Chapter 83: Chapter 83

" Guys, we'll reach there in a minute.", Gavin finally said turning his head to us from the driver's seat. I and Michael were in the back seat and Grace was beside him. The car apparently belongs to his cousin brother, Drake who is studying in a university here and staying at an apartment nearby. So after having lunch from black swan, we got a taxi to Drake's apartment and got his car and key.

And Gavin still hasn't told us where he is taking us. For the last half an hour, we have been asking him, but he didn't say a word. Now finally we are about to reach whichever place he intended to take us.

Gavin slowed the car and proceeded to park it to a side. I looked out of the window curiously. But I couldn't see anything in particular.

" Are we going I- Ice skating !?", Michael asked in surprise, looking out of the window on his side.

Ice skating ??

I leaned to his side and found a big green board on the opposite side of the road, a little away from us. It read,

'Chaparral indoor Ice Rink.'

" Woah ! Ice-skating ?", Grace asked.

" Yeah..excited ?", Gavin smiled tilting his face to her.

" Yeah ! ", she squealed. " But I've never went Ice-skating before. Can we do that without practice ?", she asked.

" Yeah..you can do it. Don't worry.", he said.

"But do we have j..jacket, gloves and all ?", Michael asked.

" Everything is in the trunk. You guys sit here.", Gavin said and unbuckled his seat belt before opening the trunk and hoping out. He soon opened the door near Michael and threw us two pair of jackets and gloves. Then he hopped back into the driver's seat, giving a pair to Grace and hastily wearing his own.

" Gavin, you know Ice skating ?", Grace asked him whilst wearing the jacket.

" Yeah..a little. Last year I often went ice skating with my basketball friends.", he replied.

" I see. So I guess you are a pro at it.", I said whilst buttoning up my jacket.

" Not a pro or anything.", he chuckled tightening the hood of his jacket. I looked back at Michael and found him excitedly wearing the gloves.

" Are you excited ?", I asked grabbing his hands and helping him wear the gloves.

" Yeah..", he nodded.

" You have went ice skating before ?", I asked. Cause he looked really excited instead of looking worried. Even I'm a bit nervous thinking about balancing on those shoes with thin blades. I've never went ice skating before. Only I've watched it in movies and videos.

"Yeah. While I was in m..middle school, I and Alex always used to go.", he replied.

" I see. ", I nodded and started to wear my gloves. For some reason I feel uncomfortable hearing the name ' Alex'.

" Great ! So you know to skate. We would have a lot of fun I guess.", Gavin said turning around and smiling at Michael. He smiled back cheerfully.

Soon we got out of the car and walked to the enormous stadium. As soon as we entered through the gigantic glass door, a chilly cold air hit our body, making us shiver.

In front of us were lots of people, especially teenagers skating around with huge smiles on their faces. A soothing music was playing in the background and neon lights were flashing around, making the atmosphere more beautiful. The whole place looked amazingly beautiful with the white snow adoring the rink and the wooden stadium around it.

" Let's go get skates ! " Michael squealed not able to contain the excitement bubbling inside him anymore. He suddenly grabbed my hands and started running to the other end of the stadium to get skates, making me totally surprised. I tilted my head back and saw Gavin and Grace coming running behind us whilst laughing at us.

Soon enough we got our skate shoes from the counter and Michael was again running with me to the rink.

I looked around in wonder at how most of the people here are effortlessly balancing themselves on their skates. Is it really easy ?

Michael left my hand free and sat down on the edge of the rink, starting to wear those shoes. I sat down beside him, watching him in amusement. I'm seeing him this much excited for the first time. Thanks to Gavin for bringing us here.

" Wear it. ", he told me pointing at my skates whilst tying his shoe lace tightly.

" How do we balance on it ? I think I'll fall down.", I said taking the shoes and proceeding to wear it.

" No you won't.", he said and stood up from the edge, effortlessly balancing himself on those bloody bladed skates.

" Hold onto me.", I said fearing he would fall down. But he just laughed at me. And to my surprise the next moment he was crouching down in front of me, helping me tie my shoe lace.

" Michael you will fall.", I almost screamed.

" Shh..no..I won't. I've even p..performed a dance on skates.", he said.

" What !?", I asked totally surprised. A dance on skates ??

" Yeah..in 8th grade. ", he said tying my shoe lace.

" Woah..really ?", Grace asked just as surprised as me. She was sitting a little away from us and Gavin was helping her tie her shoe lace.

" I think he is an expert at this.", Gavin said and sat down beside her, starting to wear his own skates.

Michael then finished tying my both shoe lace and got up on his feet starting to skate like a pro. I watched in amazement as he skated in a circle at high speed and then started skating along the edge of the rink. He was even skating backward.

Soon Gavin also stood up balancing himself smoothly on the skates. He stretched his hands to Grace and she took it and proceeded to bend up but soon slipped and fell back.

