Edge Of The Ice (On Going And Own Book)

Cold Begginging. 15

The sound of clinking bowls and the rustle of spoons echoed through the kitchen as Alex and Cass worked together to clean up the remnants of their ice cream feast. Each movement felt easy, as if they had been doing this for years.

“Okay, so what do we do next?” Cass asked, wiping down the counter and stealing a quick glance at Alex, a hint of mischief in their smile. “Do we plan our skating world domination or something?”

“World domination sounds great, but I think we should probably start with mastering the routine first,” Alex replied, a playful grin forming on his lips. “Then we can move on to global ice skating supremacy.”

Cass burst out laughing, a sound that filled the room with warmth. “I can see the headlines now: ‘Local Teens Conquer Ice!’”

As they finished tidying up, the conversation drifted to lighter topics. They shared silly anecdotes from their childhoods, their laughter filling the space as they reminisced about their early skating experiences. Alex’s story about falling into a snowbank during his first hockey practice had Cass in stitches, while Cass’s tale of accidentally wearing mismatched skates to a competition had Alex doubled over with laughter.

“You really have to work on your fashion sense,” Alex teased, pretending to be serious. “If you can’t even match your skates, how can we take on the world?”

“Hey! Mismatched skates are a bold fashion choice!” Cass retorted, holding a mock-serious expression. “It’s called making a statement!”

“Right. The statement of ‘I don’t care about my skating career’,” Alex shot back, unable to keep a straight face.

Cass laughed again, and for a moment, the weight of their earlier conversation faded into the background. It felt good to be so at ease, to share this banter without the looming pressure of the world outside.

After finishing the cleaning, Cass glanced at the clock. “Wow, it’s getting late. I should probably let you go home soon.”

“Yeah, I guess so,” Alex said reluctantly, wishing he could stay longer. “But I’ve had an amazing time.”

“Me too,” Cass said, their eyes sparkling. “This was way better than I expected.”

As they stepped outside, the night air was chilly but refreshing. The stars twinkled brightly overhead, and for a moment, everything felt perfect. They walked together to Alex's car, the sound of their footsteps muffled by the soft blanket of grass beneath them.

“Before you go, can I ask you something?” Cass said, stopping just short of the car.

“Of course! Ask away,” Alex replied, his heart racing with curiosity.

“About us,” Cass began, their expression turning serious again. “I know we just decided to see where things go, but I want to make sure we’re on the same page.”

“Yeah, I get that. I’m really excited about this,” Alex replied, a hint of nervousness creeping into his voice. “I really like you, Cass, and I want to see where this can lead.”

Cass nodded, a soft smile breaking through their seriousness. “Good. I just don’t want things to get complicated, especially with everything else going on.”

“Agreed,” Alex said, feeling a sense of relief. “But I think we can handle it. I mean, we’re both just trying to navigate our own paths, right?”

“Right,” Cass said, their eyes meeting Alex's in the soft glow of the streetlamp. “We’ll figure it out together.”

“Together,” Alex echoed, feeling warmth spread through him at the thought.

Just as the moment felt like it was about to deepen, the sound of Cass’s phone vibrating in their pocket broke the spell. They pulled it out, glancing at the screen. “It’s my mom. I should probably answer this. She’s been worried since I didn’t check in after practice.”

“Yeah, go ahead. I can wait,” Alex said, stepping back slightly but feeling an odd sense of anticipation.

“Thanks,” Cass said, their smile fading momentarily as they swiped to answer the call. “Hey, Mom… Yeah, I’m fine! Just hanging out with a friend… No, not that kind of friend!” They chuckled, shooting Alex a teasing glance that made him smile.

As Cass spoke, Alex couldn’t help but admire how effortlessly they engaged in the conversation. It was clear that their parents cared deeply for them, and Cass’s easy confidence was a testament to their strong bond.

Once the call ended, Cass turned back to Alex, a playful look on their face. “I told her I’d be home soon. No need to panic.”

“Good call,” Alex said, smirking. “Don’t want to get caught in a parental freak-out. Those can be intense.”

“Exactly! Now, about that world domination plan…” Cass said, grinning again.

“Let’s put a pin in that for now,” Alex laughed, feeling light and carefree. “Maybe after your competition?”

“Deal!” Cass replied, their enthusiasm contagious.

Before Alex could think too much about it, he took a step closer, his heart racing as he glanced at Cass, uncertainty fluttering in his chest. “Hey, I really enjoyed tonight. It was… special.”

Cass’s smile softened, and they took a small step forward too. “Yeah, it was. I’m really glad we had this time together.”

“Me too,” Alex said, his voice barely above a whisper.

They stood there for a moment, caught in the gravitational pull of each other’s presence. The world outside faded, leaving only the two of them and the potential of what lay ahead.

“Can I… can I kiss you?” Alex blurted out, his heart pounding. It felt like both the scariest and most exciting thing he could ask.

Cass’s eyes widened in surprise, but then a bright smile broke through. “Yes. I’d like that.”

As they leaned in closer, the world around them felt like it had melted away. Alex felt a rush of nervousness and excitement as their lips met for the first time, soft and tentative. The kiss felt electrifying, sending sparks through him and igniting a warmth that spread from his head to his toes.

It was a brief, tender moment, but it felt like a promise—a shared connection that transcended words. When they pulled back, both of them were breathless, laughter bubbling up as they tried to process what had just happened.

“Wow,” Cass said, their cheeks flushed. “That was… unexpected.”

“Yeah,” Alex agreed, still feeling the warmth of the kiss lingering on his lips. “But definitely not unwelcome.”

Cass smiled widely, their eyes shining. “So, are we really doing this?”

“I hope so,” Alex replied, feeling a wave of confidence wash over him. “I really like you, Cass. Let’s see where this goes.”

“Let’s do it,” Cass said, their smile growing even brighter.

As they finally said their goodbyes, Alex felt a rush of exhilaration. The night had turned into something he never expected—a beginning, a spark igniting into a flame.

Driving home, he replayed the evening in his mind, feeling the warmth of the kiss, the laughter, and the shared dreams. He couldn’t help but smile, knowing that whatever challenges lay ahead, he would face them with Cass by his side.

And with that thought, Alex drove off into the night, ready to embrace whatever came next.