The story of two secret lovers

Chapter 6

Olivia's POV:

The sky is painted with a dark navy and ringed with a blue glow at the bottom. Stars dot the sky and more seem to appear with every passing second as the sky gets just that bit darker. I walk alongside Ella, already in our rented iceskates. She holds onto the railing for support but I don't, feigning skating motions with excitement. Above our heads are criss-crosses of fairylights, each sphere emitting a golden glow against the darkening sky. Ella slips slightly against the damp carpet and instantly reaches out for my hand. I clasp it, bringing her back up with a small laugh.

"Should I carry on holding you?"
"Yes, please."
I nod to myself, an uncontrollable smile slipping onto my face as she awkwardly walks besides me, clutching my hand so forcefully I would normally be worried for my fingers. But I clasp them back reassuringly, or just because I can't help but enjoy the pleasant sensation of her hand in mine.

The air is cold with the late October frost, and the wind practically attacks me, and her hands are absolutely freezing. But how could I care? I'm helping her, and most importantly, we're holding hands. Even with no romantic reason, her clasp is reassuring, and this small smile can't seem to fade.

We reach the entrance to the icerink and I am filled with serenity at the mere sight of it. One large criss-cross of fairylights hang over the rink, coating the whole area with a warm glow, yet still remaining dim and calming. Some people already skate around on the rink, some clinging desperately to the fence around the rink or slipping near the edges, and one group seem to be literally gliding around the area with such ease it fills me with excitement and inspiration. The tiredness that comes with the early Winter night almost fills me with more excitement and anticipation as I think about what must be our perfect skate together, in the darkening area, holding hands.

I step onto the ice first, holding onto the wall as I gain my balance, before standing to the side to offer Ella my hand. She takes it immediately, hesitating slightly before taking the step. Her legs immediately wobble and she looks to me in alarm, her other hand gripping the fence with all her might.
"Come on, Ella. Do you not trust me?" She shakes her head, laughing slightly. She gingerly takes another step until she's fully on the ice, and she practically collapses, pushing me forcefully towards the centre. It takes all my might to keep balance while being forced backwards, but then she puts all her weight in my hands, panic in her face, and the weight pushes me backwards.

I gasp slightly, the ice freezing cold and a hard shock against my back. I try to sit up and stand but it's difficult with Ella putting all her weight on me.
" See! I knew I couldn't trust you." I roll my eyes, sighing with exasperation as I reach for the railing, trying to pull myself up.
"You actually made me fall." Smartass. I don't say it, but I can tell that she knows I almost did.
"Alright, no need to get mad at each other. We already have beef with a certain canadian. Or at least, you do."
"I do not!" I stand, one hand clasping the railing. "If you keep doing this I'll leave you here." I offer my free hand and she takes it, groaning as I pull her to a stand by me. She throws herself towards the railing as if she was magnetically pulled to it, reaching for my hand before I can, slumped against it.

"Do you promise not to let me fall again?" I smile, looking at her face and how it's framed by the glow of the fairylights and the dim light.
"Of course. Pinky promise?"
I holds out my pinky, and she smiles, meeting mine with hers in a tight grip.
"God, my hands are so cold."
"Well, then. Let's warm them up!" I glide backwards, attempting to spin slightly but almsot falling over. I glance back at her, panicked and amused, and grin.
"By skating! Together!" She shakes her head, reluctant. I hold out my hand, and she hesitates a moment before taking it, clutching mine tightly.

I begin to glide gently and slowly, to go through the motions myself but also to comfort Ella. Her hand is cold yet secure in mine, the sensation comforting as I skate around, gliding in the ethereal lighting. It's so pretty here, with Ella's hand in mine, and her face close, and our breath a soft mist in the glow. I can't stop smiling with the simplicity of it all, and Ella can't either, grinning at me from what must be some form of adrenaline. I guide her to the centre of the rink and we pause, staring at one another.

Her brown eyes glow with the golden light; the bulbs of the fairylights reflected in her eyes. And if I look closely enough, I can see my own face reflected back at me through her glasses, my own smile mirroring hers. She edges slightly closer, and we're both completely still on this ice. Her hand grips mine more gently for a moment, and I trail my hand upwards slightly to clasp her wrist, and bring my other to hold her fingers, overcome by how pretty she looks. Her hand in mine, hand-in-hand, stood together; I can't help my desire, or the fact that my heart beats so rapidly as I look at her, or the fact that I just want to close this gap so fucking bad. To kiss her, really, it's all I want to do, but I can't, because she's my best friend, and she could never like me like that. Is this all I am, destined to be forever lonely and wanting, in a perpetual state of longing for her, and for us, and for our lips to meet under these beautiful lights.

"Olivia... I.." Ella moves closer, staring at my face, staring at me. "I... am about to fall over." Her feet slip and suddenly she claps my hand again, so forcefully that I also begin to fall, toppling over with her. We land forcefully, and I groan as I hit the hard ice for the second time, my hand clasped in Ella's.
"Ugh..." She says, slowly pushing herself up from the floor, her palms pressed against the ice.
"Why is it so cold!?" She says indignantly. I laugh a little, coming to a much more graceful stand.
"You should've worn gloves. Like me!" I brandish my hands with a whoosh sound effect, waving them exaggeratedly and shoving them in her face. "See? All nice and warm."
She glares at me in feign annoyance, laughing a little as she pushes my hand down, clutching it again.

"Can I do a spin, Ella. Just one tiny eensy weensy spin..!"
She sighs, looking at me in what must be some form of disappointment.
"Oh come on! At least we'll fall together!" Imagine how romantic that would be.
She sighs in fake defeat, yet she looks almost as excited as me.
"Come on then! I'll race you." Determination overtakes her face as she suddenly races forward, dragging me along with her hand.
"Hey! We can't have a proper race if you're going to use me for support." I point out, smiling at her in some form of adoration and surprise.

"Fine then." Immediately, she lets go, pushing off me and gliding forward. I'm proud of her, really, and I wait a few moments before racing after her. She begins to wobble without my support, and collapses, falling flat on her face.

I cover my mouth with my hand, failing to supress the laugh that escapes me. I glide over to her, stopping with a small spin by her side. I chuckle, offering her my hand again. She grins goofily at me from the side, getting ready to push herself up.
"I would tell you to stop being so competitive... but.."
"You're the most competitive person I know."
"Likewise." I say with a huff as I begin to pull her up, dragging her back to the centre.

"But now you have to do some spins with me."
"Oh, really?" She says with a smile.
"Mhm. Because you're being very impulsive. And I'd like you to be impulsive with me."
"A little bold." Says a voice. I turn around instantly, finding Molly gliding towards me.
"Oh, so you can skate now." Ella teases. Molly laughs a little, looking between us then to me.
"Of course I can. Although I'm not as bold in skating as Olivia is in flirti-"
"OK, MOLLY. I think we both get exactly what you mean. Now, prove you can actually skate." I say with a grin. She grins back mischievously, knocking into me slightly.

"You know, I think I'll let you two spin together. You're very cute, you know that, right?"
"Awh, thanks, Molly. You're too kind." Ella says. Molly laughs, continuing to skate in a circle as I look back to Ella, preparing myself to spin.

"Are you ready?"
"Maybe." I raise my eyebrow and she chuckles slightly. "Alright then, yes."