Chapter 160: The Grand Prix

At the end of October, a week and a half after the Canadian Open pro-am, the real skating season started for the eligible skaters, the Grand Prix.

It started with Skate America, which would be held in Lake Placid this year.

All three American dance teams had been invited, and relations between all of them were very good. Since Courtney and Ryan had buried the hatchet, they all got along well. Amy was a little intimidated at first--you know, worrying if Ryan would want his old partner back--but Ryan assured her that that wasn't going to happen. After that, Amy loosened up and was her charming self.

The night before the competition, all the American contingent took over a big chunk of a steakhouse in Lake Placid for supper. All the dancers were there, plus Eric, Jessie, and Shawna. Allison Bowman was competing (Liz Cushman wasn't, she'd decided to do Skate Canada and Cup of Russia) so she was there, along with her boyfriend Eddie who had driven up from Albany to watch her skate. Brett and Andrea were there. As was Tom Bellamy.

"All this love," Tom said, "I can't stand it. Where's mine?"

"At Harvard, studying like a good girl," Warren teased.

"Yeah, I know," Tom grinned. "At least she's coming the day after tomorrow, which is the first day I actually skate."

"Yeah, she's going to miss our first OD, though," Warren mock-grumbled. "Some sister."

"I'm here," Eric said.

"You're not my brother," Warren teased.

"Well, brother-in-law," Eric reminded him.

"And, somehow, even though you are my brother, I don't think you're here to see me," Sophia added.

"Why, Sophia, who else would he be here to see?" Amy grinned, then turned to Eric and batted her eyelashes. Eric blushed, leading to giggles all around the table.

"Jeez," Evan grumped, "is there anyone here besides me that's not going to be having sex tonight?"

"I think we just established that I'm not," Tom said. "And, before you ask, no, I'm not bi!" Everyone cracked up at that.

"I'm not going to be having sex tonight, either," Courtney said. "And, I have to tell you, skating with my period isn't much fun."

"I can see where it wouldn't be," Warren said, "but why would that stop the other thing? You mean Shawna hasn't earned her Red Wings yet?"

"EEEEEWWWWWW!!!!" Courtney blurted.

Shawna laughed. "Don't blame me, I'm game for anything, but my sweetie's a little squeamish."

"Ah, it's fun," Sophia maintained. "Courtney, you just put a tampon in. Then Shawna can have dessert and floss her teeth!"

The laughter after that was so loud, it filled the whole restaurant.

The closest competition for Warren and Sophia at Skate America were the Irish pair, Dunphy and O'Riordan, who had finished fifth at Worlds. The French couple were there, but they were on a downward trend.