Page 13 of One Little Chance
Orlando
SOPH. You need to get out of your house. I’m thinking I’ll come down to Sweet River for the weekend and invite some of our friends in town to skate.
Me
Skating?
Orlando
Yeah, City Hall leaves the rink up until Feb!
Me
I mean skating? as in, are we sure about this being the chosen activity?
Orlando
You fell one time, Soph
Orlando was worried about me. He was worried I was lonely coming back to town—even after I assured him I was making friends at the school and reconnecting with people frommy past. He drove to Sweet River for the weekend and invited some of his local friends and our old mutual friend group to meet at the winter skate rink in front of Sweet River City Hall.
But I hate skating, I grumbled to myself that Saturday morning as I hung onto the sides of the rink for dear life. It was cute, this ice rink with fluffy green garland lining the sides and twinkle lights hanging overhead. Christmas trees were still glowing by the sidewalks. A big fake snowman with a mittened hand waved at the entrance.
But I still hated skating. I sniffled in the cold, latching onto Orlando as he skated by. The creamy scent of hot chocolate and sugary marshmallows wafted from the hot cocoa stand.
“Sophia, why don’t you ask if they have those kids’ stabilizers in a bigger size?” Orlando offered, slowing down for me.
“I have my pride, Orlando,” I whispered. “I am not asking for that. Can you be my stabilizer, please?”
He sighed as if I was really putting him out. A few of our friends started calling over, urging us to speed up, but I yanked him closer with a death grip when he tried to change our pace.
“Soph, are you new to skating?” Jeremy, Orlando’s best friend since toddler years, asked as he skated up.
“No, I’ve skated before,” I said, my fluffy coat bumping into Orlando’s.
“She’s just terrible,” Orlando offered, laughing when I widened my eyes at him.
“I’m nervous, okay? I’ve had some bad falls?—”
“Bad falls?” Orlando said aghast. “She fell once when she was a kid, and I caught her!”
“You were a tiny twig so that fall still hurt.” I pulled him to a stop. The three of us huddled on the ice.
“I can help you out. I don’t mind taking it slow,” Jeremy said, and there was a certain twinkle in his eyes that made me wonder if he meant something more than skating.
I swallowed.
“Great idea. Jeremy, you’re a saint.” Orlando patted his friend on the back and skated off to our friend Anna who he’d been watching from across the rink.
I gave Jeremy a nervous smile as he looped his arm in mine. Jeremy had always been my younger brother’s silly sidekick, and I didn’t want to give him any ideas.
“How’s it being back in town?” he asked, tugging on his beanie. The air was frigid today.
“It’s been really nice. Everyone has been really welcoming, you know? It’s fun to see what shops have changed and what restaurants are new, like the Tavern downtown. And I’ve seen some people I didn’t realize how badly I missed, like old teachers and friends I hadn’t seen in forever.” Our pace was slow as molasses. I could feel my nose turning pink.
“Did you miss me?” Jeremy joked, dramatically slapping his hand to his chest. I wasn’t even sure I’d classify this as flirting since Jeremy had always been like this.
I opened my mouth to answer when I noticed Jordan standing across from us at the hot cocoa stand. His gaze was on Jeremy and me.
