Kiss & Cry, Where Passion Awaits Page 12

  Ryan started to speak. “First, I would like to thank all of you for coming to this impromptu meeting. As all of you know, we delayed the deliberation until Bradley Hotman, the president of Canadian Skating Association, was able to view the tapes. He wanted to provide his opinion as to who should stay at the camp and who should go.

  “The following morning, Mr. Hotman arrived in Calgary and sexually assaulted our own Dhalia Kennedy. Dhalia has decided not to pursue charges as over ninety percent of rape victims do, but I’m hoping with everyone’s strength and encouragement we might change her mind.

  “The assault was clearly captured on tape and is being safely stored. It is important that this doesn’t get covered up because there are other victims of rape out there who might need to see this. If it can help one person then none of this is in vain.”

  Everyone, including the boardroom camera operator, mistakenly applauded strength they credited her for having, which she really didn’t. She was whimpering, still mortified at Ryan for airing this. Tears now streaming from both of her eyes, she turned to Sandy and begged, “Please get me out of here.” Sandy took her hand and when the least amount of people were looking in their direction they ran from the room.

  “Thanks,” Dhalia said.

  “Are you okay?" Sandy asked.

  “No, I’m not. I wouldn’t normally ask this, but can I stay with you tonight?”

  “You sure can. You can stay as long as you want.”

  “I just can’t go back to my room.”

  “Do you want me to go get your clothes?”

  “Would you?”

  “Sure,” Sandy agreed. “Just tell me your room number and give me your key. I’ll be right back.”

  Dhalia sat on Sandy’s bed and waited. Ryan failed to warn Dhalia about what he was planning. It made her angry that he controlled all of this without preparing her.

  Dhalia liked it in Sandy’s room. Nobody knew where she was, or at least they didn’t right now.

  It didn’t take Sandy long to come back and she had an armload of Dhalia’s clothes. She brought enough for her to stay a couple of days. Dhalia got dressed in the bathroom and went to lie down.

  “Do you want to talk?” Sandy asked.

  “I’d rather not if you don’t mind. You know, I did want to apologize for my behavior earlier. I was kind of a birth and a little bit jealous when I saw you with Ryan. I was out of line and I'm sorry." With that off her chest, Dhalia just wanted to curl up in a ball and fall asleep, hide from the world.Yeah, that sounded like a great plan, she thought.

  “Well, thanks for that and no worries. I’m going to have to go out for a bit. I want to watch the off-ice training with Matt and then I have to eat dinner before I teach at 7:00. Did you want me to bring you back some food?”

  “No, thanks, I really don’t have an appetite.”

  “If Ryan wants to come and see you is that okay?”

  “Sure. Thanks for asking.”

  Dhalia was starting to like Sandy. She was being very kind to her. Dhalia misjudged her and she was glad she could atone.

  Sandy went to the bathroom to get ready while Dhalia snuggled in bed. The normal sounds of Sandy getting ready in the bathroom were soothing. It wasn’t long before Dhalia fell asleep.

  Dhalia woke to a light tap at the door. It opened. She gasped and hid under the sheets. A stream of light was coming into the room and she could see the outline of a male figure. “It’s only me, Ryan.” The door opened wider and he turned on the light so Dhalia could see him.

  “You really scared me just now.” She glared at him and then thought better of it. She was scared of making him mad at her when they were all alone in the room. “You also never consulted me before televising me on national TV with my face looking the way it does and after getting assaulted like I was. I’m so upset with you.”

  “I’m acting in your best interest. I’m sure you don’t see it that way now, but later you might. Trust me,” he pleaded.

  He looked at Dhalia showing a hint of misery and innocently asked, “Why don’t you stay with me? Please?”

  “I’ll just be in your way. Is there any possibility you can talk to the woman who showed us around the Village and have my room changed? I can’t go back to the old one ever again.”

  “Consider it done,” Ryan reassured.

