Butter Pecan 19; Roasted Chestnut 12
Author: Marina
Story: The Dragon World
Challenge: Butter Pecan 19 (cold), Roasted Chestnut 12 (ice skating)
Toppings/Extras: Caramel
Word Count: 1,459
Rating: G
Summary: Laura and Chase meet up with Kevin and his sisters at the skating rink.
Notes: Holiday fluff! More artwork tomorrow I hope.
“I wish Carrie could’ve come,” said Chase, morosely, as he and his sister climbed the steps to the large sports center than housed Madison’s ice skating rink.
“She had family obligations. It’s not her fault,” said Laura.
He scowled. “Her grandparents coulda waited. We’re not going to go skating again til after Christmas.”
“Which isn’t that far away, so we’ll have plenty more chances.” She guided him through the maze of courts and shops to the skate rental that acted as the gateway to the rink beyond. “Besides, we’ll have lots of fun with the twins and Sidney. Hey, Roy!”
The good-looking college boy who worked for the rink during the holiday season turned from organizing the skates and grinned. “Hey, Laura, Chase,” he said, brushing his shaggy hair out of his eyes. “Let me see if I can remember…women’s seven and men’s four, right?”
“Right,” said Laura, with a smile, while Chase stood by in silent hostility. “Thanks so much.”
“My pleasure.” Roy slid the skates over the counter to her. Chase snatched up his and ran off to a bench to put them on. Laura accepted hers much more graciously, waving as she followed.
As she put on her skates, she looked around for the MacLeods and found them already on the rink. Kevin and Lindsey were good skaters, she noticed. Kevin knew how to skate backward, and did it very comfortably, leading Sidney by the hands, while Lindsey glided happily from the wall to the center of the rink. Laura tried to imagine herself doing those things and shuddered a little.
“Okay, I’m going,” said Chase. He stood with a little wobble and began to clump off to the entry.
“If you run into the others, tell them I’ll be out in a minute,” Laura called after him. He waved behind him in acknowledgement and carefully started off.
She watched him, abandoning the task of lacing up her skates. He stayed by the wall, at first, but slowly gained more confidence. By the time he had made it most of the way around, he moved at a comfortable speed at least two feet away from the edge. He passed Kevin and Sidney, who waved to him and received a big smile in return. Laura felt pleased, even though she knew the smile had been meant solely for Sidney.
Laces done and gloves on, she hobbled her way to the rink. The same dread she always felt upon putting a foot on the ice shot up through her system. She had to take a couple of breaths to reorient herself-even that one foot, barely touching, threatened to tip her over. She mustered up her courage and managed to hoist herself through the opening, then slowly inched her way along the wall.
She spotted Chase and Lindsey skating together on the other side-which looked as though it might be miles away, now that she was inside-Lindsey on Chase’s left, doing risky little turns and jumps to make him laugh. I wish I could do that, Laura thought, with a regretful smile.
“How are you doing, Laura?” Lindsey asked, as they drew up close to her.
“I’m just fine, thanks,” Laura lied. Chase gave her a skeptical look, but did not betray her.
The blonde gestured along the ice. “Come skate with us.”
“I’m still getting my footing,” Laura said, feeling her cheeks flush with cold and embarrassment. “I’m not very good at this. Maybe on the next loop round?”
“Sure thing.” Lindsey lifted her hand in salute and began to glide away, and Chase followed with only one sympathetic lift of the eyebrows at his sister.
Laura continued to crawl her way around, watching their easy conversation. Chase was not as enthusiastic about Lindsey’s company as he always was about Carrie’s, but he liked her better than most people he knew, and felt comfortable hanging out with her in a way he did not with Sidney or Kevin.
Sidney and Kevin, meanwhile, got along smoothly if slowly for most of a turn. Laura’s eyes alternated between them and the other two, pleased by Kevin’s patience. She had just about reached the halfway line when she heard a cry and turned to see that both siblings had tumbled to the ice. She winced, but neither seemed hurt. Kevin got back to his feet immediately, laughing, and offered his sister a hand.
Lindsey and Chase caught up to them then, exchanging a few merry jabs as they helped get Sidney upright and operational. Lindsey cast a glance around the rink and pointed across to Laura, who hastily directed her gaze a few yards to the left when Kevin’s eyes followed the gesture. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him say something to the other three and skate away.
“Oh, no,” Laura said softly. She started moving again, pulling herself along the wall without moving her feet in an attempt not to look completely pathetic.
Sure enough, he slid to a stop next to her less than a minute later. “You’re not going to have any fun doing that the whole time,” he said.
“I just got on the rink,” she said, lifting her chin. “I’m still getting used to the ice.”
“I bet you are. You look terrified.”
She gripped the wall. “I am not. I’m just not very good.” And I don’t want to fall, she added silently.
Kevin offered her his hand. “Once you get moving you’ll be fine. Come on, I’ll help you.”
“That’s okay, really.”
“Laura.” The hand did not retreat, and he was quick to back it up with a challenging expression. “Come on.”
