Dancing on Thin Ice
Blades & Roses
Dancing on Thin Ice
The smell of sizzling bacon and fresh bread fills the small, cosy kitchen. Morning light filters in through the frosted windows, bathing the space in a pale golden glow. Vander stands at the stove, his broad back to the room, humming a tune Violet vaguely recognises as one of his favourites. The sight is familiar, comforting, the kind of moment that feels like it belongs in a memory more than in the present.
Violet slides into one of the mismatched chairs at the table, the wood cold against her legs. She pulls her sleeves down over her hands, watching as Vander flips something in the pan with an effortless motion.
“You’re up early,” he remarks without turning, his deep voice carrying over the gentle crackle of the frying pan. “I figured I’d have to drag you out of bed.”
Violet snorts softly, resting her chin in her palm. “Guess I wanted to see if you could actually cook, old man.”
“Old man?” Vander laughs, glancing over his shoulder with a raised brow. “You’d be starving if it weren’t for this old man.” He turns back to the stove and plates up a heap of eggs, bacon, and toast, setting it in front of her. “Eat up before you waste away.”
She picks up her fork, spearing a piece of bacon. “This your way of making sure I don’t survive on crisps and soda all day?”
“Someone’s got to,” Vander says with a small smile, sitting across from her with his own mug of tea. He leans back in his chair, watching her with an almost imperceptible intensity, like he’s trying to figure out what’s going on in her head.
They eat in a comfortable silence for a while, the ticking of the old clock on the wall filling the gaps in conversation. But Vander’s gaze lingers on her, and finally, he breaks the quiet.
“You’ve been different the past few days” he says, his tone more curious than accusatory.
Violet raises an eyebrow. “Different how?”
“Less on edge,” he says, sipping his tea. “Lighter, maybe. It’s not bad. Just wondering what’s changed.”
She shifts in her chair, poking at her eggs with her fork. “Nothing’s changed.”
“Hmm.” He doesn’t look convinced, but he doesn’t press, either. Vander has always had a knack for letting silence do the work for him. He takes a seat across from her, a steaming mug of tea in hand, and leans back, his sharp eyes studying her. “Been a while since I’ve seen you this chipper in the morning.”
Violet pauses, mid-chew, and looks up at him. “Chipper? I’m literally sitting here eating. That’s your definition of chipper?”
“Don’t deflect,” he replies, his lips twitching into a knowing smile. “I know you, Vi. You’ve had a bit of a spring in your step these last few days. So, what’s going on?”
She takes her time finishing her bite, considering her response. “Nothing’s going on,” she says eventually, a little too quickly.
Vander raises an eyebrow but doesn’t push. He sips his tea, the silence between them comfortable but heavy with unsaid things.
Before she can think of a way to deflect, a thunderous clatter echoes down the stairs, followed by the unmistakable sound of Powder’s voice. She appears in the doorway, hair a chaotic mess, her oversized jumper slipping off one shoulder. She lets out a dramatic yawn as she flops into the chair next to Violet, snatching a piece of toast from her plate.
“Morning,” Powder mumbles through a mouthful of bread. She looks at Violet, her eyes narrowing playfully. “Why are you in such a good mood?”
“I’m not,” Violet says, rolling her eyes. “What is it with you two? I can’t just exist without getting interrogated?”
Powder smirks, leaning her elbow on the table. “You’ve been smiling more. That’s weird. I’m guessing someone’s to blame for that.” There’s an emphasis on the someone.
Violet shoots her a warning look. “Don’t start, Powder.”
“Oh, I am starting,” Powder says, her grin widening.
Violet feels heat rise to her cheeks, and she quickly turns her attention back to her plate. “It’s not like that.”
“Not like what?” Powder asks, feigning innocence. “You didn’t deny it, though.”
“Powder,” Vander says, his voice low but firm. “Enough.”
Powder huffs but relents, leaning back in her chair and crossing her arms. “Fine. Keep your secrets, Vi.”
Violet shakes her head. Vander watches her for a moment longer, his expression softening. For all the teasing, there’s something grounding in Vander’s quiet support, in the way he always seems to know when to push and when to back off.
Powder finishes her stolen piece of toast and stands, stretching. “Well, I’m walking with Ekko so I don’t need a ride this morning, secret Sis. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!”
“That’s not a high bar,” Violet calls after her as Powder disappears out the door, leaving the kitchen noticeably quieter.
Vander chuckles softly, shaking his head. “That one never runs out of energy.”
