Hola, people! In case you're wondering where I got the idea with the snowman from (later in the chapte), I actually saw a very similar occurance outside of my school. And hey, guys can't be that different even on the other side of the world where Amy is. I don't particularly love this chapter; it's more of a filler. But review people!
We snuck out of the grounds, crawling out from behind a hedge that ran around campus. Then, we ran down the road, met by a couple of other kids making their way for the ice rink. The place wasn't very big, and it had a couple of understated lights coming from the inside. This didn't seem like the kind of place rich kids would hang out.
"Two pairs of skates, both size sevens," Genni said, slapping down a five dollar bill for the guy behind the counter.
We got the skates, and then headed into the rink.
Inside, I immediately saw why this was the most popular hangout around. It was flashing disco lights, and teenagers were zipping around the ice like pros. Music was blaring from the overhead, and there was a counter for snacks positioned in the back of the room.
"This is...awesome!" I said, skating out onto the ice.
Genni followed after me, seeming much more at home on the ice than me. She gave a little twirl and then zipped away yelling, "Catch me if you can, Cahill!"
I skated after her, trying to keep myself from falling on my face. In a moment, I was zipping along after her.
"GENNI!" I yelled happily, gasping with glee as I spun.
"Watch out!" A dude called behind me, ramming into me.
"Hey!" I yelled, as I fell on my backside.
The culprit turned around, said, "Sorry!" and then shot off.
I felt my eyes start to tear up, but quickly wiped them away, determined not to let anyone see me like this. I felt a tap on my shoulder, and I looked up.
Guess who.
"Hi, Ian," I said coldly, getting to my feet, and failing.
My face heated up as Ian chuckled and grabbed my hand, yanking me to my feet.
"You should be a little bit more careful, love. Some people aren't as nice as Genni and I," Ian chuckled.
"Yeah, cause you're so nice!" I muttered, brushing the shredded ice off of my jeans.
Ian gave a little bow and said, "Nice is my middle name."
Sadly, my will broke and I had to smile. "Hey, I didn't know that you could skate?" I told him, it coming out as more of a question.
He was at least five inches taller on the sleek, black hockey skates, and it gave him a slightly intimidating look.
"There's a lot that you don't know about me," Ian told me, the hint of a smile still on my face.
"Like what?" I asked, starting to skate slowly away.
"Like, I love to write, and act," Ian told me. "And I've always been secretly intimidated by my little sister. I hate hurting people, though it's often expected of me. My mother used to hit us when we didn't do something right, and my father always expected so much. And I have always found you very beautiful."
I gaped at him. Ian had just totally spilled his heart to me, not to mention called me pretty. He was joking when he had said he liked me, right?
"Your mother would hit you?" I asked quietly. Poor Natalie was only twelve, and eleven back then.
He nodded.
"Oh, Ian!" Without thinking about what I was doing, I threw my arms around him. He stiffened for a moment but when I went to pull away, he hugged me back.
"Thank you, Amy," he whispered quietly.
"For what?" I asked, blushing furiously as I pulled away from our brief hug.
"For being someone I can talk to," Ian told me, continuing to skate.
_3_
We skated around for awhile, me keeping an eye out for Genni. I noticed couples dancing on the ice.
"Why are you smiling?" Ian asked me, seemingly curious.
"It's just so romantic," I told him, pointing out a couple that was kissing on the ice, twirling to the song.
Ian just nodded.
Finally, I saw Genni. She was talking to Natalie, who was twirling her hair, and looking as perfect as ever.
"Genni!" I yelled, skating over.
"One second, Amy. I've got a bone to pick with Natalie," Genni fumed.
She raised her hand threateningly, and I shot forward before Genni could hit her.
"Don't, Genni!" I yelled to her.
Natalie had flinched back, her eyes very fearful. Ian was gripping the sides of his shirt like he was tensing up. He skated up to Natalie and gave her a light pat on the shoulder. It wasn't much, but Natalie relaxed a bit.
"Genni, I have to tell you something," I whispered to her. She was looking quite confused.
"I'll see you later, Ian. Natalie? Dan says hi." Okay, so that wasn't the truth, but poor Natalie looked like she was in the verge of tears.
I directed Genni towards the door, and we wobbled out to the lobby on our skates.
"What's up, Amy?" Genni asked.
"I'm sorry Genni, but I couldn't let you slap her. She's gotten enough of that from her mother," I whispered.
