One Foot Onto the Ice

by Kiki Archer

  “Follow the fun,” smiled Champagne. “I like that.” She watched the group of skiers in front get scooped up by the chairlift, but stayed still when the beep sounded and the yellow barriers flicked open. She reached out and grabbed Priggy’s arm, letting the two older women carry on oblivious. “You can catch this one on your own,” she shouted. “Find a way to follow the fun.”

  Susan and Jenna looked over their shoulders and laughed as the chairlift hit the backs of their thighs. “We already have,” shouted Jenna. “I’ll be on that bus tomorrow.”

  “No!” squealed Champagne, sliding forwards to catch the next one. “Shall we share the backseat?”

  Jenna laughed loudly and pulled on the safety barrier. “They’re hilarious,” she said, turning to Susan. “You’re so lucky that you get to work with such great girls.” She frowned. “Are you okay? You look a bit pale.”

  Susan smiled warmly. “I’m fine. It’s just…” she took Jenna’s gloved hand, “…it’s just that you’ve told them.”

  “I’m not hiding in the toilet the whole way home. The girls will notice I’m there. It’s fine. Ski reps do it all the time. We’ll just say I’m hitching a lift home.”

  Susan shook her head. “No, I mean you told them.”

  Jenna nodded slowly. “Yes, I did.” She frowned. “Why?”

  Susan’s face burst into a magical smile. “It means you’re coming. You’re really coming.”

  “Of course I’m coming. You know that already.”

  “But this all seems too good to be true. You’re coming. You’re coming back with us, to spend the week with me.”

  “Yes,” nodded Jenna.

  “But why?” laughed Susan.

  Jenna narrowed her eyes. “I know what this is. This is you, getting me, to talk about all of your wonderful attributes.” She smiled. “Okay, so here we go. You know that bit in Jerry Maguire where he says, ‘you had me at hello’?”

  “Yes.”

  “Well, you had me the moment you got that pen stuck in your hair.”

  Susan laughed. “Stop it.”

  “You did. You were so flustered and I was wondering if your cheeks went that colour when you came.”

  Susan threw her hand to her face. “You were not!”

  “I was. That’s why I made that stupid comment about kissing. I was flustered too.” Jenna rubbed her gloves together. “You also had me the moment you unzipped that glorious lilac fleece and pulled out your stick of lip gloss and patted it onto your lips like a young girl trying on makeup.”

  “You’re so cruel.”

  Jenna grinned. “But the moment I fell for you was the moment I saw your bush. Your huge, celebrated, bouncing bush. It was just so full of life. It melted my heart. You’re just so innocent and fresh, and—” She paused. “And I’ve never met anyone like you before.”

  “And you’re the biggest mickey taker I’ve ever encountered.” Susan rolled her eyes. “But maybe that’s where I’ve been going wrong. Maybe if I’d been proud of my clumsy, unsophisticated, and embarrassing behaviour, I might have bagged someone like you.”

  “Someone like me?” grinned Jenna.

  Susan sighed with a smile. “Yes, you. You’re exuberant and entertaining and you make me want to have fun.”

  “We balance each other, Susan, that’s why we work.”

  “So I’m not exuberant or entertaining?”

  Jenna laughed. “I’m not sure, I’ll decide at the disco.”

  “Please don’t try and slow dance with me.”

  Jenna’s smile was reassuring. “I won’t, don’t worry. It’s one thing to have a bit of banter with two eighteen year olds and it’s another to teach Triple-T how to play tonsil tennis. I know the boundaries and I’ll respect them.” She grinned. “Especially if I want to retrain.”

  Susan looked up ahead and tried to judge how much longer they had on the lift, desperately hoping it wouldn’t reach its summit. “Are you being serious? About changing careers?”

  Jenna sighed. “I’m twenty-six. I’ve done this for five years now and it’s been fun. Great fun. But maybe I’m ready for that little bit more.” She smiled. “I’ve got the serious girlfriend now so maybe I should get the serious job. Face all my fears at the same time.”

  “You’d call me your girlfriend?” Susan was staring at Jenna in disbelief.

