Together Again II Mat Barzal

Fifteen: Mat

We went to the parking lot and got in my car. Shreya went in the back seat, while I was driving, and Bela was next to me.

"So you guys really don't know how to skate?" I asked them.

"Mat, I haven't been skating since the seventh grade," Bela said.

"Me too," Shreya laughed.

"I guess I'll have to teach you then," I said.

When we got to an ice rink, we noticed that no one was there. I guess it was before opening time, but we looked inside and it was open.

"Hey! Can I get you some skates?" A lady behind the counter asked.

"Two pairs of skates please," Bela said. She rented skates for her and Shreya while I put on mine.

There was no one else on the ice, which I thought would make it easier to teach them. I stepped on the ice and started skating.

"How fast can you go?" Shreya asked.

"Pretty fast," I said.

"Show me," Shreya said, tying her skates.

"You want me to?" I asked.

"Do it," Bela said.

"Okay," I skated to one end of the ice before sprinting to the other side.

"That's pretty damn fast," Bela said.

"It was alright," Shreya smiled.

"You think you can do better?" I asked her, waiting for the girls to join me on the ice.

"Yup," Shreya said, wobbling over to the ice. "Watch,"

She couldn't take one step without falling over. Luckily, I caught her before she hit the hard ice.

"Maybe you should hold on to the railing," I suggested.

Shreya held onto the railing and wouldn't let go. I laughed at her as Bela took my hand.

"M'lady," I smiled at Bela.

She gripped onto my arm tightly and tried to skate. She kept wobbling, but I kept her steady. We made a round around the ice while Shreya still didn't move from her railing spot.

"Yo, Shreya," I said, holding out my hand for her.

She looked at me and took my hand. I skated with both of the girls slowly as they both held my arms tightly.

"Guys, I have to go to the bathroom," I said, skating to the opening. "Can you let go of me?"

I looked at Bela and then Shreya and they both wouldn't let go.

"I think it's time you skated on your own now," I said.

"I don't think we're ready," Bela said.

"Well, you never know unless you try, right?" I said, trying to wiggle out of their grip.

They both let go, but wouldn't move at all.

"You guys are so cute," I said, heading to the bathroom. "I'll be right back,"

When I came back from the bathroom, Shreya was skating slowly, wobbling.

"Mat, I can do it-" Right when she tried to talk, she fell on the ice and started laughing.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

"Yup," She tried to get up, but she kept falling.

"Shreya, I would help you, but I don't know how to skate," Bela said.