Chapter 28 Summary and Analysis
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
The chapter opens on the final morning of the group's time in Russia. Sheila has arranged a brunch at a restaurant with white tablecloths and a view of Red Square. Bella arrives late and alone, and the narrator (Katarina) notes that Bella has barely spoken to her since the Worlds competition ended, offering only a perfunctory congratulations that felt less genuine than the one Katarina had given Bella for her bronze medal back in 2002.
Katarina explains that after she teamed up with Garrett, she moved into the Lin family home, staying in a spare bedroom near the twins' suites. At first it felt like a slumber party with the sister she never had, but as Bella and Zack's partnership struggled, Bella became more withdrawn.
During the brunch, Katarina asks about Zack's absence. Bella reveals that Zack flew home early—not to Los Angeles, but to Minnesota, to stay with his parents. This means he is staying with his ex-partner and supposed ex-girlfriend Paige, who has been living with the Branwells since giving birth to their toddler. Zack visits them whenever he can, which has been a recurring point of tension between him and Bella because it cuts into training time.
Bella had been confident that she and Zack would become the golden team, with Garrett and Katarina in their shadow. Now she faces the possibility of an Olympic season without a partner, while her brother and Katarina have established themselves as the ones to beat. When Katarina asks what Bella will do, Bella calmly replies that she will figure it out. Katarina feels relieved to see her so composed, but the narrative hints that she should have questioned why.
After a nearly thirteen-hour flight back to Los Angeles, Sheila allows the team only one hour of rest before training resumes. Katarina's room in the Lin house is luxurious but plain—white walls, white bedding, white enameled furniture—and she has not bothered to decorate or fully unpack because they travel so much. The space feels as much like home as any hotel.
Despite the comfortable bed, Katarina cannot sleep. She stayed awake on the plane too, despite first-class amenities. She reflects that she has not had such bad insomnia since the months right after Heath left. She used to toss and turn, imagining where he was, what he was doing, whether he was alone. She hated to think of him alone, but hated even more to think of him with someone else. She wonders whether she actually saw Heath in Moscow or whether she is losing her mind.
Around five in the morning, she gives up on rest and drives to the rink early, borrowing Garrett's Audi SUV. She speeds down the Pacific Coast Highway with the windows down, savoring the ocean breeze and the sunrise. She hopes for some time alone on the ice, without spectators, competition, or pressure. Even though she does not expect to see anyone until the seven a.m. training session, she has taken time to do her hair and makeup, because Sheila has drilled into them the importance of always looking put together—you never know who might be watching.
When Katarina walks into the main rink a few minutes before six, she finds she is not alone. Another skater is already on the ice, dressed in skin-tight black, moving with exceptional skill. There is no music, but Katarina can hear the rhythm in the scrape of his blades and the movement of his hips. He is good—really good—leaning deep into his edges with complete control. He skids to a stop at center ice, sending up a glittering arc of snow, and looks directly at her. Katarina staggers back as if struck. It is Heath Rocha, flushed crimson with exertion, and he greets her by name.
Key Events
- Sheila hosts a brunch for the group in Russia; Bella arrives late and alone.
- Bella reveals that Zack flew home to Minnesota to stay with his parents, meaning he is with his ex-partner Paige and their toddler.
- Bella faces the possibility of an Olympic season without a partner, but insists she will figure it out.
- Katarina reflects on her move into the Lin house and the growing distance between her and Bella.
- The team flies back to Los Angeles; Sheila allows only one hour of rest.
- Katarina suffers from insomnia, wondering whether she saw Heath in Moscow.
- She drives to the rink early, hoping for solitude.
- She finds another skater already on the ice—a man in black performing with extraordinary skill.
- The skater stops at center ice and reveals himself to be Heath Rocha, who greets her.
Character Development
Katarina is in a state of emotional turbulence. She has achieved success with Garrett, but her insomnia and her obsessive thoughts about Heath reveal that her past relationship still haunts her. Her decision to go to the rink early, despite Sheila's insistence on always being camera-ready, shows her need for escape and control. She is also perceptive about Bella's behavior, though she misreads Bella's calm as genuine composure rather than a warning sign.