She stared at him for a moment, then took his hand, trying to play off her nerves with a shake of the head and a smile that said I am so over this. He merely grinned and started off, capably but slowly. “Have you ever roller skated?” he asked her.
“I attempted it a few times,” she said.
“It’s sort of the same idea with this. Kind of walking, but not really. Push away from the ice like this.” He demonstrated. “It’s easy as long as you keep moving.”
Laura tried it and found the technique to be much more manageable than she had expected. “Huh. No one ever told me that. Chase just kind of picked it up-my parents didn’t really teach us.”
Kevin chuckled. “I’m kind of shocked that he’s doing better than you are.”
“He’s better at some things. Like this. I’m better at music and cooking.”
“So domestic,” he teased.
She glared up at him. “I would poke you if I didn’t think I’d fall.”
“Falling’s not a big deal either,” he informed her. “Just don’t fall forward. If you feel like you’re going to slip, lean back. Safer that way.”
“Really?”
“Yep. We were at an outdoor rink back in Virginia a couple years ago, and Lindsey broke her wrist trying to brace herself that way. None of us have ever hurt ourselves falling backward. You get a bruise, at worst, unless it’s a really bad fall, and that’s rare if you’re not taking risks.”
Laura nodded, feeling a little reassured. “Okay. I’ll keep that in mind.”
“You should.” Kevin grinned and then glanced to his left. “Lindsey!” He waved emphatically with his left hand and his sister appeared beside them.
“I see you got off the wall,” she said to Laura, looking pleased.
“Only because your twin dragged me,” Laura replied. “Where are Chase and Sidney?”
“Sid got tired and went to sit down. Chase offered to keep her company and I told them we’d get hot chocolate after I took a couple more turns. You two should come, too.”
“Sounds great,” said Kevin. “Hey, Linz, you take Laura’s other hand and we’ll pull her.”
Laura blanched. “Oh, no, I’ll fall for sure.”
“Not if you hang on and just glide,” Lindsey said, snatching her arm so she could not escape. “We’ll take care of you, don’t worry. And don’t lock your knees.”
“Bend forward a bit,” Kevin agreed. “Ready?”
She was not, but she nodded and gripped both their hands tight. “Don’t go too fast.”
“We won’t,” said Lindsey, and they started off.
Paralyzed with fear, at first Laura could only hang on, and despite Lindsey’s warning her knees stayed firmly locked. The twins kept a firm grip on her as they navigated the first curve, and once they had passed it, Laura felt assured that they would not let go of her and send her careening into the crowd in the center. She relaxed, let her knees bend, and found that exhilaration crept in to alleviate her terror.
Ice skating had never been so much fun for her.
Story: The Dragon World
Challenge: Butter Pecan 19 (cold), Roasted Chestnut 12 (ice skating)
Toppings/Extras: Caramel
Word Count: 1,459
Rating: G
Summary: Laura and Chase meet up with Kevin and his sisters at the skating rink.
Notes: Holiday fluff! More artwork tomorrow I hope.
“I wish Carrie could’ve come,” said Chase, morosely, as he and his sister climbed the steps to the large sports center than housed Madison’s ice skating rink.
“She had family obligations. It’s not her fault,” said Laura.
He scowled. “Her grandparents coulda waited. We’re not going to go skating again til after Christmas.”
“Which isn’t that far away, so we’ll have plenty more chances.” She guided him through the maze of courts and shops to the skate rental that acted as the gateway to the rink beyond. “Besides, we’ll have lots of fun with the twins and Sidney. Hey, Roy!”
The good-looking college boy who worked for the rink during the holiday season turned from organizing the skates and grinned. “Hey, Laura, Chase,” he said, brushing his shaggy hair out of his eyes. “Let me see if I can remember…women’s seven and men’s four, right?”
“Right,” said Laura, with a smile, while Chase stood by in silent hostility. “Thanks so much.”
“My pleasure.” Roy slid the skates over the counter to her. Chase snatched up his and ran off to a bench to put them on. Laura accepted hers much more graciously, waving as she followed.
As she put on her skates, she looked around for the MacLeods and found them already on the rink. Kevin and Lindsey were good skaters, she noticed. Kevin knew how to skate backward, and did it very comfortably, leading Sidney by the hands, while Lindsey glided happily from the wall to the center of the rink. Laura tried to imagine herself doing those things and shuddered a little.
“Okay, I’m going,” said Chase. He stood with a little wobble and began to clump off to the entry.
“If you run into the others, tell them I’ll be out in a minute,” Laura called after him. He waved behind him in acknowledgement and carefully started off.
She watched him, abandoning the task of lacing up her skates. He stayed by the wall, at first, but slowly gained more confidence. By the time he had made it most of the way around, he moved at a comfortable speed at least two feet away from the edge. He passed Kevin and Sidney, who waved to him and received a big smile in return. Laura felt pleased, even though she knew the smile had been meant solely for Sidney.
Laces done and gloves on, she hobbled her way to the rink. The same dread she always felt upon putting a foot on the ice shot up through her system. She had to take a couple of breaths to reorient herself-even that one foot, barely touching, threatened to tip her over. She mustered up her courage and managed to hoist herself through the opening, then slowly inched her way along the wall.
