Cheryl got in her car and headed to the indoor ice skating rink, just like she did every Saturday. As she pulled into the parking lot, she noticed they were extremely busy. She sat in her car for a few minutes and put on her gloves, deciding if she really wanted to go inside or not.
She wasn't a fan of groups or people, in general. Usually they weren't this busy on Saturdays, which always came as a surprise to the redhead. She normally assumed everyone was out of the town for the weekend.
Finally, she locked her door and made sure her black beanie was on snug, her hair falling in curls around her shoulders. Her snow boots crunched down on the snow as she walked and she pulled her red coat tighter against her body. It was extra cold this afternoon, and she wasn't a fan of that either.
She paid at the door, carrying her own bright red, glittery pair of ice skates. Cheryl sat on a bench to put them on and readjusted her warm clothing.
There were so many people here today, but she focused on the music playing over the speakers and got onto the ice. Cheryl skated slowly at first, observing the people who were obviously newcomer's, as they held onto the side wall.
The redhead did a few slow laps, getting her bearings before she started speeding up.
Cheryl Blossom was experienced on the ice, and so she skated around the middle section, doing her best to stay out of everyone's way. She even did a few spins, desperately wishing there weren't as many people around.
She smiled when she landed, the blades of her skates colliding with the ice.
A few minutes later, there was a small boy that fell near her. He didn't seem hurt, but he had probably lost his balance.
Cheryl immediately came to a skidding halt and knelt down. The boy was probably 5 or 6 and seemed to be alone. "Are you okay?"
The little boy was still laying on his stomach, gloved hands covered with ice shavings. Cheryl helped him to his knees and then to a standing position.
His cheeks were red from the cold, and probably from skating. "I…I'm okay." He was slightly out of breath.
"Are you here with your parents?" Cheryl asked, squatting back down to be closer to the boy's height.
The boy nodded and adjusted his beanie. He looked towards the concession stand and pointed. "My mama is over there. I came with her."
"Shall I take you to her, then?"
He nodded with a smile. Cheryl stood and the boy immediately grabbed her hand. She held on tightly as they skated, the boy leading the way to his mother.
"What's your name?" He finally asked as they skated slowly; practically walking.
"Cheryl. What's yours?"
"Anthony Topaz. Are you here with your kid?"
Cheryl smiled and laughed through her nose. "No, little Anthony. I don't have any children. My cousin's do, though. They're a little older than you."
Anthony didn't say anything else as they continued their way across the ice. Cheryl looked up, wondering who Anthony's mother could be. His complexion wasn't dark, but definitely wasn't fair either. She scanned the line at the concessions, seeing a few women that could be his mother.
They stepped over the small step that acted as a barrier to the ground, stepping on carpet. Cheryl was going to suggest that they sit down, or part ways, but Anthony kept pulling her along.
"Mama!" Anthony smiled as a woman approached them with two hot chocolates and a very worried yet stern look on her face. Her hair was brown with streaks of blonde and pink.
"Anthony, what are you doing?" The woman asked, before looking at Cheryl. "I am so sorry he disturbed you. He won't do it again, will you, baby?" She looked at her son again.
"Oh, it really isn't a problem. He fell, and…well, no one else stopped and he just sort of landed in front of me." Cheryl felt her hand drop and saw that Anthony had taken a cup of hot chocolate from his mother.
"Mama, this is Cheryl. She's very nice!"
Cheryl laughed at the little boy. His 'ch' sounded like he was saying 'chips'.
"Well, thank you, Cheryl." Toni smiled and held out her hand. "I'm Toni."
"Can Cheryl spend the day with us?" Anthony suddenly asked.
"Oh," Cheryl laughed nervously. "I really don't want to impose."
"Are you here alone? On Valentine's Day?" Toni asked.
Valentine's Day? Cheryl closed her eyes and let out a deep breath. Of course. That's why the ice rink was so busy.
Her eyebrows raised to her hairline, and with a tight smile she said, "Honestly, I didn't realize it was Valentine's Day. Silly me."
"We can be your Valentine!" Anthony said from beside her.
Cheryl looked down at him with wonder while Anthony looked back up at her with the biggest grin on his face. What were the odds that she would meet someone at the ice rink on Valentine's Day??? She didn't even know if Toni was into women or if she was even looking for a partner.
The redhead was broken from her spiraling thoughts when a man's voice came over the speakers. "We would like to wish everyone a Happy Valentine's Day! If you would please clear the rink, it's time for our hourly couples skate. If everyone would bring their Valentine onto the ice, you'll get to skate together for one song, before we let everyone else back on the ice."
Cheryl was about to excuse herself to get something from the concession stand, or to just take a break and sit on a bench when Toni started talking.
"Would you like to be my Valentine for the day?" She has a crooked smile that was almost a smirk and Cheryl couldn't stop the feeling of butterflies in her stomach, even if she tried.
"Mama, I'm right here," Anthony giggled. "But it's okay if Cheryl is your Valentine, too."
"So what do you say?"
