Page 18 of Side By Side

Chandler followed Belle down the hall and into the locker room, where she sat on the bench while Belle unlocked her locker and pulled out her bag.

“It’s got your name on it,” Chandler noted, pointing to the locker.

“Yeah, it’s my all-time locker. That’s what Dad and I call it, anyway.”

“All-time?”

“Yeah, like an all-time pitcher or all-time batter in baseball, meaning you only pitch or hit. He was a baseball guy until I started in more winter sports, so…” Belle nodded to the door. “Are you ready?”

“Yeah, let’s go.”

“This is ridiculous. You know that, right?”

“I could use a little ridiculous right now, honestly,” Chandler replied.

“You nailed your routine last night.”

“You did see it,” Chandler said as they walked.

“Did you hum?”

“Yes. I haven’t done that in a while.”

Belle sat on the bleachers and left room for Chandler to join her. They changed into their skates in silence, and Belle was grateful for the break because her head was spinning. She was about to get on the ice with Chandler for the first time in over a decade.

“Okay. One lap around like old times?” Chandler asked when she skated out.

“Sure,” she replied and joined her. “But no cheating.”

“I didn’t cheat.”

“You pulled on my arm once,” Belle argued.

“I did not.” Chandler laughed as they took their spots.

“Yes, you did. And I still won.”

“It was an accident if I did that.”

“No, it–”

Chandler took off before Belle could finish her sentence, though.

“Oh, you little…” She took off, too, and seconds later, she caught up to her. “Cheater.”

Chandler laughed and tried to keep up with Belle, but to do so, she reached out for Belle’s sweater sleeve and gave it a little tug.

“Oh, you ass–” Belle wasn’t paying attention because she’d been looking around her, and when she turned, it was too late.

She headed straight into the wall, using her hands to keep her face from smacking into the plexiglass. Chandler laughed. Then, Belle heard her yelp, and she turned just in time to see Chandler’s ass hit the ice. She backed up on her skates and went over to her, holding out her hands for Chandler to take.

“Happy now?” Belle asked.

Chandler took her hands and pulled Belle down nearly on top of her.

“Now, I am.”

“Bitch.” Belle laughed and turned over until she was sitting on the ice next to Chandler. She saw Chandler smiling back at her and looked away. “Well, this was fun, but I should go. So should you. You have a competition tomorrow.” She looked up at the clock. “Or, I guess, today now.”

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