A Headful of Skye by Willow H. Wood

Author:Willow H. Wood [Wood, Willow H.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Independent
Published: 2023-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

18

They hurried off the train and across the street, although Mayu noticed the train didn’t pull away. As for the ice rink, it was empty and no one manned the ticket booth. The ice sparkled in the low evening sun and gleamed off the golden statue of Prometheus looming beside the rink.

“Look, look,” said Skye, running down the steps, “I’ll produce my own skates.”

She ran at the ice and Mayu lurched after her. “Don’t run; you’ll hurt yourself!”

But it was too late. Skye leapt over the barrier with fantastic grace. Mayu held her breath as two white boots appeared on Skye’s feet and the blades on the bottom hit the ice with a sharp clack. Skye wobbled, her blades slipping back and forth, before she lost her balance and toppled over backwards.

Mayu caught up and peered over the barrier. “You alright?”

Skye winced. “Hurt less than expected.”

“I told you.”

She watched Skye scrabble around as the girl wiped her hands on her socks.

“Um, I need help.”

Rolling her eyes, Mayu floated into the air and over the barrier. By the time she landed, she was wearing ice skates as well. She gripped Skye’s hand and planted her feet wide apart.

She heaved Skye up with all her might, wobbling back and forth like a clown on stilts. They laughed and squealed, clutching each other’s arms. When Mayu finally found her balance again, with Skye hanging onto her forearms, she noticed that Skye’s uniform had changed.

The girl blushed, unsure of herself as Mayu took in the glittering gymnastic dress. “It’s more suitable, right?” she said.

To be honest, she looked adorable. “It’s lovely!” Mayu chirped. Skye clung on tighter. “You know, if you stop focusing so hard on what you think you can see, you’ll find it a lot easier to do what you want.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means you’re dreaming, and you’re an Olympic ice dancer now.”

Skye blushed a deeper red and pushed away from Mayu inch by inch. She scudded further out across the ice with heavy footfalls, leaning over like a hunched monkey. Mayu stifled a snicker.

Looking up at the surrounding buildings, Mayu noticed the waning sunlight. Not wanting to skate in the dark, she concentrated on keeping the sun from sinking any lower. They’d have the Christmas lights, certainly, and the city itself to light the rink, but like all things, this was based on a memory. A night memory. It was best not to tempt things.

Shaking her body, a thick black coat wrapped around Mayu and black stockings melted up to her thighs. She patted her skirt. Some bits of a memory couldn’t be altered, it seemed. Mayu chuckled to herself.

With a clap of her hands, cheerful, bouncing music blared from the ice rink’s speakers and, kicking off, Mayu glided past Skye, who was turning in a slow circle. Her limbs were locked stiff, gauging the weight and pressure needed to alter her course.

“Stop thinking so hard,” Mayu cried. “You’re a ghost across water. A nightingale in the breeze. A ballerina on ice.

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