Air Gear: Angel's Path

Skating Rink

"Chels, where have you been? You've been living at my house for over a week and I've only seen you maybe twice." Aero was lounging on a chair. I was headed for the kitchen to get a snack before I was going to an old skating rink. It was where I had learned how to ride and also established my name as Angel.

"I've been busy. I haven't come here in almost eight years and there's a lot of places I want to visit." I walked past him and quickly packed up a snack.

I slipped out without drawing his attention. I didn't want another conversation like the one with my brother. Quinn had so far kept true to his word and not told anyone.

I took a deep breath before I changed into my skates and started flying towards the rink. The rink itself was older and had been around for at least fifteen years old. I knew the way: it was burned into my mind.

Out of habit I headed for the fire pit. The fire pit was a small, brown, ceramic bowl that Shark and I had set up when we were young. Shark was a close friend and one of the few people that I knew could ride regular roller skates. The fire pit was cold since it hadn't been lit in over 8 years, ever since I stopped coming every summer.

I slid to a stop and uncovered the wood. The fire pit was about a block away from the rink and sitting on the roof of a building. Before I had to use a ladder to get up since I didn't have ATs. I quickly set up a fire and lit it. I smiled then headed off, towards the rink.

The metal door was closed and I could faintly hear music. The building looked like it had recently undergone some upgrades. It looked good. I knocked on the metal door and a small peek hole opened up.

"Can I help you?" I didn't recognize the guy, but he did seem a little familiar.

"Yes. I used to come here a while ago. I've got a key." I kept the key on a necklace around my neck on a chain because I never was going to risk losing it. It was a smaller key with a white number nine on the hunter green rubber tip. I showed it to him.

"Key number 9?" He asked. I nodded. "It's been awhile. Come on in." He opened the door and I walked in. "You know that ATs aren't allowed on the floor right?" He said when he noticed my ATs.

"Yep. I have my other skates in my bag." I said. I headed for my locker at the very end of the row. All of the double stacked brown metal lockers were new. The last of the dark blue single stacked lockers was number 10, Shark's locker. I opened mine and quickly changed from my ATs into my roller skates. Even though my ATs were blades I always used skates on a rink.

The building was a lot like I remembered it. The rink was covering most of the wall and started in the far right hand corner. The rubber like floor was pale purple. I could still see the black speed marks that Shark and I had put there 8 years ago. There were two entrances to the rink: one on the door side and the other along the long side. The lockers were on that side as well.

I moved to the rink. It took me a minute to get adjusted since I hadn't used roller skates in 8 years. It wasn't long until all my experience came back. I rode up to the DJ's booth tucked into the far corner.

I recognized the dj in an instant. "Hey DJ." I said. He looked at me. His eyes were slightly lighter than I remembered and also more grey than blue. His hair was almost all gray and still had a shaggy mop-like look.

"Angel? My little Angel?" He asked.

"Hi DJ. How have you been?" I jumped up the steps and gave him a tight hug.

"Angel, it's been 8 years and all you have to say is how have you been?" He pulled me closer. "Just as polite as you always was." He muttered.

I closed my eyes to keep from crying. "I missed you." I muttered. "Guess what?" I pulled back and jumped up into my usual chair by the entrance.