Edge Of The Ice (On Going And Own Book)

Fractures Beneath the Ice. 41

The night at the diner was electric with laughter, the air thick with stories and memories. As the group enjoyed their food, the sound of clattering dishes and chatter filled the space around them. The familiar scent of greasy burgers and sweet milkshakes made Alex feel at home, a welcome contrast to the anxiety that often weighed on him.

Leo was deep into recounting a tale about his last hockey game, gesturing animatedly with a half-eaten fry. “And that’s when I realized I was skating backward the whole time while trying to check this guy! I ended up on the ice like a turtle on its back!”

Cass burst out laughing, their eyes sparkling with amusement. “You’re lucky you didn’t break anything! I can only imagine how embarrassing that must have been!”

Alex chuckled along with them, grateful for the levity. Leo’s antics were always good for a laugh, and tonight was no exception. They passed around plates of fries and milkshakes, sharing bites and stealing glances at each other’s food.

As they finished up, Leo pulled out his phone again, scrolling through his messages. “Oh! We should totally hit the beach next weekend! I heard it’s supposed to be sunny!”

Cass leaned forward, their interest piqued. “That sounds awesome! We could bring our boards and maybe do some skating on the sand!”

“Count me in!” Alex chimed in, feeling a surge of excitement. The thought of a day at the beach with his friends sounded perfect—an escape from everything else swirling in his life.

“Great! I’ll make sure to get us some snacks for the road,” Leo replied, grinning. “It’ll be legendary!”

As they finalized the plans, Alex couldn’t help but feel a sense of belonging wash over him. They were more than just friends; they were a team, each one supporting the others in their unique ways.

Once they left the diner, the night air felt refreshingly cool against Alex's skin. They walked to Leo’s car, their chatter punctuated by laughter and playful shoves. Cass kept nudging Alex playfully, teasing him about his latest trick on the board.

“You’ve got to admit, I saved your life with that last fall! I’m basically your safety net,” Cass joked, smirking as they walked shoulder to shoulder.

“Yeah, yeah, I owe you one,” Alex replied, trying to suppress a smile. “But you’re just jealous of my future glory!”

“Future glory? Please! Just don’t forget who taught you the basics,” Cass said, winking at him. “I expect a proper shoutout when you win the championship.”

Their playful banter was interrupted by the sound of a commotion nearby. They turned to see a group of older kids gathered around a flickering streetlight, their laughter mingling with the distant sound of music from a nearby house party.

“Should we check it out?” Leo suggested, eyeing the group curiously.

“Why not?” Cass replied, a spark of adventure lighting up their eyes. “It could be fun!”

As they approached, Alex felt a mix of excitement and apprehension. The crowd was larger than he had anticipated, a mix of familiar faces and strangers. He hung back slightly, watching as Cass and Leo moved forward, clearly eager to join in on whatever was happening.

“Hey, what’s going on?” Cass called out, weaving through the crowd until they reached a small circle of skaters showing off their tricks on a makeshift ramp.

“Just some late-night skating!” one of the older kids replied, a boy with tousled hair and a laid-back vibe. “You guys want to give it a shot?”

Alex felt a thrill at the invitation, but also a flicker of anxiety. The crowd was buzzing, and he worried about being judged or not measuring up. But then he glanced over at Cass, who was already stepping onto the ramp, confidence radiating from them.

“I guess we’re doing this!” Cass shouted over their shoulder, and Alex felt a rush of adrenaline.

“Okay, I’m in!” he declared, pushing past his insecurities and joining them.

They each took turns on the ramp, attempting various tricks as the crowd cheered and laughed. Leo jumped in next, pulling off a series of spins that drew impressed shouts from the onlookers.

Alex watched as Cass took their turn, their movements fluid and graceful as they executed a flawless trick that left everyone in awe. The crowd erupted in applause, and for a moment, Alex felt a pang of envy mixed with admiration.

He stepped up next, the energy of the crowd pumping him up. As he launched himself off the ramp, he felt the weight of their encouragement lift him, propelling him into the air. This time, he aimed for a more complex trick—a 360-degree spin.

The rush of the air against his face made him feel alive, and for a brief moment, all his worries melted away. He landed it, albeit a little shaky, but the cheers from the crowd made it all worth it.

“You did it!” Cass shouted, their eyes wide with excitement. “That was amazing!”

“Thanks! I didn’t think I’d actually land it!” Alex said, exhilaration coursing through him.

They continued to skate, lost in the rhythm of the night. The camaraderie among the group ignited something inside Alex, a sense of freedom that he had been craving.

But as the night wore on, he noticed that the atmosphere was shifting. A couple of older kids started to act more rowdy, and the playful banter turned into shoving and teasing. Alex felt a knot form in his stomach as he watched a confrontation brewing at the edge of the crowd.

“Hey, maybe we should head out,” he said to Cass, trying to gauge their reaction. “Things seem a little… tense.”

Cass glanced over, their brow furrowing. “Yeah, I see what you mean. Let’s stick together, just in case.”

Leo, who had been caught up in the moment, nodded as he caught wind of the change in energy. “Good call. I don’t want to get involved in any drama tonight.”

They started to move away from the commotion, but as they did, a loud shout rang out from the other side of the crowd. Alex turned just in time to see two skaters push each other, anger flaring in their expressions.

“Back off, man!” one of them yelled, shoving the other again.

“Yeah? What are you going to do about it?” the other shot back, fists clenched and ready for a fight.

Alex felt his heart race. This wasn’t what he wanted. The thrill of skating had turned into a sense of dread, and he could feel the tension rising in the air.

“Let’s get out of here,” he urged, grabbing Cass’s arm gently. “Now.”

As they hurried away, the chaos began to escalate behind them. Alex glanced back, his heart pounding, and saw a group forming around the fight, some cheering and others trying to break it up.

“Is everyone okay?” Leo asked as they reached the edge of the parking lot, panting slightly.

“I think so,” Cass replied, their eyes scanning the scene nervously. “But we should keep moving just in case.”

They made their way back to the car, and Alex felt a mix of relief and lingering anxiety as they climbed inside. The atmosphere in the vehicle felt different now—lighter, but still charged with the remnants of what they had just experienced.

As Leo started the engine, Cass leaned back in their seat, their expression thoughtful. “Well, that escalated quickly. It was a fun night until it wasn’t, huh?”

“Yeah,” Alex agreed, glancing out the window at the fading lights of the skate park. “I just hope everyone’s okay.”

“Me too,” Cass said quietly, their voice barely above a whisper. “But I’m glad we got out before it got too crazy.”

Leo turned to them, a supportive smile on his face. “You guys okay? I know it can be a lot.”

“Yeah, we’re fine,” Cass assured him, though Alex could see the lingering tension in their features. “Just a little shaken, I guess.”

Alex nodded, feeling the weight of the night settle on his shoulders again. “It’s been a rollercoaster for sure.”

As they drove home, Alex couldn’t shake the feeling that their bond had grown stronger in that one night. Despite the chaos, they had each other’s backs, and that was what truly mattered.