One Foot Onto the Ice

by Kiki Archer

  “Mon amie, let’s take a seat.”

  “No, I’m fine standing. Please make it quick. I want to get showered before dinner.”

  Marcus nodded thoughtfully. “This will be hard to hear. I know you’ve struck up a bond.”

  “We’ve more than struck up a bond, Marcus. We really like each other.” She paused. “Romantically.”

  Marcus gasped. “No! I’m too late! She’s got to you!” He shook his head frantically. “You’ve had sex in the snow!”

  “Excuse me?”

  “You’re all damp. You’ve been outside. You’ve earned her an A!”

  “What are you talking about?” said Susan, folding her arms.

  Marcus threw his hand to his mouth. “I should have waited for you in the boot room. This is all my fault. You’re an A, Susan, an A.”

  “Marcus, I’m leaving you to it.” Susan turned around and started to walk away. “You’re not making any sense.”

  “It was a dare,” he shouted. “A dare.”

  Susan paused. “A what?”

  “Amber dared her to,” he paused and wafted his hand, “oh, I don’t know how they say it, to pull you.”

  “To pull me?” Susan turned back around.

  “Yes, to get involved with you.” He pointed at the door. “To have sex in the snow.”

  “Oh stop it now.”

  “I’m serious,” said Marcus moving closer, “Amber dared Jenna to snog you,” he lowered his voice, “to shag you,” he coughed, “and to have sex in the snow. She gets a C for the first one, a B for the second and an A for the grand finale.” He shook his head. “You’ve just given her an A.”

  “Don’t be so ridiculous. We’ve just been looking at the mountain.”

  “It’s hard to accept that you’ve been duped, Susan, but step back and look at the bigger picture. What would someone like Jenna see in someone like you? You’re the victim of their cruel game and I don’t blame you for falling for it. You’re naïve, you’re virginal, you’re a dainty flower who’s been picked by the wrong person. You’re just not her type. You’re far too bland, bordering on the nondescript.”

  Susan gasped, wounded by the words. “I don’t believe you, but even if I did, I know what I’m doing.” She swallowed deeply. “If it’s a game, then so what? I’ve enjoyed playing.” She nodded her head and pointed her finger. “And just so you know, this bland and boring, naïve frump of a woman won’t ever give a pompous prick like you the time of day.” Susan Quinn turned around and stormed off.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Jenna was standing at the top of the nursery slope with her arm around Amber. “So guys, we’ll have some practice runs first where you can pair up with whoever you want. Then it’s the St Wilf’s girls versus the Mossyside posse.”

  Susan squinted at the bright floodlights that were shining down on the small slope. Jenna was smiling and joking and acting like normal. Susan bit the inside of her lip and thought about it once more. If Marcus was wrong, then everything was fine, and she could dismiss those nagging doubts once and for all. But if Marcus was right, then everything she’d experienced up to this moment in time was now tainted. She looked up at the two women debating who she’d approach first. Jenna caught her gaze and started to wave.

  “Madam Quinn and I will do a demonstration.”

  The group cheered.

  “No, no,” shouted Susan. “Use Amber, she’s closer.”

  Amber jumped into the sledge. “Fine by me,” she grinned, raising her voice to address the group. “Right, the person at the front controls the steering with the rope,” she looked up at Jenna, “and the person at the back wraps their legs firmly around the person at the front and controls the brake on the left.”

  Jenna climbed into the sledge. “You can pair up with anyone you like for this first round. Just make sure you hold on tight.”

  “Have fun, kids,” screamed Amber, using her left hand to shunt them over the edge.

  “Yay!” cheered the group, all racing round to pair up.

  Susan heard Marcus cough quietly behind her. “Would you like to share?” he asked.

  “No I would not,” she said.

  Marcus sighed. “You were hurt, you lashed out. I was your whipping board. I know you didn’t mean what you said. There’s no need to be embarrassed by your outburst.”

  Susan turned around. “Marcus, I meant every word and I’m seriously considering reporting you for inappropriate behaviour and sexual harassment when we get back to school.”

