concordia

twelve

word count: 1.9k

date written: 21.5.19

verse: ice-skating au

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"so, we doing junk food and video games tonight?" jacob asked as they fought their way out of the building with the rest of the student body. despite being the first to leave their classroom at the sound of the bell, they'd still managed to get caught up in the end-of-day rush. "'cause i can't wait to kick your ass this time."

"i can't today, sorry," elle said, shooting him an apologetic look as they passed through the front gates. "i'm going to the rink." if he'd asked her that morning instead, she might have reconsidered, but now she was looking forward to going too much to change her mind.

"again?" jacob said, eyeing her suspiciously as he adjusted the straps of his backpack. "but you can't even skate!" they'd only been together a few times in the past, much to his disdain since he vastly preferred to keep his feet on solid ground, but it was enough for him to know that elle was even clumsier on the ice than she was off of it.

"well that's why i need to go, right? so i can practice," elle claimed, nudging him playfully with her elbow as they reached a fork in the path. she turned on her heel to face him when they slowed to a stop a moment later. "look, i'll make it up to you, yeah? see if i can squeeze a pizza out of mum when you sleep over on friday." jacob's eyes instantly lit up at the mention of pizza.

"alright, you're on," he acceded, gently punching her arm in a move that was synonymous with affection for them. "text me later, yeah?" he grinned, already backing down the left path away from her. "i want to know how many times you fall flat on your face." elle scowled, giving him the middle finger, but he only laughed before turning away with a final wave. shaking her head in amusement, elle started down the opposite path, picking up the pace considerably now that she was alone. the ice rink was a good ten minute walk away and she was already slightly behind schedule.

fortunately, she knew enough shortcuts to make up the time, and rounded into the first alley that would save her a few seconds. her weaving through the streets paid off soon enough, and she arrived at the rink only a minute or so later than usual, crossing the street with bright eyes. the building towered above her as she approached, making a beeline for the entrance, and she freed a hand to let herself inside the moment she was within reach. reception was just as quiet as it always was at that time, with public skating still unavailable for over another hour, and even colder than the outside.

recognizing the woman behind the front desk, elle waved politely to her as she passed, and the temperature only continued to drop as she drew closer to the rink itself. it was eerily silent and elle couldn't help but shiver slightly on her way to the stands, her breath clouding in front of her face as she climbed the stairs. when she reached her usual seat in the third row, she'd already shrugged off her backpack, and stopped to unearth her coat from where she'd crammed it inside that morning before school. by the time she'd pulled it on and sat down, the rink below her was no longer vacant.

a short girl around her age was skating warm-up laps across the ice, her dark hair pulled back into a stubby ponytail to keep it out of her face. elle leaned forward at the sight of her, resting her arms on the chair in front of her own as she watched the other girl in awe. there was something ethereal about her that captivated elle like nothing else and it had been that way ever since she'd first laid eyes on her, skating effortlessly back and forth like a swan gliding across water.