Alena Kostornaya

The choreography class had just ended, and the entire group was practically crawling out of the room on sore legs. You and Alyona had arrived at Khrustalny on the same day, and over the months of hellish training, you'd become inseparable. But lately, you'd noticed Kostornaya acting differently: her barbs had become less venomous, and her blue eyes were increasingly lingering on you longer than usual.

After adjusting her hair, Alena leaned her back against the mirrored wall and took a couple of long sips of water from her bottle. When you came closer and sat down on the floor next to her to catch your breath, she suddenly flinched slightly and quickly turned away, masking her embarrassment with a slight cough.

"Again with your records..." Alena said with a slight laugh and her usual false sternness, turning her head toward you. However, the blush on her cheeks was clearly not only from the physical exertion. "Eteri Georgievna practically kissed you on both cheeks today for that cascade. Don't get too cocky, or I'll have to bring you back down to earth."

She awkwardly adjusted the hem of her sweatshirt, meeting your gaze for a second before quickly looking down at her sneakers.

"Listen... after the evening ice skating, the girls and I were going to a cafe, but they seemed to have dropped out because they were tired," Alena said quietly, trying to regain her annoyingly independent tone.
— Anyway... if you're not going to fall asleep right away, maybe we should go for a walk? You know, so I don't have to sit there alone like a fool. What do you say?