Ice-skating thrill (open)

Aurors In-Training Posts : 180

Amerix took a deep breath of the chilly morning air. It was the perfect weather to go ice-skating. She pulled on a sweater, skinny jeans, boots and gloves. Packing her skates and putting her hair into a ponytail with french braided sides, she exited the dorm and began walking towards Avalon's ice-skating rink. She hoped there wouldn't be too much of a crowd around this time. Amerix loved having enough space to skate fast as well as fit in some jumps and turns. She really did miss skating.

Fond memories carried her back to the days when she was a little girl and her father would take her to the ice rink near their home to teach her how to skate. She never forgot the day she mastered her first jump. It was a magical feeling being able to soar in the air with the wind rushing past her face. Oh, the sensational freedom it gave her!

Passing the town square, she caught sight of the enormous well-lit Christmas tree. A small smile curved her lips as she imagined her parents putting up their own small one in their home. She would miss them terribly. Arriving at the rink, she saw to her satisfaction that there weren't that many people and she would have enough space to move freely.

Securing her ice skates to her feet, she stepped onto the ice and pushed off. Nothing could keep the wide grin on her face from breaking out. Although she hadn't skated for a long time, her muscles remembered the balance and the movement and in no time at all, she was skating round and round the rink going faster and faster. Gathering speed, she kicked the tip of one shoe into the ice and twisted her body up to a double axle. Landing smoothly on one foot with the knee slightly bent to absorb the impact, she closed her eyes to enjoy the moment. A second later, she crashed into someone sending her toppling to the ice.

Aurors In-Training Posts : 146

Arthur fell as someone crashed onto him. He mentally chided himself for not paying enough attention although it could have been the other person's fault. He noticed the person who crashed into him laying on the ice.

"Are you alright?" he asked as he offered her his hand. He hoped she hadn't hurt herself too badly. He wondered if there was anyone around who could help if she had as he wasn't sure what the first aid procedure for being knocked out after hitting the ice was. Concern filling his features he waited for her to say something.

Aurors In-Training Posts : 180

"Are you alright?"

No, I'm not alright. I just fell on my backside and now it's hurting and there's probably going to be a bruise by night fall and I may not be able to sit properly.

Taking a deep breath, Amerix allowed her mental filters and brakes to work as she replied, "I'll be fine. Nothing a little rest can't cure." It wasn't a lie. She would be fine in a couple of days once the bruise heals. She didn't think she needed medical care but it would be annoying if she had to sit for very long.

Accepting his hand, she put her other hand to the ice and pushed herself up, careful not to slip back down again by bracing her feet on the slippery ice. It was fortunate she remembered what her dad taught her about getting up after a fall. Oh yes, she had numerous falls when she first learned to skate but she always wore knee and elbow guards.

"I'm sorry. The landing for the double axel requires me to land and glide backwards and I didn't see you." Although Amerix didn't think she was at fault, since to her it was common sense to stay away from a skater performing a jump, she had a principle that she would always apologise. It reduced any hurt feelings that way.

Aurors In-Training Posts : 146

"I'm glad you're alright," he said after she got up. Maybe she'd still have some bruising but it was a load of his mind that he hadn't given her a concussion. He hadn't seen her either although he hadn't been doing anything like she was. "Still I'm sorry about crashing into you. I didn't see you either."

He careful let go of her. She looked like she could stand fine without assistance and he doubted she would want him to hold her hand for longer than necessary.

"Err, I should probably give you some space." So he skated back a bit. He wondered if he should leave. He should probably step back in case she decided to try the double axel again but then she would probably move the correct distance away herself.

Aurors In-Training Posts : 180

"Still I'm sorry about crashing into you. I didn't see you either."

Amerix nodded, accepting his apology. The both of them hadn't been looking where they were going. She made a mental note to never close her eyes while skating ever again. It was dangerous, not only to herself but to others as well. It was something her dad had drilled into her head. Don't only look out for yourself on the ice. Look out for others too. You don't want to be responsible for hurting other people, especially children he'd say. She was fortunate it wasn't a child she had banged into.

"Err, I should probably give you some space."

Amerix smiled inwardly at the seeming awkwardness of the situation. The last thing that she wanted was to be involved in a relationship with a boy. She was still struggling with the hurt and betrayal, the scars and wounds left by her past relationships. It would take years and a miracle to get her to trust so easily again. Still, it couldn't hurt to be friendly right? It's not like she would be divulging very personal information of any kind. She ran through in her mind the different ways she could introduce herself without giving the impression of interest in a romantic relationship.

Settling for a basic introduction, she said, "Hi, I'm Amerix, Auror-in-training at Merlin's Academy. What about you?"

There, that wasn't so bad Amerix thought.

Aurors In-Training Posts : 146

"Arthur, also Auror-in-training at Merlin's Academy." He hadn't really expected her to introduce herself but she was being polite and it didn't hurt to be polite back. "Now that I think about it I might have seen you around the Academy." He's sure that they've never formally meet before though. This probably wasn't the best first impression then. "I'm in my first year, what about you?"

