Chapter 8: The Lessons Continue

"Ugh, I think I liked it better when you were a pining mess," Mimosa complained, as they sat in their family living room, while their parents bickering good-naturedly over the proper way to make rice and chicken for the thousandth time.

Kirsch looked up from his phone and glared at his sister. "Rude."

"I thought it was bad enough when you'd make goo-goo eyes at Zora when he wasn't looking," said Mimosa, sighing, as if she had been suffering. "But now, you giggle at your phone like a teenager. And you blatantly swoon over Zora and he lets you. It's very gross. A sister shouldn't have to see such things."

Rolling his eyes, Kirsch said, "We're not that bad."

"The hockey players have placed bets on when you two will move in together, when you'll get married, and how many times you'll get caught canoodling in the locker room," said Mimosa, smugly.

"I've just started dating him," said Kirsch. "Everyone's being ridiculous."

"You and Zora are like Mom and Dad, being so sickeningly in love and on the same wavelength already," Mimosa argued.

"We've been on four dates," said Kirsch, countering. And they had wonderful dates. On their first date, Zora took him to the best food truck in the city, followed by Classics' Ice Cream (an old-fashioned style ice cream parlor). They had talked and enjoyed each other's company. Zora dropped Kirsch off at Kirsch's penthouse at one of the Vermillion buildings. He politely kissed Kirsch on the cheek.

On their second date, they went to a roller skating rink where they got banned for going in circles around everyone and chasing each other around the rink. Their third date was a quiet breakfast, followed by a make-out session. Their fourth date was a trip to a history and art museum where they bickered about several works and nearly got banned but didn't because the Vermillion donated a lot of money to the museum.

It's been two blissful, happy weeks and Kirsch was more and more in love with Zora every day, even if Zora made it his personal mission to fluster Kirsch all the time.

Mimosa poked Kirsch on the cheek. "You're doing it again. Going off to lalaland, thinking about Zora."

"You're just jealous. Maybe you should ask Langris out," said Kirsch.

Mimosa gasped. "Not until after the season. Miss Amalia is a great teacher. I'm so glad that she's helping me."

"I'm glad," said Kirsch. As promised, Amalia helped Mimosa with training for the Singles and Kirsch saw a huge improvement in Mimosa's movements. He knew that she just needed the right teacher. And their mom had been so pleased to hear that Amalia had been coaching Mimosa too.

"And what are you and Zora going to do when you don't have to deal with the kids' lessons anymore?" Mimosa asked. "You have one more lesson and then the big kids' performance."

"Actually, we really can't wait," said Kirsch. The kids' lessons were a heavy burden on them. And once that duty was done, they'd be able to spend much more time together.

"Are the kids ready?"

Kirsch grimaced. "Sort of?"

Most of the kids had worked their way from holding onto the sides of the rink to holding onto each other. Kirsch sighed as he picked up a trio from a tangled heap on the ice. "You know, we tell you to take your time. Five minutes is all you need for the presentation for your parents."

"All you kids need to do is skate in a circle," said Zora, rolling his eyes. "And I know that after all of our collective suffering that you're going to do it."

"Ewww, you two are scarily in sync. Guess that happens when old people date," one of the kids teased.

Kirsch and Zora traded annoyed looks. As they weren't intent on keeping their relationship a secret, as there was no point, the kids quickly picked up on the relationship status of Zora and Kirsch. And these kids were relentless in teasing them.

"Come on. It's the last lesson," said Kirsch, clapping his hands together. "Your parents will be here in an hour to see the skills you learned. Let's not all embarrass ourselves."

"Uhhh, I can't wait," complained another kid.

"This is so lame," said another.

Zora scoffed. "Alright, you little...darlings." He caught himself before calling them "gremlins" or "devils." "We can get through this and we never have to see each other again."

"I like that," said one of the kids. "Come on, everyone, let's get through this! Hey, we're still getting hot cocoa today right?"

Kirsch sighed. "Yes." Zora is right, they are little devils.

