"Man this place got expensive," Kval muttered, fishing another twenty out of his wallet.
The doe at the counter took it objectively, and worked the register for only a second, "four thirty-four is your change;" she said, with a very chipper voice, "and have a nice time!"
"Malina," he thanked with a nod, and turned to the three knee-high heads beside him. "All right, you two tiger-cubs go to the skatemaster and tell 'em your sizes, we'll meet you out on the ice."
"You got it, c'mon Ket," Emeral said, taking him by the hand.
Kval chuckled as they excitedly went to the skate-rental counter, and then looked to his little sister. "You think yours'll still fit?"
"Sure, let's go it's been forever!"
It was Kval's turn to be dragged by the hand over to the benches, where other people were culminating; tying laces, wiggling toes, putting on second pairs of socks. "Need me to lace you?" He asked, plopping her baby-blue figures on the ground beside her feet.
"Nope, I'm a big girl."
"Aw you're growin' up too fast." He sat beside her, coaxing the knot of his shoe off. "Now remember we gotta show these tigers up. Ice skating is one of our affinities."
"What's an aff-eddit-tee?"
Emeral glanced over as she heard Kval laugh out loud.
"Here's your skates," the young raccoon said, setting them on the counter with a scrape. "And what size are you?" He asked to the orange tiger.
"Yeah Ket," she poked him, "What's yerr size?"
He bit his lip. "I don't...really know." He peered over the counter. "How are you spost'a tell?" He felt a tug at his shoe. "Hey!"
Emeral rose, "We'll try a six, in figures."
"Six, figures it is," the raccoon disappeared for just a moment into the forest of cubby-holes, and then emerged with the skates, handing both pairs over the counter. "Careful now," he warned.
"Thanks," they both said, and walked over to the benches. Kval and Lyza were still tying their laces but there was no place nearby them to sit, so they had to settle for a couple benches over. Ket set his skates down on the rubber floor and reached into his pocket for his second pair of socks.
"Oh crud!" Emeral exclaimed.
"S'matter?" He whipped his socks against the bench to unfold them.
"I left my pair back at your house..." she sighed, frustrated. "Knew I forgot something."
"Here," he said, socks flopping over his hand as he held them out.
She shook her head, "that's sweet of you Ket, but no. It's not a big deal," she pushed his hand down and smiled. "I just might have to take breaks a little more so my ankles don't go raw."
"Take 'em," he insisted, trying to place the socks in her hands.
She clasped her hands behind her back, "I don't want 'em, their yours."
He huffed. "How am I supposed to be a good boyfriend if you won't let me?" He said in a low tone. Before she could answer, he split the socks apart, "Will you take one at least?"
Her eyes rolled and she whimpered. She couldn't resist, "Okay fine," she snatched it, "But I will feel bad for taking it and that's all your fault," she said playfully.
They sat down and wiggled off their shoes, although Ket didn't have much trouble with that since his were very beaten up and practically fell apart with every step.
Emeral banged her heels against the ground a few times, working out any kinks she might have. She giggled when Ket copied her. It was going to be a fun afternoon, and Ket's first time out on the ice! She was so excited about that.
Ket picked up his left skate, examining it. "That...is way too much lacing..."
"Need help lacing?" She asked excitedly.
"No," he said a little defensively, "I can do it."
"Okaaaay..." She pulled her skates on, wiggling her toes to make sure they were a good fit, and then began lacing. It had been a while since she was on the ice, far longer than Lyza or Kval who were here like every day over the summer—Kval even had a bit of a job as an ice-skating instructor for the beginners. But it was like riding a bike, and in just a few minutes she had her feet snuggly-tight, but it felt weird with one side a little thicker than other from the single extra sock.
She glanced over. Ket was on his second skate, but she couldn't help laughing. "Points for trying," she said.
"What," he looked at her, "Didn't I do a good job?" He glanced down at his skate, "It looks good to me..."
"You could churn butter in that thing. You need to tie it tighter." She got down on her knees and started undoing all his work. "Now it's my turn."
