When she cane over, Quinn hadn't expected to find Merula outside. Usually she wasn't too fond of the cold. But she wasn't just outside, she was skating on the pond in her garden. All dressed up in thick jeans, a tight black woolen coat and a matching hat.
Standing on ice wasn't exactly Quinn's idea of fun. She'd rather be up the air, or running in sensible shoes. Not slipping away on ice skates, but Merula made it look fun. The way she just glided over the ice, so graceful it almost looked like she was dancing. One feet in the air, moving backwards and even making a pirouette! Quinn couldn't help but stare from her place on the wooden bench that overlooked the pond.
So there was no way she could've said no when Merula asked if she wanted to give it a try.
'Good, I think I got an old pair that we can size up. Give me a minute,' Merula said and went back inside her house.
Right, there was no sense in waiting anyway. It was a beautiful day. Snow clung to the trees around the pond and glittered in the sunlight.
'What do you think?' Merula held up a pair of black skates that looked like sneakers with a bar underneath.
'Looks good.' Quinn took them while Merula went to put her own skates back on.
The skates were too small, as expected, but nothing a few well-placed engorgio's couldn't fix. By the time they fit Merula was already back to gliding over the ice. The blades sunk into the snow when Quinn got up and she almost fell over. Great start. She took a first step. One blade slipped against, well she didn't even know what it slipped against, and she fell over. Helga's cup, hopefully Merula hadn't noticed.
Melodic laughter sounded out. Too late. She looked up to see Merula glide towards her with a big grin on her pale face. Her cheeks were rosy from the exercise.
'Have you ever gone ice skating anyway?' She held out her gloved hands.
'No, I didn't have skates, remember? Still don't, actually.' Quinn took them both and steadied herself. 'How do you walk with these things?'
'It's about balance. Smalls steps at first.'
Merula took Quinn by her forearms and gently guided her towards the pond. While only a few steps away it took quite an effort to get there and she almost slipped again when she stepped on the ice.
'Don't let go of me!'
'I won't,' Merula soothed. 'Do you trust me?'
'I do.'
'Okay. Bend your knees a little. Yes, like that. Now push your foot forward, one at the time.'
Quinn did as she was told and slowly moved forward. How Merula managed to skate backwards while holding her steady was beyond her.
After a few small steps she tried bigger ones and looked down to see what she was doing. It almost made her trip again.
'Don't look down, stupid. Keep looking at me.' She did and Merula had a big smirk on her face. 'I can't believe I'm actually teaching League's sports woman of the year something new.'
'That was last year and it's League, that doesn't- wait you read League?'
'Doesn't everybody?' Merula turned red.
'I think most people just look at the pictures.' Quinn sniggered.
League presented itself as a sports magazine, but mostly featured pictures, with small bodies of text to keep up the pretense. As a teen it had been one of her favourite magazines and a few centerfolds had ended up her walls. So when League asked her to do a shoot last year, she'd been flattered. Even more so when they asked her again for the competition. She ended up being the centerfold and wow did it feel good to be on the same level as the people she admired as a teen. If she didn't feel weird about hanging a picture of herself, she might've framed it.
'So, what did you think?'
'You looked good, but I prefer this.' Merula pulled at her forearms to bring her closer and plant a soft kiss on her lips. Before Quinn had a chance to kiss her back, Merula pulled away. 'I'm going to let go now. Keep your legs bend and see if you can do it by yourself.'
With a grumble Quinn nodded and to her surprise she managed to move on her own. Not too bad. She tried a turn and started to gain a little speed.
'Spread your legs and stick one foot out if you want to slow down or stop.' Merula advised while following Quinn, still skating backwards.
Without realising it, she'd begun to stare again and tripped over her feet while trying to slow down. Merula came right over and laughed while helping her get up. Her violet eyes scrunched in delight.
'I see I have my work cut out for me this winter.'
'Just wait, I'll teach you about broomsurfing this summer,' Quinn scoffed. 'See who's laughing then.'