" Oh God ! This is impossible. I can't ! ", She shook her head.

"No c'mon..you can do it Gracie..", Gavin said and grabbed her hands, swiftly pulling her up. She almost screeched and immediately held onto the railing for balance, too afraid to fall down.

"C'mon..you aren't gonna fall.", Gavin laughed. " Hold onto my hands.", he said and again stretched out his hands. Grace nodded unsurely and quickly took her hands from the railing, clutching onto both of Gavin's arms.

Before I could watch what happened after that, I was suddenly pulled up from the edge by two hands and I gasped in horror as I felt like falling backward.

But then I didn't fall down and to my utter shock, I realized I was skating sideways along the edge of the rink in a really fast pace holding Michael's both hands. The chilly air was almost piercing through my skin and ears.

" MICHAEL ! SLOW DOWN ! " , I shouted in panic. He just giggled and increased the speed. Then to add to my horror, he withdrew one of his hands. Now I was only holding his left hand and we were now dashing forward through the smooth surface of the floor. My jaws were clenching and my both legs were wobbling, telling me to get ready for the inevitable fall.

I wanted to scream like a child but there were people around me and I didn't want to embarrass myself. I tilted my head a bit and saw Gavin and Grace standing far away. Gavin seemed like laughing hard at us and enjoying my vulnerable state. I looked forward and my heart almost stopped as I saw the railing curving like a circle beside us and we were about to hit it.

I screamed really hard, ready for the great fall but then we didn't hit and Michael giggled as we glided past the railing in a circle at high speed.

" Michael...I'm scared. please slow down..", I pleaded, tightening my hold on his hands.

Michael tilted his head to me and laughed. " You look like you are about to c..cry."

" Yeah..I'm about to cry. Slow down ! I'm skating for the first time ! I'm not Alex ! ", I screamed, making him flinch at my sudden outburst.

"I- I'm..sorry.", he uttered, biting down on his bottom lip. His previous amusement was replaced by nervousness and a bit of sadness. Our speed considerably decreased. Looking at his face, I almost instantly regretted screaming at him.

" I'm sorry baby. I'm afraid I'll fall down. I don't want one more stitch on my head. Moreover I don't want to take leave again.", I said squeezing his hands.

He nodded looking at me, his nervous expression relieved. " I won't let you fall, Ethan. "

I couldn't help but smile broadly at him. His lips slowly curved upward. " Let's skate like this, slowly ?", I asked. He nodded and decreased the speed a bit more.

Although we were now skating really slowly, my heart was still pounding hard and my jaws were clenching as I focused my eyes on the floor to keep my balance. I was still afraid I would collapse but Michael has assured me he won't let me fall. So I tightened my grip on his hands.

I found we completed a round around the rink as I saw Gavin and Grace in front of us on the same spot we earlier stood. They were now slowly skating backward and forward, holding each other's hands.

Michael slowed and almost stopped as we reached near them. Then he turned around facing me, stretching his other hand too. I took it and then he started spinning with me in slow circles. " Is this okay ?", he asked staring into my eyes.

" Yes..", I nodded smiling. This was actually better. Now I'm holding his both hands. His lips slowly curled upward showing his gorgeous dimples as we kept on spinning, gradually increasing the speed.

" Thanks Michael.", I said staring into his blue eyes. A pink blush dusted on his cheeks.

" For s..scaring the shit out of you ?", he asked laughing a bit.

" No. For this.", I smiled. " But that was actually fun too. Though I got scared, maybe I can laugh later when I think about it. But that doesn't mean you can do that again.", I said.

"No..I won't scare you a..again. And say thanks to Gavin. " He giggled.

" I guess skating is the thing you likes to do the most ? You are laughing and smiling so much today.", I said.

" Yeah..I- I like it so much. It's almost an y..year since I skated.", he said, his blush deepened.

" You are so beautiful.", I said staring at his face and he looked down laughing quietly. I bend my head down to look at his face and he withdrew a hand from me to cover his red face.

" Oh Michael ! Don't leave me. I'll fall.", I said laughing.

" Sorry...", he whispered and held on to my hands again. This time I initiated spinning.

" So whom did you went with last time ?", I asked him while spinning.

" With my sister and her husband.", he replied and then giggled as I increased the speed of spinning. I started spinning, faster and faster, just wanting to hear his giggles.

However soon enough I started getting dizzy that I slowed down, but he was still laughing and giggling. My heart melted hearing his sounds and I stared at his beautiful face in awe.

There’s something about him that leaves me speechless. It’s not just that the he is smart, cute, talented and incredibly beautiful. But something else. There's something else that attracts me to him. I don’t really know what it is. Maybe it's just the fact that he is 'Michael'. Anyway one thing I know, I'm really lucky to have a chance with him.