'sometimes i think about my life as a book.'
• • • •
aspen's world is thrown into chaos when her twin sister atlas passes away, leaving her to face the upcoming fall holiday alone. little does she know that that one mysterious earphone girl...
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The large, gray square-shaped building that houses the city's ice rink towers above us. I'm reminded once again that Lily and Archer in the book actually skated on an ice rink in a town square with a Christmas tree in the middle and fairy lights between the poles all around. A far more beautiful setting than this – walking on an asphalt road up to a plain, gray box.
Yet, I'm much more excited than I ever was reading that scene in the book. I know how it ends. Archer takes Lily to buy hot chocolate, and they talk over the drinks, discovering how alike they actually are, ending up deciding to meet again the night after, swimming under the stars in a nearby lake.
I don't know how this scene will end. But in reality, that's one of the factors that makes the butterflies in my stomach fly around like crazy when we approach the box. Sometimes, it's better to not know at all.
"Are you nervous?" asks London.
She's wearing a white puffer jacket and a pair of smokey gray, baggy jeans. The jacket is open and under that I can glimpse a patterned sweater in monochrome colors. In her hands, a new tote bag is dangling. This one is white with bold, printed letters saying this planet needs you to give a shit.
First, I'm automatically going to answer no to London's question. Then, I remember it's her, I can be honest. So, I think about it.
"Yeah, kind of" I say at last. "There'll be so many people that are better that me."
"Us" London corrects me.
The door slides open in front of us as we arrive at the building. When I step inside, I am greeted by a coldness so sudden that I slightly shiver, goosebumps appearing on my skin.
From the inside, the ice hall is massive. The rink is just a part of it – all around it, there's benches where you can lace up your skates, and behind them, there's huge bleachers for the audience. To the right, there's a stand where you can hire ice skates. That's where I plan to get mine from – Mom lent me a little money just for this special occasion.
There's also cages with all kinds of hockey and figure skating equipment - cones, mini goals, sticks, pucks, some type of fabric tape and several large, black tires.
We walk up to the hiring stand, side by side.
"Two pairs of ice skates" London orders before I have time to stop her.
"But–" I try, but she cuts me off by hitting my arm with her elbow.
"Ice hockey– or figure skating types?" the elderly lady behind the desk asks.
London shots me a quick glance. I shrug to mark I have no idea. "Um... I don't know, the most beginner friendly."
I giggle with my hand hiding my mouth. The most beginner friendly.
"Oh, right, we have some recreational skates left" the lady nods. "But there's mostly kid's sizes."
We look at each other and I know we both think the same thing when we start laughing. The lady looks at us, slightly annoyed. It makes us laugh ever more. I gasp for air, trying to calm down, but it's just so fucking funny. We'll have to use kids' skates.
