Assorted Imagines

Hockey Boy

It's crazy looking back on it-- I was so so close to denying my friend Nina's invitation when she asked me if I wanted to join her and some of the other kids in our college program to go ice skating. The local park had apparently set up a great rink. 

I hated ice skating. Skating in general, really. I always dreaded roller rink birthday parties or people trying to teach me how to skateboard. I have the worst balance of any human on Earth. It's embarrassing. Really. 

Besides, Nina had said it was $20 dollars for the skates, and as a broke college student, I wasn't looking to spend an extra $20 on something I hated. And, everyone on the ice seemed to know what they were doing so well. There was even a group of guys all hitting around a hockey puck expertly. But, after she and a few others kept pestering me, I said okay. It had been a very rough and lonely week, and the last thing I wanted to do was be social, but I thought maybe the fresh air and some time with friends could cheer me up. So I headed over to the park after my last class. 

They were all excited to see me and cheered me on as I wobbled towards the rink in my skates. Nina and Helen slid to the entrance to meet me, chuckling good-natured at my discomfort before I had even hit the ice. 

"You've got this, you've got this! One foot in front of the other, yeah! Like that!" They coached me as I gripped the wall for dear life, sliding around on the ice. I began to get more comfortable and meeting more of my friends on the ice, but still kept a hand clutched to the wall. 

"Haha, you're... sort of getting the hang of it!" Helen giggled. I laughed, actually having a good time, despite my embarrasment at the little kids who sped past me. Helen and Nina sped up a bit, leaving me behind. I focused, gripping the wall with one hand and starting to glide a little more gracefully. I took a deep breath and let go of the wall. I wobbled, but tried to keep my pace. 

Left foot, right foot. Left foot right foot. Left foot, Ri--

"Ahh!" 

I let out a small scream as I felt my legs getting forcefully knocked out from under me and fell backwards. I squeezed my eyes shut, ready to feel the cold hard ice on my ass, but I didn't. 

I heard a deep voice go, "Oh shit!" and warm arms wrap around me, keeping me from hitting the ground. I opened my eyes and they immediately met a pair of beautiful, mahogany-brown eyes with long, dark lashes surrounding them. 

"Oh, my G-- I'm so, so sorry," he babbled, the handsome guy that was holding me up. I swallowed, my breathing a little shallow from the scare. I laughed breathlessly. 

"It's-- haha, it's okay," I said nervously. He stood me back on my feet as if I could stand well on skates, but I couldn't of course, and stumbled again. 

"Woah, woah," he said, returning his arms to my waist to hold me still. I gripped his muscular arms, trying to steady myself. 

"I'm sorry, I suck at skating," I laughed nervously. He grinned at me. Holy shit. Perfect teeth, beautiful, thick, dark brown hair flowing from under his black beanie, tanned skin... tall...

"I'm sure that's not true," he said politely, still smiling that gleaming grin. 

"No, no, I am," I insisted, still gripping his shoulders as I wobbled. He still held my waist and laughed a little. 

"Well, I'm beyond sorry for running into you, I can't believe I'm that hockey jackass who runs into other people on the ice..." he said, shaking his head. 

Ohhh, I realized that I had seen him before I had gotten on the ice; he had been one of the guys playing hockey. 

"Don't worry about it," I protested.