"You lied, Evan." Jonathan said while he stared at the lights overhead from where he was lying flat on his back on the cold hard ice.
Evan slid over to him and stared down at him smiling. "I did not."
"You promised this would be fun." Jonathan narrowed his eyes at him. "But here I am flat on the ice. My ass is probably bruised and the children are laughing at me."
"Don't be such a grump, Jonathan. You're not the only one who is busting his ass out here. And they're laughing because it's funny not because they think you're stupid." Evan reached down and grabbed his hand and started to pull him up slow, letting him gain some traction with the skates. "Like I told you, it's all about balance. Once you get it, you've got it. It can't be unlearned. It might take you some time to find it, but I'll get you there."
Jonathan grabbed his shoulders when he was finally standing tall again. Evan held him by his arms as he wobbled and started to skate backwards, pulling Jonathan with him. "I promise. You'll be skating like an Olympic athlete by the time I'm done with you."
"I'll hold you to it." He grinned and nearly lost his balance.
"Focus on not putting your weight on the inside or outside of the skate. That's what makes you unsteady and wobbly." Evan let him go and glided backwards with ease.
"Don't leave me, you jerk."
Evan just smiled and held his hand out for him. But he was a good distance away and Jonathan knew as soon as he pushed off he would slip and bust his ass for the tenth time.
"Don't force it, let your foot slide in front of you and to the side. Now, come here."
Jonathan bit at his lip and focused on Evan's hand and tried his hardest not to push off hard, instead he let the skate gently slide in front of him and moved forward. His weight was evenly placed and to his surprise his other foot followed without a problem.
"Hi." He said and laughed as he wrapped his fingers around Evan's.
"See. That wasn't so hard. If you'd just listen to me. Now, do it again." Evan let his hand go and moved further away.
"I was listening to you. But my feet wouldn't listen to you. They don't have ears, so you can't blame them." He said and Evan laughed as Jonathan started to skate toward him. He wasn't as smooth as Evan was but at least he wasn't wobbling anymore. Just as he was about to touch his hand again, Evan moved even further away.
"And don't kick your feet out behind you like you're wearing roller blades, because you will fall forward and bust your face open. I learned that the hard way." Evan grinned and moved back again. Jonathan was biting his tongue and concentrating so hard. His nose was red with cold and his cheeks were flushed.
Jonathan eventually stopped reaching for him and just started to skate toward him. He evened out after a while and just started to glide calmly around the rink, letting his legs get familiar with the movement. Evan leaned against the railing and watched him make smooth circles.
Jonathan glanced back and realized that the kids had been following him, for how long, he didn't know.
"Hey! What are you creeps doing back there?"
