Broken Ice

Chapter 2: Night Two

I shelved the final row of skates, admiring my work once it was done; I braced to get down but felt two hands come up around my waist to support me.

I screamed, and kicked back against the figure behind me, sending us falling. I fell on a soft body but at the sound of a familiar groan, I looked down. Michael Thomas.

"Michael!" I jump off of him, "Are you alright?"

"Yeah," He groaned.

"Mike!" A high voice screamed. It was a little girl who looked remarkably like Michael despite her jet-black hair. They had the same eyes that felt like they could see straight through you into your core. Maybe a cousin?

She ran to Michael and tried to push at me. "Get away! You did this!" She screamed, and I sighed. Little kids were never my thing, even when I was a little kid.

"It's okay, Fran. It was an accident, now apologize."

"Now, he knows not to sneak up on people," I said below my breath, crossing my arms.

A crack formed in the girl's, now Fran's, cold treatment of me. "Well, okay then. I'm sorry."

"It's okay. How about we start over?"

She nodded,

"I'm Gianna. You are?"

"Francine." She said shyly.

My eyes widened, somehow, I never thought about Michael's family. He felt like something above things that are as human as family. I quickly force my face into a smile, "Well, it's nice to meet you." I turn to Michael, "What brought you here?"

He gestured to the small girl, jutting out his chin, "For this one, of course." He stands up, "Want to tell her why we're here, Fran?"

The girl stares at her hands, wringing them before slowly turning her gaze up to me. "I...wanna learn how to skate."

I felt my heart melt at the sweetness, a rare reaction, but she was a step up from some of the brats that typically came into my aunt's shop. I got onto my knees so we were level. "Then that's great because the second I saw you, I just knew you had the heart needed to become one amazing skater."

Fran's eyes filled with stars, and she looked excitedly at Michael. He nods, "If a professional says so," He looks to me teasingly, "Then it must be true."

"Let me register you guys." They followed me over to the cash register. "Does she have already skates?" I ask Michael.

He turns to Fran, "Do you?"

She shakes her head. "No, how much for a pair?" Michael pulled out his wallet.

"It can vary. Let me show you a couple." I took them to a wall covered in various colours and designs of skates, letting Fran marvel at them before she picked a pretty, crystal blue. I rang up the skates and pushed the box over to them.

"Hey, Gianna." A little girl ran to me.

I looked down, "Hi, Clara will be ready soon so you can start stretching."

"Okay." She pushed open the glass doors and entered the huge rink. I turned back to Fran and saw her watching the girl as she stretched with green eyes.

"You know," I said, "I think Clara said a girl is sick today and can't come, but she wanted everyone to get in pairs. What if you have a trial lesson today?"

Fran's eyes lit up, "Can I?"

I nod. "If Michael doesn't mind?"

"It's alright."

She entered the rink, and I went behind the register again. "Hey," Michael said, "Want to take a break?"