One Shots

Autumn held her jacket close to her body as she walked down the cold streets of Minnesota, living in Vegas her whole life she never had to deal with weather this cold. She kept her head down as she walked, her blonde hair whipped back in forth through the wind, she reached her destination and sat down on the familiar bench.
She wiped away the few tears that had slipped from her eyes; she took a deep breath trying to calm herself down from the series of events that took place that morning. She looked out at the empty ice rink, it was too cold for anyone to be out skating, Zach had always said this was the best type of weather.
“I knew I’d find you here,” Autumn looked over her shoulder as Stephanie approached, she sat down beside her and pulled her in for a hug, “I’m so sorry Autumn.”
Autumn waved off her apology, “Don’t be, it’s my fault for thinking he’d be waiting for me even after all this time.” She sighed.
Autumn tried to make it work between her and Zach but with his busy schedule and her school work, they just couldn’t make it work. Autumn needed to get her life together before she could be with Zach, and she had just done that, she spent all her time focusing on her career, and she told herself she’d go back to Zach once she had everything straightened out.
After what seemed like a lifetime she was finally ready to come back to him, she bought her ticket to Minnesota and flew out to see him. She just wasn’t expecting to see him with his wife and family, Zach was just as shocked to see her again.
“He may be with her but he still loves you Autumn.” Steph reassured.
“How could you be so sure?” She cried, all this time she had thought Zach would be the one she’d end up with, she was supposed to be the one he spent the rest of his life with.
“He still comes here every month on the 22nd.” Steph explained.
“Our anniversary.” Autumn whispered through her tears, Stephanie wrapped an arm around Autumn as she rubbed her shoulder trying to calm her down.
The girls were startled as someone cleared their throat, Autumn looked up at the last person she wanted to see right now.
“Can I talk to her alone?” Zach asked Stephanie, Steph nodded her head; she gave Autumn one last hug before getting up and leaving the two of them on their own.
Zach sat beside her, Autumn kept her head down avoiding his gaze, she wiped away the few tears not wanting him to see her cry. They sat in silence neither of them saying a word, Zach leaned back against the bench and looked out at the ice rink.
“Do you remember our first date?” He asked breaking the silence, Autumn looked up at him confused by his question.
“How could I forget? The double date with Steph and Charlie, it happened right here.” She spoke.

