Lisa
We moved slowly, gliding across the ice like it was the most natural thing in the world. After we went around a few times, waving at Jin each time we passed his bench, I realised that I was actually having fun.
"Having fun?" Jennie asked.
"No!" I said, but smiled.
"You're a natural."
"You're pulling me; I'm not even moving my feet."
"You'll get there."
"I feel like Bambi."
"It's cute."
I rolled my eyes at her.
"Ready?" she asked.
"Ready? For what?"
Jennie let go of my hands and skated away from me. I began to scrambled.
"No, no, no! What are you doing? Don't let go!"
Jennie threw her head back in laughter and skated circles around me, just out of reach, while taunting me.
"Try to skate, Lili. You can do it. Move your legs like you're walking."
"You're an asshole. You brought me to the centre of the rink and left me stranded!"
Jennie continued laughing. My legs were frozen and refused to move; my body went into survival mode, which roughly translated in the ice skating world to mean 'don't fall on your butt.' The momentum from Jennie pulling me eventually faded and I stood in the middle of the rink totally helpless. Skaters were all moving around me; there were even children with more coordination than I had, giggling as they zoomed by.
I looked at Jennie and begged her to come save me. She laughed, and skated just close enough that I thought I could reach out a hand to grab her, but she stopped, once I push my skates and she went out of reach again. I was scared to move, but I knew Jennie wouldn't save me if I didn't at least try to get myself out of the mess that she put me in. Slowly, I moved my legs, centimetre by centimetre. I started to move. It wasn't going horribly. I wasn't falling. I tried bigger strides. I was actually moving, even if it was at a snail's pace.
Maybe I can skate.
The next stride that I made was a step too far, overambitious, but I slipped and stumbled and clenched my body, preparing for my butt to hit the ice, but it never did. Jennie was behind me in an instant and caught me, with her arms looping under my own and supporting me.
"I told you I wouldn't let you fall." Jennie said.
I looked up; Jennie was smiling down at me. My heart did a weird stutter when we made eye contact. I swallowed before answering, and collecting myself. "You're an asshole. I can't believe you left me stranded like that."
Jennie lifted me all the way up and skated around the front of me.
"I didn't leave you, stop being dramatic."
"Don't leave me again or I swear to God I will leave this ice rink!"
Jennie laughed and grabbed my hands and pulled me along. "I won't leave you."
I huffed and glared at the ice. Jennie laughed and I stole a glance at her, recognising that same look of affection that she shared with me at dinner. My heart softened.
"You know what has to happen now?" I asked.
"What has to happen?" she asked.
"I have to sing to you." I pointed to the speakers around the rink playing 'Sleigh Ride.'
"You really don't have to."
"And embarrass you."
"I don't think that's necessary."
"Giddy-yap, giddy-yap, giddy-yap, let's go / Let's look at the show / We're riding in a wonderland of snow / Giddy-yap, giddy-yap, giddy-yap / It's grand just holding your hand / We're gliding along with a song of a wintery fairyland!" I sang the only way I knew how: loudly and very off-key.
"Please stop!" Jennie laughed. Her laughter only encouraged me to sing louder.
"Our cheeks are nice and rosy, and comfy-cosy are we / We're snuggled up together like two birds of a feather would be / Let's take that road before us and sing a chorus or two / Come on, it's lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you!"
People were staring at us now and laughing. Jennie was shaking her head but still smiling. "Lili, I will let go of you." Jennie threatened. I warned her with my eyes that if she let go, it would only get worse and I clutched her hands even tighter.
By the time I sang the final lines of the song, Jennie joined me and we sang to each other, with wild smiles on her face, while laughing.
"Just hear those sleigh bells jingling, ring-ting-tingling, too / Come on, it's lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you / Outside, the snow is falling, and friends are calling, 'yoo-hoo!' / Come on, it's lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you!"
We both laughed and the next song started playing. I wiggled my eyebrows at Jennie.
"Okay, okay." she laughed. "We can leave."
"Oh no, are you sure?" I asked sarcastically.
"You just have to get yourself to the exit."
"Jennie Ruby Jane Kim, don't you dare leave me!"
"Kidding." she said.
"You better be!"
Jennie pulled me to the exit. I flung off my skates as quickly as my numb fingers would allow.
"Looks like you two had fun." Jin said.
"That's one word for it." I replied.
"I had fun." Jennie said with a devilish grin.
"Did you see her leave me?" I demanded.
"Yes, I did." Jin high-fived Jennie.
"You guys are conspiring against me."
"Always." Jin agreed.
Jennie collected our skates and returned them. When she left, Jin turned to me with a huge grin on his face.
"What?" I asked.
"Had fun?" Jin asked with a suggestive smile.
"Yeah, I guess I did." I frowned. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Oh nothing."
I narrowed my eyes at him.
"I'm just wondering how long it's going to take you, to admit that you like my sister."
I looked at Jin like he'd grown a second head. "What?"
Jin glanced over my shoulder and smiled. Jennie was back and he was saved.
"I don't!" I snapped.
"Don't what?" Jennie asked.
"Oh nothing." Jin said. "Lisa's wrong and she won't admit it."
Jennie shrugged it off and we went back to the car. I punched Jin when Jennie wasn't looking. He made kissy faces at me.
