled.
"I am going inside to call my mom, are you going to stay out here for a little while?" Chris was getting up to head inside.
"Yea, I will be in shortly?"
After Chris went back inside I got up and walked around the back yard, when I got next to the fence between our house and Brice and Lisa's I saw Brice sitting out by the pool. I walked along the fence down to where he was sitting.
"Nice night isn't it" Brice said when he saw me sneaking along the fence.
"Yea it is mind if I hop over?" I was leaning against the fence.
"Defiantly, I came over earlier but y'all where gone, want a beer?" Brice said offering me a beer as I jumped over the fence and took the seat next to him.
"Sure, I could really use one tonight, more then one probley." I said taking the beer that he was handing me.
"Want to talk about it?" Brice ask.
"I wouldn't know where to begin; the past month has really made me reexamine things."
"You aren't regretting the move are you?"
"Hell no, I think the move was the best thing for me. It has helped pull be out of the funk I have been in for the past few years. We went skating tonight." I finished off my beer and started to peel the label off the bottle.
"So that is why y'all where gone most of the evening, how did it go?"
"Never racking at first, but after awhile everything started to come back to me. I actually feel more alive now then I have in a long time. I surprised myself and attempted the jump that I fell on in 2002, and completed it like it was something that I did all the time. I also learned that Chris can't skate for save his life." I laughed as Brice offered me another beer out of the cooler.
"I guess that means no pairs competitions in y'alls future then?" Brice laughed.
"Yea I think we will be leaving that to the pros"
We where quite for a few minutes just enjoying the cool night and listening to the breeze blowing through the trees, after a few minutes Chris's texted me to see where I was. I texted back that I was next door talking to Brice; Chris responded and said that he was going to bed.
"Where is Lisa tonight?" I ask trying to start up the conversation again.
"She is having a girls night out with some friends, she normally shows back up at around 10 the morning after?"
"Ah sounds like loads of fun, a bunch of drunk girls"
"Yea I had the pleasure of having to go pick them up last weekend, next time I am just going to call them a cab to pick them up, so what's on your mind?" Brice ask handing me another beer out of the cooler.
"That obvious huh?" I opened the beer and took a long drink.
"No, just the senses of being a reporter, plus watching you roam around the yard aimlessly kind of gave it away."
"Tonight when I was putting my skates on I had this really weird feeling, not uneasy or anything, just really calm and relaxing. Made me feel like there was nothing that I couldn't do at that moment, that's the only way, I can really explain it" I leaned back in the chair and looked up at the stars again.
"I have heard of that from several athletes that I have interviewed that came back from what were supposed to be career ending injuries. Especially the first time they try to do anything with the sport again. They have all said that it was that feeling that put everything into perspective and helped them decide to make their come backs." Brice got up and walked over to the storage building and grabbed a couple cigars out of it and offered me one when he set back down.
"Since the doctor said that I would probley never skate again I did everything that I could to put that part of my life behind me, but since the move it seems that it was a mistake to try that." I said lighting the cigar.
"Sometimes it takes a big change to put things back in perspective and help people see that they can do something they loved still. Is the thought of a comeback starting to work its way into your mind?"
"I think the thought has always been there, but now it seems like something that can become a reality. Tonight proved to me that I still have the ability to do it, I just don't know if I have the commitment level any more. Plus now the decision that I make not only effects me but Chris as well" I leaned back in the chair and looked up at the sky. I knew that I had a decision that I had to make and that I needed to make it soon.
"You need to ask yourself if Chris wasn't in the picture and everything was the same besides that, would you try. I haven't known y'all very long but I know that he will support you in what ever choice you make." When Brice ask this question I was really quite for a few minutes.
"I would, with out a question. Skating was such a big part of my life before. Me and Chris need to sit down and talk. I want him to know what the training schedule is like and want him to understand what it's going to take for me to get back to the level I used to be." I looked down at my cell phone and saw that it was almost 2am.
"This is probley the best thing that you could do. I think he will understand and be supportive, you know that me and Lisa will be there for you. I am not just saying that due to the fact that I will get the biggest exclusive interview of my career, I mean it. "
"I know, well I guess I need to get home and get some sleep. I will see you at the bar b que tomorrow afternoon." I said to Brice as I was getting up.
