My Buddy Archie [2]

40..

early update :')

~~

“Connie.”

“This isn’t safe. I don’t think we should do this.”

“It’s fine Connie. Come on.”

“I don’t want to fall.”

“I got you. You won’t fall.”

“Look at that man! Look!” I looked over my shoulder as an older man whizzed by Archie, Bailey and the triplets holding on to Wayne pants across the rink, all crowded around his feet like little ducklings. “He’s going too fast!”

“No, he’s just going faster than us…well you.” She glared as her knees wobbled like a deer learning to walk. It probably the first time I’d ever seen her look anything but graceful. “You’re so cute angel,” I chuckled.

“Don’t mock me.”

“Let me help you, just let go of the wall.” I didn’t wait for her to do it herself as I took her hands in mine. She yelp, squeezing the life out of my fingers as she locked her knees. I started tugging her away from the wall, doing my best to suppress my laughter at how ridiculous she looked; arms out straight, legs straight and far apart, her butt sticking out—unstable and timid on her white ice skates. How can you not laugh?

“Move your legs Connie. It’s just like roller skating.”

“Only on ice…”

I smiled, “Yeah.” I let go of her hands a left myself drift just out of her reach.

“Niall…Niall what are you doing? Niall! Come back!”

“Come to me, you can do it.”

“Niall.”

“Look, bend your knees.” She sighed but did that I said, “Now just move your weight from one foot to the other.” Just by the look on her face I already knew what she was going to say. “You won’t fall. I’m right here.” I briefly glanced around for Archie before spotting him only a few feet from where he was before. He had a huge smile on his face though, as he held Bailey’s hand and attempted to get somewhere. “Hurry up, I’m missing Archie’s first date.”

With an annoyed breath, she did what I said, and like a miracle she finally rejoined our hands.

“Look at that, and you didn’t die!” She tried to push me but only ended up knocking herself off balance, luckily I caught her. “That’s exactly what you get.”

“Where’s Archie?” I pointed to him across the rink. “Aw! I hope they really do date in the future. These will be wonderful stories for their wedding.” I rolled my eyes as she took a picture of them, but agreed with her. I’d already made the mental note do my best to fuel that friendship.

Connie and I continued our struggle—well her struggle—towards them and about half a century later we finally caught up with them.

“Wey hey! Niall and Connie are here!” Archie tried to jump but only ended up bending and unbending his legs quick enough to fall on his butt. I chuckled and helped him up, brushing the snow off him.

“Mr. Niall, can we get pizza?” One of the triplets—Hoover—asked. I was an expert at telling them apart now.

“Of course, do you want to go around a couple times first though?”

“We can race!” Jake shouted, spraying spit everywhere.

Connie shook her head, “Wait—” but it was no use. The five of them, including Bailey, already took off. They made it a whole meter before Oliver slipped and fell and Archie tripped over him. Within seconds the five of them were in a dog pile, rolling around on the ice like there weren’t other people trying to skate.