  Dhalia’s voice quivered when she asked her next question but she needed to know the answer. “Do you think I’m a whore?”

  “Of course not. I feel like I failed you by not protecting you and I’m so, so, so sorry for that, but I would never think of you in that way.”

  “Do you blame me for what happened?”

  He looked at her like he was unsure whether he should say what he was going to say but he said, “No, I don't. Do you feel like you are to blame? Is there something you need to tell me? I saw what happened. You are definitely not to blame.”

  Dhalia's face went hot with shame. “You watched the tape? Oh my God! How dare you! Get the fuck out of here! Everything just keeps getting worse. How could you sit there and just watch the most humiliating time of my life? Why did you watch?”

  A tear fell from his cheek. “Because, when Bradley hurt you, he hurt me.” He rubbed the back of his head in distress. Ryan looked like he was falling apart. “I should never have left you that night. I hate myself right now. I was an idiot. I should have fought harder for you. I wanted you all for myself. I should have made you tell him to go find someone else. I wanted to see what I allowed him to do to you. You’re not a whore and you’re not to blame. Bradley’s to blame, but I should have prevented it from ever happening to you. I failed you.”

  She felt confused. “You didn’t know he was going to do this to me, so there’s no reason you should be condemning yourself.”

  “I realize I can’t change the past but I can protect you in the future,” Ryan said. “You are my world, and if I lose you then I have nothing. I never want him or anyone else to come near you again. You are mine.”

  “I would like to just forget this ever happened to me. I want to start focusing on the camp. Let’s make our decisions tomorrow. We can review the tapes in the morning and complete our decisions by noon. Maybe that will help me heal, and yes, I will go back to your room with you. When I am in bed, I can’t have you anywhere near me.” A voice inside of her was telling her that she was moving way too quickly. She ignored that voice. She had to get things back to normal. She found out later, this was a stage many victims of rape go through.

  “Deal,” he agreed. “I’ll call Sandy and tell her you’re coming back to my room, and then I'll let Justin know we are rendering decisions tomorrow.”

  He watched the film of her rape. Who else would be watching that film? He would never see her in the same way again. This was going to destroy them, her. She wanted to turn back time. She needed an escape.

  When she laid down on Ryan’s bed, she imagined skating with Ryan. “Did our skates come yet?” She needed to get out there on the ice with him. She closed her eyes.

  Elimination

  Since her assault was now public knowledge, Dhalia didn’t feel the need to hide the bruising on her face. She was determined to put past events behind her, like war badges, if you will. She was jolted back to the present when Ryan’s phone rang. He answered and mouthed, “Justin.”

  “Okay, I’ll tell her. Round up the coaches for 11:00 in the boardroom and tell the athletes to be there at noon. Thanks, you’ve been a great help.”

  Dhalia’s mother called from Florida shortly after. Ryan answered the phone. When Dhalia realized who he was talking to, she frantically signaled to him to say she was sleeping. Ryan shared all the events in restricted details to avoid upsetting her mother too much. He explained that Dhalia just couldn’t bring herself to talk to her about it yet. He promised Doreen repeatedly that he would take care of Dhalia, reassuring her there was no need to fly out. By the end of the conversation, listening to Ryan’s side, Dhalia could tell, he talked he
r mom out of flying to Calgary. He promised Doreen that Dhalia would call her back later that night.

  In the boardroom, Sandy, Matt, Jay, Michael, Justin, Ryan, and Dhalia started immediately by reviewing all the long programs and rating the skaters with a score out of ten. The female with the lowest score was going home. Of all the female skaters it was unanimous that Paris’s inconsistency would affect future results, so she received the collective lowest score. The skaters who would remain at the camp were Brandy, Sheena, Sally, and Diane.

  Paris could very well be the most talented female skater at the camp, but if she couldn't keep it together under pressure, all the talent in the world wasn't going to win her a medal. Scott, her boyfriend and fellow skater at the camp, was going to be upset, losing his girlfriend for an entire year. This would definitely create drama in the camp.