  “Me? That’s rich!”

  “Yes you, now leave me alone.” Susan walked towards the row of toboggans and chose one with a single seat. She sat down and pushed off with her hands, grabbing the steering rope and quickly picking up speed. Susan took a deep breath and tried to relax, but even the rush of the cool evening air, and the wails of giggling laughter, failed to calm her annoyance.

  “Look at you,” shouted Jenna who had been waiting at the bottom of the slope. “You made that look easy.”

  Susan pulled on the brake and climbed out of the sledge.

  “Would no one share with you?” pitied Amber.

  Susan took a deep breath and looked at both women. “What do I have to do to get an A plus?”

  “Pardon?” said Jenna.

  Amber laughed. “Uh oh, busted.”

  “An A plus. I want to know what I have to do.”

  Jenna glared at Amber. “You can’t be serious?”

  “Hey, I didn’t tell her.”

  “So who did?”

  Susan shook her head. “So it’s true then?”

  “No, it’s not true.”

  Amber put her hand on her hip. “Err, yes it is.”

  “No, it’s not.”

  “So I didn’t dare you to snog her?”

  “No,” said Jenna. “Why would you say that?”

  Amber gasped in disbelief. “Oh come on, you’re taking it too far now. Look at her. She actually thinks you like her.”

  “I do.”

  Susan managed to stay calm. “Did I get a C for our snog, a B for our shag and an A for our sex in the snow?”

  Amber snapped. “You’ve done all that? Already? With her?”

  “Amber, can you give us a minute, please?” asked Jenna trying to stay polite.

  “With pleasure,” barked Amber, reaching down for the sledge, “but Susan, would you just wake the fuck up?”

  “Am I an A?” she asked when Amber was out of earshot.

  “Fuck,” said Jenna, “no, it’s not like that.”

  “So she didn’t dare you?”

  “No!” Jenna jumped out of the way of an out-of-control toboggan. “Brake!” she shouted.

  “She seems pretty sure.”

  “She didn’t.” Jenna quickly thought back to their time at the service station when they were waiting for their schools to arrive. “Maybe she did, I can’t remember, but certainly not once I saw your name.”

  “You don’t know?” said Susan. “Crikey I must be stupid.”

  “You’re wrong. This is real. I’ve not felt like this in a long time. I want this to work. I want to see where this goes.”

  Susan shook her head. “It must have been a pretty easy challenge. Pull the stupid old school friend who no one ever really liked. How long did it take you?”

  “Susan,” Jenna stepped in closer and held the tops of Susan’s arms, “it’s up to you whether you believe me or not, but this isn’t a dare.”

  Susan shook off the hands and pulled a face. “But the fact is, you’ve done it before and that’s horrific in itself.”

  “I’ve done lots of things before. You told me my past doesn’t matter.”

  Susan shook her head. “Those poor women.”

  “No. I’ve never played games. I’ve never got emotionally involved. Everything’s always been mutual. It was just like keeping notches on my bedpost.” She lowered her voice. “I love you, Susan, and I want this to work.”

  Susan sighed. “You lov
e me? If I’m honest you’re not sounding too appealing right now.” She shook her head. “Notches? On your bedpost?”

  Jenna nodded. “Yes, and I want you to be my last.”

  ****

  Marcus waited for Amber at the top of the magic carpet. “Thanks a lot,” he sneered. “Now I’ve got NO chance.”

  “Oh you never did, Marcus,” said Amber pulling the sledge onto the snow.

  “Was it true, what you told me? Susan lost her cool when I said it and she didn’t believe a word.”

  Amber walked away from the travelator and pointed her finger towards the bottom of the slope. “Of course it was, and Jenna’s going for the A plus as we speak.”

  “The A plus?”

  “Yes, the student snog. Getting the teacher to kiss openly in front of their students. She’s only ever achieved it once before.”

  Marcus shook his head. “I don’t believe you. And anyway, my mon amie wouldn’t be so foolish.”

  “Your mon-a-fucking-me isn’t the woman you thought.”