  “That’s where we’re headed, I hope. Especially after last night.” She fanned her face. “Phew! You were insatiable and I think that sort of thing should be kept between girlfriends.” Jenna smiled teasingly and put her arm around Susan’s shoulder. She pulled her in close. “Just don’t ever doubt me, okay? Ever.”

  Susan shook her head. “I won’t.”

  “Good, because I can’t handle being questioned and I don’t have the patience to profess my innocence. If I tell you it’s true, then it’s true and you just have to believe me.”

  Susan frowned. “Are you worried about something?”

  “No, I just know what I hate about relationships. The insecurity. The constant nagging.” She wailed, “Argh! The expectation! There’s so much that’s bad.”

  Susan placed her hand on Jenna’s leg. “I’m not her.”

  “I know. You’re so much more.” She smiled, “I did think about her last night though.” Jenna remembered her first serious relationship. “When I was with her, my phone would always go missing and she’d claim she hadn’t seen it, but then it would turn up some place I’d already looked. She would claim all innocence; but I knew it was her. She’d go through my messages and delete the numbers of women she didn’t recognise.” Jenna laughed. “One time she even installed a secret tracking app that showed her everywhere I’d been.”

  “I should give you your phone back.”

  Jenna laughed. “Ha! That’s why I love you.”

  “You still haven’t found it?”

  “Nope, but I’m going to ask around again after this last run.”

  Susan pulled a face. “You’re not coming for dinner?”

  “No, I need to find it. Plus I want to walk into that disco tonight and feel like Patrick Swayze coming to claim his Baby.”

  Susan shook her head. “I’m staying in the corner and you won’t get me trying that lift.”

  “Please,” laughed Jenna, “you know we’d pull it off.”

  Susan looked up at the fast approaching mound of snow. “You’ve made this week perfect, Jenna, and no matter what happens, I’ll always be grateful for that.”

  Jenna lifted the safety bar. “Would you just trust me? I’ll be on that coach at 7.00 a.m. sharp.” She grinned. “In fact, I might get there at 6.45 a.m. so I can bagsy that back seat.”

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  The group of youngsters were dancing in a large circle in Sylvie’s recently rearranged dining room. The tables and chairs had been pushed to the side and a few balloons had been hung from the ceiling. The lights were dim, the music was pumping, and Susan Quinn felt a real sense of pride. The week had been good, even considering the three rather tricky Daisy Button situations she’d had to deal with, not to mention Marcus’s constant infantile inappropriateness. But, the girls’ behaviour had been exemplary and everyone’s skiing had improved. She nodded to herself; that was the sign of success. Susan lifted her glass of wine and turned to the teacher from Mossyside Comp.

  “So how’s your week been?” she asked above the music.

  The middle aged woman, who looked like she was in serious need of a holiday, sighed. “Bloody shit. We’ve had two broken bones, one incident of shoplifting, and one of the girls thinks she’s pregnant.”

  “Oh right.” Susan didn’t quite know how to respond so she took a sip of wine instead. “Have you managed to enjoy yourself though?”

  “No.”

  “Oh. Okay. Sorry about that.” Susan spotted Jenna walking towards the bar. “Excuse me. Our ski rep’s just arrived.”

  Susan squeezed past a group of dancers and waited for Phats to ripple across the floo
r as he attempted the worm. She skipped the final distance and smiled as Jenna turned around. “Hello, you,” she said.

  Jenna’s mouth dropped open. “Hello, you!”

  “What?”

  “Look at you. Wow!” Jenna stepped forwards and pulled Susan into a warm hug. “You look incredible. You’re glowing, and I love that dress.”

  Susan moved backwards and flattened the skater style skirt. I thought I’d make the effort. It’s our last night after all.”

  Jenna smiled. “It’s not our last night. I’m packed and raring to go.”

  “I’m not sure you’ll want to do much tomorrow after a fifteen hour coach trip. We’re not due in until 10.00 p.m.”

  Jenna stepped in closer and whispered. “Trust me, I will.”

  Susan gazed up at Jenna’s smiling face and sighed. “You’re beautiful.”

  “Says you with those cheek bones and plumped up hair.”

  Susan reddened. “My hair never looks plumped up.”

  “It does tonight. Can we dance?”

