Hit Hard

“One skate rental.” Claude said as he looked down at Charlene’s feet. “Give her a six.”

“I’m a size seven.” Charlene looked up at him. “And I only skate in figure skates.” Claude laughed.

“First of all, the skates are sized differently. Size six in these skates are a seven in womens’ shoe sizes” He took the skates from the man behind the counter. “Second, you’ve gotta try the hockey skates they’re better.”

“Fine.” Charlene said.

“I’m going to grab my skates from my locker in the locker room. I’ll be back in a second.” He said as he walked away. Charlene put her skates on and tried lacing them as tight as she could, but they felt loose. Whatever. She was an okay ice skater. She had learned when she was young at the rink near her house.

“Those look terrible!” Claude laughed. “May I re tie them for you? Please?”

“Yes.” Charlene held up her foot and Claude picked up her foot from the heel. He secured the blade between his legs, and started lacing the skate, much tighter than Charlene had when she did it herself.

“How’s that feel?” Claude looked up at her.

“Good.” Charlene smiled. Claude stared back at her for a few seconds.

“Good.” He smiled as he picked up her other foot and started tightening that skate too. “There you are.” He said when he had finished. He sat down and started working on his skates. He could see Charlene watching him. She made him nervous, but in a good way. A first crush kind of way. When he thought about it, Charlene was the first real crush Claude had had on a girl in a while. He tied up his last skate and stood up. “Ready?”

“Yeah.” Charlene stood up. They walked over to the rink. She managed to make it to the ice without any problems, but the ice was a whole different story. She took a few steps onto the ice, then she grabbed the edge of the boards and shuffled her way along.

“Really?” Claude asked. “He was skating next to her, backwards. Charlene rolled her eyes.

“Theres no real winter where I’m from.” Claude stopped next to her.

“Here.” He held out his arm. Charlene held on to his hand. “Just take steps and keep your balance.” She did as he said, and she started moving better. “How are those skates treating you?”

“Not bad.” Charlene smiled. “They’re not super different.”

“Told ya!” Claude grinned. “Its empty today. Its usually really packed in here.” Charlene looked up from her the ice, which she had been watching intently as she glided along.

“Sweet.” Charlene replied. “So you skate here during the day?”

“Yeah.” He answered. “There’s another rink on the other side that I use.” For a split second, Charlene stopped paying attention and started tipping over. She fell backwards onto her bottom. Claude stood over her laughing. “Are you okay?”

“Yes.” Charlene said. “And its not funny!”

“A little.” Claude held out his hand to help her up.

“Not even a little.” She smiled as Claude pulled her in towards his chest. Her heart beat faster as his eyes met hers, and he still moved closer. She closed her eyes as his lips met hers.

“You’re right.” Claude grinned. “Not funny.” He winked at her. Charlene blinked a few times as Claude took her hand and continued skating. They had barely made a full lap around the rink. Charlene smiled as she skated, This wasn’t how she had expected her day turn out, but this was much better than working.

Notes