  Marcus moved backwards to let a group of raucous Mossyside Comp kids pass by. “Yes she is, she’s perfect and now I’ve gone and ruined everything because of you and your petty lies. I see what this is. You’re a lesbian, Jenna’s a lesbian, what was it? You got jealous of the attention she was heaping on Susan?”

  Amber looked down to the bottom of the slope and felt her insides clench as she watched the two women lock themselves into a warm hug. “It’s a dare, Marcus. This whole thing’s one big dare.”

  “You’re lying.”

  Amber shook her head. “Do you have the school camera in that backpack?”

  “Yes, why?”

  “I’ll prove it to you. I’ll show you it’s a dare. We’ve been laughing at your precious mon amie this whole time.”

  Marcus frowned. “What are you talking about?”

  Amber signalled to the magic carpet at Jenna and Susan who were now making their way back up the slope. “Let’s get some space. Come on. Get on with me. I’ll tell you at the bottom.”

  Marcus looked down at Amber who had climbed into the front seat of the sledge. “If I must,” he sighed, relishing the thought of wrapping his legs around her firm behind.

  ****

  “I’m pretty sure that’s where it came from,” said Jenna, pointing at the embarrassing vision of Marcus shooting down the slope and smiling too creepily as he slid further into Amber’s back. “She’s got an axe to grind. She wanted more and I didn’t; that’s why she’s trying to cause problems.”

  “I thought you always kept things simple?” said Susan.

  “I do. She knew it was just a bit of fun, and yes, you’re right, I shouldn’t have given in that night at the bar. I sent out the wrong impression. I knew she liked me and I let it happen. This is my fault, Susan, but I’ve learnt my lesson.”

  “I believe you,” said Susan, stepping off the end of the travelator and pulling the sledge into the snow. “Let’s just leave it alone.”

  ****

  Marcus pulled out the school camera and scrolled back to the picture. “No!” he gasped. “It can’t be.”

  “It is,” nodded Amber. “It’s a whole group photo without that little albino kid.”

  Marcus scanned the faces again. “Where was she?”

  “I told you, left alone at the services. That’s why you had to turn back. Jenna thought it was hilarious. She couldn’t wait to tell me. In fact I think she called Susan a dozy old cow.”

  “How didn’t I know?”

  “That’ll be Jenna. She’s very good at pulling the wool over people’s eyes.”

  Marcus nodded encouragingly. “Yes, yes, she did take control. My poor Susan, I can’t believe she went through that alone. It’s so out of character. I must tell her I know.” He paused and smiled to himself. “But she is rather naughty threatening me with inappropriate behaviour. She’s the lead teacher. She’s the one who’d be disciplined if this ever got out.”

  “That’s not my point. I’m just proving that Jenna’s not loyal. If she really liked Susan then why’s she sharing her secrets with me?” Amber tapped the camera screen. “It’s all one big dare, Marcus. I’ve told you already.”

  “Christ,” said Marcus, wiping his brow. “I need to convince her.”

  “No, this time we wait. This time you leave it to me.”

  Marcus looked up to the top of the slope where Jenna and Susan were now lining up next to Priggy and Champagne. “I can’t have her making a fool out of herself. I have to tell her.”

  Amber grabbed his arm. “Do you want her to believe you or not? Do you want her to come running back to you with her head hanging in shame, or not?”

  Marcus nodded. “Of course I do.”

  “So you wait. You act as normally as you possibly can until the disco.”

  “But that’s tomorrow night.”

  “I know and if everything goes to plan we’ll both be getting our last dance.”

  ****

  “No cheating, girls,” laughed Jenna, taking hold of the rope.

  “Please let us win,” whined Priggy. “Mischa and Phats are at the bottom and if we look good they might share their sledge.”

  “I thought they’d already agreed to that?” said Susan, sliding into position behind Jenna.

  Champagne plumped up her fur hood. “They did, but now we’re here they seem to be avoiding us.”

  “They might be ashamed,” said Priggy, taking hold of the brake. “We might be too posh for their mates. They might get teased.”

  “No one’s ashamed of me,” huffed Champagne, “and anyway, we improve their street cred.”