“No kidding,” Violet mutters, though there’s a fondness in her voice. She picks at the last of her toast, her earlier defences worn down by Powder’s teasing.
Once the kitchen is quiet again, Violet glances at Vander. He’s already back to sipping his tea, his attention back on her undividedly now. He leans forward slightly, his hands resting on the table. “You know she’s not wrong, though. You’ve been... different. Happier. You sure you don’t want to tell me what’s going on?”
Violet hesitates, the weight of his gaze pressing against her like a physical thing. Vander’s always been able to see through her, even when she tries to put up walls.
“I don’t know,” she says finally, her voice quieter now. “Maybe I’ve just been... thinking about things differently.”
“Things like?”
She shrugs, her eyes flicking down to her plate. “Life. People. How complicated everything feels sometimes. But... not in a bad way.”
“Whoever it is,” he says gently, “just... don’t lose yourself trying to make them happy. You’re enough as you are.”
The words settle in her chest, heavier than she expects. She looks at him, surprised by the sincerity. “I know,” she says, though it sounds more like she’s trying to convince herself than him.
He nods, satisfied, and stands to clear the table. Violet watches him for a moment, her thoughts swirling. For all the teasing and questions, there’s a strange comfort in knowing she doesn’t have to figure everything out on her own.
As Vander moves to the sink, he glances over his shoulder, a small smile tugging at his lips. “And for the record,” he says, “whatever’s got you smiling lately... it suits you.”
Violet rolls her eyes, but she can’t quite hide the faint grin that creeps onto her face.
The sky is still painted with the muted blues and greys of dawn when Maddie’s car pulls up outside Caitlyn’s house. The car is small, its exterior a little scuffed from years of use, but it hums steadily, its engine a quiet, familiar sound that Caitlyn has grown used to. She pushes open the front door, her breath puffing out in small clouds as the cold bites at her skin.
Maddie leans over and pushes the passenger door open for her, offering a lopsided grin. “Morning, Princess.”
“Don’t call me that,” Caitlyn says automatically, but there’s no bite to her words. She slides into the seat, the warmth of the car a welcome contrast to the brisk morning air.
Maddie shrugs, unfazed, as Caitlyn settles in and pulls her seatbelt across her chest. “You’d miss it if I didn’t.”
Caitlyn rolls her eyes but doesn’t argue. Instead, she glances out the window as the car begins to move, the streets still quiet save for the occasional early riser bundled up against the chill. The light is soft, the sun just beginning to crest over the horizon, casting long shadows across the pavements and illuminating the frost that clings stubbornly to car windows and rooftops.
Maddie drums her fingers on the steering wheel in time with the soft beat of a song playing on the radio. It’s low and unobtrusive, but the rhythm fills the silence comfortably. “So,” Maddie says after a few moments, breaking the quiet, “big plans for the Winter Ball?”
Caitlyn blinks, turning to look at her. “What?”
“The Winter Ball,” Maddie repeats, glancing at her briefly before focusing back on the road. “You’re going, right?”
Caitlyn hesitates, caught off guard. “I... hadn’t really thought about it. Isn’t it still a few weeks away?”
Maddie grins, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “That’s exactly why we need to start planning now. The dress, the shoes, the grand entrance... all of it.”
Caitlyn raises an eyebrow. “You’re putting a lot of thought into this for someone who usually skips school dances.”
Maddie shrugs, her grin widening. “Maybe I’m turning over a new leaf.”
“Or maybe you’re plotting something,” Caitlyn counters, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth despite herself.
“You wound me, Kiramman,” Maddie says dramatically, clutching her chest with one hand before quickly returning it to the wheel. “I’m just trying to make sure you have a good time. You deserve it.”
Caitlyn’s smile fades slightly at the sincerity in Maddie’s voice. She looks away, her gaze returning to the window as the familiar streets blur past. “I don’t know,” she says quietly. “Balls aren’t really my thing.”
Maddie hums thoughtfully. “Not your thing, or you just haven’t given them a proper chance?”
Caitlyn glances at her, the question lingering in the air. Maddie doesn’t press further, letting the conversation ebb and flow naturally as they turn onto a quieter street lined with trees.
“So,” Maddie says after a pause, her tone carefully casual, “if you do go... what do you think about going with me?”
Caitlyn blinks, caught off guard. “You mean, like...?”
Maddie glances at her, a flicker of hesitation crossing her face before she quickly masks it with her usual confidence. “Yeah. Sure. As friends.”