Ket grumbled, embarrassed. He looked around but no one seemed to notice his predicament. Still, it felt like eyes were on him. In truth he was very hesitant about this whole thing—it was so far outside his comfort circle he was passing stars. He sort of wished he was back at his house, still watching the marathon. It was weird, just up and changing plans to go to the skating rink like this.
But he'd just have to get over it. Man up; he was one now.
"Other foot."
His head slumped forward. "You're enjoying this aren't you?"
"Yush," she said cutely, threading the aglets through the holes, "Every second. I dunno if it makes much of a difference, but I like going over-under, under-over," she pulled halfway up the skate. "makes me feel like it's on more securely."
"You wanna dye my fur pink while you're at it?" He suggested.
"Oh honey, but what would the neighbors think?"
He blinked. "The neighbors?"
Her hand patted his skate. "All done. Howzit feel?"
"I don't think I can feel my feet..."
"Perfect! Now let's go, they're already on the ice and having fun without us." She stood up and took him by the hand, pulling him up to his feet.
He was very wobbly, to be expected. Hand-in-hand, their skates clob-clobbed across the rubber floor as they headed through the glass door to the rink.
"From the cold into the cold," she said, holding the door for him to pass through.
He lifted his legs over the threshold; the skates were very heavy. As the door shut behind him it sealed the warm air away. It went from June to October in thirty seconds, and was approaching November pretty fast. He watched as the other skaters rounded the curve, their blades making sliss-noises like car tires on wet road.
Still hand-in-hand, he was led to the rift where other people were getting on and off the ice. It was their turn shortly, and she stepped onto the ice first like it was nothing.
Ket managed to wriggle his hand out of hers, determined not to be helped any further. He looked at the cool surface, scored and maimed by dozens of blades. Dithered reflections of the big lights overhead made the ice seem like it was lit from both sides; he got the image of what it would be like if the overhead ones were shut off and lights beneath the ice were left on.
Lines were all over the place. Yellow lines, barely visible, blue lines marking circles at either end with red dots in the center like a target. A thick red line like blood disappeared behind the corner of the rift.
"Don't be scared," Emeral said.
"Hush," he muttered, and placed one foot on the ice, still hugging the wall. How hard could skating be? He'd never skated with roller-blades, only the four-wheeled skates but It had to be something a lot like that. He lifted the other foot up and over, and Emeral started floating away like a navy-blue ghost with how tightly she wrapped herself in her jacket. Ket let go of the wall and took a step, like he'd done on the rubber floor. His foot wobbled on the blade, but he managed to keep it in check. He took another step, started sliding forward. He lifted his foot a third time, but his other foot snagged.
Clack! His hands slapped and cheek bumped onto the ice. He bit his lip, tasted warm copper. He lied there for a second, but then abruptly sat up when he heard a godawful scraping, like a hundred hungry knives, headed his way.
It was like playing in the middle of the highway; people passed him left and right, their bladed skates slithering and slicing light and ice all around him. His hands flew into the air above his head to keep his fingers from getting chopped off; some people laughed as they passed him.
Then like daylight hitting a vampire it was all over as they went away.
Emeral was there, helpful paw extended. She pulled him up, and brushed ice shavings off his cheeks and shirt. "You gotta watch your teeth." She advised.
"My teeth?" He asked, feeling his lip, and she hooked his hand. He was left with no choice but to follow her as she took him deeper onto the ice—leaving one circle figuratively and entering another literally.
In the center of the rink, within an outlined oval, she lifted her left foot up and pointed at it, before it quickly fell down, "Figure-skates have these teeth on the toes. They always trip people, so you always have to watch your teeth. You also have a bit'a blood on your chin."
He wiped it away, and then felt someone slap his back.
"Have a nice trip there, bud?" Kval said, slithering around them before coming to a stop. "That was a nasty fall. You look like you got a lump forming, might wanna get some ice on that. But don't ask me where you'll find any here, I have no clue, nope not at all."
Emeral giggled, and Ket couldn't help but laugh a little too. Lyza's brother could use humor like a weapon. "It's his first time on the ice, Kval."
