Free Play On by Heather C. Myers Page B

Seraphina knew she should have stood, along with Katella, in respect, but her eyes were focused on the cup of coffee that Chris had deemed so good, still three-quarters filled, and now cold.  “So what’s going to happen, then?  To Thorpe, I mean.”
    Seraphina’s eyes shot into his.  “What do you mean?” she asked.
    “Well the season starts soon, doesn’t it?” Chris asked.  “How long before he either signs or doesn’t play?”
    Seraphina said nothing as Katella led him out.  She didn’t know how long she had, but she realized whatever decision her grandfather was going to make didn’t matter now.
    Now, it was her decision to make, and she realized she had to make it soon.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    6 .   She liked the first outfit better.  Madison glanced at herself in the full-length mirror located in the locker room below the main floor at Sea Side Ice Palace, the ice rink the Newport Beach Seagulls called home and where the Gulls Girls would be taking their team photo.  Apparently this shoot had been arranged before Ken’s death, and since he didn’t want to pay the photographers to come back twice, the Girls would be taking the ice right after the players themselves.  Given the outfit of choice, however, Madison wished the old man had sprung for a day two.
    It wasn’t as though she was embarrassed of her body, but even she had some insecurities she didn’t want presented to the world so vividly.  And the outfit wasn’t like the one she would normally be wearing – tight pants and a short shirt - because it was much more revealing and Madison was certain the hair on her arms would draw a viewer away from the pretty faces due to how erect they were standing even now, and she wasn’t even on the ice yet.  The shirts were the same black, three-quarter sleeved tops, with a blunt diamond shaped cut that enhanced a Girl’s cleavage, and the material ended just underneath her breasts.  The Gulls’ name was scrawled out across the chest in navy blue cursive.  Stomachs were bare up until the hip bone, where a matching black mini skirt that reached just above mid-thigh took over for censorship.  The coolest part of the outfit, at least in Madison’s mind, was the socks that reached the knees, with black, red, and white horizontal stripes symbolizing the nautical colors of the Gulls, and concluding the outfit were ice skates.  Makeup was enhanced in order to bring out the best features each Girl possessed while hiding the subtle flaws that composed some of the face.  It was more makeup Madison had ever worn, and she was one of the few Girls who didn’t have very much on – just the typical foundation and powder, eyeliner and mascara, and gloss pink gloss across her lips.  Some Girls needed blush or eye shadow in order to accent cheekbones and eye colors that simply didn’t pop.
    “You know,” Amanda said, coming up behind Madison in the same outfit as her friend.  Like Madison, Amanda’s red hair was left down, but the curls contrasted with Madison’s straight tresses.  “The most beautiful thing a girl can wear is a smile.”
    “Is it really that obvious?” Madison asked in a soft voice.  She pursed her lips and cocked her head to the side as she turned so her back was facing the mirror and she looked at Amanda directly.  “I’ve never worn anything this revealing before.  I mean, besides that bikini from yesterday, but we were at a beach, you know?”
    “Dude, who cares what anyone thinks of you,” Amanda said, her brown eyes sparkling.  “Under normal circumstances, do you worry about the way you look?  Like, when you get ready for school?”
    “Not really…” 
    Amanda reached out and grabbed Madison’s arms that were crossed around her stomach.  “Pretend that this is school,” she suggested.  “I’m not going to lie and say looks are unimportant, but even you know that we are so much more than that.