There’s a beat of silence as Caitlyn processes the question. She’s always enjoyed Maddie’s company—her humour, her spontaneity, the way she seems to make every moment feel like an adventure. But something about the way Maddie asks, the way her voice dips just slightly, makes Caitlyn pause.
“I guess that could be fun,” Caitlyn says finally, her voice quieter than usual.
Maddie’s grin returns, though it’s softer this time, less mischievous. “Great. I’ll even let you pick the colour scheme. How’s that for chivalry?”
Caitlyn can’t help but laugh, the sound easing some of the tension in her chest. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
The rest of the drive passes in comfortable silence, punctuated only by the occasional comment from Maddie about a particularly frosty car or a dog walker braving the cold. When they pull up outside the school, Maddie turns off the engine but doesn’t immediately get out.
“Hey,” she says, her tone uncharacteristically tentative. “Thanks for saying yes. I mean it.”
Caitlyn looks at her, surprised by the sudden shift in Maddie’s demeanour. “Of course,” she says softly, though a small part of her wonders if she’s missed something in the exchange.
Maddie nods, her usual grin returning as she reaches for her bag. “Come on, let’s not freeze our butts off before the bell rings.”
Caitlyn follows her out of the car, pulling her coat tighter around her as the cold air bites at her skin. The school looms ahead, its windows reflecting the pale morning light, and she can already see clusters of students milling about, their breath visible in the crisp air.
As they walk towards the entrance, Maddie slings an arm around Caitlyn’s shoulders, her warmth a welcome contrast to the chill. “This is going to be fun,” she says confidently, her voice carrying that same infectious energy that always seems to draw people in.
Caitlyn nods, though her mind is elsewhere, her thoughts tangled in a web of questions she doesn’t quite know how to untangle.
The school corridors are a blur of motion and chatter as students shuffle between classes. Violet strides through the crowd, her boots scuffing lightly against the tiled floor. She’s in a decent mood—better than most mornings—and is about to head to her next class when a flash of auburn catches her eye. Her eyes follow the shape to.
Caitlyn.
She’s walking with Maddie, her bag slung lazily over one shoulder. Maddie’s presence is magnetic, her laugh loud enough to carry over the din of the hallway. Violet instinctively adjusts her pace to intercept them.
“Hey, Cait!” Violet calls, raising her hand in a half-wave.
Caitlyn’s head turns, her blue eyes lighting up with recognition. She starts to slow, a small smile forming on her lips, but Maddie tugs her forward before she has the chance to respond.
“Cait, we’ve got to go. Mr. Yates hates it when we’re late,” Maddie says, her tone airy but firm as she loops an arm through Caitlyn’s and steers her down the hall.
Caitlyn throws an apologetic look over her shoulder, her voice rising above the chaos. “Sorry, Vi! I’ll catch up with you later!”
Violet watches them disappear into the crowd, her chest tightening. She knows Maddie well enough to know that the girl isn’t rushing to class for the sake of punctuality. Violet mutters under her breath, “Sure, later.”
The moment sours her mood, and the rest of the morning feels like a slow crawl.
The cafeteria is alive with its usual cacophony: trays clattering onto tables, bursts of laughter bouncing off the walls, and the steady murmur of countless conversations blending into a low hum. Violet lingers near the double doors as she surveys the packed room. Her gaze flicks past the tables until it settles on Caitlyn.
She spots her immediately, sitting at a crowded table near the windows. Sunlight filters through the glass, catching the shine of Caitlyn’s dark hair as she leans slightly forward, engrossed in conversation with Maddie and a few of their friends.
Violet hesitates, gripping the strap of her bag tightly. She exhales slowly, steeling herself before weaving her way through the maze of tables.
As she approaches, the familiar sound of Caitlyn’s laugh reaches her, warm and light. It’s a sound Violet will always like—so easy, unforced. But it falters when Caitlyn glances up and notices her standing nearby.
“Hey, Cait,” Violet starts, her voice low enough that she’s unsure if it even carries over the noise.
Caitlyn looks up, a flicker of recognition in her eyes. “Oh, hey, Vi,” she says, but her tone is uncertain, as though she doesn’t know how to handle the interruption.
Before Violet can continue, Maddie turns in her seat, her mop of hair swinging over her shoulder. She props her chin on one hand, studying Violet with a smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes.
“Well, this is a surprise,” Maddie says, her tone syrupy sweet. She glances back at Caitlyn with a raised eyebrow.
Caitlyn shifts in her seat, clearly uncomfortable. “This is Violet, she and I are in science together, you probably have some classes together too? She plays ice hockey, she was at the match...” she explains quickly.