"Oh yeah?" Kval switched his stance, lifting one foot up over his knee as he moved along, blatantly showing off his balance. "I see, I see," he slammed the foot down and turned around sharply. "Well, the beginner's circle is the perfect place to be then. And I just happen to be a teacher! But, I need my lovely assistant—" he said the phrase a little loudly, implicitly calling Lyza over. The little rabbit broke from the crowd and went center-stage.
"You called?"
"Hey-o. Did you know it was Ket's first time on the ice?"
Lyza's eyes opened melodramatically wide. She took in an elongated surprise-gasp, "Really?"
Emeral giggled, and lifted her hand to whisper at Ket; "They're just teasing you."
"I know," he growled, "and everyone's watching. I almost wanna call Pistachios."
"Stop teasing him Kavl-waffle," Emeral said, defending him. "Either help him learn or g'way!"
Kval chuckled and slowly slid over to them, stopping just in front of Ket. "So, you wanna learn how to skate? You gotta wanna learn or it ain't gonna happen."
Ket nodded.
"A'ight. First things first, mind your tee—"
"Already taught him," Emeral chimed, skating around with Lyza.
"Okay. First things second, this is ice skating, not ice-walking. You don't lift your feet up, you sort of, lazy-walk," he said, demonstrating the motion with exaggeration. He skated away, to the other side of the beginner's circle, and whipped around. "Now you try."
Ket ran his tongue over his raw lip, and wiped his chin again. He took a breath. Mind your teeth. He pushed through his hesitance, lifted up his left foot to get started, and set it down; the motion carried him forward, and he swiveled his other foot out, carrying him just a little farther. He repeated the motion with his left leg again, but his right foot curved inward and he took another dive, landing flat on his rear. First he was stunned, and then he looked over at the amebic crowd. He couldn't tell how many there were but there were a lot and it felt like they were all watching him.
Kval took him by the shoulder, helped him to his feet. "I see we'll have to get a bit more basic. We'll start you off with sveeszes."
"With... what?" The tiger asked.
The teen bunny cringed. "Err...sorry, accent slip. What I meant to say was 'sveeszes'...sveez—...sssssssss...vee—bah!" He looked around, "Emeral?"
She appeared out of thin air. "Yeah?"
"Sveeszes?" He asked.
"Swizzles," she corrected, and did one; feet together, split out, and bring them back.
Kval smiled. "Y'know. I think it'd be better if you took over, huh?"
"Me?" Emeral pointed at herself. "But you're the better skater."
"Well, y'know..." he patted his legs, "But I think he'd love it if you taught him instead'a boring ol' me." He winked.
Emeral's cheeks started to tingle. "Well..." she looked at Ket, "I mean if you really think so..."
"Good," Kval clapped his hands, "we'll be in the lump if you need us, c'mon Lyz-bits."
"But I wanna stay and help teach..." She said disappointedly as Kval took her out of the beginner's circle.
So they were stuck alone together in the middle of the ice, miles away from dry, walk-on-able land. About them, the slish and slash of the other skaters' feet echoed above all else.
Ket realized just how quiet it was. He could hear some people's conversations from 'the lump' as Kval had put it.
"I didn't tell him," Emeral said in a hush, "I promise."
Ket shrugged. "Someone was bound to find out."
"Well, Kval knows I like someone," she floated up to him, "but he doesn't know it's you."
"No. He does," Ket retorted.
"You sound really angry," she sighed, "are you really outside your circle?"
"Passed Alpha Centauri by the time we got out here," he replied, but he softened to her a bit.
She floated away a little, ears flattened and tail touching the ice. "I'm sorry. I thought this would be fun for us. Like a date."
Ket bit his lip, wanted to close the distance between them. His left foot wiggled, and then he pulled off a tight swizzle, clinking his blades with hers. "How're you gonna teach me if you're all mopey?"
She half-smiled, her mood rising just a little. "People will watch."
"Don't say that," he growled, "I was trying to ignore them." He shook his head. "Listen, I'm not mad at you. I wanna have fun. Don't you?"
