- It advances the training? asked Leonon, who was calling his daughter for news. He had stayed in the south to coach Ymir and Historia who would run for the championships together.
- Yes, he is very talented and managed to redo the choreography. How are you ?
- I'm fine thank you, my dear. Well, I'll call you later, I have to go, have a nice day!
- You too smiles Annie hanging up before brushing her hair and make her bun, while fixing in the mirror.

Reiner and Berthold slept in the same hotel as her, and invited him to have a coffee by the sea. What was surprising was that in Haute-Normandie, the weather could be hot, and yes, even if it was in the north. The trio met at a terrace and ordered their drink. They discussed the championships that were now in a few weeks, they were held in Nantes in a large rink, a few hours from here. All the skaters of different world will come to challenge on the ice.

- How's your ankle? Annie asked, drinking her drink.
-Great, thanks to my doctor," Berthold snorted, casting a seductive glance at Reiner, who was turning his eyes to another direction.
-Oh, I see," replied the blonde, raising an eyebrow.
- That's not what you think! growled the big blond, crossing his arms over his chest.
- Of course ... For your duo idea, how are you going to do it? Because if you register, you will be refused. You need a mixed duet.
- Well I had already thought about it, I'll do the kind of register with you, except that I'll be with Reiner on the ice said Berthold shrugging.
- And if you get fired? Annie added, turning her straw in her glass.
- Oh, I don't know ... What do you think about this idea?
- I approve this idea, but I do not think that is to the taste of everyone. A "Gay" couple who presents a program, I do not know if it will be accepted. We are in a rather closed generation ...

- Yeah ... But it's an opportunity to open a new category and also the spirits says Reiner shrugging. Ymir and Historia intend to do this during the championships. We will see what it gives.
- You're going to have a pack of journalist, glued to your Windows sighed Annie.

Reiner said he did not care about the others' eyes and he was right. The trio continued to talk to each other when a waiter put a newspaper on their table, asking Annie, if it was her on the cover page. The blonde frowned and grabbed the crumpled paper between her hands, her eyes widened. Then the famous shadow she had seen yesterday, it was a journalist, and he had taken a picture when Annie had taken Armin in his arms, after the announcement of the death of his parents. The journalist had completely changed the scenario to make money, and it was successful ...
"More than a partner" Annie Leonhart, the famous figure skater who skated a duet with Berthold Hoover, suddenly came close to her new partner Armin Arlert, a high-quality skater who decided to end her career before Annie, do not make him sign a contract ... "
Annie folded the newspaper in half and let it slide on the table, away from her. Reiner understood that it was not very good news and decided to see it by himself while reading the article, and understood. Berthold leaned toward his companion and scanned the black lines of the newspaper.

(...)

The blonde's eyes opened and were blinded by the light of day, his retina took several minutes to get used to. His back stung again because of the fall he had made at the rink, he had certainly a beautiful blue. His head turned half, and he had a bar in his forehead. Armin sat up, taking off his blanket, dressed? He remembered not much in reality, he got out of bed and walked to his bathroom, running his hands through his hair. He rubbed his eyes and looked at himself in the mirror when his cheeks warmed suddenly, he had a trace of lipstick on the corner of his mouth. Annie had come here? He went to the living room, a bottle of alcohol on his coffee table, with a word.
"I was worried about your condition and I was right, if I had not come I wonder how you would have finished, get ready around 5 pm, I'm taking you somewhere." Annie.
He looked at his watch, 4:54 pm, quickly getting ready and peeking at his window, Annie was already waiting outside, leaning against his car, arms crossed over his chest. Armin came down the stairs and walked in the doorway joining the blonde who smiled gently.

- Excuse me ...
- One, stop seeing me, and two, stop apologizing said Annie not moving from his place.
- Sorry...

Annie narrowed her eyes in response, he still had a lot to learn to have complete confidence in her. And that's why she wanted to take him somewhere. She took out a black headband and asked Armin to turn around.

- You ... Where are you taking me?
- A surprise isn't revealed, trust me said Annie bandaging the eyes of the blonde

During the trip Armin had asked some questions about last night, to find out what had happened to him, and Annie had confirmed to him that he was half drunk. She also revealed to him that he had fallen asleep on his thighs, which made him blush to a point that you do not even imagine, and that she had helped him lie down in his bed. She had waited for him to go to sleep before she left. In response, the blonde had discreetly touched his cheek, where he had found a trace of lipstick, and it did not go unnoticed to Annie, who was smiling on his side. Fortunately he was blindfolded. Armin felt the vehicle stop, he was guided by Annie during their ride, he could try to recognize the place by sensations, the wind blew on his skin, the sound of some seagulls, the sun shining in the sky. .. The fabric withdrew from the blonde's eyes and discovered the beautiful landscape he knew very well ...

- The cliffs D'Etretat he breathed with a smile, completely absorbed by this gigantic place, at the edge of the ocean.
- It seems that you like this place says Annie observing the view.

A cliff made up of three arches called the Amont gate, the Aval gate and the Manneporte which were not originally linked to marine erosion, but to the action of a coastal river parallel to the beach that had dug its bed in the cliff before retreating, materialized by the "needle" of a harder limestone that had prevented its final dissolution. It was beautiful, nature could offer us beautiful landscapes. These cliffs were located in the Etretat in Upper Normandy, France, it was formerly rested, a small fishing village also called Etretat.
The two blondes sat in the grass contemplating the show, moreover, the sun was already starting to set, it was to be 19 hours. It was the first time Annie had seen a sunset, in fact she did not really have time with all her training.

- Thank you, Armin murmured. I had already come, but not when the sun was setting.
- You're welcome, she just said the blonde, still looking at the horizon.
- Not just for that, but for everything.
- What do you mean ? she asked, looking away, looking away from the landscape.
- To give me the taste of skating after my very poor results, everyone told me that I will not succeed but you, you believed in me, and especially to have given me confidence. Nobody had succeeded elsewhere.
- It's not the results that reflect the quality of a skater, you have experience and I saw it. You know, I did not choose you as a partner, just because you managed to redo my figures to perfection.

Armin frowned and turned his eyes to Annie, waiting for the rest.

- I watched you for several months when you skated during championships, and I saw that you did not express any emotion, not even to the spectators. It's still important for a skater to reflect his emotions in an ice dance, but you nothing. And it attracted me, I noticed by your simple dance, that you were someone who was withdrawn and who was afraid to reveal his emotions or feelings, and I had to help you. Skating is not just a sport you know.

Armin seemed to be touched by his words, he smiled timidly, thanking her once more before nervously scratching his neck as he always spoke to him.


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