Who Am I

Chapter 12

Who Am I- Chapter 12

“Bend your knees Ashley.” Sam instructed. I tried. I can say I tried to skate, even though it turned out miserably.

“Can’t you see me trying?” I tell him as I hold on to the boards for dear life. I didn’t trust these thin sharp blades to keep my balance, so I head onto anything solid to keep myself from ending on my ass.

“Here.” Sam says so patient as he stretches his hands out before me. I bit my lip, the boards are safe. His hands could only help me so much. “You can trust me.” He smiles. I forget how to breath.

Sam dragged me into the locker room, gets me a pair of skates, his jersey and knee pads. That’s not enough protection. He is just in his skates. No protection gear, just his jeans and t-shirt.

“Ashley, come on.” He says for about the tenth time.

“I can’t skate Sam.” I take my baby steps, careful.

“That’s why were here, I can skate, you should be able to trust me.” I look at him. His hands still lay before me. Vigilantly I gradually place one hand in his, then the other. He smiles brightly. I stare down at my feet.

He slowly pulls me towards him, making my feet drag across the ice. His hands are icy, he gives me chills. “There you go, you got it.” I smile as I look up into his caring eyes. In time I get confidence which makes my speed progress, eventually I’m skating without Sam’s hands, I’m skating on my own right beside him. I feel the wind rush through my hair, as it tangles in the wind.

“Race a lap?” I ask him, he grins.

“When I win, what do I get?” He flirts. I smile as I feel the rush of heat fill my cheeks.

“When I win, what do I get?” I say back, he shakes his head with his smile still shinning.

“It’s on.” Then I push my legs, I skate fast, but obviously not fast enough. Sam is done when I’m only halfway there. He does another lap around me, then stops.

“And my prize?” He cheeks red, lips pink. I have nothing more then the urge to kiss him.

“Close your eyes.” I instruct. He does so, I bit my lip trying to hold back a giggle. I press against him, I brush my lips against his, and I do it so soft and quick. Then I push away from him and begin to skate. I hear him laugh behind me. Then I hear the slap of his skates hit the frosty ice.

I cant help but laugh as I skate away from him, but I’m not match for a guy who has been skating his whole life. His arms wrap around me, He lifts me off the ice and swings me in circles. I shriek and smile. It was terrifying, but with Sam there I felt safe.

He puts me down gently, I turn around sharply and place a hand on his face, and kiss him. I wrap my arms around his neck as he kiss’s me back. For one moment I forgot who I was, for one moment I forgot about my family, for one pure moment…I’m ecstatic.

We pull away for one second, for air then our heads dive in again. I feel his arms wrap around me, I wanted so much more. Then suddenly it dark. I pulled away, looking above us the arena lights were shutting off one by one.

“What’s going-?”

“Time to go.” Sam cuts me off, he grabs my hand and leads me off the ice, we untie our skates rapidly plus we hurry to the locker room, I strip off my knee pads and his jersey. I wish I could have kept it, I wish I could have worn it tonight as I feel asleep, just to remind me why I’m still here, what little piece of happiness still exists.

“I know I’m going to bump into something.” I winced as I carefully place my hand in front of me. By the time we leave the locker room the arena is pitch black, literally. I squeezed Sam tight. This was an unfamiliar place, and being in the dark just made me more nervous.