The kids managed to get themselves up and going in proper circles. Kirsch smiled at Zora, who rolled his eyes. They were almost done with this mess.

An hour later, dozens of parents, Julius, and Aunt Acier were in the stands. The students were looking at each other nervously as they stood off the rink, waiting to be called out by Zora and Kirsch, who stood in the middle of the ice rink. Kirsch was a little nervous. Together, Kirsch and Zora planned a simple maneuver for the kids. One by one, the kids would come on to the rink and go around in the circle. The order was the strongest skater to the weakest skater, not that he or Zora told the kids that fact.

As Kirsch was a natural performer, he was the one that was going to do all the talking. "Parents, Mr. Novachrono and Mrs. Silva, we thank you for coming. Now, the children will show you what they learned in the beginners' class." Kirsch called out the name of the first kid, who easily entered and began to circle the rink.

He waited until the first kid made one loop and called the next kid.

Kirsch did it one by one and thankfully, the kids were all on their best behavior (with Zora skating with them to make sure they were alright). The parents were all clapping and Kirsch saw that Julius and Aunt Acier had happy looks on their faces.

He clapped three times. "Children, you can stop and take your bows!"

Thankfully, it all worked out and it didn't go up in flames (figuratively speaking). The parents clapped for another few minutes. Eventually, Zora and Kirsch got the kids off the rink and their parents collected them. Once the parents and kids were gone, Julius and Aunt Acier approached Zora and Kirsch as they took off their ice skates.

"Congratulations, gentlemen! I knew you could do it," said Julius, cheerfully.

"After pain and suffering," said Zora, deadpan.

"There were some hiccups, but you did well," said Aunt Acier, smiling. "And also congratulations on figuring out your feelings for each other."

Kirsch's face turned red. "Aunt Acier!" Aunt Acier was just as bad as his mother. The two of them were menaces.

Zora snickered.

"What? Neeks told me," said Aunt Acier, beginning to grin widely. "It's very sweet."

"That's wonderful news," said Julius, clapping Zora on the back. "And now you two are free until each of your next seasons. Have fun with your time off!"

Kirsch glanced at Zora and smiled, happily and in love. "We will."

Later that day, around dinnertime, Kirsch nervously knocked on Zora's apartment door. He had agreed to meet at Zora's apartment, where Zora offered to make Kirsch dinner. The only reason Kirsch had a case of nerves was that it was the first time Zora invited him over to his place after the first time had an unexpected guest. Kirsch knew full well that if Zora's mother hadn't been there, things would have gone very differently.

A rare maskless Zora opened the door and smirked. "Hey, come in."

Kirsch entered the apartment. Immediately, he smelled something very good to eat. "Curry?"

"Hmm, yeah," said Zora, walking the short distance back to his kitchen. "You look cute."

"Cute? I am beautiful, sweetheart," said Kirsch, making a face. Zora had markedly refused to call Kirsch beautiful and it became a game for them. Kirsch didn't know how to feel about it.

"That too," said Zora, teasingly.

"Ooh, you're a tease," said Kirsch.

Zora cackled. "This teasing is nothing, babe. I can be much more of a tease."

Kirsch's face got very warm. "So, where's my kiss?" He walked into the kitchen and leaned expectantly in Zora's space.

Zora swooped over and kissed Kirsch quickly on the lips. "Patience, Kirsch. There's going to be plenty of time for kissing later. After dinner."

Kirsch said, raising an eyebrow, fighting down the blush. "Is that so?"

"You don't have plans tomorrow do you?" Zora asked, avoiding eye contact.

"Only with you," said Kirsch, hands getting a bit sweaty. Oh, so this was happening. This was actually happening. Years of imagining being with Zora...

Zora glanced at Kirsch and smiled softly. "You're really cute."

Kirsch said, "Oh, stop it! I'm going to combust!"

"Very cute. Adorable," said Zora, amusement in his tone. "How do you like your eggs in the morning, by the way?"

Kirsch covered his face. "You're lucky I like you so much."

Zora laughed and it was a beautiful sound.

~to be continued