Genni's eyes filled with sadness, and she asked, "They were abused by their parents?"
"Their mom. Isabel was a monster; she killed my parents and dozens of other people."
"Awww, Ian! Natalie! Amy, I have to go apologize," she said, starting to walk back to the rink.
"Not now, Genni. Let's go back for the night."
_3_
The next morning, Genni and I practically raced for Drama class.
"T.G.I.F!" I yelled as we ran through the grounds.
"Huh?" Genni asked.
"It means 'thank goodness it's Friday'! I guess it must be an American thing," I told her, smiling.
We had woken up late, and only had a minute to get there. As nice as Mr. James was, he had a thing about being on time for some reason, and if we weren't... Basically, it was an 'or else' kind of situation.
"We're here!" Genni and I yelled, plowing our way into the building.
Mr. James looked up from roll call and said, "You're late, girls."
I flinched at his clipped, cold tone. Everyone else was looking very happy, for some reason.
"About that, I am so sorry-"
"What's done is done. Now girls, why don't you go take a seat on the stage with everyone else?" Mr. James interrupted.
Genni and I trudged up to the stage as our teacher walked behind the curtain.
"Teacher's pet in trouble?" Ian asked, sitting down next to me.
A couple of girls scoffed in disgust-I knew they did not like the fact that Ian was always talking to me.
"Apparently so," I muttered.
"Ian, I am soooooo sorry! I had no idea that your mother-"Genni started, only to be stopped by Ian.
"It's alright, Genni. I've heard it all. You're sorry, wish that there was something that you could do, pity me... Well, I've had enough pity," Ian told her, not looking angry, only very sad.
I had a random, sudden urge to give him a hug again.
"So what's up with the happy-go-lucky class today?" Genni asked him, picking at the hemming on her skirt.
Ian just smiled and said, "I'm not sure, No one will tell me, either."
Suddenly, one of Genni's other girl friends came up and whispered something in her ear. Genni smiled and said, "Lovely, they sure do deserve it."
"What was that about?" both Ian and I asked at the same time, after the girl had left.
"Jinx!" I told Ian happily. He just gave me an odd look.
Genni smiled and said, "You'll see..."
_3_
Next period, Ian and I walked over to Chemistry together, while Genni went to pick up something from the art room. The snow was glistening and the sky was blue. We didn't really say anything until Ian piped up, "Amy, is Daniel coming to the play?"
I frowned. Why did he want to know?
"Uh, yeah."
"That ought to be interesting," Ian said chuckling.
I nodded in agreement and laughed.
"What?" Ian asked curiously.
"Nothing, really. I was just seeing Natalie's reaction to Dan being here in my head."
Ian thought for a moment and then laughed with me. We passed a couple of guys trying to build a snowman in between class. Suddenly, the head fell off and went rolling down the street.
"SNOWY!" all of the guys yelled as they raced after the huge snowball.
Ian and I looked at each other, and suddenly burst into laughter. Both of us were laughing so hard that when we walked into class, Mr. Blake threatened to give us a detention. Of course, Ian just charmed us both out of it.
"How do you do that?" I asked in wonder as we sat down in the back.
"What?" Ian asked, looking genuinely confused.
"You can just use your smile and personality to get yourself out of any situation. It's a bit unfair," I told him, feeling like I was complaining. I just hoped that I wasn't coming across as whining-that was Dan's area of expertise.
Ian shrugged and replied, "I was just raised that way. And besides, I always have had a very-" He flashed me a big smile, "wonderful smile."
I cracked up at Ian's expression when he said that. "Ms. Cahill, Mr. Kabra, am I going to have to separate you two?" the teacher asked from the front, pointing us out.
A couple of boys said, "Oooohh! Ian's got a girlfriend!"
I blushed and looked down at my notebook while Ian just shot them a hard look.
Genni popped into class about halfway through and said to the teacher, "Sorry, I was just getting stuff for the celebration."
Mr. Blake nodded knowingly and then sent Genni over to sit next to me.
"What celebration?" I asked.
"Oh, just something for the teachers and they asked me to go and get some of the decorations," Genni said breezily. "Now, how about these chemical equations?"
I shrugged in defeat and started to balance out the formula for photosynthesis in my notebook.
Reviews make me happy, and happy author=better writing. So, make me a better author and review! Thanks a bunch!
I think I'm gonna ask a question each chapter, cause my A/N's are so boring.
? of the chapter: What's your favorite song/singer or band?