December, 19th

We’d been on the rink for a good hour. It turned out that Adrian needed the ice-skating aid more than I did. Though he could hold his balance, his movements didn’t look very elegant, to say the least. I was sure if I said anything to him, I’d break his concentration and he’d land straight on his behind. So I just slid across the ice slowly, turning around so I faced him. I bit my lip to stop myself from asking him if he needed any help, but when he stumbled once more and almost fell backwards, I couldn’t watch him in his misery any longer.

„You know, I got a hint from someone that they lend penguin and seal aids here. Do you want me to get you one?,“ I asked, smirking very smugly.

He looked up from his feet, at which he’d been staring ever since we’d entered the rink. As he saw me skating backwards, his expression turned into one that switched between annoyance and awe. „How do you do that?“

I shrugged my shoulders. „I don’t know. I learned how to do it as a kid, and it’s a skill that’s never left me.“ Adrian stumbled again, barely saving himself from falling. I cocked an eyebrow. „Are you sure you don’t need help?“

„I’m…“ Another stumble. „Good. You just distracted me, that’s all. I was doing really well before.“

„If you think you’re doing a good job, then you might want to look at some of the kids here. They’ll easily lap you and look more relaxed while doing so.“ I chuckled as two little girls slid past us, obviously on a mission to prove who was faster.

Adrian turned his head to watch them, which he soon realized was a mistake. Because apparently he could only hold his balance as long as he was facing his feet. It was just a matter of seconds until he stumbled again, this time leaning too far backwards to save his fall. I winced as he hit the ice, and went over to him.

„Are you okay?,“ I asked, offering him my hand. He took it, pushing himself up from the ground with his other hand. Clumsily, he stood, rubbing his lower back.

„How is it that everything you don’t want to do at first, you are uncommonly good at? It’s really unfair, you know. It makes me look like I’m bad at everything.“

„Well, to be honest, you are terrible at ice-skating. And decorating cookies. But your hot chocolate flavor was delicious.“

He smiled smugly. „Vanilla and cherry hot chocolate should seriously be a thing. Maybe I could sell the idea to a company? Perhaps I’d become rich, and then I could buy my own ice-skating rink to practice on until I’d beat you.“

„You have a long way to go until that,“ I said, scoffing. „Are you really okay, though?“

„I am.“ He nodded, blue eyes beginning to sparkle. „But you know what would help? If I had someone leading me. Someone who can skate backwards and still look elegant.“

I couldn’t stop myself from laughing at his flattering words. „I think that can be arranged.“