She spotted Chase and Lindsey skating together on the other side-which looked as though it might be miles away, now that she was inside-Lindsey on Chase’s left, doing risky little turns and jumps to make him laugh. I wish I could do that, Laura thought, with a regretful smile.
“How are you doing, Laura?” Lindsey asked, as they drew up close to her.
“I’m just fine, thanks,” Laura lied. Chase gave her a skeptical look, but did not betray her.
The blonde gestured along the ice. “Come skate with us.”
“I’m still getting my footing,” Laura said, feeling her cheeks flush with cold and embarrassment. “I’m not very good at this. Maybe on the next loop round?”
“Sure thing.” Lindsey lifted her hand in salute and began to glide away, and Chase followed with only one sympathetic lift of the eyebrows at his sister.
Laura continued to crawl her way around, watching their easy conversation. Chase was not as enthusiastic about Lindsey’s company as he always was about Carrie’s, but he liked her better than most people he knew, and felt comfortable hanging out with her in a way he did not with Sidney or Kevin.
Sidney and Kevin, meanwhile, got along smoothly if slowly for most of a turn. Laura’s eyes alternated between them and the other two, pleased by Kevin’s patience. She had just about reached the halfway line when she heard a cry and turned to see that both siblings had tumbled to the ice. She winced, but neither seemed hurt. Kevin got back to his feet immediately, laughing, and offered his sister a hand.
Lindsey and Chase caught up to them then, exchanging a few merry jabs as they helped get Sidney upright and operational. Lindsey cast a glance around the rink and pointed across to Laura, who hastily directed her gaze a few yards to the left when Kevin’s eyes followed the gesture. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him say something to the other three and skate away.
“Oh, no,” Laura said softly. She started moving again, pulling herself along the wall without moving her feet in an attempt not to look completely pathetic.
Sure enough, he slid to a stop next to her less than a minute later. “You’re not going to have any fun doing that the whole time,” he said.
“I just got on the rink,” she said, lifting her chin. “I’m still getting used to the ice.”
“I bet you are. You look terrified.”
She gripped the wall. “I am not. I’m just not very good.” And I don’t want to fall, she added silently.
Kevin offered her his hand. “Once you get moving you’ll be fine. Come on, I’ll help you.”
“That’s okay, really.”
“Laura.” The hand did not retreat, and he was quick to back it up with a challenging expression. “Come on.”
She stared at him for a moment, then took his hand, trying to play off her nerves with a shake of the head and a smile that said I am so over this. He merely grinned and started off, capably but slowly. “Have you ever roller skated?” he asked her.
“I attempted it a few times,” she said.
“It’s sort of the same idea with this. Kind of walking, but not really. Push away from the ice like this.” He demonstrated. “It’s easy as long as you keep moving.”
Laura tried it and found the technique to be much more manageable than she had expected. “Huh. No one ever told me that. Chase just kind of picked it up-my parents didn’t really teach us.”
Kevin chuckled. “I’m kind of shocked that he’s doing better than you are.”
“He’s better at some things. Like this. I’m better at music and cooking.”
“So domestic,” he teased.
She glared up at him. “I would poke you if I didn’t think I’d fall.”
“Falling’s not a big deal either,” he informed her. “Just don’t fall forward. If you feel like you’re going to slip, lean back. Safer that way.”
“Really?”
“Yep. We were at an outdoor rink back in Virginia a couple years ago, and Lindsey broke her wrist trying to brace herself that way. None of us have ever hurt ourselves falling backward. You get a bruise, at worst, unless it’s a really bad fall, and that’s rare if you’re not taking risks.”
Laura nodded, feeling a little reassured. “Okay. I’ll keep that in mind.”
“You should.” Kevin grinned and then glanced to his left. “Lindsey!” He waved emphatically with his left hand and his sister appeared beside them.
“I see you got off the wall,” she said to Laura, looking pleased.
“Only because your twin dragged me,” Laura replied. “Where are Chase and Sidney?”
“Sid got tired and went to sit down. Chase offered to keep her company and I told them we’d get hot chocolate after I took a couple more turns. You two should come, too.”
“Sounds great,” said Kevin. “Hey, Linz, you take Laura’s other hand and we’ll pull her.”
Laura blanched. “Oh, no, I’ll fall for sure.”
“Not if you hang on and just glide,” Lindsey said, snatching her arm so she could not escape. “We’ll take care of you, don’t worry. And don’t lock your knees.”
“Bend forward a bit,” Kevin agreed. “Ready?”
She was not, but she nodded and gripped both their hands tight. “Don’t go too fast.”
“We won’t,” said Lindsey, and they started off.
Paralyzed with fear, at first Laura could only hang on, and despite Lindsey’s warning her knees stayed firmly locked. The twins kept a firm grip on her as they navigated the first curve, and once they had passed it, Laura felt assured that they would not let go of her and send her careening into the crowd in the center. She relaxed, let her knees bend, and found that exhilaration crept in to alleviate her terror.
Ice skating had never been so much fun for her.