Charlie was well aware of just how bad I was at ice skating, he had learned from the time he had taken Owen, Jeremy, and I while filming our first season together. Charlie was an amazing skater as he had played hockey growing up, so he was skating circles around the three of us. After thirty minutes, Owen was starting to get the hang of it. On the other hand, Jeremy and I remained stumbling and struggling while using the ice skating walkers.

I remember Charlie had somehow convinced me to ditch the walker, and he held my hands in his as he skated backwards. I had struggled to maintain my balance as he kept going faster and faster. I was begging him to slow down but he kept encouraging me to keep going.

"Pretend I'm Luke and you're Julie. Trust me." Charlie had said, looking at me intently with a comforting smile.

Even though it had been three years since then, the memory still felt like it was just yesterday. Back when we were all new to each other, bonding over the crazy experience of starting a tv show. We never could have imagined how the show would blow up, and all of the amazing opportunities and experiences we have had because of it.

Charlie's voice brought me out of my flashback.

"I know the last time I took you ice skating, you were a little scared but I thought it would be fun to try again! Especially now that we know each other better, and I thought it would be kind of cool to like... Come full circle, ya know?" He struggled over his words, and I could tell he was worried he had disappointed me.

I pushed down my discomfort and opened myself to the opportunity of having fun despite my terrible skating skills.

"It's perfect. Let's go!" I smiled, grabbing his hand and weaving through the crowds of Vancouver to get to the booth in front of the ice rink.

Charlie chatted with the guy working the booth, paying for our wristbands and then we gave them our shoe sizes and they handed us our ice skates.

We sat on the side of the ice rink and placed our shoes in cubbies before strapping on our skates. Charlie glanced down at my skates and smiled fondly.

"You've got to wear them tighter than that, you goof. Here." He chuckled as he knelt in front of me and helped me tighten my skates properly.

I laughed it off, giving him a quick thanks as he stood up and held both of his hands out to me to help me up.

I took a deep breath, willing myself not to think and to just do. I took his hands and shakily rose to my feet.

"Have you skated since we went a couple years ago?" He asked with amusement in his eyes as I tried to mask the terror on my face.

"Yes?" I said unconvincingly and he laughed.

I went to punch his shoulder but almost slipped in the process, stumbling slightly and I was very thankful that Charlie was standing in front of me to catch me.

"Okay sure, we'll warm you back up then." He said with humor in his voice and I wanted to smack the grin off his face but I couldn't risk another fall.

He looked behind him to check if anyone was coming, and then he pushed backwards, causing me to glide forward as we entered the rink. I was thankful it wasn't a super busy night, which meant there were less human obstacles for me to run into.

"Remember to push your feet outwards, one at a time, but don't lift your feet." He coached me as he began skating backwards, just as he had many years ago, both of my hands gripping onto his for dear life.

"Okay." I said more shakily than I intended, moving my feet outwards as we slowly skated around the rink.

"Good! See, you've gotten better." He encouraged me, and his smile was contagious.

My chest inflated at the complement, and I felt my confidence returning as I mirrored the movements of his skates. I heard him chuckle and my head shot up.

"What?" I voiced shyly, my confidence retreating.

"You're so focused." He commented simply and I rolled my eyes.

"Well I'm sorry, not all of us grew up ice skating sir." I said sarcastically and he laughed.

"I know, I know. I'm just teasing." He smiled, and then he picked up his speed.

I felt my heart rate spike as I tried to keep up with him, our connected hands being my saving grace as I willed myself not to panic.

"Charlie, Charlie, Charlie-" I rushed out, my eyes wide as each small movement of my feet had a bigger impact now that we were going fast.

One mistake and my face would hit the ice beneath me.

"Mads, look at me." He said seriously and my frantic eyes and met his calm and inviting gaze.

I felt like I was reliving the first time we did this, and the memory seemed to surface in his eyes as a comforting smile spread across his face.

"Trust me." He soothed and there was so much meaning behind his words.

He was asking me to trust him to keep skating, to trust him as a friend, and to trust him to be my first kiss.

I took a deep breath, our eyes still locked and I nodded as a rush of calm washed over me.

"I trust you." I told him sincerely, giving his hands a light squeeze.

He smiled and slowly moved so that he was skating at my side. I was about to panic again when he nodded encouragingly.

"It's okay, just keep going." He pushed and I did as he said.

Gliding my feet side to side, keeping up with the steady pace that Charlie had set. His left hand stayed clasped in my right hand to offer me stability as we skated laps around the rink.

I was amazed that I hadn't fallen, and that movement was beginning to feel natural on the ice. I became hyperaware of my surroundings, as I was no longer worried about my fumbling feet. The ice was glowing blue and purple from the lights above us, the air was crisp and refreshing, and Ellie Goulding's "My Blood" was playing softly in the arena.

It felt like a moment aside from time, a separate universe where I was living at full speed, facing the risks that came with life head on. I felt truly invincible, like I could take on the world.

My eyes then drifted upwards to the glass dome covering the ice rink. The windows of the ceiling were cut to look like crystals, illuminated by both the ice and the purple and blue lights throughout the rink.

"Mads, watch out!" Charlie suddenly voiced, his hand tugging me towards him as I narrowly missed hitting another person.

The force of his pull caused me to crash into him and we both went toppling onto the ice. Charlie quickly maneuvered us so that I was pressed into his chest so that he could take the brunt of the impact. He grunted as we landed, and I quickly scrambled up to my knees as I surveyed him.

"Oh my gosh Charlie, are you okay?" I helped him get to a sitting position and he rubbed his head as he smiled.

"I'm fine, nothing that hasn't happened before." He chuckled and I remembered we had ended up in this exact position when we had skated last time.

I couldn't help but smile, humor in my tone.

"This is what you get for taking me skating. You knew the risk." I joked and he laughed.

His laugh was contagious and I began laughing too. There we were in the middle of the ice, definitely getting in the way of the other skaters, laughing like two idiots.

There was no place I'd rather be.

Once our laugh attack had subsided, Charlie stood up and then helped me to do the same.

"Alright, I think it's time for us to get back before you give me a concussion." He jabbed teasingly and I scrunched my nose at him.

"I'm sure I'll find another way." I shot back and his laughter rumbled through him.

"Alright dork, it's getting late anyways. Let's head out." He nodded towards the exit.

We skated over and changed back into our shoes, it felt weird to be walking again after gliding for so long. I was still adjusting when Charlie wrapped his arm around my shoulder.

"I was thinking we could end off the night with a movie at my place? Owen is hanging with Jeremy and Carolynn tonight." He suggested and I was reminded of the purpose for tonight.

"Sure." I sounded level headed, but I was anything other than that.

Right. The kiss. My first kiss.

-

Hey friends! I'm feeling very inspired to write right now so I'm cranking out chapters. I had a lot of fun writing this chapter, these two are just too cute! I watched an interview where they talked about going ice skating while filming season 1 and I just had the write about it. Let me know what y'all think! 💕

-m