Ariana sighs as she puts her skates on. Her mother was currently working at the diner, so this was one of the many days where 12 year old Ariana gets freedom, she only turned 12 last month and was happy to talk with her teammates freely.

"Ariana!"

The blonde girl looked up and saw her coach, along with her 4 other team mates waiting for her. She smiled as she skated towards them.

"Yes, coach."

He grunted as he looked down at the small smiling girl before him.

"Did your mother get you that coat?"

"No." Ariana said as she looked down.

"That women is killing me." Yakov grumbled.

"She said I didn't need to fit in and look like a prissy rich girl, coach." Ariana whispered as Yakov sighed.

"Course she said that, what about you dad? Think he can get you one?" Yakov asked as Ariana griped her arm, looking down.

"No, sorry coach."

Yakov mumbled under his breath as she looked away, before an arm went around her shoulders.

"Don't worry, she can use one of mine!"

Ariana looked up to see Mila, and gave her a grateful smile.

"Good. Now skate!"

"Thanks, Mil."

"Anything for my bestie!"

"You are on our team, so we help eachother out." Victor said as he skated towards the two.

"Thanks, Victor." Ariana whispered as she blushed and looked down before skating off and practiced her routine for the Junoir Grand Prix Final. She sighed as she skated backwards and spun forward, she jumped into the air as she spun and landed perfectly before gliding across the ice. Victor, Mila, Georgi and Yuri all watched her as she did so.

"She's quit talented." Victor commented as she did another triple, causing Yuri to scoff as he watched the girl. She moved her arms, they ran up her waist as she moved them to her head. She was telling a story of despair and heartache, it was obvious to the four watching, even Yakov could tell. A tear ran down her cheek as she brought her arms into her chest and spun fast before posing after. Breathing heavily as she smiled at her teammates, who clapped and cheered. She laughed as she skated towards them.

"How'd I do?"

"How'd you do? Ari! That was amazing!" Mila praised as she hugged her tightly.

"Can't...breath."

"Sorry." The 15 year old said as she let go.

"With that routine you might win gold in the girls division." Victor said.

"Just keep up the good work, kid." Georgi said as Ariana smiled.

"Thanks guys."

They all smiled at her as Yuri scoffed and skated off and practiced for the competition.

"Nice skating, kid." Yakov said.

"Thanks coach."

Yakov mumbled under his breath as Ariana skated away to perfect her jumps and turns, she wanted to make her mother proud. She didn't want to let her mother down, especially since the Junoir Grand Prix Final was coming up. And she was going to attempt a triple axle. She has been practicing when everyone was gone, so she could surprise them once she did it. She really wanted to be praised by her mother.

Once practice was over, Ariana skated towards the exit and went to the changing room. Mila watched as Yuri eyed Ariana. She smirked as she skated towards him.

"Does Yuri have a crush~"

"I do not!" Yuri yelled as he faced Mila.

Mila only hummed.

"You should hang out with her though."

"Huh?"

"Well, you're both 12, she doesn't have friends her own age, she could use that. She's pretty cool to hang out with."

Yuri said nothing as he looked away.

"If I did, would you leave me alone about the subject?"

"Yes." Mila said.

"Fine." Yuri mumbled.

"Ya! Now go! Go get her!" Mila said as she pushed Yuri forward.

"Quit pushing me!" Yuri yelled as Mila pushed him out the exit, causing him to fall face fisrt onto the mat.

"You hag!" Yuri yelled as Mila laughed and skated off.

"Are you okay, Yuri?"

The blonde Russian boy looked up to see Ariana looking down at him. She wore a simple black skirt, that went mid thigh, and a sky blue sweater, with black boots. Her blonde hair was in a high pony tail, as usal. Yuri blushed as he looked away.

"I'm fine." He mumble as he got up, Ariana stepped back as she gripped onto her black bag.

"So...why'd Mila push you like that?"

"Because she's a moron." Yuri grumbled as he looked away. Ariana sighed as she turned around and began to walk off.

"Wait!"

She stopped and turned around to look at Yuri.

"Do you...ugh! Do you wanna get lunch?" Yuri asked as he looked away.

Ariana's eyes widened as she looked over at Yuri.

"Really?" Ariana asked as she looked down.

"Yes really! Do you wanna go or not, if you don't then I don't know why I'm wasting my time." Yuri said as he walked off.

"Wait! I'm sorry I just didn't think that you'd want to hung out with me. And yes, I would like to join you for lunch." Ariana said as she looked down before looking back up at Yuri.

"I'll wait for you right here!"

Yuri said nothing as he walked off to the locker room. Ariana waited for him and once he came out she stood up.

"Let's go." Yuri said as he walked past her. Ariana chased after him and matched up to his pace as she walked next to him. The two said nothing as she followed were Yuri was taking them.

"Do you look up to Victor?" Ariana asked as he broke the silence.

"Huh?"

"Well when he skates you watch him, I can see it in your eyes, you want to be like him, as great of a skater as he is."

Yuri said nothing as they walked forward.

"I guess I look up to Victor, but I also look up to Mila, she's great."

"Cool." Yuri mumbled as they stopped infront of a diner. Ariana looked up and her eyes widened.

"What's your problem, don't just stand there, let's go." Yuri said as an she snapped out of her daze and followed after him, he held the door open for her as she walked into the diner. They both sat down at a booth as Ariana looked around catiously.

"What's your problem?" Yuri asked as he noticed her strange behavior.

"Huh? No, I'm fine." Ariana stuttered out as Yuri raised an eyebrow.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

The two kids looked up to see none other then Lucy Ivanov. Now Yuri knew why she was worried.

"Uh, Yuri brought me here for lunch."

Lucy glared at Yuri before looking back at her daughter.

"Don't expect me to feed you when I get home then."

"Okay, that's fine."

Once Lucy took their orders, she walked off and Ariana looked out the window.

"Hag." Yuri mumbled as Ariana looked at him.

"Huh?"

"Your mother, she's a hag."

Ariana smiled lightly as she laughed

"Definitely."

Once they got their food the two talked as they ate. Once they finished Yuri offered to walk her home.

"So Yuri, when did you realize that you wanted to skate?" Ariana asked.

"Since I was 10. I wanted to skate like Victor, you?"

"Since I was 4. My mom brought me to Yakov and forced me to show him that he could teach a 4 year old, and he did."

Yuri said nothing as he looked at her, the way her green eyes shined in the night sky.

"For me skating is a way to escape reality. A way to forget my mom and just skate my problems away. I love skating."

Yuri hummed as they stopped infront of a crappy old house.

"Thanks, Yuri. For lunch."

"It was no big deal." Yuri mumbled as he kicked a pebble away with his foot and shoved his hands into his pocket. Ariana giggled.

"Well it was for me. So thank you."

Yuri blushed slightly as he looked away.

"See you tomorrow, Yuri." She said as she walked into her house. Yuri stood there, a blush evident on his cheeks.

"Mila is going to pay for this." He grumbled as he walked away. Secretly excited to see Ariana tomorrow.

And it was that night that friendship blossomed between the two