“What if he doesn’t like me?” Autumn asked nervously, she chewed on her bottom lip as she walked side by side with Stephanie to the ice rink to meet their dates.
Autumn’s stomach knotted as they approached the rink, she just wanted to hurry up and get the date over with. She had been talking to Zach for over a week now, and today they would be going on their first date together. Autumn was so nervous about the date she asked Stephanie to come along with her boyfriend Charlie who was Zach’s teammate.
“Hey,” Charlie greeted as they walked up to them, he gave his girlfriend a kiss and then moved on to hug Autumn, “Hey kiddo.” He teased.
“Don’t call me that!” Autumn hissed she playfully shoved Charlie before saying hello to Zach; he bent down to hug her and lifted her off the floor.
Autumn chuckled as he set her back down, “Let’s skate!” She spoke; she sat down on the bench and got out her skates from her bag.
“Do you need some help?” Zach asked as he noticed Autumn struggling to lace up her skates, Autumn nodded her head shyly, he lifted her leg up and onto his lap as he began to tie her skates.
“They’re really cute.” Charlie whispered to Stephanie, Autumn looked over her shoulder and smiled at Charlie.
“Yeah, but we’re cuter.” Stephanie teased.
“I second that!” Autumn spoke joining the conversation.
“Second what?” Zach asked as he realized he was left out of the conversation between them.
“Stephanie and I are a cuter couple than you and Autumn.” Charlie explained.
Zach faked a gasp, “I disagree,” He wrapped his arms around Autumn’s waist and snuggled his head into the crook of her neck, “Look how cute we are.” He added, he leaned up and attacked her cheek with kisses.
Autumn laughed as she pushed Zach off of her, she got up from the bench and grabbed Steph, she dragged her towards the rink as Zach and Charlie followed behind them.
“Let’s race.” Zach suggested, the four of them raced onto the clean sheet of ice, they raced to the end of the rink and back.
They were all neck in neck and Autumn was sure she was going to win and be able to rub it in everyone’s face until she toe picked and went flying into the ground. Zach looked over his shoulder noticing Autumn was no longer with them, he noticed her on the floor and skated over towards her.
“Are you okay?” He asked, Autumn nodded her head, Zach extended his hand out towards her, she grabbed it and he pulled her up.
She dusted the snow off of her jeans with shaky cold hands, “Where are your gloves?” Zach asked noticing her cold red fingers.
“I forgot them,” She shrugged shyly, Zach took of his own gloves and offered them to her, “No, you wear them, they’re yours.” She declined.
“I’ll be fine without them.” He reassured, he offered her the gloves again and this time she accepted them, she grabbed the gloves from his hands and slipped them onto her small fingers.
“Why don’t you ever give me your gloves?” Steph hit Charlie’s chest and pouted.
Charlie glared at Zach, “You’re making me look bad,” He joked, Charlie took off his beanie and slipped it onto Steph’s head, “There, it looks better on you anyways.”
Steph smiled as Charlie helped fixed her hair, Zach rolled his eyes, “I can do that too.” He teased; he grabbed the beanie off of Autumn’s head and put it on his own.
“Hey!” Autumn shouted, she pouted her lips and crossed her arms over her chest.
Zach reached up with his hand and ruffled her hair, which got a rise out of Autumn, she slapped his hands away and began shoving him.
“Don’t touch my hair!” Autumn shoved as Zach laughed; Zach grabbed her arms and pushed her into his chest.
“What are you going to do now?” Zach teased as he held onto her hands, Autumn smirked as she kicked Zach’s skate causing him to lose his balance.
Zach fell back, he held out his arms and grabbed Autumn bringing her down with him, Autumn shrieked as she fell, she landed roughly on Zach‘s chest. Autumn laughed as she lifted her upper body off of Zach, she hovered over his face as she stared down at his wide smile.
“You’re really beautiful you know.” Zach spoke as he moved her blonde hair away from her face, Autumn blushed and looked down at the ice instead of him.
Contemplating it Zach leaned up and kissed her, the kiss had only lasted a few seconds; Autumn pulled away and got up from the cold ice. She helped Zach get up, and then skated over towards Steph and Charlie.

“We saw that.” Charlie teased, Autumn rolled her eyes as Steph hit Charlie’s chest.
“My feet already hurt.” Autumn whined as she moved her toes in her skates, Zach came up from behind her and rested his head on her shoulder.
“Do you want to sit down?” Zach asked overhearing their conversation before he arrived.
Autumn nodded her head; Zach grabbed onto her waist and pushed her forwards, he pushed her along the ice as they made their way over to the bench.
Autumn let out a sigh of relief as she finally sat down, she rested her feet on Zach’s lap, she smiled up at him as he played with the laces of her skates.
“I’m really glad you came today.” Zach smiled; he leaned over and pressed his lips to hers again.

“I didn’t think you’d ever come back.” Zach admitted.
“I didn’t think I would either,” Autumn frowned, “I didn’t think you’d have a wife and a family.” She added.
“I couldn’t wait for you forever.” He sighed, seeing Autumn again was tearing him apart, he had convinced himself she moved on and wouldn’t be coming back.
Hearing his words pained her, it hurt knowing that he was able to move on and be happy with someone else. Autumn fought back tears and smiled; she got up from the bench and turned to him.
“I’m really happy for you; I wish you the best of luck in life. It was really good seeing you again, but I think it’s time I go. Goodbye Zach.” She faked a smile before walking away.
“Wait!” Zach called out but she kept walking, “I still love you.” He whispered to himself.

Notes