"Yep, I was meaning to ask if you its ok if I invite a friend of mine, he is new to town to and I think y'all will get along."
"That's fine with me, we actually invited the guy that we met at the skating rink, see you tomorrow around 3:00" I said as I was walking back to the fence to jump over. "We should really look at putting a gate in this fence, I have a feeling that we will be having more late night talks" I laughed as I jumped over.
"We will make that next weekend's project." Brice laughed as he closed up the shed and headed inside.
When I made it back in the house and walked back to our room I look and saw Chris laying in bed with the moon light coming in through the window. I knew that Brice was right and he would support me not matter what decision I made. When I crawled into bed Chris rolled over and wrapped his arms around me like he always did, at that point I decided what I needed to do and that first thing the next day I was going to talk to Chris and lay everything out for him and see where he stood. After that I would talk to my family and then I would make the decision that I needed to make.
The next morning I woke up when I smelled cinnamon rolls baking, Chris always made them on Saturday mornings. I got out of bed and put on a pair to shorts and went and took care of my morning business and brushed my teeth. When I walked into the kitchen Chris was sitting at the table with a cup of coffee reading the paper.
"Good morning baby" I leaned over his shoulder and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"Good morning, you got in late last night" Chris said without looking up from the paper.
"I was talking to Brice about something, the cinnamon rolls smell good." I poured a cup of coffee set down at the table.
"They should be done in a few minutes, we need to run to the grocery store and pick up a few things for dinner tonight, Lisa texted me yesterday and ask about them inviting a friend, I said it was ok"
"Brice ask me the same thing last night when we were talking."
"What were y'all talking about?" Chris put down the paper and looked at me.
"Just talking, about this and that, me making a come back came up." I looked at Chris to gage his reaction. This was really the only way I knew to start the conversation that I needed to have with him.
"Oh, I guess you are thinking about one?" Chris ask with a blank expression on his face.
"The past few weeks have reopened my eyes to that part of my life. I haven't made a decision yet but I have been thinking about it, before I make any decision I want to know where you stand. "
"Brian, you know where I stand, I have told you I will support you in whatever you want to do." Chris got up to take the cinnamon rolls out of the oven.
"Even if it means me spending up to six to eight hours a day training again, traveling for competitions and knowing that the risk of another injury is always there?" I got up and poured another cup of coffee and leaned against the counter while Chris was glazing the rolls.
"Yes to all of the above. I would never ask you to give anything up for me. I ask a lot of you to move out here and leave everything that you had in Texas. This is a part of your life and we share our lives." Chris handed me a cinimmion roll and we went back to the table. When we set back down my cell phone beeped telling me I had a text message, I saw that it was from my mom and ignored it making a mental note to call her later. The rest of the morning was spent talking about what my training schedule was like when I was competing. Then we did some last minute things that we needed to get done before everyone started showing up for dinner later. After we got back from the store and while Chris was making a dessert for that night I went outside and called my mom.
"Hey bubba, how is everything going in the mountains today?" My mom said when she answered the phone.
"Everything is fine, getting some things ready; we have friends coming over in a little while for dinner"
"That's good, I am glad that y'all are making friends already. I and your dad were talking about making a trip out soon. Things have finally calmed down at work and we think that we can get away for a few days."
"Oh, when were y'all thinking about coming out?" I was actually happy that they were coming to visit.
"Well, do you have any plans for next weekend? I was thinking we would fly out on Thursday night and then leave to come back on Monday. It will just be me and your dad on this trip since your little brothers are gone to camp."
"I don't think that we have anything going on then I can talk to Chris tonight and make sure and let you know."
"Sounds like a plan, so what else is going on?" When she said this I had to pause for a second and decide if I wanted to let her know what I have been thinking and that I went skating the night before.
"Oh you know, still trying to find my way around. Been meeting a lot of people and trying to get settled. Me and Chris went skating last night then came back and hung out at the house for the rest of the night"
"Did I just hear you say that you went skating last night?" She said after a long pause.
"Yeah, I found a year round rink close to the house and we went for a little while last night."
"How did it go?" I could tell even over the phone that she was shocked that I went.
"Went pretty good, Chris can't skate to save his life. I did pretty well and my knee and ankle held up just fine like nothing ever happened."
"Define pretty good, just skating for fun pretty good or pretty good as in you did some things that you haven't done in along time."
