Skate Into My Body

"I'm not doing it, Zoe. I absolutely don't." Riley Quinn tore around the perimeter of the Frost Hill Ice Rink like a red bull-nutty squirrel. Her pink face glowed, half from icy wind, and half from repressed energy within her. Her best friend since childhood, Zoe Tran, was leaning against a lamppost, bent over a steaming mug of hot chocolate as if it were just another Tuesday afternoon. "You're going to hyperventilate." "I'm going to tell Connor Blake that I have a crush on him. I get to hyperventilate." Zoe's brow twitched. "You were furious with him for an entire year. Lunchroom flirting, against-the-rules selfies on the phone, and the mere fact that you woke up screaming out the name of 'Connor' in agony." "One time," Riley retorted. "And you're only confessing to this now? CERTAIN? The guy is the literal iceberg version of six-pack abs?" Riley stopped pacing. She took a deep breath, and oxygen misted off in tendrils. "I have to do this. I just. I need to be able to get some kind of closure. Or a miracle." Zoe offered her a cup. "Okay. But if he doesn't leave you a dime, I'm getting 'I told you so'." "Deal." The creak of the rink door froze Riley's heart in his chest. And there he was—Connor Blake. Tall, broad shoulders, Frost Hill Ice Wolves jersey on, hockey stick slung over one shoulder. Wet black hair swooping back from his forehead, and his face? Steely don't-even-think-about-saying-something face. Clearly, he was unfairly handsome. "Go," Zoe whispered. "Before your bravery kills you." Riley hauled herself upright and staggered. Boots squelching into the snow as she made her way across the car park. One step tougher than the last. "Connor!" He braked hard, spun around, and glared at her like she was some sort of surprise exam he wasn't prepared to take. ".Yeah?" "I, uh…" Riley nodded. She cleared her throat. "Can I have a word with you for a minute?" He raised an eyebrow but shrugged. "Quick. Team meeting." Riley nodded brusquely. She was shaking. "I just… I wanted to say something. I've enjoyed myself with you. For a bit. A year, actually. I know this is out of the blue, but I thought. you might want to go grab a coffee with me sometime?" There was a cringe-worthy silence. Connor blinked. "Wait, for real?" Riley's face turned red. "Yeah…" He snorted. Full-on snorted. "You don't even know me," he yelled, becoming angry instead of delighted. "You've idolized me from a distance, what, watched a few games and assumed that was something??" "I—I wanted to know you," Riley stammered. Connor laughed. "Don't. I don't do pity dates. Not with girls who can hardly get two words out at school and have lockers like fortresses." Two of his players loomed over him, smiling. One of them grumbled under his breath, "Tough break." Riley's heart fell like jagged shards of broken glass. Her entire self compressed and flipped inside out. "Oh. Okay," she said again, running out the door. "Sorry I… yeah. Never mind." She ran, didn't even take the time to wait for Zoe. Didn't slow down until the middle of the room, where she doubled over on her knees, grabbing at herself as she struggled to get her breath back. Zoe caught up to her a minute later. "Hey. Are you—" "Everything's fine," Riley cut in. "Absolutely fine." Zoe didn't respond. She just gave him back his hot chocolate. Riley yanked it out of her with shaking hands. "He laughed at me. Like I was a joke." "You're not going to do that." "I'm spent otherwise." Riley glared at the white sidewalk. "I waited a whole year to tell him. And I get told that I'm a pity date." "What's wrong with that guy." "Got him confused with… more. You know?" Riley looked up at the clouds. They were low and gray and had the appearance of dumping a snowstorm onto the world. "He's the star. The guy everyone stares at. And I'm just… background noise." "You're not background noise, Riley. You're the main freaking character." Riley's eyes rolled laughingly at her. "Tell that to my broken heart." She trapped herself in bed, staring at the ceiling that night. Her phone was off. She didn't want to be reminded. Or meme'd. Or informed by Zoe that she could very well manage without. She sighed out into the night, "I wish he could feel what it is like to be me. For a day." The room was quiet. Snowflakes lightly fell on the window. And within the universe's compendium of little absurdities, a page was turned.