Violet’s jaw tightens. “Can I talk to you, Caitlyn? Just for a second?”
Maddie doesn’t budge. If anything, she leans closer, her smile widening. “Now? But we’re in the middle of something. Isn’t that right, Cait?”
One of the others at the table snickers, and Violet feels heat rising to her face.
“It won’t take long,” she presses, glancing past Maddie to Caitlyn, hoping she’ll stand up, move, do something.
But Caitlyn just looks torn, her eyes darting between Maddie and Violet. She opens her mouth as if to say something, but Maddie doesn’t give her the chance.
“Look!” Maddie says suddenly, her voice sing-song and just loud enough to draw attention from nearby tables. She points across the room, her manicured finger aimed squarely at Powder. “Your sisters a freshman right? It looks like she wants to talk to you, Violet!”
Violet’s heart sinks as she follows Maddie’s gesture. Sure enough, Powder is sitting at a table with Ekko, Mylo, and Claggor. She’s mid-bite into a sandwich but freezes when she catches Maddie’s dramatic point.
Powder’s wide eyes flit to Violet, a half-curious, half-anxious look on her face.
Maddie turns back to Caitlyn, chuckling. “Isn’t that cute? Make it a family lunch and all.”
“Maddie,” Caitlyn says softly, clearly disapproving, but Maddie waves her off.
“It’s fine! Vi gets it, don’t you?” Maddie asks, looking at Violet with an infuriatingly smug grin.
Violet clenches her jaw, forcing herself to keep her expression neutral. “Yeah. Sure,” she mutters, taking a step back. “Catch you later, Cait.”
Caitlyn’s hand twitches, like she’s about to reach for Violet, but the moment passes. Maddie’s friends pull her back into their conversation, laughing about something Violet doesn’t bother to hear.
Turning on her heel, Violet stalks across the cafeteria toward Powder’s table. Her younger sister watches her approach, her concern obvious in the way she shifts her tray aside to make space.
“Vi? What’s up?” Powder asks as Violet drops into the seat beside her with a heavy sigh.
“Nothing,” Violet mutters, leaning forward to rest her elbows on the table.
“You sure? You’ve got that look,” Powder presses, squinting at her suspiciously.
“What look?”
“The ‘I’m gonna punch someone’ look,” Ekko chimes in, leaning back in his chair with a grin.
Mylo snickers. “Or maybe it’s her ‘someone just pissed me off’ look. Honestly, it’s hard to tell with you, Vi.”
Violet glares at them, and they all chuckle, clearly unfazed. Claggor shrugs, biting into his apple like he’s not about to get dragged into it.
Powder, however, isn’t laughing. She tilts her head, her blue eyes searching Violet’s face. “You were in a good mood this morning. What changed?”
“Nothing,” Violet says again, sharper this time.
“It’s not nothing,” Powder insists, her voice soft but firm. “You were all happy at breakfast, and now—”
“Drop it, Powder,” Violet snaps, her voice cutting through the table’s chatter like a knife.
The group falls silent. Powder’s mouth opens slightly, but no words come out. Her expression crumples, hurt flashing across her face before she looks down at her tray.
The guilt is immediate, heavy and bitter in Violet’s chest, but she can’t bring herself to say anything. Not here. Not with everyone watching.
“Vi,” Ekko starts carefully, but Violet is already pushing back her chair.
“I’ll see you later,” she mutters, grabbing her tray and stalking toward the exit.
She dumps her untouched food on the return counter and strides into the hallway, the noise of the cafeteria fading behind her. The emptier corridor feels colder somehow, the silence pressing against her ears.
She can’t stop the replay of Caitlyn’s apologetic glance, Maddie’s smug smile, or Powder’s wounded expression.
Everything feels tangled, too much to process all at once.
The cold bites at Caitlyn’s cheeks as she makes her way to the bleachers, clutching the hall pass she asked for during science. She had been unable to concentrate, her gaze constantly drifting to Violet’s empty seat at the back of the room.
She climbs the metal steps carefully, her boots clanging softly against the structure. At the top, she finds Violet slumped back in a seat, her headphones clamped over her ears, her eyes half-closed as if she’s miles away.
“Vi,” Caitlyn calls, her voice breaking the quiet.
Vi doesn’t respond.
“Violet,” Caitlyn says again, louder this time.
Finally, Violet glances up, pulling her headphones down to rest around her neck. The faint sound of music spills out, melancholy and low. “Cait? What are you doing here?”