  Susan turned back around and looked at the sea of smiling faces. Everyone was having a wonderful time and the atmosphere felt lively, but sensible. “Not in there we can’t.” The students had spread back out into their circle and were taking it in turns to step into the middle and show off their skills. Susan laughed. “No chance.”

  The moves from the Mossyside Comp kids seemed far more adult and streetwise than the innocent synchronised side-steps from the likes of Margaret Beauchamp and Francesca Hamilton, but everyone was being cheered for their enthusiastic attempts.

  “I’m going in,” announced Jenna, walking forwards and parting the circle.

  The applause was rapturous. “Jenna, Jenna, Jenna, Jenna.”

  Susan watched as Jenna danced like a robot to the latest Will.i.am song, flicking her mass of brown hair to the sides and popping her boobs forwards and backwards in time with her arms. Susan couldn’t help but laugh, but suddenly, as she watched what was unfolding in the circle she thought she might cry. Jenna had bent down and was reaching out for someone’s hand. Susan tried to swallow the lump that was building in the back of her throat as Jenna guided a beaming Daisy Button around the circle in her wheelchair. The eruption of whoops and cheers were heartfelt and genuine, and Mrs Button, who was pushing from behind, was sniffing away a happy tear.

  “Mexican wave,” giggled Jenna sending the ripple along Daisy’s arm. “Big fish, little fish,” she said, showing Daisy the move.

  “Vogue,” shouted Champagne from the side-lines.

  “Good one,” laughed Jenna, framing her face in time with Daisy. She bent down to the little girl and whispered. “Everything’s going to be fine; you know that, right?”

  Daisy looked up and smiled. “I know,” she nodded, “I know.”

  The song came to an end and Mrs Button wheeled Daisy back out to the side. Jenna was about to leave too when the music started again and the roar of excitement began. “MILEY!” shouted half of the group. “TWERK IT!” shouted the other half. “JENNA!” shouted everyone.

  Jenna shook her head and tried to leave the circle. “I’ve got bad hips.”

  “Jenna, Jenna, Jenna, Jenna.” The students were standing shoulder to shoulder and pointing her back towards the centre of the makeshift dance floor.

  “Show us your twerk,” shouted Priggy as the song got louder.

  “Only if Madam Quinn joins me.”

  Susan gasped and tried to make a quick dash for the toilets, but she was too late. Champagne had taken the glass out of her hand and was dragging her into the circle.

  “No, really, I don’t like to dance. I don’t know the song.”

  Champagne hurled her into the middle of the circle. “EVERYONE knows this song. You’ve just got to twerk your hips like Miley.”

  “Quinny, Quinny, Quinny, Quinny.”

  Susan felt the embarrassment rocket to her cheeks. “I can’t, I don’t know…”

  Jenna stood in front of her and bent forwards with straight legs. “Just do this,” she giggled starting to bounce her hips.

  “No way!”

  Jenna grinned up at Susan. “Okay, pretend to spank my ass instead.”

  “NO!”

  Jenna laughed. “So just lean forwards slightly and shake your hips up and down.”

  Susan glanced around at the group of students who were all singing the words and shaking their bottoms. “Like this?” she said, doing a little shimmy.

  Jenna almost fell forwards with laugher. “No! Just your hips, wobble them.”

  “Quinny, Quinny, Quinny, Quinny.”

  Susan leaned forwards and moved her bottom up and down. “This?” she giggled.

  “Madam Quinn’s twerking!” shouted Jenna, sending her own bottom into overdrive.

  The group of students all cheered and rushed into the centre of the circle to show off their own individual wobbles.

  ****

  Marcus peered over from the corner of the room. “How much longer?” he asked.

  Amber drained her second tankard of beer and checked the small mobile phone. She smiled. “Now’s perfect. Just tell her the facts and walk away. Trust me, she’ll be back over, full of apologies, before the evening’s out.”

  “But look, she’s having so much fun.” He nodded towards the cluster of bodies all falling about with laughter on the dance floor. “How am I meant to tear her away?”

  “Just find a way,” snapped Amber, placing her empty glass onto the table and walking towards the bar.

