2024,
"Hey Lilly you coming? We're gonna go watch the Olympics on the tv after practice" Lilly turned her head to face her friend "Oh no I'm gonna stay a bit later for practice but I'll see you guys later" her friends nodded grabbing their practice bags and heading out the door.
Lilly began her solo practice pushing off the ice, doing various jumps and turns. Occasionally falling on her bottom or arm, but continued on.
After three hours with one last jump, she pushed off from the ice, sitting down unlacing her skates. Her phone buzzed with a notification from Instagram, it was Helena Holbrooke's account.
It was a photo posted seconds ago of Helena Holbrooke grinning widely arm around her coach as she won Olympic gold again…the photo was captioned, 'So proud of myself Another year of taking home an Olympic gold medal for Britain!'.
Lilly smiled, liking the post, leaving a small comment 'Good work! You should be proud.'
The media blew up about Helena Holbrooke's big win, but just a few days later the media was blowing up about something else. A media outlet reported that Helena Holbrooke has been hospitalized after a major accident.
The post read,
'British Olympic figure skater Helena Holbrooke's has been hospitalized just days after winning gold, sources say that it was a life threatening car crash, there were two others in the car unfortunately one has passed away, the other her coach Tom Hanson and Holbrooke's are alive but sustained major injuries'
Lilly clenched her phone reading the post. How was she supposed to take this news? She didn't know her personally…but she admired her and started skating thanks to her.
She pocketed her phone, walking into the ice rink determined to make it as big as Helena.
Two years later… 2026, Milano, Italy,
Lilly arrived at the Milano Malpensa airport with her coach Gordon Malvinsky, pushing back her headphones to sit around her neck. He guided her to a rental car sitting in the passenger side.
"Excited?" Gordon asked, lilly smiled nodding "Yeah It unreal I'm actually here" her words made Gordon chuckle "Your a lucky girl Lil."
The rest of the ride to Olympian village was a comfortable silent drive, as they pulled up her coach told her to jump out and check in while he parked the rental
As she got out a chill of cold air blew her hair, she put her hands in her American Olympian jacket pockets to warm them up. When she walked into the hotel lobby she was met with all different types of people.
Different shades of skin, different accents, different languages, people of different backgrounds all mingling and chatting together. She walked through the crowd up to the front desk,
"Uh hello I just need to check in" the lady at the desk lifted her head smiling "Of course the name?" "Lilly Cunningham." "Alrighty let me just get your key for you" Lilly smiled nodding.
Suddenly she felt someone next to her, in front of the other receptionist. "Excuse me, I just need to check in the names Helena Holbrooke's," the woman said. Lilly's eyes widened as she turned her head and everything seemed to move in slow motion.
Her heart felt like it was beating out of her chest, Helena Holbrooke's….
Her thick British accent echoed slightly in the big hotel lobby, Lilly quickly turned her head away not wanting to look like a weirdo but honestly she was trying not to freak out and ask for a picture.
She couldn't believe it was actually her, she looks like she recovered well from her injuries. Lilly felt a pang of relief that Helena was here it meant she was able to still walk and skate.
The lady returned with Lilly's key "Here you are honey" "huh on thank you very much" she said taking the key as she turned around she accidentally bumped into Helena's luggage.
"Oh crap I'm sorry" Helena smiled "Oh it's fine love, are you ok though?" Her British accent is prominent. "I'm fine thank you though, if you don't mind me asking can I…get a picture?" She blurted out before she could stop herself.
"I mean never mind scratch that uh have a good night" she quickly jogged away blushing in embarrassment. Helena stood jaw dropped slightly but quickly turned into a smile, chuckling, and blushing slightly.
"How ... .cute.."she murmured softly to herself, Getting handed her key.
Lilly made her way up the elevator gripping her hair slightly, Crap! So embarrassing, why did I even ask!.
She practically beat herself up about it when she got to her room she fell straight onto the middle of the mattress burying her face into the pillow groaning. Hitting her head against the pillows a few times, her hair becoming more disheveled.
The next morning the opening ceremony for the 2026 winter Olympics began, the torches getting lit marking the beginning of it. While the other sports were being broadcasted. Lilly's coach took this time to get more training done.
They arrived at the skating rink that she'll be skating on during the competition, "Alrighty lil get into your skates meet me out on the ice."
She laced her skates up, before meeting her coach on the ice. They go through the two events, the short program with mandatory technical elements and the free program with mandatory technical elements but more freedom in the execution.
She chose the songs herself practicing for months with them, for the short program she chose 500 miles by blah blah blah, and for the free program she picked o'children by ticket.
Her coach went through the technicals and everything as it was Lilly's first Olympics. As she was practicing an unexpected viewer was watching from the sidelines.
Helena Holbrooke's.
She crossed her legs leaning her chin on her hand, watching intently. Something about Lilly when they had their first encounter intrigued Helena not only because of the odd interaction but because she found Lilly… cute.