౨ৎ. bad luck or something
real life.

WHEN VALERIE PULLED INTO CHRIS' driveway, she didn't expect him to immediately come out. there was barely a second for her to park the vehicle before he was already trying to pop the trunk. that was another thing, he walked out with two bags filled with stuff. valerie felt like she was going crazy, but it looked like he had his skating stuff. and if that was the case, she hadn't brought her ice skates because he never told her to.

chris got into the front seat of valerie's car and there was an odd silence that filled the air between the two of them. it was weird because she was sure chris was going to say something about how girly her car was or how messy her trunk was, but there was nothing said between them. had they finally run out of things to say to each other?

chris directed valerie to where he was "taking" her, using the google maps on his phone. 

"just take another right up this road and it will be on your left hand side."

valerie did as he said, noticing the confusing vacancy that covered the spot he was supposedly directed her towards.

"uh.. dumbass, there's nothing there."

"trust me... turn left... there." he pointed at a small apron in the road that valerie could barely make out with all the snow that covered it. she was honestly surprised that he could even see it.

and trust him she did, surprisingly, and found herself in some kind of drive way for a nonexistent place? the snow that lightly covered the ground wasn't that much of a help either.

valerie noticed that there was a very subtle parking lot to the right, in which valerie decided to try and park. chris didn't object, making her think it was what he wanted her to do.

"perfect," chris praised, a newfound smile on his face—something valerie rarely ever saw.

valerie would be lying if she said she wasn't utterly confused on what was currently going on between her and chris right now. it was like he was trying not to argue with her, because that's exactly what she's been doing. on the other hand, she wouldn't be lying if she admitted that she was secretly liking it at the same time.

without any form of direction as to what valerie was supposed to do now, chris stepped out of the car, heading towards the trunk where he placed both of his bags earlier. valerie had a small suspicion about what could be in them but she didn't want to get her hopes up. also would he really bring her out in the middle of nowhere for that?

chris suddenly threw one of the smaller bags into her arms and she wondered why she was the one who had to carry it, he brought them.

"can i know what we're doing yet?" valerie asked wanting a confirmation on her suspicions.

"nope," chris replied while valerie groaned in annoyance.

chris knew that valerie was probably already able to guess what they were doing, so not confirming anything was really the only kick he could get out of this. which caused valerie to roll her eyes annoyedly.

"just follow me." chris ordered, and without many other options she did as he said and followed him down a small makeshift path.

her suspicions were only proven to be true when she suddenly spotted a small body of water that looked like it had been completely frozen and the snow cleared off of it. she knew it, chris was taking her to skate on a frozen pond.

though she was confused on why he didn't ask her to bring her own skates. maybe he didn't want to ruin the surprise? but that would have been stupid for him to bring her to a frozen pond without a pair of her own. did he just use her to get here?

chris led her over to a small bench that was planted by the edge of the lake, placing his bag down on top of it. he grabbed the one out of valerie's arms, looking into her confused eyes as he did so. he didn't think she'd be confused at this point because he though it was very obvious what they were doing.

"what's wrong?" he genuinely sounded concerned about how she felt.

"i'm just confused about how you suggested we come here, yet never told me to bring my skates?"

"val, why don't—"

"c'mon you know that's old already." she thought that after all this time they didn't see each other, that he'd maybe forget about it or not find it useful anymore, but apparently she was wrong.

"why don't you just check in your bag, valerie." the way he didn't argue, and instead listened to what she said, made her heart skip a beat. but that was impossible, she must be feeling things. that's the only explanation, right?

so without a protest, like she usually would, she reached down to the bag chris had just taken out of her arms, unzipping it all the way. she dipped her hand into it, immediately recognizing the shape of the skates. they were figure skates, and they felt like amazing quality too. she pulled them out, examining the new pair of skates.

"are you serious?" she questioned with disbelief at what was in her hands right now.

"what? do you not like them? they have flowers engraved on the sides. charlotte said—" he was cut off by valerie, questions forming in her head faster than she could think.

"no, it's not that— i just— wait, charlotte?" out of everything that she was thinking, the fact that chris had mentioned charlotte was the most eye-catching of them all. what the fuck did charlotte have anything to do with him?