Bella appears outwardly composed but is clearly in a precarious position. Her partnership with Zack is falling apart, and she is facing an Olympic season without a partner. Her calm reply—"I'll figure it out"—carries an undertone of deception, as the narrative later suggests Katarina should have questioned why she was so calm. This foreshadows Bella's eventual betrayal or manipulation.
Heath makes a dramatic return at the end of the chapter. His appearance is striking: he is dressed in black, performing with exceptional skill, and he greets Katarina by name as if he has been waiting for her. His flushed face and the way he looks at her evoke the intimacy of their past relationship, suggesting that his return will disrupt Katarina's current stability.
Sheila continues to exert control over the team's schedule and image, allowing only an hour of rest after a long flight and emphasizing the importance of always looking put together. Her influence shapes Katarina's behavior even in private moments.
Garrett is present only through Katarina's references—she has moved into his family's home and borrows his car—but his role as her new partner and the Lins' support system is established.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Rivalry between skating partners is central. Bella and Zack's partnership is crumbling, while Katarina and Garrett have become the team to beat. The contrast between the two pairs highlights the instability of partnerships in competitive skating.
Unresolved longing for Heath permeates the chapter. Katarina's insomnia, her obsessive thoughts about where Heath might be, and her physical reaction to his appearance all underscore that she has not moved on emotionally, even as she has moved forward professionally.
Insomnia and restlessness symbolize Katarina's inner turmoil. She cannot sleep even in a luxurious bed, and her decision to drive to the rink early reflects her need to escape her own thoughts.
Displacement and rootlessness are evident in Katarina's description of her room in the Lin house—white, plain, and undecorated—which feels as impersonal as a hotel. She has not unpacked, suggesting she does not feel at home anywhere.
Image management is a recurring motif. Sheila's insistence on always looking put together, and Katarina's decision to do her hair and makeup even when she expects to be alone, show how the pressure to maintain a public image affects the characters' private lives.
Foreshadowing of Bella's deception is subtle but present. The narrative explicitly notes that Katarina should have asked herself why Bella was so calm, hinting that Bella's composure masks a hidden agenda.
Heath's return serves as a major turning point, symbolizing the intrusion of the past into Katarina's carefully managed present.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter is pivotal because it brings Heath Rocha back into Katarina's life after a long absence. His appearance at the rink, just as Katarina is trying to find solitude and stability, sets up a major conflict for the remainder of the story. The chapter also deepens the tension between Katarina and Bella, as Bella's calm demeanor foreshadows her eventual betrayal. Additionally, the chapter reinforces key themes of rivalry, displacement, and the pressure of image management, all of which will continue to shape the characters' decisions. The ending leaves readers with a cliffhanger that raises questions about Heath's intentions and how his return will affect Katarina's partnership with Garrett and her relationship with Bella.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Katarina decide to go to the rink early, and what does this reveal about her state of mind?
Katarina goes to the rink early because she cannot sleep due to insomnia, which has plagued her since Heath left. She hopes that time alone on the ice will provide an escape from the pressure of competition and from her obsessive thoughts about Heath. This decision reveals her need for control and solitude, as well as her emotional vulnerability—she is still haunted by her past relationship.
2. What does Bella's calm reaction to Zack's departure suggest about her character, and what does the narrative hint at?
Bella's calm reaction suggests that she is either genuinely unbothered or, more likely, that she is hiding her true feelings. The narrative explicitly states that Katarina should have asked herself why Bella was so calm, which hints that Bella is planning something deceptive. This foreshadows Bella's later actions and underscores the theme of rivalry and manipulation in the skating world.
3. How does the chapter use setting and imagery to reflect Katarina's emotional state?
The chapter contrasts the luxurious but impersonal settings—the restaurant in Russia, the white room in the Lin house, the first-class airplane cabin—with Katarina's inner turmoil. The white, undecorated room symbolizes her rootlessness and lack of belonging. The early morning drive along the Pacific Coast Highway, with the ocean breeze and sunrise, represents her attempt to find clarity and escape. Finally, the rink, which she hopes will be a solitary refuge, becomes the site of Heath's unexpected return, shattering her attempt at peace.