Love Lost

Chapter 3

I went home and started to get ready to go skating. I curled my hair in loose waves and put on my favorite outfit, a gray and white striped shirt with my white vest and dark washed skinny jeans. I put on my camouflage socks and slip on shoes and looked in the mirror one last time to make sure everything was in place.

             I looked out my window after I heard a horn honk and sure enough Lilly and her brother were out there waiting. I grabbed my wallet and phone as I headed out the door. Lilly’s brother gave me a big hug as he greeted me. I laughed and hugged him back. He always greeted me like this. He considered me his little sister just like Lilly and treated me like one too. I got in the backseat of his Jeep and we left. Lilly cranked up the music and we had a blast singing along with the radio the whole way to the ice rink.

             When we got to the ice rink the wind started picking up and I could tell some of the people were having trouble staying off their butts. I look to see who is here and freeze when I notice Derrick out there skating. I get Lilly’s attention and try to silently ask her why he is here without her brother noticing me.  She pretended that she couldn’t understand me and I saw by the look on her face she had invited him. I wanted to hurt her and give her a hug at the same time. She had me and she knew it.

             I lace up my skates and go out on the ice rink. I immediately start to fall and grasp onto the wall desperately. I stumbled and held onto the wall for the first couple of laps until I got the courage to let go. I did okay and I even skated a lap without holding onto the wall. All this time I watched Derrick out of the corner of my eye. I didn’t think he noticed me stumbling and I really hoped he wouldn’t but at the same time I really hoped he would. My mind was spinning and I lost concentration and fell down on the ice. I gasped when I hit the ice, which caught his attention.

He skated over and got down on one knee.

             “Are you alright?”

              I stared up at him and he stared down at me. I couldn’t help but notice the depth in his chocolate brown eyes.

             “Ya, my leg just hurts a little but I’m fine.”

             “Here let me help you up.”

             He grabbed my hand and I swore my heart jumped out of my chest. I got up and we stood there still staring at each other as we held hands.

             “This is my first time skating and as you can see I’m not doing so well” I said blushing.

             “Well I could help if you’d like” he said in his silky smooth voice as he wrapped my elbow into the crook of his. “Are you ready?”

             I just nodded because I couldn’t speak. We started moving forward and I felt safe with him helping me. We talked about school, our families, and what we had been up to. He unwrapped his elbow from mine and grabbed my hand instead. Where he had touched had a warm tingly feeling left behind. We entwined our fingers and it felt so natural; like I was home. I couldn’t help but have a smile on my face as we skated and talked.

             All the sudden, a person in front of us fell and I started to fall because of it. In a flash he was on his knees and he put a hand behind my head just before it smacked into the ice.

             “Are you okay? Did your head hit the ice?

             “No, you saved me.”

             Once again I caught myself staring at him, but this time he stared down at me as well. His other hand moved to wipe a hair from my face and then to gently caress my chin. He leaned down and I felt his warm breath envelop my face. He gently put his lips on mine… stealing my first kiss.

It was like someone had flicked a switch and the rest of the world disappeared into thin air. We stared at each other but it wasn’t the same stare as before it was through different eyes. The moment was shattered as Lilly came over to us to see if I was okay after my fall. The look on her face let me know that she was going to let the kiss slide for now but she wanted to know every detail on the way home.

             Lilly looked over at me, “Well now that I know you are okay, my brother wants to leave.”

             “Really already Lil?”

             “Ya the rink is going to close in 15 minutes,” Lilly said smirking at me.  “He wants to get out before all the traffic.”

             “Okay” I turn to look over at Derrick and a faint smile appeared on my lips, “I guess I’ll see you Monday then.”

             “Right, see you Monday” he said with the same trace of a smile on his face.

             Derrick stood up reached out his hand and helped me get up. Lilly and I turned to go put our skates back but he grabbed my wrist, pulled me back, and gave me a kiss on the cheek.