Summer of 1975

Ophelia sat on a bench, Marko next to her as he was fiddling with his skates, every once and awhile, bumping into her side.

"Are you sure you two don't want to rent skates?" Ophelia asked, finishing tying her last skate as she looked up to David and Dwayne who were standing in front of her.

She moved some hair that fell in front of her face while David seemed uninterested. "No". He said bluntly, giving her a glance before eying people on the boardwalk.

Dwayne only shook his head.

"Finished!" Paul quickly jumped up, almost falling on his face.

Ophelia stood up, grabbing onto the handle of the bench, her feet gliding back and forth as she tried to steady herself. While Ophelia took it easy, Paul and Marko started to skate around.

"This is easy". Marko said.

He spoke too soon as he started to lose his balance. His legs moving back and forth quickly, his arms flapping everywhere. The group watched as his back legs soon kicked in the air and he flew forward, falling face first.

Paul let out a loud laugh, pointing down at Marko. Paul then skid over an uneven piece of wood, making him trip;

"Shit!" Paul grabbed Ophelia's arm since she was the closest, dragging her down with him. Ophelia was on her butt while Paul was sprawled on her.

"Get off". Ophelia mumbled, pushing Paul off of her, holding back a smile.

David shook his head, walking over to where the bikes were, standing over there. Clearly not wanting to be associated with them while Dwayne went over and pulled Ophelia to her feet.

"This is going to take a lot of practice". Ophelia told Dwayne with a smile.

It didn't take long for Paul and Marko to rip off the skates.  Paul was the first one.  He quit after ten more minutes, shoving the skates back to the renter guy, complaining how 'they were rigged'.

Then it took Marko about a half hour before he gave up.  Claiming he got 'bored'.  Now, the four boys were standing by the bikes, watching Ophelia 'skate'.

Yeah...she wasn't doing so good.  She just kept falling or running into things.

"I didn't know she was such a spaz".  Paul said.

Ophelia fell on the ground.

"I thought she had better balance".  Marko chimed in.

She then slammed into someone, apologizing to them.

"At least she isn't giving up".  David finally spoke up, his arms still crossed over his chest.

"Hey!"  Ophelia called to them as she was skating.  "Look!  I'm doing it!"  She smiled brightly to them. 

The boys smiled at her but soon it fell when they noticed where she was skating too.  "Uhhhh, Ophelia watch-"  Marko didn't have time to finish as she flipped right over the railing and no sign of her.

Paul was bursting out laughing, clenching his stomach with his hand.

Marko just stood there with his mouth hung open.

Dwayne looked around to see if anyone else saw.

And David stood there like a deer in headlights.

David was actually the first one to move, then the rest following as they all looked over the railing, seeing her figure just laying on the sand. She was on her back, staring back at them.

"I think that's enough skating for tonight". David called down to her.

"I'm not one to agree with you, but you're right". Ophelia slowly sat up, dusting the sand off of her.  Marko jumped over the railing, his feet hitting the sand as he walked over to her.  Marko started to run his fingers through her hair, getting the sand off.

The next night, Ophelia convinced David to go downtown with her.  She wanted to buy her own roller skates.

"Why is this taking so long?" David asked. He was facing a fall, his arm up against it, holding himself up.

"I need to make sure I find the perfect ones". Ophelia put on another pair.

"Why? You'll have to get new ones eventually". David placed his head on his arm, looking at the ground.

"They have to be stellar".  Ophelia looked to David even though he wasn't looking at her.

David only huffed in response.

About one hour later she bought a pair and immediately put them on once they got to the boardwalk.

"Round two". Paul bounced in his spot with a wide smile, watching Ophelia start to skate around.

"Hey! Get out of the way, man". David called to some older guy that was too close to Ophelia.

Ophelia skated around for a few hours.  She was somewhat getting the hang of it.  She would still fall, but her balance was defiantly better.

"Ophelia, Ophelia, Ophelia, Ophelia".  Paul kept calling out to her.

"What?"  She asked, rolling by the boys with her arms out, keeping her balance.

"You know what would be fun?"

"It's a good idea".  Marko smiled widely, knowing Paul's idea. 

"Is that you hang on the back of my bike while I drive it".  Paul basically offered.

"That's a terrible idea".  David turned to look at Paul, giving him a look of disapproval.  Paul only waved him off with a scoff.

"So, what do you think?"  Paul asked.

"Maybe later".  Ophelia passed them again.

"It's not a no".  Paul beamed.

"Watch this!" Ophelia called out to them as she just went in a big circle. "And this".

Ophelia went to skate backwards but she wasn't paying attention to what she was doing and ended up falling down the stairs.

"That looked like it hurt". Marko held his hand to his mouth with a cringe look on his face.

Ophelia winced in pain as her legs were all cut up and her left arm was clearly broken.

"You did some damage". Paul stared down at her from the top of the stairs.

Ophelia grunted in response, flipping her hair out of her face with her head, turning to sit down properly against the last step. "Block me. My cuts are already healing". She told them as she saw one of her cuts heal, leaving blood on her body.

"Is she alright?" A woman asked.

"She's fine. Just some bruises". Marko waved her off.

"I thought I heard a snap". A man tried to look past Dwayne but Dwayne only blocked his view.

"What snap? What have you been smoking?" Paul gave the guy a look.  Only for the stranger to give him an 'are you serious' look back.

"I'm trying to get the blood off.  I can feel my arm putting itself back together but I think it's going to take too long".  Ophelia spoke out loud quietly, but just enough for the boys to hear.

"What do we do?" Marko asked worriedly as a small crowd started to gather and he could see some coming over from the beach.

"I say we feast". Paul suggested.

"Paul". Dwayne growled at his stupidity.

"Keep them busy".  David told the boys before walking down the steps to Ophelia, kneeling down as they looked at one another.

"If you scream, I'm going to kill you for good this time".  David pointed his finger at her.  Ophelia only smiled.

"Oh, David.  You love me too much".  Ophelia said.

"No I don't-I mean it.  If you scream.  I'm going to-"

"Why would I-"

Ophelia didn't get to finish as David grabbed her arm and snapped it, triggering the healing process faster.  Ophelia only gasped, letting out an airy noise.

David soon let it go, wiping the rest of the blood off of her.  She looked good as new.  Besides her crazy hair and ripped clothing.  "Good job".  David gave her a pat on the back before standing up and pulling Ophelia up as well.

"I'm okay". Ophelia waved to the group.  The group murmured to themselves before slowly going back to explore the boardwalk.  Once they went back to doing their thing.  David snapped his fingers to Ophelia, pointing to her roller skates.

"Take them off.  Now". 

"But-". Ophelia looked at him sadly.

"You're taking a break from these for a few nights". David was done with the roller skates.

"You're such a dad, David"

"Shut up, Marko".

**70s' slang is so weird but I love it**