  Jenna glanced over at the pair of preened beauties. “I just think they’ve never experienced women like you and they’re not too sure where to start.”

  “He can start anywhere he wants,” smiled Champagne.

  “Yeah, so can she,” said Priggy with less conviction.

  “Can WE start?” laughed Jenna, moving her hand to the snow.

  “Let’s go!” wailed Priggy, pushing off from the back.

  “Hey, you cheats,” shouted Jenna, trying to catch up.

  Susan held onto Jenna’s waist and shouted into her ear. “Take it steady.”

  “No way. We need to win.” Jenna crouched lower in her seat trying to improve their aerodynamics. Nothing was working; the girls were still ahead. “They’re heavier. It’s making them faster,” she yelled.

  Champagne caught the insult and turned her head. “We are not,” she shouted.

  Jenna used the distraction to gain some ground. “We’re coming for you now, girls. Who’s going to take it?”

  “Us!” shouted Priggy, turning around in her seat.

  “Priggs! You’re making us off balance,” screamed Champagne.

  “Metres to go,” shouted Jenna, nearing the bottom of the slope.

  “Priggy!” screamed Champagne, struggling to keep control. “Use the brake!”

  Priggy yanked on the handle, curving the sledge to the left. “Nooooooo!” she wailed as the sledge started to tilt.

  Jenna didn’t have time to react. The girls had lunged right into their path. “Hold on,” she stammered as their sledge hit the one in front, knocking the girls completely off balance.

  “Ahhhh!” shouted Susan, pulling on the brake and sending them tumbling out to the right.

  Jenna stopped rolling and looked up at the starlit sky. “Gentle on the brake, Susan, gentle on the brake.”

  Susan untangled herself from the steering rope that had become caught around her ankles and looked up at the girls who were quickly trying to jump up as if nothing had happened. Priggy was walking with a limp and from the b-b-b-rapping sound coming from Mischa it looked like she approved.

  “Now dat’s how yous walk,” she hollered.

  “And I like yous all down and dirty,” said Phats, swaggering up to Champagne.

  Susan reached out her hand to pull Jenna up. “That seems to have broken the ice.�
��

  Jenna rubbed her thigh. “Yep, nothing like a good fall to get the ball rolling.” She glanced up at Amber and Marcus who were metres away. “Come on. Let’s get straight back up there.”

  “Suits me,” said Susan, ignoring her colleague.

  Marcus waited for Susan to pass. “She won’t even look at me. I dread to think of all the seeds of deceit being planted in her head by that woman. I really think now would be best.” He started to walk after her. “She needs to know.”

  Amber discreetly stepped forwards and bent to the area with the churned up snow, reaching out for the small black object. “No,” she said, walking after him and holding him back. “Tomorrow’s perfect.” She showed him Jenna’s mobile phone. “Especially now.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  “So, here it is, girls: the last chairlift of the trip.” Jenna swiped her arm in front of the metal barrier. “It’s that long one that takes us up to 1800 m so we’ll be able to have a good final ski down the two red routes, past the penguin park, and onto the blue run down to Sylvie’s.”

  “I don’t want it to be over,” wailed Priggy. “This’ll be my last ever chairlift on my last ever school ski trip. I’ve been on every single one for the past seven years.”

  “Really? It doesn’t show,” teased Jenna.

  “The other instructors weren’t as good as you,” Priggy turned to her teacher, “and you, Susan, have been the best.”

  Susan laughed. “Please don’t call me that when we get back to school.”

  “Of course not,” said Priggy, pushing through the barrier and lining up in front of the yellow markers. “I just think you’ve been brilliant. Old Madam Fisher was okay, but everyone prefers you.”

  Champagne slid up beside them. “But you need to get a better support teacher next year.” She pouted. “Not that I’ll be here either.”

  “Are you girls off to university?” asked Jenna, not wanting to give Marcus any airtime.

  Priggy and Champagne shared a glance. “We were thinking we might check out the Manchester University open day.”

  Jenna laughed. “Good for you. Follow the fun. You only live once.”