She giggled, and took his hands. "No Pistachios, promise?"
He sighed. "No Pistachios."
They both smiled, and she swizzled backward, "Well come on, you won't learn just standing there."
He was unbalanced at first, his swizzles tense and small. She reminded him to obey First Rule, and so he did. The swizzles became easier very quickly, especially with her keeping him balanced and directed. They had started at one end of the beginner's circle and zig-zagged to the middle. Excited and emboldened, Ket tried to up the ante and move from a swizzle back to the stride Kval had shown him earlier—his toe caught, and once again he embraced the ice.
"Dang it!" He growled.
Emeral leaned down, "S'all right, you'll get it."
"I'm not gonna with this stupid toe," he griped as she lifted him, "what the heck is it for anyway? All it's doing is screwing me up!"
She smiled patiently, "If you really wanna know what it's for...I can show you," she replied.
"All right," he agreed, "show me."
She waved her finger, "Not how it works. First you have to prove you're not gonna give up. You did perfect, if you just mind your teeth you'll be skating in no time."
He sighed and caught himself before he stumbled again, legs trembling and hands pretending like they were pushing on walls. "Okay, okay," he let his hands down, "I gotta learn how to get off this mess anyway." He met her extended hands.
"Start with swizzles, do 'em for a lap," she said as she backed up, "then you can skate with a stride for another lap, and then I'll let go for a third, okay?"
He nodded, aware that they were already done with a quarter of his swizzle lap. Nearing the end of it he moved to a stride early, and kept very mindful of his teeth. He looked down repeatedly, making sure he was balanced and flat. They approached the invisible line of the third lap, and she counted to three before releasing.
He stumbled at first, chopping once, but then quickly recovered. She was still right in front of him, skating backward, hand poised to stabilize him if he wobbled too much. He tried not to look down now, tried to mind his toe without watching it. His speed went up, and he realized he was turning; how'd he figure to do that? He straightened out, halfway done with his final lap.
Emeral swiveled around to skate forward, and showed Ket how to stop when he reached the finish line. "That was really good!" She said clapping. "See? I knew you could do it."
He smiled, "I think my circle just got really fat." He said, although he was still wary of the lump's many eyes.
She smiled, her red cheeks dimpling.
Whether they were red from cold or from shyness, Ket couldn't tell.
She skated around a little bit more, and he followed her, skating with a normal stride after only one swizzle. She skated in a figure eight, to make sure he could turn okay, and then after a couple laps stopped, and held out her arm to help him stop.
"Kay, I think you're good." She took a breath in, "Now, I owe you an answer. You wanna know what the teeth are for right?"
He nodded sternly. "Yes."
"Okay. Well, you better watch carefully cuz I'm only gonna do this once."
His face relaxed at her phrase, unsure of what to expect.
She skated to center-stage and looked at him for just a moment. She twiddled her fingers, and then slowly pushed her right leg out like she was going to do a swizzle with one leg, and raised her arms, twisting her upper-body. Abruptly her foot shot out, almost like she'd lost balance.
He was about to rush over, but he stopped as her foot rose up and she began spinning, her arms raised into the air. His eyes rolled back and forth as she spun like a top. He tried to count how many she'd done, but couldn't even keep up—until at last her foot fell flat, and she yipped, falling onto her rear. He rushed over, coming to a stuttered stop.
Before he could ask if she was all right, a volley of shouts and cheers and clapping came from all around them. There were a few whistles, and a few distinct phrases: "You go girl!"; "What a show!"; Kval: "Now make him do it!"
Emeral sat up, laughing and brushing shavings off her jacket. "Give him some slack!" She shouted back at the last comment. She looked up at Ket. "Satisfied?"
He bit his lip. "I didn't mean for you to embarrass yourself..." He said lowly.
She half-closed her eyelids. "Ket, I'm not embarrassing myself. Half the people in here probably can't even skate backwards. I know you feel like everyone's watching you and teasing you but they're not—well not teasing you anyway." She patted her jeans. "So...you gonna help me up or're ya just gonna stand there while my butt freezes off?"
