Chapter Text
Summer was finally coming to an end. Everyone around her seemed to complain about the steady drop in temperature, but Dina loved it. Summer wasn’t the worst thing in the world. The time away from school and trips to the beach were great, but nothing could ever compare to autumn in Jackson. The mornings were cool and crisp, the drink selections instantly improved, but more importantly the changing of the seasons meant the rink would finally be open.
Dina peeked inside her duffel bag to inspect the state of its contents. Once she confirmed her skates hadn’t gone anywhere since the last time she skated, she flung it over her shoulder and hurried downstairs where her mother and sister were preparing dinner. Dashing past them and heading straight for the front door.
“Slow down child! Why are you in such a rush?” her mother called after her.
Dina grabbed her coat off of the hook and triumphantly smiled back at the two women. “Rink is open! First session starts at five tonight. First night as a full-time coach!” Her sister, Talia, gave an excited whoop from the kitchen, and as she reached for the door handle she felt a hand on her shoulder. When she turned she was met by her mother’s smiling eyes.
“I know I won’t be able to convince you to stay for supper, so please take these.” Dina graciously took the granola bars from her mother’s outstretched hand. “We are so proud of you darling. You will be such a wonderful teacher.” She returned her mother’s smile and shrugged on her jacket.
With that, she was out the door and heading toward the rink.
----
Dina had been skating since she was three. Her parents had decided they would put her in every activity and let her decide what she liked best. They never made it that far. Dina was hooked the moment she stepped on the ice. Through fourteen years of skating her passion for the sport never wavered. Sessions that were once filled with unease and perfectionism now brought her comfort. The rink had slowly become a second home.
This year she had been asked to shift into a leadership role. Finishing the last of her gold tests meant she was an excellent candidate to coach, now taking on the task of coaching learn to skate, basic skills, and freestyle sessions. ‘ Leading the next generation of figure skaters’ is how Alana, the club’s senior coach, had put it. Even though the change from student to coach was sure to be different, there was one thing that would never change.
Rink days are the best days.
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As she pulled up to the rink she couldn’t ignore the sensation of butterflies and anticipation that always came with the first night of skating. Dina grabbed her duffel and confidently strode toward the entrance. The building was a bit older, white paneling on the outside and “Tri-County Ice Arena” painted in a dark maroon above the white metal doors. The ever-present hum of the refrigeration system filling the quiet of the neighborhood.
When she yanked the door open she was immediately engulfed in the warm, yet cold breeze from the inside of the building. She stepped in and surveyed the familiar landscape. The walkway from the door was part of a general walkway that circled around the top, enclosed by a metal railing. Looking down across bleachers that slowly angled downward and stopped at the boards. The plexiglass is clean, and the fluorescent lights give off a dull buzz as she skips down the stairs to the locker rooms below.
Dina was appreciative that the clean rubber smell of the locker rooms hadn’t yet been soiled by the stench of unwashed hockey gear. Giving a quick thanks to the universe she plopped down on the bench and laced up her skates, patiently waiting for 5 o’clock to come.
----
Dina made her way around the surface of the ice, picking up cones and water bottles that had been abandoned on the top of the boards. She deeply exhaled, intently focused on the cloud of breath as it left her lips. Tonight’s sessions went pretty well. The kids had (mostly) listened, and her skaters’ off season drop off was not as bad as she had anticipated. Dina slowly moved toward the rink-side door, taking a few moments to sink into her edges. A rocker here, a slow twizzle there. A few moments to truly feel herself connect with the ice beneath her feet.
Blue and red guards snapped as she slid them over her blades. While she was exhausted, she couldn’t help but smile while she walked back to her belongings.
Rink days are the best--what the FUCK?
Upon entering, Dina noticed a large black and yellow hockey bag sitting in the corner of HER locker room. There’s fucking hockey tonight? Disgusting. She let out a small scoff and made her way over to the bench. While unlacing her skates, a tall figure with dark auburn hair emerged from the bathroom, wearing skates and the bottom half of her hockey equipment. Her top half sported a tight, red, short sleeved under armor compression shirt. When the tall hockey player sat and reached into her bag to grab her shoulder pads, the shirt shifted. Revealing strong, toned arms and prominent shoulders. Hmm. Red is a nice color.. Wait what.
“Uh, hello?” The stranger chuckled, waving a hand around in an attempt to get Dina’s attention “You’re staring.”
Dina felt her face flush and she cautiously looked up, locking onto soft, deep green eyes that seemed to unknowingly stare directly into her soul.
“Oh.. um.. Sorry..” Dina stumbled over her words, breaking eye contact as fast as humanly possible. Even though she had dropped her head, Dina could still feel the girl’s intense eyes on her. She quickly began to pull off her skates hoping to avoid any other interaction with the girl.
“You’re good” the girl with forests in her eyes let out a breathy laugh, bringing her attention back to the equipment she still had to put on “My name is Ellie, by the way.” When Dina didn’t respond she added “What, never seen a hockey player before?”
Dina stopped wiping down her blades and slowly brought her eyes back up to the corner, fire biting at the tip of her tongue. “Oh no, I’ve seen hockey players before. I just don’t really like seeing them in my locker room.”
“Ohhh I’m sorry, I thought the sign on the door said ‘girl’s locker room’ I didn’t realize they changed it to ‘twirl girls only’” the same fire was present in Ellie’s tone, with just a touch of sarcasm.
Dina clenched her jaw and resumed the drying of her blades. “We do not twirl. And my sessions just ended so the locker room is technically still mine.”
Ellie chuckled again, eyes and hands focused on adjusting her elbow pads. “Looks like twirling to me.” She paused, a half smirk appearing on her face “I have practice at 8:30, so I think you might have to get used to sharing.”
Dina let the words linger. Deciding to not give the hockey heathen the satisfaction of a reply. She slid her skates, guards, and gloves back into her bag in silence. When she rose to leave their eyes met again.
“Just.. Don’t stink up my locker room. Okay?”
Ellie lifted one of her arms and gave it an exaggerated sniff “Lucky for you, toe picker, I showered today AND I wash my jerseys”
A deep, tired sigh escaped Dina’s lips “Can you quit it with the shitty name calling?”
The hockey player slowly stood up and took her hair out of its ponytail, shaking it out and pushing it back as she eased her helmet on. Leaving a bit of the ends hanging out the back.
“Look out everyone, the ice princess has claws” She joked to the empty locker room.
Dina rolled her eyes and let out another deep sigh, turning to leave. She only stopped when the other girl grabbed her gloves and stick and sauntered toward the door, stopping next to Dina. She looked down at brown eyes and spoke in a low, husky tone, “You know, I wouldn’t have to call you names if you would tell me your actual name.”
Fuck.
Gathering up all of the defiance she could muster she replied, “Dina. My name is Dina.” Try as she might, it came out as hardly more than a whisper.
Ellie pulled her gloves on and began to open the door “Well, Dina, I guess I’ll be seeing you around.” When she left, Dina stood motionless. Eyes still glued to the door leading to the rink. Willing herself to breathe.
What the actual fuck.
She shook her head and quickly left the rink. Pausing only to lightly gasp as she hit the fresh air. When she got to her car Dina slammed the door and aggressively flipped down the visor. She looked into the mirror, trying to place what was going on within her own mind.
Angry? Yes. Slightly intrigued? ... Fuck off.
With a huff she flipped the visor up, starting the Subaru and proceeding to back out of the spot.
Goddamn hockey players.