As The World Turns

Chapter 8

''If I fall flat on my face imma stab you with these skates,'' Taylor threatened as she laced up the ice skates that she had rented. Jodie had her own since she'd been skating since she was a teen.

''Keep to the edge, to begin with, you'll be fine,'' Jodie responded, ''oh and you might wanna take them off first,'' she added pointing to the casing that covered the blades of the actual skates. Taylor rolled her eyes lifting her feet up so she could pull them off.

''Am I ready now?'' Taylor sarcastically questioned as she pulled a pair of grey woollen gloves over her hands, ''maybe I should have bought some knee and elbow pads,'' she then mumbled going to follow Jodie onto the rink, but stopped short.

''Come on, you'll be fine. Here,'' Jodie skated back towards her, holding out her hands for her to take, ''you just gotta go slowly,'' Taylor nodded gripping tightly onto Jodie's hands as she was led slowly out onto the ice.

''What were you thinking when you thought you'd do this. Like did falling over on a slippery surface turn you on or some shit, because...whoa,'' Taylor was cut off as she wobbled nearly tumbling to the ground, fortunately, Jodie was there to catch her before she fell either further, ''thanks,'' she muttered.

''It's your first lesson it takes time,'' Jodie reassured her as she pulled Taylor around with her to help her gain balance. Although Taylor gripped both her arms and the rim of the rink to death.

''You should totally take that guy you were texting while in the car,'' Jodie whipped her around to look at her friend, which upset both their balances. Thankfully since Taylor had been grabbing the side too they didn't fall this time either.

''I don't Taylor, we're just talking at the moment I barely know him and he barely knows me,'' Jodie had been texting Marshall since she'd left the dinner that morning. It had been mostly Marshall telling her all the dumb things Denuan had done at the studio or just really bad jokes. They hadn't really asked about each other yet.

''So that's what dates are for. You do know there's no law against you asking him out on a date, especially since he contacted you in the first place, meaning he's interested,'' she had also told Taylor about what happened at the club and then later on with the dating website. She found it funny that Jodie had thought Marshall had been into her.

''I guess.''

''You guess, Jo you need to. Fuck,'' Taylor had been too focused on the conversation that she'd lifted her arms up to exaggerate her point, that she'd forgotten that they'd been skating on a sheet of ice. Both her feet slipped from underneath her and while trying to gain her balance she managed to drag Jodie around together.

''Still, think I should bring him here?'' Jodie asked from there position on the ice.

''Yeah, it'll be fun to see Eminem fall on his ass,'' they then both broke out in giggles as they attempted to help each other up.

''Guess we'll see if the real slim shady can really stand up,'' Jodie joked and it caused the two to laugh even harder and within seconds of standing up, they were both falling back down on the ice. This time they no longer cared if they could get up or not.

+++

Jodie sighed in content as she allowed the hot chocolate to pass through her lips and warm her up. After she had eventually got Taylor to do at least one slow ring around the rink alone without falling over, they nipped next door to the little cafe to take a break and warm up.

''I'm taking you to a Spar next week and I'm not taking no for an answer,'' Taylor declared, stirring the sugar she'd just poured, into her coffee.

''Whatever,'' Jodie remarked nibbling at the chocolate digestive that had come with her order.

''I'm serious you're too stressed all the time. You need to relax,'' Taylor paused to take a sip from her own drink before continuing, ''no excuses next week Spar promise me. Jodie promise me.''

''Next week Spar, I promise,'' she repeated, causing a smile to grace her housemates' lips.

''Good,'' Taylor confirmed it by rining a Spar up right then and there booking them in for next week, ''can't back out now.''

''I mean you could always take someone else if I couldn't go,'' Jodie pointed out, finishing off her biscuit.

''That's not the point Jo come on I...'' The end of the sentence should have finished with her saying 'like our days together,' but she ended up choking on them when her eyes came into contact with a familiar face.

''Taylor what's the matter,'' Jodie noticed the alarm in her friends face, as she reached over to place the shaking coffee cup back down on the saucer.

''We need to go, I'll meet and tell you at the car,'' frowning Jodie handed over her keys over to Taylor, which left her to gather their things. Taylor hadn't been gone five seconds when she heard someone clear their throat from behind her.

Cautiously she turned, not really sure what to expect. She knew it had been a man, but the tall smartly dressed person that stood directly behind her caught her by surprise. He had a pair of dark sunglasses on which he removed before opening his mouth to speak to her.

''I'm sorry to bother you, but could you give this to the friend you were with,'' Jodie had no choice, but to take the business card he held for her, ''we have some things to discuss and soon. Thank you,'' then he winked at her before replacing his glasses and as quickly as he appeared, he was gone.

Taylor was as she'd promised sat in Jodie's car waiting for her. Her eyes were cast down and she appeared to be flicking through her phone; Jodie saw the twitter logo flash up before Taylor started scrolling again. Not really sure what to say to her Jodie opened the door and climbed in silence.

''He gave me this,'' Jodie didn't describe what the man looked like because she was aware Taylor already knew since she'd ran away as soon as he appeared.

''Thanks,'' Taylor mumbled taking the card out of her hand. She then tore it down the middle and into several unreadable pieces before she opened the window and let it flutter across the ground beside her; leaving Jodie bemused and slightly concerned. She also felt cheated because unlike what Taylor had promised she didn't get an explanation about what had just happened. Although, there was one question she felt herself needing to answer.

''Is he dangerous?''

''No,'' the reply didn't exactly reassure Jodie because Taylor didn't sound sure herself.

''I guess we're going home,'' Jodie taking the silence as a yes, started the car and rolled out of the car park. Unaware of the tall, dark glasses man watching them leave.