  ****

  Jenna clapped her hands together as the song finished. “That was brilliant. You’re a natural twerker.”

  “I hate it when you tease me.”

  “No you don’t, you love it.” Jenna smiled. “Come on, let’s get a drink.”

  Susan looked over Jenna’s shoulder towards the bar and spotted the pink hair and funky clothing. “I’m okay actually. I’ve still got my wine.”

  Jenna turned around and looked at Amber. “Don’t be silly. She’s harmless enough, come on.”

  “No, it’s fine. My wine’s over there.”

  “Okay,” shrugged Jenna. “I need to ask her about my phone anyway. Why don’t you go and keep Marcus company?”

  “No, she’s been sat with him all evening and she’s bound to come back. I’d rather not be anywhere near the pair of them.”

  Jenna sighed. “Life’s too short to hold grudges.”

  Susan shook her head. “I don’t hold grudges, I just remember facts. And the facts are they lied.”

  “I don’t think they lied. I think the truth just got a bit misunderstood somewhere along the line.” She shrugged. “I have, occasionally, done the A,B,C thing with women, and I have, occasionally, kissed someone because Amber dared me to. But never with you.”

  “I know. It’s fine. I don’t want to talk about it anymore.”

  Jenna nodded. “No problem, and maybe you don’t have to go and talk to him—”

  “Good.”

  “—because he’s coming over to you.”

  Susan looked over her shoulder at Marcus who was edging his way closer. “Hi,” she said through gritted teeth.

  “Hello, Susan. Jenna.”

  Jenna smiled politely. “I’m off to get a drink. Do you fancy anything, Marcus?”

  “No, thank you.”

  “Okay, I’ll catch you in a bit.”

  Marcus waited for Jenna to walk away before speaking in a highly conspiratorial voice. “Please just listen to me. I’ve been a fool, I’ve handled it badly, but the things I told you were true.”

  “Oh, Marcus, please stop, I want a nice evening.” Susan waved her hands out towards the group of dancers. “There’s less drama in this group of teenagers than there is in you. I’ve had enough of your silly theories.”

  Marcus stood up straighter. “They are NOT theories and I’d rather like it if you’d refrain from being so sharp.”

  “Marcus, I warned you yesterday that I’d report y
ou if you continued with this nonsense.”

  “Me? You’d report me? I don’t think so.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “You heard me.” He bent his head and flicked the ends of his moustache with his fingers. “I know all about your little secret,” he whispered.

  ****

  “Hey,” said Jenna, standing shoulder to shoulder with Amber at the bar.

  “Hey,” said Amber.

  “You okay?”

  Amber shrugged. “Yeah. You?”

  “Yep, I’m okay.”

  Amber climbed onto one of the bar stools and shook her head. “I dared you,” she whispered.

  “You did not.”

  “I did!” Amber nodded in earnest. “At the service station, before our schools arrived. I said are you A,B,C-ing it and you said I’m always A,B,C-ing it.”

  Jenna sat down on the other stool. “That was when we arrived. That was before I’d seen Susan’s name.”

  “So you’re admitting it now?”

  “No, I can’t remember. It must have been a misunderstanding.”

  “She must be pretty forgiving.”

  “She is, and she’s great.” Jenna paused. “I know things have been a bit weird for us, but I hope you’ll be pleased for me. You’re my mate, Amber. You always have been.”

  Amber reached out and stroked the surface of the bar. “It was ME you sat on here and it was MY pussy you kissed, yet all of a sudden I have to be happy for her?”

  “Amber, we’ve been through this. You and I were only ever a bit of fun. Susan’s special. There’s just something about her that makes me want to be a better person.” Jenna smiled. “She’s the one for me.”

  “Voila!” said Sylvie, dropping Amber’s tankard onto the counter and turning towards the pink hair. “Why you look sad? Everyone be ‘appy. Jenna’s found ‘er perfect woman.”

  Amber narrowed her eyes. “Don’t worry, Sylvie, I’ll be smiling soon enough.”

  “I hope so,” said Jenna, signalling for a glass of white wine. “You’re bloody boring when you’re cross.”

  Amber laughed. “What do you want me to do? Start twerking like Susan?”