  The men proved much harder to decide on. Liam, Scott, Trevor, Rick, and Brett all skated well. It became more subjective in these cases. They decided to send the man with the weakest jumps home, Trevor. So of the men, the only ones left standing were Liam, Scott, Rick, and Brett.

  They had to determine who would now make a good pairs team. It came to Dhalia immediately who should do so. She had to convince the panel, though. She looked at everyone and then spoke up. “I know who should represent Canada in pairs.” All the coaches plus Ryan looked at her patiently waiting to hear what she had to say. “Scott and Diane.”

  Sandy, not sounding sarcastic at all, asked, “How do you figure?”

  “Well, Scott is an all-around good skater. Diane is too and most importantly she’s short! When Scott throws her into the air, she’ll be smaller and lighter, so their jumps will look beautiful and high. I think they would make a fantastic team. With around-the-clock training from Ryan and me, I wouldn’t be surprised if they got a medal at Worlds as early as this year."

  Their first hour was over. Justin knocked on the door and Ryan said to him, "Let the skaters in." They entered the boardroom wearing team outfits and skates. They all wore nervous expressions as they entered, apparently nobody wanted to leave camp and train at home. The cameras started to roll as Ryan began speaking.

  “We would like to thank the athletes and coaches for the patience and consideration they have shown us during this unfortunately trying time. We would also like to acknowledge the outpouring of support from fans who have reached out to Dhalia after what she has been through these past few days. It is my personal pleasure to announce that Bradley Hotman has been charged this morning with sexual assault causing bodily harm. We all hope that justice will be served.

  “The judges have deliberated for one hour in the boardroom after reviewing everyone’s long program. Each skater was scored out of ten on his or her performance. The two weakest skaters were selected and they will go home today. If your name is called, you are safe.”

  Justin cued the music. Dhalia was asked to call names. She had the photos of the skaters who were safe in her hands and she started calling out the girls who would remain.

  “Paris, I’m sorry to say you will be going home tonight. Please say your good-byes, go back to the Village and pack. You will still be allowed to represent Canada in competitions, and when you arrive home you will need to select a new coach if the one you currently have is on our panel. Your coach will not be returning with you.”

  Jay, Paris's personal coach from the time previous to the camp, walked up to her and gave her a hug. Paris’s tears ran down her face rendering her a pitiful sight. Jay stood with her, both facing Dhalia. “The coaches have discussed your progress, Paris, and feel that training off-camp would benefit you.

  "You’re too concerned about your relationship with Scott and not focused enough on your skating. This separation will do you good. When you go home we want you to work on your consistency. You are a senior athlete competing for Canada, and you can’t fall apart under pressure. You have to land your jumps and perform well, every time, all the time. We want to thank you for coming to the camp.” Dhalia leaned in to hug Paris. She wiped her tears and providing comfort to Paris reassured her that she would be okay.

  Scott was next to approach her. “I’m going to miss you, baby,” he whispered in her ear. “I’ll see you at the competitions. Don’t worry. It’s not going to be an entire year before we see each other again.” They began kissing each other like lost lovers for a few seconds before the rest of the skaters clustered around Paris to show their support and hug her good-bye. She then stood alone in the room until the men were summoned.

  They did the same routine for the men. Dhalia held the pictures of the four men who were safe to stay. Liam, Scott, Rick, and Brett were all called. Trevor was now left alone. Dhalia looked at him and gave her commentary. “Trevor, we analyzed your progression in skating and feel this year, and you need to focus on your jumps. They are far weaker than the rest of the guys here today.

  “You must also change your look. It’s unfortunate for you that you can’t stay for the makeover episode. I advise your face be cleaned up, your hair be cut short and made to look more stylish. Image on the ice is more important than you realize. You want to pop, standout, set yourself apart on the ice. It is essential.” She gave him a hug and then the skaters clustered around him to proffer their support.