“I should ask you the same,” Caitlyn replies, frowning. “Why are you skipping class?”
Violet raises an eyebrow, her lips curling into a faint smirk. “Skipping? You’re skipping too, aren’t you? What’s your excuse?”
“I came to find you,” Caitlyn says, crossing her arms. “I noticed you weren’t in class.”
Violet blinks at her, caught off guard. She sits up straighter, resting her elbows on her knees. “Didn’t think you’d notice.”
“Of course, I noticed.” Caitlyn hesitates, the weight of her concern making her voice softer. “You’ve been off all day. What’s going on?”
Violet exhales a sharp breath, leaning back again. “Nothing. Just needed some air.”
“You can’t just disappear like that,” Caitlyn says, the frustration in her tone undercut by genuine worry. “You could’ve said something.”
Violet shrugs, not meeting her eyes. “Didn’t think anyone would care.”
Caitlyn frowns, stepping closer and sitting down beside her. “I care.”
There’s a moment of silence between them, Violet glances sideways at Caitlyn, her expression softening.
“So,” Caitlyn starts, breaking the quiet, “are you going to tell me why you’re really out here?”
Violet laughs quietly, a dry sound. “You’re relentless, you know that?”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Violet sighs, running a hand through her hair. She doesn’t want to admit that her earlier interaction with Maddie had bothered her, so she changes the subject instead. “I don’t get it...What’s all this fuss about the Winter Ball, anyway?”
Caitlyn tilts her head. “You don’t like balls, do you?”
Violet raises an eyebrow, her smirk returning. “Depends what you’re insinuating. But hey, don’t judge me. Maybe I do.”
Caitlyn laughs, the sound light and genuine. “Okay, fair. But seriously, it’s just a dance." Everyone’s acting like it’s the event of the year.
“Everyone’s acting like it’s the event of the year.”
Caitlyn shakes her head, her expression shifting. “I wasn’t even planning to go, but Maddie asked me earlier.”
Violet stiffens, the words hitting her like a punch to the chest. She forces her tone to stay even. “Maddie asked you?”
“Yeah,” Caitlyn says, oblivious to Violet’s reaction. “She said it’d be fun, and I didn’t have a reason to say no.”
Violet squints at her, her voice sharp with curiosity. “Do you think she has a crush on you?”
“What?” Caitlyn blurts, her cheeks immediately flushing pink. “No. Why would you even say that?”
“Well,” Violet says, leaning back and gesturing vaguely, “she asked you to a ball. That’s kind of a thing people do when they’re into someone, don’t you think?”
Caitlyn scoffs, shaking her head. “No, it’s not like that. Maddie and I are just friends. She’s probably just being nice.”
Violet hums, unconvinced. “You’re sure? Because it sounds like she might be into you.”
“I don’t even...” Caitlyn pauses, her voice trailing off as she fumbles for the right words. “I don’t even feel like that about girls. Or at least, I haven’t thought about it that way.”
Violet tilts her head, watching her closely. “Haven’t thought about it? Or haven’t let yourself think about it?”
Caitlyn’s brows knit together, the question catching her off guard. “I don’t know,” she says quietly, more to herself than Violet.
“Well, maybe it’s worth figuring out,”
Caitlyn fidgets with the strap of her bag, her mind racing. “I just... I don’t think Maddie likes me like that. And even if she did, I wouldn’t know what to do about it.”
Violet offers a small, lopsided smile. “You don’t have to do anything, you’re like the hottest girl in school Cupcake. And for what it’s worth, there’s no rule saying you have to feel one way or the other. Life’s a lot easier when you stop trying to fit into everyone else’s boxes.”
Caitlyn meets her eyes, a flicker of something vulnerable crossing her expression. “And what about people like me who care too much about those boxes?”
Violet’s smile turns softer, more understanding. “Just... feel what you feel.”
Caitlyn nods faintly, the words sinking in, but the tension lingers.
After a moment, Violet glances away and gestures to the school building. “You should get back to class. Can’t have you failing science because of me.”
“What about you?” Caitlyn asks, her voice hesitant.
“I’ll be fine,” Violet says, waving her off. “Go on.”
Caitlyn stands reluctantly, glancing back at Violet as she descends the steps. “If you ever want to talk... you know we’re friends right Violet?”
Violet doesn’t respond, slipping her headphones back over her ears and leaning against the cold metal seat. She watches Caitlyn walk away, the weight in her chest growing heavier with each step, then leans her head back and closes her eyes.