Cheryl looked down at the pink gloved hand that was being offered to her, before slowly moving up to glossy lips and brown eyes that were a little lighter than her own.
Honestly, what did she have to lose?
And so she took a deep breath. Red met pink as she put her hand in Toni's.
"Anthony, please make sure you stay seated on a bench okay? We'll be back after the song."
"Okay, mama!" Anthony bounced and ran off to a bench where he could see the whole ice rink from his vantage point.
Toni quickly put a pair of ice skates on and Cheryl followed as she was led onto the ice, but she soon learned that Toni seemed to be a beginner.
There was a last call for couples and a few minutes later when it seemed like everyone was on the ice, the speaker announced for the couples to start skating and then the song immediately started playing.
It seemed like some sort of rap song, but it was also a cover or mash up of a song that Cheryl recognized to be Can't Help Falling in Love by Elvis Presley.
Their hands were still joined and Cheryl noticed just how slowly they were skating compared to a few other people. Toni was definitely inexperienced.
"Have you skated before?" She suddenly asked, turning her attention to the other woman.
"I practically lived in roller blades when I was a kid. So much so that I wore them in the house, too. But I've never ice skated, no."
"Well, you could have fooled me," Cheryl smiled, giving Toni's hand a reassuring squeeze.
Toni laughed in response. "Anthony really enjoys it. His dad brings him here for lessons once a week."
Cheryl's mind became cloudy again, as her thoughts immediately started to spiral. Toni was obviously still with her son's dad. She probably felt sorry for the redhead and just wanted to get Cheryl's hopes up. But when she wasn't speaking, she felt Toni squeeze her hand, bringing her back to the present.
"His dad and I aren't together. We divorced a few years ago. We're friends, which honestly is what we should have always been."
Cheryl felt a wave of reassurance run through her. Maybe this was her chance, after all. The song ended, and Cheryl suddenly felt sad, but then it started up again. Everyone else on the ice seemed just as confused, but continued skating.
Part way through the song, Toni almost fell, but Cheryl was quick to catch her.
Wise men say only fools rush in, but pretty girls make fools out of wise men.
She felt something between herself and Toni that she hadn't felt in a long time; years, actually. Cheryl wondered if Toni was making her nervous on purpose, or if nervous energy was just her default.
"Would you believe me if I said I paid the guy to play this song three times?" Toni asked suddenly, once the song ended for a second time.
They had stopped skating, and had somehow ended up in the middle of the rink. The song started up again and everyone around them was skating.
Toni smiled and grabbed both red gloved hands when Cheryl didn't answer. "Well, he's a friend of mine, but I really wanted to meet you. I was just so nervous."
Cheryl's brows furrowed and she still couldn't find her words. Why would anyone want to meet her?
"I'm sorry, I'm probably not making any sense," the brunette laughed. "I've seen you here a handful of times when I've brought Anthony so he can practice, and I've always wanted to talk to you, I just-"
I tend to fall in love with every pretty girl I see practically
But how come they never fall in love with me?
"Toni," Cheryl said, stopping the woman's rambles, which were really quite adorable. "Would you and Anthony like to go to dinner with me?"
Cheryl watched Toni's face break out into a huge, beaming smile. "Yeah, okay. We'd love to."
She pulled the other woman closer, so the fronts of their bodies were practically flush. Cheryl had no idea where this confidence was coming from, but she'd be damned if she let it go to waste. "I don't usually make a habit of kissing strangers on the ice, but-"
Toni's cold lips met hers and it was possibly the most wonderful feeling Cheryl had ever felt.
I feel the vibe between us
Can you feel it too?
Or maybe I'm just trippin'
I'm just really feeling you
The song came to an end and everyone started skating towards the entrance. Cheryl's hand was still firmly in Toni's, making sure the other woman didn't fall.
-
It wasn't until a few hours later at dinner that Cheryl learned Toni had convinced her own son to play cupid.
Anthony wasn't a bad skater, he was practically a natural, but his mother had bribed him with bottomless hot chocolate in return for falling on the ice in front of the pretty redhead.
The women both laughed at Toni's honesty, and Cheryl wondered how long she had been planning this for.
It ain't fair, I swear it ain't fair
The way she look, I can't help but just stare
She makes me so nervous, probably on purpose
She's just so perfect
I just can't help it
-
Cheryl never expected to meet her girlfriend by chance, or rather on purpose, at the ice rink on Valentine's Day.
And she certainly never expected to be standing with Toni in the middle of the rink a year later for the Valentine's Day couples skate with the familiar song playing overhead. Well, she really should have expected it, because Toni was a hopeless romantic, who wore her heart on her sleeve.
Then Toni was getting down on one knee and pulling a small velvet box out of her pocket.
Everyone around them stood still, but the music kept playing.
Anthony appeared next to his mother with a rim of chocolate around his mouth. They both smiled up at her, words lost in the music to any onlooker.
But then Cheryl was crying and nodding. Toni stood and engulfed the redhead in a tight hug, little Anthony joining them.
Wise men say
Only fools rush in
And I can't help falling in love with you