As The World Turns

Chapter 22

Marshall watched a little nervous as Jodie helped him into his ice skates. She hummed a little as she made sure that they were nice and secure on his feet, he listened trying to figure out what exactly she had been humming, but he finally dismissed it as a random tune.

''Ok so you wanna stand up, but maybe take it slow cause you're going to walking on the blades,'' Marshall nodded slowly. He dismissed the hands Jodie had offered him in help. Figuring standing up and walking wouldn't be so hard he ignored her advice and stood straight upright, yelping as he fell back down on the bench.

Jodie just stared down at him shaking her head. Marshall gave her a sheepish smile as she bit her lip trying not to laugh. Sighing, she monitored for him to stand up again; this time he took her hands and he was able to stand upright longer than two seconds.

''You gonna listen to me from now on,'' she questioned as she felt his grip on her arms tighten. They hadn't even gotten on the ice yet and Marshall was clamped onto her like his life depended on it.

''Maybe we shouldn't do this, we're not even on the ice yet,'' Marshall complained as he struggled to keep his balance, completely at Jodie's mercy as she walked them towards the edge of the rink.

The rink was silent, it was just the two of them. Jodie always had the rink to herself on a Saturday morning and so it was a good a day as any to teach Marshall how to skate.

''Come on ya big baby you'll be fine I promise, come on,'' she coaxed Marshall onto the ice, giggling as she watched him scrunch his eyes shut as he took tentative steps onto the ice.

''Whoa, slow down a little,'' Jodie complied and stopped moving to let him gain his balance, ''ok this might not be so baaa...'' he never got to finish his sentence as the second he let go of Jodie to move on his own his feet slid away from underneath him causing him to grip the edge of the rink as he slowly fell to the ground.

''Oh my god Marshall are you ok,'' she tried to make herself sound as sympathetic as possible, but the laughter bubbled up inside of her and she giggled as he glared at her.

''Hey it's not funny I could have broken something,'' Marshall seethed as pulled himself up using the edge to support him.

''You didn't though so quite whining come on, a couple more steps for me please,'' Jodie pleaded sticking her bottom lip out in a pout as she skated towards him.

''Ok, but if I fall again I'm out,'' she nodded as Marshall sternly pointed a finger at her.

Mustering all the courage he had left, he slowly but surely took a couple more skating steps. Granted he was hugging the rim, but Jodie couldn't deny that he was trying and doing rather well at least. She skated next to him as he continued on taking more than just a few steps he had promised her. Within fifteen minutes he had gravitated away from the edge and was standing upright as he skated next to her, Jodie was proud and he was proud of himself too.

''See that wasn't too bad,'' Jodie commented as they reached a gap in the ring. Marshall had declared he'd had enough for one day the anxiety of nearly falling over a few seconds was getting too much for him.

''I guess it was ok,'' she nudged his shoulder just before he bent down to sit on one of the benches around the edge,'' I wanna see what you can do those, cause I'm sure you can do more than skate around.''

''I can do a few things,'' Jodie blushed, she was a little nervous to show him, ''I've never really had anybody watch before apart from Taylor, but she barely pays attention.''

''Well you have my attention,'' the colour on her cheeks rose even more, ''show me I wanna see please,'' it was his turn to pout and Jodie found herself unable to say no.

''Fine, but I'm no professional,'' Marshall nodded and let her skate off moving closer to the centre of the rink.

He watched in awe as he saw her do moves he'd only ever seen on Tv. It amazed him that she was able to twist, turn, spin and twirl around all the while landing solidly back down on the ice. Her balance was amazing and when she skated back over to him he found himself standing up to give her applause.

''That was amazing,'' Jodie blushed again as he leant over to kiss her as she was trying to get back off the ice.

''I... thanks,'' she stuttered. Nobody had ever really praised her for what she did, so Marshall's compliments made her feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

''So what are you practising for?'' Marshall asked, remembering what she had said in the car park earlier.

''What do you mean?'' She stared at him blankly for a second, ''I haven't practised for a competition since I was a child. It's more of a hobby now, why do you ask,'' now it was Marshall's turn to be confused.

''No reason, I just thought cause you're so good, it was a compliment,'' he trailed off staring at his hands as he fumbled to get his skates off.

''Here let me do that,'' Jodie offered, gently moving Marshalls hands away as she bent down to help him.

''Jodie.''

''Hmm,'' she answered as she pulled off one of his skates for him.

''Would you... you be my girlfriend. I know it's a bit strange to ask you now, but I've been thinking about it and I really like and...''

''Marshall, I really like you too,'' she smiled up at him before adding, ''so yes I will be your girlfriend,'' she watched in amusement as his eyes lit up. His hands moved to cup her cheeks and she gasped in surprise at how passionate the kiss he gave her was. Everything around her moved in slow motion as she found herself unable to break from Marshall's steel grip. At that moment there was nothing she'd rather be doing or anywhere she's rather more than in that moment.