Well the conversation wasn't going too badly as far as he could tell. He didn't move any closer to her or further away from her as he waited for her to answer.

Aurors In-Training Posts : 180

Amerix never considered herself good at making friends. She was even worse at making conversation. She never knew what to say next or how to behave. Her need to analyse everything in her mind before saying or doing anything often made for a slow response from her and that usually put off some people. Not to mention that her non-existent social skill were made worse by her trust issues. But it was time for her to make some friends. She couldn't go through university not knowing anybody.

Automatically, her brain began analysing the situation. Replying him was no problem. It was the behaving part that had her in a tangle. Should she invite him to skate with her? Should they just stand there talking? Would it be awkward if they did that? On the other hand, would inviting him to skate with her be too forward of her? Gah! I hate social rules Perhaps she should throw the ball back in his court; move her feet a little and see what he did.

"Nice to meet you, Arthur, although we could have met under better circumstances," Amerix replied. "I'm a first year too. I actually started the term late so I missed the first Auror class. I hope I can catch up, though."

She offered a warm smile and skated the slightest bit backwards on the ice, stopping after a couple of inches.

Aurors In-Training Posts : 146

"Nice to meet you too," he answered. He scratched the back of his head. "Yeah this isn't exactly the best way to meet." He wondered if the professor gave out remedial lessons, he had heard Professor Holmes did for Potions but he didn't know if their professor did. She would just have to do her best in the up coming lessons.

When she skated back he didn't move although he did wonder why she had done so. Was she getting bored of his company? She had also smiled at him as she skated back so he was uncertain. Perhaps she just missed ice skating.

"I wish you the best of luck with catching up," he said and he hoped he didn't sound sarcastic.

Aurors In-Training Posts : 180

Amerix nodded absentmindedly at his comment. Her mind was whirling with other things, thoughts mainly. There was bound to be awkwardness when two people who didn’t speak very much, at least he seemed like he didn’t speak much from the way he talked with her, were thrust into a dialogue. Maybe it was just her but Amerix felt some tension building up, the kind of tension that crept into a dying conversation when the people involved would try and think of what to say next and things would just get more and more awkward in the silence between sentences.

He didn’t follow me. Should I invite him to skate with me? I don’t want to give him wrong signals and give the impression that I’m interested in anything other than friendship. Would he think that I’m interested in him if I did ask him to join me? What would happen if I did? Would I have to continue the small talk? Merlin knows that I have no ability in that area! Perhaps I should just end the conversation. But what if he wants to keep talking? These were only a fraction of the thoughts and questions spinning a whirlwind in her mind. Oh, how frustrating societal rules were! If only there was a handbook detailing exactly what to say next. That would definitely make life easier for her.

"I wish you the best of luck with catching up,"

His comment broke Amerix out of her chain of thoughts. What should she do now? Perhaps she should just reply him and see how he responded. Yes, that’s what she would do.
“I thank you very much, Arthur,” she replied as warmly as she could. The last thing she wanted to sound like was a pre-programed robot. She had run out of her store of questions to ask to keep the conversation going and it would take some time before she could think up of more. I really need to work on my conversation skills.

Aurors In-Training Posts : 146

"You're welcome," he replied. She didn't seem to have a lot to say now and he wasn't exactly a smooth conversationalist either. "Err, do you want to skate with me? Its just that I figured you might not want to stand here all day."

While she wasn't bad looking he really wasn't trying to seduce her or anything. Hopefully she would realize that as he didn't want to make things awkward or confusing between them.

"I understand if you don't. We did crash into each other after all." Plus maybe he wasn't the most interesting company but he didn't want to add that.

Aurors In-Training Posts : 180

Amerix smiled a little at his offer and comment. He was a likable guy and there was absolutely nothing wrong with him. It was her. It was always her. She tended to over analyse and over think things through sometimes making a big deal out of something small. He seemed to be open, honest and sincere though and that made Amerix feel a little better. Joining him to skate would mean more small talk and Amerix was already feeling the energy drain out of her body at the thought of it.

"I'd love to join you but I'm gonna have to take a rain check," Amerix replied, then continued, "I'm really sorry but I'm feeling a little tired and sore." She could feel the bruise on her rear end beginning to throb and dreaded the idea of not being able to sit comfortably until it healed. "It was awesome meeting you thought. See you around."

She offered a smile a wave as she prepared to head back home.

Aurors In-Training Posts : 146

Right her injury. He mentally kicked himself for not thinking of that. He just figured she looked like she might want to move.

"Its fine," Arthur said. "I should have thought of your injury. I'll see you around." He waved back to her. So he decided to skate off. Maybe they'd meet again under better circumstances. They were the same major so he was sure they'd end up seeing each other again.

Arthur continued to skate, being careful to look around as he did so this time. The ice rink was lovely. He admired the scenery as he skated past people. Smiling he took in the view.

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Ice-skating thrill (open)

Ice-skating thrill (open)

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