Frostbitten Hearts

Chapter 5: Frozen Truths

Marisol

Later that evening, Marisol stood in front of the rink, the festive glow of string lights reflecting off the ice. The air was crisp, her breath puffing in little clouds as she adjusted her scarf nervously. Frank jogged up a moment later, his cheeks flushed from the cold and his signature confident grin firmly in place.

"Hey, sorry I’m late," Frank said, slightly out of breath. "Had to convince my brother that borrowing his skates wasn’t a matter of life or death."

Marisol chuckled, a nervous edge to her laughter. "No worries. I was starting to think you stood me up."

"Me? Stand you up? Never," Frank said, placing his hand dramatically over his heart. "But if you’d rather cancel…"

Marisol raised an eyebrow. "Nice try. You’re not backing out now."

Frank smirked. "Didn’t plan to. Come on, let’s hit the ice."

They laced up their skates and stepped onto the rink. Marisol wobbled immediately, gripping the edge of the railing with both hands. "Oh no, bad idea. I’m going to break something."

Frank glided up beside her effortlessly. "Don’t tell me I invited you out here just to watch you cling to the wall all night."

"Well, excuse me if I’m not an ice-skating prodigy," Marisol shot back, narrowing her eyes.

Frank held out a hand. "Come on, I got you. I won’t let you fall."

She hesitated, then slowly let go of the railing and placed her hand in his. He guided her gently onto the ice, his grip steady and reassuring.

"See? Not so bad," he said.

"Speak for yourself," Marisol muttered, her legs wobbling like a baby deer.

Frank laughed. "Alright, let’s start small. Just glide. Don’t think about it too much."

She tried to follow his advice, focusing on the rhythm of his movements. Slowly, she found her balance. "Okay, this isn’t horrible," she admitted.

Frank grinned. "Told you. You’re a natural."

"Now you’re just lying."

He gave her a mischievous look. "Would you believe me if I said you look cute while almost falling?"

Marisol rolled her eyes, but her cheeks turned pink. "Careful, Mathis. You’re dangerously close to being charming."

"That’s the plan," he replied smoothly.

As they skated, Marisol gradually grew more confident, even daring to let go of Frank’s hand for a moment. He cheered her on dramatically, clapping and pretending to bow. "Ladies and gentlemen, the future queen of figure skating!"

She laughed, nearly losing her balance again. "Alright, don’t jinx it!"

After a while, they took a break on a bench by the rink, sipping hot chocolate Frank had grabbed from a nearby stand.

"Okay, I’ll admit it," Marisol said, her hands wrapped around the warm cup. "That was actually kind of fun."

Frank leaned back, his arm draped casually over the back of the bench. "So, is this the part where you tell me I was right all along?"

She raised an eyebrow. "Let’s not get carried away."

He chuckled, his gaze softening. "I’m glad you came out tonight, though. You’ve been through a lot lately. You deserve to have some fun."

Marisol looked down at her cup, his words catching her off guard. "Yeah, I guess I’ve been… in my head a lot," she admitted. "It’s hard not to be."

Frank nodded. "I get that. But you don’t have to deal with everything alone, you know. You’ve got people who care about you. Me included."

She glanced at him, her heart skipping a beat at the sincerity in his eyes. "Thanks, Frank. That… means a lot."

They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the hum of holiday music and laughter from the rink filling the air.

"You know," Frank said, breaking the quiet, "I’ve actually had a crush on you since sophomore year."

Marisol blinked, taken aback. "Wait, what? Why didn’t you say anything?"

He shrugged, a sheepish smile on his face. "You were with Carmine, and I didn’t want to get in the way. But now…" He met her gaze. "I figured I might as well take a shot."

Marisol’s cheeks burned, and she looked away, overwhelmed by the mix of emotions swirling inside her. "I don’t know what to say."

"You don’t have to say anything right now," Frank said gently. "I just wanted you to know."

As they returned to the rink, Marisol couldn’t help but feel a flicker of hope. For the first time in months, it felt like she might actually be able to move forward—one careful step at a time.

Kai

The party rages on inside, a blur of flashing lights and too-loud music, and Kai feels herself slipping further out of her element. She needs a break. Stepping outside, she finds herself on a small balcony, the cool night air wrapping around her like a gentle embrace. The sound of the party dulls behind her, and she takes a deep breath, her shoulders loosening as she inhales the crisp, fresh air.

She’s barely settled into the solitude when she hears the soft scrape of the sliding door, followed by the sound of footsteps. Turning, she finds Ethan—someone she’s only just met—standing there, a little hesitant but with a warmth in his gaze that makes her feel slightly less out of place.