  He joined Paris putting his arm around her and the two headed to the Village. Everyone else remained. The two would be taped in their rooms packing and going to the car that would take them to the airport.

  Dhalia asked the skaters if they could go back to their original positions. Finally, after deliberating the strengths and weaknesses of each competitor, we had chosen who would best represent Canada as their new pairs team.

  "You will train harder than all of our competitors put together, because it’s completely new to you. You will no longer only be accountable to yourself and your coach, but now you will be accountable to your partner. You will support one another, share the wins and losses.” Dhalia paused and looked into Ryan’s eyes. She told him she loved him without saying anything to him. "Canada hasn’t had any stellar pairs couples in years. You will win the hearts of Canadians and everyone will be rooting for you! Scott and Diane, please step forward. You are going to be Canada’s super couple!”

  Diane smiled and appeared excited. Scott, however, failed to display any modicum of enthusiasm. He carried a look of shock on his face. “Paris-” he said. The skaters clustered around Scott and Diane and made it difficult to see their reactions. Dhalia snuck over to Justin and said, “Show Paris in the limousine watching what we just announced. Have her reaction televised as she’s driven from the Village.”

  The skaters left the boardroom and continued following the schedule set up for them. The camp now had a total of eight skaters. Dhalia looked at Justin and asked, “Can I see the footage from the limousine ride?” Justin looked at his watch and then at her. “The driver should be back in about forty-five minutes. Why don’t you and Ryan meet me in my room and we can watch together?”

  “Thanks. I’ll tell Ryan.” She walked over to Ryan and told him she wanted to watch the limo ride. She was secretly hoping the drama in the car would help guide some of the spotlight away from her.

  When they got to Justin’s room he said, “The limousine driver is bringing up the tape now.” It was perfect timing, as seconds after he said it, they heard a light tap on his door. Justin opened the door and took the tape from the driver. He thanked him and closed the door. When they were all seated, Justin ran the tape.

  Both athletes were in the one limousine. Paris was wearing makeup that was obviously smeared because of her tears when she was in the boardroom. She was a mess. She and Trevor got into the car and at first were quiet. They sat on the same bench seat together and Trevor’s arm was around Paris’s shoulders for support, both genuinely upset. The staff member in the car driving said, “Dhalia has footage of the rest of the boardroom meeting she would like you to see.”

  “I don’t want to see anything. I just want to
go home,” Paris sobbed.

  Trevor interjected, “Sure, play it. What do we care? We’ll end up watching it later anyway.”

  The boardroom scene was played for Trevor and Paris and their reactions were videotaped.

  “Unbelievable! Of all the men they could have chosen to go into pairs, they chose your boyfriend!” Trevor was astounded.

  “Scott told me it’s going to be okay, that we’ll still see each other at competitions. This is bullshit! I’m going to go back home and work my ass off. I’m not going to let any person or television show discourage me. The only thing I have the power to do is make them regret not keeping me on the show,” Paris sneered.

  Trevor smiled. “Now that’s the attitude of a fighter!” The filming stopped when they pulled up at the airport.

  Dhalia thanked Justin for letting her watch the film. She told him it was good to air. She led Ryan back to his room and took out her cell phone. She called the salon that did her hair and asked if they could close off a section for one day for their taping and to do the eight makeovers. She told Gerard the stylist they would consult with them, but she and Ryan would have final say over how the athletes would walk out of the salon. The staff was very accommodating. They gave them an alarmingly high price for the day, but in the end they agreed to the terms. The date was set for the following week, allowing time for the salon to readjust previously made appointments.

  This week the focus would be on training and commercials with the athletes sporting their before-the-makeover looks. Dhalia made herself comfortable on Ryan’s bed and looked at the eight pictures of the remaining competitors. On the back of each photo she jotted down her ideas. She wanted the "kids" to feel good about their new looks and she tried really hard to come up with styles that would flatter each skater.