The bus parked at an outdoor local ice skating rink. We looked around confusedly. "Dad?" I asked
"Practice is canceled. I want you boys to skate around, have fun, maybe pick up some girls." The boys laughed.
The team piled out and got straight to work doing just that. I laughed at Mark trying to teach a bunch of star struck fifteen year olds how to skate. "Oh Mark, you're so talented. Oh Mark, can I have your autograph? Oh Mark, will you marry me?" I teased, skating around him and making kissy faces.
"Shut up." He said, trying to push me over.
"It's not my fault they think you're irresistible. Hey Robbie! Race ya!" I took off, zooming past bundled up bodies, weaving between couples and sliding to a stop in front of my boyfriend. "Why the long face?"
Jack looked up at me deadpan. "Isn't it obvious?"
I sighed and discreetly rolled my eyes. This was where I was exactly like my mom. I didn't get how something like a simple game was so important to someone. I could understand training really hard to beat a certain team or win a certain championship, but not to realize that even though you're hurt, you will play again? I just couldn't understand it. But, being the good girlfriend I was, I looked for a way to cheer him up. I noticed a bunch of skate-chairs: wheelchair looking things, only they had skates instead of wheels. I grabbed one from a passing child. "Mind if I borrow this?" I didn't wait for an answer.
"Hop in!" I exclaimed
"In there?" Jack asked warily.
I sighed, "Yes in here! You're going out on the ice, if only so you get out of this mood you're in. Now get in now!"
Jack exhaled noisily though his nose. Any louder or harder and I daresay it would have been a snort. "Fine."
Great, back to monosyllabic answers. I hoped he would be back on the ice soon.
"Okay, now, I've never done this before so-"
"Never done it before! Let me out! Let me out!"
I laughed, he was back! "No, no just trust me, okay?"
"Always" he replied, like he was reminding me.
I skated around the rink a few times, testing out my turns and stops. I was getting really fast; Jack was nervously gripping the sides of the chair. I stopped in front of some of the guys.
"Hey, wanna race?"
The guys laughed. "Against a girl and a cripple? Too easy."
I straightened and turned on my inner 'affronted mother'. "Oh really? Isn't one of you little boys man enough to try?" Ha! That one was a major blow to their pride; I knew I'd get a race sooner or later.
"How 'bout Jimmy?" I scowled, Jimmy was the slowest skater on the team, and everyone knew it.
"Nah, I'd rather race Mark."
The surprise was written on their faces, all except Robbie. He knew I'd take on the fastest skater, just to make him eat my slush.
"C'mon, you could kick her ass any day!" Silky exclaimed, and I smirked. That's what they thought.
"Alright. To the end and back?"
I nodded. "Bah, start us."
Mark grinned at me. "I'll give you a head start." He said, only loud enough for Jack and I to hear.
"Keep it." Jack said, his eyes glittering. I wanted to kiss him but decided now was not the time.
"Oh your mark," Bah began, "Get set, GO!"
I was off like a shot, but Mark was right behind me. I could tell he was going slowly so he could leave me in the dust in the final stretch but I wasn't going to have any of that. "Is that the best you can do?" I asked, and sped up. I used one of my old moves from figure skating and made such a hard turn Jack nearly fell out of the chair. Mark sped up, but so did I so he was only a few feet ahead of me. With a couple of yards to go, I gave everything I had and slid to the finish ahead by a landslide.
"How'd you do that?" Mark asked panting.
"Skill." I said simply, not winded at all.
"The winner!" Robbie declared, holding my hand high above my head.
I laughed and kissed Jack deeply. If only things could stay just like this...
