A Handcuffed Christmas

13

"Come on, let's get out of here." Harry smiled after they spent the whole yesterday inside.

"Where are we going?" Louis wondered.

"There's an ice skating range a couple of blocks away." Harry grinned.

"I love ice skating!" Louis smiled.

"I know." Harry chuckled.

They made some hot cocoa and poured it into a thermos before they got dressed and headed out to the garage to find skates.
"I can't believe that your mum kept all of your skates."

"She's too nostalgic to throw stuff away. It came in handy this time." Harry grinned.

They walked to the ice rink. It was still early so it was pretty much deserted except for a woman and two kids. They glanced at her to see if she recognized them but she didn't react. They sat on a bench and changed into skates.

They got up and tried to skate but they were pulling in different directions and were about to fall. Louis rolled his eyes and grabbed Harry's cuffed hand. They started to skate again, slowly and this time it went much better. They tried to find a rhythm. Louis started to sing all of a sudden.

Baby you light up my world
like nobody else
The way that you flip your hair
Gets me overwhelmed

But when you smile at the ground, it ain't hard to tell
You don't know, oh-oh
You don't know you're beautiful

Harry threw his head back and laughed and then he joined in on the song.

If only you saw what I can see
You'll understand why I want you so desperately
Right now I'm lookin' at you, and I can't believe

You don't know, oh-oh
You don't know you're beautiful, oh, oh-oh
That's what makes you beautiful

They had managed to find the rhythm in their skating as they sang and skated over the ice holding hands.

They had caught the attention of the mother and two kids and they stopped skating as they approached them. The girl smiled shyly. She looked around seven years old.
"Hi, you're Harry and Louis from One Direction, right?"

"I'm sorry, we didn't mean to bother you. Darcy, let's go." The mother apologized and held out a hand for her daughter to take.

"It's alright. Hi, Darcy." Louis smiled.

What a beautiful name you have and you're really good at ice skating." Harry said and smiled as well.

"I'm going to be an ice princess when I grow up." Darcy beamed.

"So is Harry!" Louis grinned.

Harry giggled. He looked at the boy.
"What's your name?"

"Dean. Why are you holding hands?" The boy asked.

"Oh, ehm, because Harry is an awful skater. I don't want him to fall on his butt." Louis smirked.

The kids giggled.
"Alright, it's time to go home." The mother said.

"Merry Christmas." Darcy smiled and waved.

They wished them a Merry Christmas and the family left.
"Darcy is a great name for a girl." Harry said as they started skating again.

"Planning on having kids already?" Louis replied.

"Not now, but one day hopefully." Harry answered as he pushed his left foot to get some speed.

Louis wasn't prepared and stumbled forward. Harry grabbed him and they smacked into each other. Louis held on to Harry so he wouldn't fall. They both laughed.
"Okay?" Harry asked.

Louis looked up and met his eyes.
"Yeah." He breathed out.

They got stuck staring at each other. Harry reflected on how close they were. The atmosphere changed between them. Their smiles faltered. Louis' eyes flickered to Harry's lips for a second and Harry held his breath. Louis cleared his voice and took a step back and slipped. He fell backward and pulled Harry with him.

Harry landed on top of Louis who let out a bunch of swearing words.
"Are you okay?" Harry asked.

"Yeah, I hope nothing is broken." Louis replied and burst out laughing.

Harry started to laugh too. He rolled off Louis and laid on his back on the ice.
"I think we're done ice skating for now. Hot chocolate?" He asked.

"Yeah, help me get up." Louis grinned.