Fake Skating

Dani goes next door and talks with Benji, whose face looks awful. Dani pleads with him not to report Alec to the police, but Benji insists on doing so, as he will then “get everything he’s ever wanted” (374). However, he relents and offers Dani a deal, saying that if she breaks up with Alec and denies the hockey champion “the one thing he’s always wanted” (376), Benji will agree not to go to the police. Dani feels that her only choice is to end her relationship to save Alec’s reputation.

Dani goes to Alec’s house and claims that the fight showed her that Alec is balancing too much and that they should take “a break” in their relationship. Alec can’t believe what he’s hearing. Dani reminds him of their deal that she could be the one to end the relationship, but Alec reminds her that that condition only applied when they were fake-dating. Dani holds back tears, and Alec kisses her. She kisses him back but pulls away and insists that this is what she wants. Alec relents, telling her that she always lets him down. He brings up the issue of his unanswered postcards, but Dani has no idea what he is talking about. Alec asks her to leave.

Dani returns home, and her mom tells her that her father has returned to Germany and will not be taking the job he was considering at Offutt. Dani apologizes to her mom for not telling her about her dad’s ultimatum. Hannah says that the decision was too significant a burden for Dani’s father to put on her, but Hannah reassures Dani that her father still loves her. Dani cries and tells her mom about the breakup. She asks to stay home from school, feigning a stomachache.

Cassie and Lillie visit Dani, assuring her of their support despite her breakup with Alec. They remind her of the upcoming championship, which Cassie insists she can’t miss. Dani feels relieved that Benji didn’t press charges or get Alec arrested. When she learns that a fight with Benji has happened before, she dislikes Benji even more, and she understands that he picked a fight with Alec to sabotage Southview’s chances. The kindness of Dani’s friends makes her feel accepted, but she knows that she can’t travel with the team because facing Alec would be too hard.

The next day, Mick forces Dani to get out of bed, saying he’s taking her to school to get on the bus with the hockey team. Despite what happened between her and Alec, Mick wants Dani to fulfill her commitment as the team manager. Dani has a panic attack, and Mick helps her through it, guiding her through breathing exercises and taking her out into the cold air. He asks to hear the entire story about her breakup.

On the bus to the hotel, Alec tries not to let thoughts about the breakup distract him from getting ready for the quarterfinals. He channels all his energy into beating Benji and his team and tries focus on simply having reached this point with his teammates.

Dani tells her grandpa about everything that’s happened, including the fake-dating plan, Alec’s fight with Benji, and the breakup. He listens empathetically and doesn’t force her to attend school or the playoffs. Instead, he takes her to a pub to watch the games together. When Dani takes a call from her dad, she asks why he left without saying goodbye. Her dad apologizes for leaving abruptly and for forcing her into an impossible decision. He admits that Mick’s harsh words made him think, and he apologizes for the ways in which he has failed her as a father, especially since the divorce. The topic Alec arises, and her dad reveals that when Alec continued to send Dani the coded postcards and letters, he saw the behavior as strange and started throwing them away. Dani is shocked by the revelation but reflects that so much of Alec’s behavior makes sense to her now.

Dani returns to her grandfather, who is looking worried. Dani learns that the game stopped because Alec was injured when Benji slammed into him. Mick says that he and Dani should both get to the hospital.

Alec is in a hospital room with his mom, Sarah. He is on painkillers and is awaiting surgery to repair his broken collarbone and shoulder injury. When Mick walks in, Sarah excuses herself. Mick tells Alec not to worry, saying that the injury won’t affect Alec’s chances of playing in the majors. Alec realizes that Mick is reading from his phone and is confused. Mick gives Alec a Charleston Chew, his favorite candy bar: a detail that only Dani knew. Alec realizes that Dani is telling Mick what to say through text messages and that she is waiting outside the room. He calls for her to come to his room, and Mick leaves. Alec asks Dani why she sent Mick in to see him and why she sent his favorite candy bar. Dani lies, telling him that she is his friend and that she was worried he was hungry. Alec knows that she is lying and insists that she tell him the truth before he goes to surgery.

Dani explains that Benji forced her to break up with Alec by threatening to get him arrested. She admits that there were no real feelings behind the breakup; her only motivation was to protect Alec. Alec declares that they are officially back together. He tells her that he has loved her since they were kids. He pulls her closer, and she falls on top of him in the hospital bed. They kiss passionately until the nurse, Mick, and Alec’s mom interrupt them. As the nurse transports Alec to surgery, Dani tells him that she never knew about his postcards and letters. He is not angry and says they have “a lot to catch up on” (422) after he gets out of surgery.

In the spring, Alec teaches Dani to drive. She has weekly FaceTime dates with her dad, and graduation is on the horizon. Alec sends Dani a postcard every Saturday. One day, when she collects the mail, she finds a package from Harvard along with Alec’s usual postcard. She runs all the way to Alec’s house so they can open the Harvard package together. Alec reminds her that if she doesn’t get into Harvard, it just means that she is meant to do even better things. Dani knows that she will be fine if Harvard doesn’t accept her because she has already found a home in Southview.

Alec and Dani attend a ceremony to unveil the new mural that was created to celebrate Southview’s win of the state championship after four overtimes. Vinny was the hero of the game, and Alec watched from the bench. As Mick tearfully presents the trophy to the team, Alec reflects on the end of an era, having played hockey with his friends since they were kids. Alec will be attending Boston College in the fall and playing hockey, hoping to earn NIL money to help support his family’s finances. Dani was accepted into Harvard, which means they will be in the same city. Alec looks forward to the summer as he recovers and spends time with Dani.