"Perraty good as in I completed the jump that I thought ended my carrer."
"I would have to say that is pretty good for someone who hasn't been on the ice in awhile. How are you feeling about everything now?"
"Mom for the first time in along time I feel alive again, like there is nothing I can't do. I can't explain the feeling that came over me when I put the skates back on, it was like they became part of me and now I think that the thought of a come back is something that I can and should consider." I sat down on the patio steps while I waited for her to say something.
"The decision to try to make a comeback is something only you can make. You know what the doctors have said and what it will take to get back to the shape you used to be in."
"You said yourself that the doctors can be wrong. I know what it will take and I am willing to do whatever it will take to get back to the level I was before. I am not talking about the Torino games or even the world championships next year. I know all the risk and what another injury to my leg will mean but I don't want to regret not trying."
"You are so much like your grandfather you don't even know it. Brian, whatever decision that you make you know that we will stand beside you; I think that if anyone has a shot at this its you. You're stubborn and hard headed which is something that you get from your father. But, there is one thing that you got from me and that is the passion for something you love. One thing you don't have to worry about if you decide to do it is the money for everything, I never close the account we set up to cover everything plus you have your inheritance from your grandpa."
"I have a few things that I need to think about."
"Yep you do, well bubba I need to get off here me and your dad are taking your grand mothers out to dinner tonight and we need to get ready. Talk to Chris and let me know about next week end and tell him that we love him. I love you Brain and I hope you know that."
"I do momma and I love you to, I will talk to Chris and call or text you and let you know. Tell the grandmas hi for me and that I love them to"
"Bye baby"
"Bye momma" I said hanging up the phone and getting up to walk back in side.
When I walked back inside a leaned against the door and watched Chris for a few minutes before he noticed me standing there. I told him that my parents wanted to come visit the next week and he said the we were free, so I texted my mom and let her know that it was a good time. Shortly there after Tyler showed up, followed by Lisa, Brice and their friend that they invited. We spent the rest of the afternoon and evening enjoying each others company, after almost giving Tyler and Derek, Brice and Lisa's friend a heart attack when I showed them a couple tapes and told them the story about skating.
We ended up sitting on the patio talking well into the night and before any of us realized, it was almost midnight. As the evening was winding down we all said our good nights and promised to get together again soon, I mentioned that my parents were coming in the next weekend and we tentatively planned to get together for dinner while they were in town. After everyone left and we started to clean up some things that couldn't wait until the next day I thought about what my mom and Chris had said earlier in the day. I also was thinking about something that had been said over dinner and during the course of the evening. After finishing cleaning up I went and laid down in bed while Chris took a quick shower, when he got out of the shower he came and laid on my back.
"Penny for your thoughts?" He said kissing the back of my neck.
"Just thinking about how we made friends out here so easy and they have be came so close, It was like we knew Derek forever tonight, everyone is real and they don't seem to turn into the fake people that I used to have around when they found out about the skating." I rolled over and faced Chris when he got off my back.
"Yea I agree with you on how lucky we have been on the people that we have met since the move, lets you know that you have a support system in place already to an extent with out even trying to build one"
"Yea it does, almost feels like we are back in Texas. Actually this feels better then it ever did there. Makes me think that I could accomplish anything that I wanted to." I said looking into Chris's eyes.
"What are you thinking babe?"
"I am thinking that it is time to prove a lot of people wrong. I think its time to see if I still have what it takes to skate professionally." I said watching for a reacting from Chris.
"Are you sure that you are ready babe?"
"I am ready, it's now or never."I leaned in to Chris as I said this and gave him a kiss when I pulled back I saw a smile that I had only seen once before and that was the night I said I would move with him. We spent the rest of the night until sunrise making tender unhurried love to each other.
I lay there in bed after he had fell asleep and looked at the picture that Chris had put on the night stand when we first moved in. I saw the blue twinkle in my grandpa's eyes even in the picture they were still bright enough to see in the early morning sunlight coming in the windows. I knew that I had made the right decision for me.
"I am ready" I said to myself and then fell asleep.
Well after six rewrites, that is chapter three. Please let me know what you think I had a lot of trouble with this chapter but I am happy with the final result. I hope everyone has enjoyed it, I promise to not take as long to write Chapter four. Please send thoughts, comments, and suggestions to me
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