"You okay?" His voice is low and smooth, genuine but not prying. There’s something comforting in his quiet presence that contrasts the energy of the party inside.

Kai shrugs, rubbing her arms against the chill of the evening. "Yeah. Just needed a minute. The crowd’s a bit much for me."

Ethan nods, his expression understanding, as if he’s been there before. He shifts slightly, leaning against the balcony railing and gazing out at the street below, where the lights of passing cars create streaks of gold in the dark.

"I get that," he says with a soft smile. "Big crowds aren’t really my thing either. They can feel a bit... suffocating, you know?"

Kai chuckles lightly, the tension in her chest easing a little. She hadn’t expected to find someone here who felt the same way. "Exactly. I think I’d take the quiet any day."

They both fall into a comfortable silence, standing side by side but not feeling awkward. Kai’s eyes wander to the sky, where stars scatter across the dark canvas above. The cool breeze ruffles her hair, and for a moment, everything feels far removed from the chaos of the party inside.

Ethan glances over at her, sensing the calm settling between them. "I didn’t mean to crash your moment," he says, his tone teasing but not overbearing. "But I’m kind of glad I did."

Kai turns her head slightly, meeting his gaze. The soft glow from the streetlights catches in his eyes, and something about the way he’s looking at her makes her heart skip a beat. It’s not intense or overwhelming—just a quiet, unspoken understanding that she’s not alone out here.

"It’s fine," she says, her voice a little quieter now. "I’m kind of glad you’re here too."

There’s an ease in the air around them, the kind of ease that comes with being able to say nothing and still feel like you’re sharing something. They stand there for a few more minutes, a silent connection growing between them. The world inside the party feels distant now, and the night outside feels like a secret only they share.

Roxie

As the party roars on, Roxie is the perfect storm of energy, her infectious laughter carrying through the room. She spots Mateo across the room, and a mischievous smile tugs at her lips. She knows how easily she can rile him up, especially now that their feelings are out in the open.

"Hey, Mateo," she says, sidling up to him with a teasing grin. "Still trying to act all cool and collected around me?" She’s playful, but there's a glint in her eye that suggests there's more to her words than just fun.

Mateo, clearly unable to keep the smile off his face, rolls his eyes. "You know it’s not that easy, Rox." He tries to maintain his composure, but his voice betrays him, hinting at the warmth that always seems to bubble between them.

Roxie isn’t about to let him off that easily. She bumps her shoulder against his. “You sure? Because I’m starting to think you’re afraid of something.”

Mateo laughs, shaking his head, though he can’t hide the faint blush creeping across his cheeks. "Afraid? Of you?" His teasing tone doesn’t fool her, but she lets it slide, knowing he’s doing his best to maintain a bit of bravado.

She smiles, but there’s a mischievous edge to her expression. "You know," she says, tilting her head, "I need your opinion on something."

Mateo raises an eyebrow, intrigued. "What now?"

Roxie, never one to be subtle, flashes him a playful look. "If I had to rate myself on a scale from one to ten, what do you think I’d be?"

Mateo’s eyes widen slightly, caught off guard by the question. He laughs nervously, looking her over as if weighing his options. “Uh, seriously?”

“Yeah,” she presses, her grin widening. “Come on, be honest. You’ve known me long enough.”

He rolls his eyes but can’t suppress the grin tugging at his lips. “Okay, fine. Ten,” he says, glancing at her with mock seriousness. "But only because you’ve got me completely wrapped around your finger, obviously."

Roxie bursts out laughing, clearly enjoying the effect she’s having on him. "I knew it! So, you’re just saying that to get on my good side, huh?”

Mateo shrugs with a playful grin. "Maybe a little. But hey, what can I say? You’ve got this whole 'irresistible' thing going on."

Roxie pretends to consider this for a moment, nodding. "Hmm... fair enough. But let’s be real here—I’m at least a solid eleven."

Mateo chuckles, shaking his head, clearly amused by her confidence. "I think your scale’s broken then, because I don’t think it goes that high."

She shrugs nonchalantly. "What can I say? I’m a trendsetter."

Mateo smiles, a mix of admiration and something deeper in his gaze. "You sure are."

Their banter lightens the mood, but there's still an undercurrent of something more between them—a connection that’s growing stronger with every teasing remark and every shared laugh. The playful exchange is just another step toward something neither of them is ready to name yet, but it lingers in the air like an unspoken promise.

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