Fractured Ice

The rink buzzed with energy—laughter echoing off the walls, the scrape of skates against the ice, the scent of overly buttered popcorn lingering in the air. Lucille had pulled Asha onto the ice almost immediately, her excitement eclipsing any hesitance Asha had about skating.

“You’re so stiff,” Lucille teased, effortlessly gliding backward while Asha wobbled in front of her.

“I’m focusing,” Asha muttered, her movements careful as to not fall.

Lucille smirked and reached out, grabbing Asha’s wrist to steady her. “Relax. You’ll be fine.”

The sudden contact sent a jolt up Asha’s arm, her mind scrambling to focus on anything but how close Lucille was. Her pulse quickened, her thoughts a mess—until a sharp voice cut through the noise.

“Oh my God, are you serious? Again?”

Asha’s head snapped toward the entrance. Near the edge of the rink, Fiona stood, arms crossed, her stance rigid with barely restrained fury.

Asha followed her glare—and felt her stomach twist.

There, just outside the rink, stood a girl with an all-too-familiar arrogance, dark eyes scanning the crowd like she was searching for someone. Asha didn’t need to guess who.

Lucille’s ex.

Heat crawled up Asha’s spine—something sharp, something possessive. She clenched her teeth, watching as Fiona stepped forward, voice dripping with irritation.

“You seriously showed up? You don’t get to just appear wherever she is. Take the hint and fuck off.”

The ex scoffed, rolling her eyes. “Relax, I just wanted to talk. But I see you’re all busy with… this.” She gestured toward the rink, her lips curling into a mocking smirk. “Really, Lucille? A whole vampire theme? That’s what you’re into now? God, you really do attract the weird ones.”

Asha stiffened.

Lucille didn’t react.

No—not didn’t. Couldn’t.

Asha recognized that blank stare, the way Lucille’s fingers curled into her sleeves. She's gone nonverbal.

Great.

Asha exhaled through her nose and shifted closer, gently pressing her fingers against Lucille’s wrist. “Hey,” she murmured. “You okay?”

Lucille blinked, like she was just now realizing where she was. She didn’t answer, but she didn’t pull away either. That was enough for now.

Meanwhile, Fiona let out a sharp laugh, tilting her head. “Oh, that’s what we’re doing? Making fun of her now?” Her expression darkened. “You had your good times at her expense. She doesn’t owe you shit.”

Asha nearly smiled at that. Yeah. That’s right.

The ex scoffed, like she wanted to argue, but Fiona had already taken another step forward, radiating pure, unrelenting fury. People were watching now, whispering about what was happening.

Asha glanced at Lucille. Her posture was tense, her breathing uneven. She hated this—being watched, being cornered.

And Asha hated that this girl thought she could still do this to her.

If Fiona didn’t get rid of her soon, Asha was more than willing to step in. No, she would step in. No matter when, no matter how. She was willing to do anything. Everything-

All of a sudden Asha felt a tug at her sleeve, Lucille had seen Asha’s face. She looked like she wanted to kill her. It worried her.

Asha snapped back into the situation, laughing at the irony of it all, "Haha.. Sorry, your ex is really obsessed with you, huh?"

She nodded, I looked at her, she looked so out of it. "Let's get out of here." I propose.

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