Bring it on

Chapter 12

I've never been one to stay still for too long. There is always something to move toward, something to chase after. Whether it's the perfect jump or the flawless routine, the feeling of skating without one wrong step is the closest thing to flying that I have ever known. But today, as I glide around the rink, a strange stillness settles over me.

It's different ice somehow. It's not the cold, nor the smooth surface beneath my blades. It's him. Ethan.

He's sitting on the bleachers, watching me practice. His hockey bag is thrown over his shoulder; his eyes follow my every move. And though he's silent, I can feel his presence-like a warm pull in my chest. He hasn't said much since we started spending more time together, but the unspoken bond between us is impossible to ignore.

The sharp scrape of my skates on the ice snaps me out of my reverie, and I tighten my focus. I really can't afford to get lost in distractions-not here, not now. And I have a routine to finish. Yet, even as I'm finishing my pirouette, my mind is straying to him again.

I finish my last spin, my heart thudding harder than usual. There's a rush of adrenaline, but it feels. different, somehow. Like something's about to happen, like I'm on the verge of something big.

Slowing to a stop near the boards, I glance over at Ethan. His eyes meet mine instantly, and I can't help the smile that tugs at my lips. There's this silent understanding there, this connection of sorts that's both comforting and unnerving at the same time. We've been getting closer, but then again, there's this strange tension between us-like we're both standing on the edge of something we're too afraid to fall into.

I yank my gloves off and tuck them in the pocket of my jacket before stepping off the ice. My legs are a little wobbly from the intensity of my routine, but it's nothing I can't handle. Ethan stands up as I approach him, his expression unreadable, but his eyes are intense, like he's trying to figure something out.

"Hey," I say, pulling my hair into a messy ponytail.

"Hey," he says, his voice all rough and warm. "You're looking good out there. Really nailed that last spin."

"Thanks." I brush a strand of hair behind my ear suddenly conscious. There's an odd feeling in the pit of my stomach-an unease mixed with anticipation.

He takes a deep breath, as if he's going to say something substantial, and then he hesitates. I watch as he glances away, his jaw tightening before looking back at me, his gaze steady.

"Natalie..." he begins, and in a fleeting second, I'm not so sure that I'm prepared for what will follow. "I've been thinking about this for a while, and I-I just need to say it.

My heart skips a beat. Is he going to confess something? I try to push the rising anxiety in my chest, but it's hard to ignore.

"What is it?" I ask, my voice softer than I intended. My hands are suddenly clammy, and my throat feels tight, like the air in the rink has thickened around me.

Ethan shifts in his feet, and I catch the flash of vulnerability in his eyes. "I know we're different," he says, low. "You and me. And I know I'm not exactly your world. But-

He pauses, his hand running through his messy hair, as if he's trying to gather his thoughts. His eyes lock on mine again, much more intensely than before, and for a moment, it feels like everything else falls away.

I want to be with you, Natalie. I don't know how this is supposed to work or if it even can work, but I.I can't stop thinking about you. I can't stop wanting to be around you. You make everything else seem easier, even when I don't know how to make sense of it."

I freeze, my breath catching in my chest. The words are plain, but the weight within them strikes me like a stone between the eyes. Ethan wants to be with me? My mind tries to catch up with my heart, but words fail me at this moment. I am not even sure if I can say anything much at all. I thought that by now I would have some sort of speech ready, but now that this is here, it would seem my voice is lost.

He steps closer, watching me closely. "I get it if you don't feel the same way," he adds quickly, words rushing out like he's afraid I'm going to walk away any second. "But I need to know. I need to know if there's a chance. if there's a reason we should keep trying."

I open my mouth to speak, but all that comes out is a shaky breath. My brain is still scrambling to find the words, to process everything he's just said. The truth is, I've been feeling it too. This pull between us, this constant draw to each other, even though everything about us is different. He's a hockey player. I'm a figure skater. We live in different worlds, but when we're together, it feels like we could be anything we want.

"Ethan, I..." I manage to get out before my voice dies on my lips as my heart pounds in my chest. I have so much to say, but I have no idea how to put words to it. "I want to be with you too. I just. I'm scared. What if it doesn't work? What if we're not enough?"

His expression softens, his hand reaching out to gently grasp mine. "We won't know unless we try," he says, steady and sure. "I don't want to regret not giving us a shot.

I look down at our hands, his fingers laced with mine, and for the first time in a long time, I feel a sense of peace settle over me. Maybe we don't have all the answers. Maybe we're stepping into something uncertain, something a little scary. But maybe that's okay.

"I don't want to regret it either," I whisper, lifting my eyes to meet his.

Ethan gives a small, genuine smile that tugs my chest with warmth. "So... we're doing this then?"
I nod, my heart swelling with what feels like an emotion I can't quite place, but it's enough. "Yeah. We are.

Before I can say anything more, Ethan leans in just a little, his eyes never leaving mine. I don't have time to second-guess myself. My breath catches in my throat as he closes the distance, his lips brushing against mine in a soft, tentative kiss.

It's quick, almost as if he's plunging his toes in the water, but in that second, there's a shift between us. The world feels a little quieter, as if all the other things around us just fade away, leaving us two there, alone. My heart beats faster, and I realize I'd been holding my breath the whole time.

When we pull apart, my cheeks are warm, and I can't quite look him in the eye. But the smile on his face says it all.

"Well," he murmurs, his voice low and teasing, "I guess that answers the question."

Softly, I laugh, shaking my head. "Yeah, I guess it does."

And just like that, everything changes