"i might have reached out to her a week ago to see what kind of skates to get you."

valerie was in pure shock because not only did chris buy her a new pair of skates, he went out of his way to ask her best friend for her opinion. charlotte hadn't said anything to her about it either, but that was another conversation for later.

chris had already gotten one of his skates on when he noticed valerie was still admiring the ones he got her. she must have really liked them, being that she was still in shock.

"are you going to put them on? or just drool on them some more?"

she met his eyes right before rolling hers playfully, and unexpected smile on her face. she then sat down next to chris, swapping out her boots for each skate.

after chris had both of his skates laced up, he looked over at valerie who seemed to be struggling with tightening the new skates to how she wanted them. he got on his knees and pulled her left foot out in front of her, stretching the laces to make it easier for tightening them.

"chris, i can lace my own skates."

"you do that one, i got this one," he said as he was already almost halfway done with it.

"but—" valerie tried to protest, but the damage was already done. what was he supposed to do? unlace it?

"you were struggling, don't pretend like you weren't." he looked up at her with a smirk that said he knew he was right. and he was. though, valerie would never admit that she was having a hard time lacing her skates. she was a figure skater after all.

chris finished tying her skate before valerie was even close to done. her fingers were starting to turn red from one: the freezing cold, and two: the laces that were wrapped impossibly tight around her fingers.

"here, lemme see." chris moved over on his knees so that he was directly across her right skate now. he grabbed the small bit of lace that was left over from valerie's hold until she ultimately let go in defeat.

valerie would argue with him, but her left skate actually felt more secure than she's ever made it before. maybe it was some kind of hockey technique? it would be uneven if she didn't let him do it for her. and that was the only reason.

"i would complain, but these are probably the most secure i've ever felt in skates." she decided to compliment him for probably the first time ever.

she could tell that he noticed that fact, but surprisingly he didn't comment on it. "what can i say? i'm like a master or something."

"definitely or something." though valerie had refrained from insulting him since he got in her car, she had to at least let one out. it wasn't even that harsh, and she even laughed when saying it.

chris just rolled his eyes before reaching his hand out to her, saying, "c'mon."

valerie immediately had a revelation. the last time chris held his hand out to her was when she refused his help. and she never would have thought that she'd be here, willingly, skating with him.

without much thought, she placed her hand in his as he helped her stand up from the bench, and they both headed to the ice. 

the moment valerie's skate hit the ice she had this overwhelming feeling of happiness. skating has always been her outlet and not being able to for the past few weeks, really messed her up. a thought like that would normally be associated with chris' face and she would feel this unforgiving rage towards him, but right now she was overly grateful to him. he somehow knew this was exactly what she needed, and valerie could almost feel the moment she had a change of heart. it made her question if it was really just the arguing with him that she missed.

a moment of silence passed before valerie broke it with a random revelation she had. "you know, i actually haven't skated on a pond in my entire life."

"so you're a rink baby?" the way he said it made it more of a statement than a question.

"a rink what?" valerie wasn't sure if she should be offended or not. she's never heard the phrase "rink baby" before, but she could take a pretty good guess.

"nothing, just messing with you. i can't believe you've never been skating on a pond before." she never thought she'd see the day where chris took back an insult—or whatever it was. he must've been messing with her today because nothing was even the slightest of normal between them.

valerie was so focused on wondering what was wrong with chris and her, that she didn't realize her skate got caught on a little bump. usually, she'd be able to recover with ease, but the distractions got the best of her.

she fell forward, instantly grabbing chris's attention. though, he wasn't able to act fast enough and valerie's fate had already been sealed by the time he noticed. but for some reason, that didn't stop him from trying, causing him to grab onto her hand and falling along with her.

an abruption of laughter came out of valerie because seriously what are the odds that every time they are in the proximity of ice, something out of pocket has to happen?

she then hesitantly looked back at chris, only to find him already looking at her with a smile on his face. "why does it always come to this?"

valerie couldn't help the smile that came across her face, before replacing it with a slight smirk as she said, "you're just bad luck or something."

chris shook his head as he stood up from the spot he had fallen, knowing that valerie would have still found a way to say something about him. though he was glad it wasn't as harsh as it used to be. it was finally something he could agree with.

"definitely just bad luck," he said softly, holding out his hand for her. and with only a little bit of hesitation, valerie put her hand in his, allowing him to pull her up with ease.

౨ৎ
nat's notes !

anyways 2k chappoo

i still can't believe im writing valerie and chris rn... can u tell im tired of enemy them 😒