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It was a cold December night when Trinity was dragging a Mel icicle through the crowds of the People's Gas Holiday Market. Her hands grasped her friend tightly, dodging children, families and elves in favour of keeping up with Trinity.
“Hey Trin, can we slow down a little? I’m wearing Becca’s boots and my feet are killing me.” She shouts above the noise, hoping to god that Trinity could hear her through the ridiculously big reindeer earmuffs she’s wearing.
“Sure thing, I was thinking of dragging you to the ice rink first. We can get a good view of all the kids falling over,” She grins, lifting her shoulders and nudging Mel’s side. “Plus, all the men are probably trying to show off.”
“What about something warm first? I think I’ll be frozen if I don't get a warm drink or something soon,”
“Hot chocolate or mulled wine?”
“Hot chocolate, definitely. When is Samira joining us?”
The brunette huffs, taking a much slower walk now and looping her arm through Mel’s. “She’s spending the night at Abbot’s, I think, something about joining him at this black tie event.”
“That’s quite serious, isn’t it?”
“Oh, she’s definitely getting laid tonight. Who takes his brand spanking new girlfriend to a big gala event and then offers to have her sleep over? It’s getting into sugar daddy territory.”
Mel tilts her head, her brows knitted together. “I don’t think it fits the term; he hasn’t bought her anything.” At Trinity’s knowing stare, she gasps. “No way?”
“Bought her the dress, earrings and new shoes.”
“How do you know? I thought Samira was quite well off anyway?”
“Maybe she bought it herself, girl power and all that, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he did it to sway her into coming with him.”
They make their way through the crowds, eventually getting in line for Hot Chocolate and find themselves on the outskirts of the ice rink, sitting down on the uncomfortable metal benches.
“I think I'll like it here in Pittsburgh. It’s much different from my hometown.” Mel smiles, cradling her hot cup in her gloved hands and blowing on the top. “It was so boring, they barely decorated for Christmas.”
“They didn’t even do a tree or anything?” Trinity asks her, “Sounds like a nightmare.”
“You’d think that, being it’s a traditional town, they’d be all over it, but unfortunately, it was just my parents who decorated their houses or did something.”
“You don’t speak about your parents much, I don’t think you’ve mentioned them more than twice since I've known you. Not even when that Dr Robby guy was asking,”
“It’s just life, nothing much to say really.” She shrugs, taking a sip of her drink and refusing to make eye contact with her friend. “I’m not gonna just mention them if my boss asks me, he was just asking to be polite.”
“People are interested in knowing you, Mel, the real you. I’ve had plenty of conversations with Dr Robby, and the closest thing he asked was whether my mom had southern genes with how I act.” She replies, “Apparently, I have the balls of an old southern lady.”
“That doesn’t even make sense?”
Trinity snorts, “Not the point. Did they die or something? Utah is one hell of a one-way trip, Mel.”
“It was the best medical school that I could afford,” she reasons.
“You had over a hundred thousand dollars lying around to come here?” Trinity raises a brow, “Utah has its own school.”
Mel stays silent, reviewing her options and then sighs. “I didn’t want to stay in Utah, it holds bad memories, and why stay at the place that I hate? My mom had some money in her will, and I saved up, chose the first school I saw and applied to Pittsburgh.”
“Damn, that’s a brave thing to do. Any family here?”
She shakes her head, “I used to have my grandmother, but she died last year. She was from New York.” She shifts on the bench, “Becca was willing to come with me, and I found a good facility for her. It made the trip easier since I had my car and no ties back to my hometown, and so here I am.”
“Here you are, stronger than ever.” Trinity smiles, “Now, how about some fun?”
She looks over suspiciously, “Depends on the type of fun. I don’t trust you after that canoeing incident.”
“Come on, Mel-a-manger! Let’s go laugh our asses off and skate.” Her friend doesn’t give her a chance to protest, snatching her half-drunk hot chocolate and throwing it away before dragging her up and towards the concessions booth.
Before she knew it, they were on the ice.
“Why did I let you drag me into this? I’m about as graceful as a baby reindeer.”
“Our very own baby Bambi.” The brunette hums, skating rings around her.
“How do you know how to skate so well? I thought you were on the same level as me?”
“My mom lovingly put me in lessons when I was a young child. I absolutely hated them, but I stuck with it, it allowed me to get my anger out, y’know?”
Trinity’s graceful skating is cut short when a man, almost a foot taller than her, bumps into her shoulder. It makes her nearly slip, her scowl directed right at him once she’s gathered her bearings
“Watch where you’re going, idiot!” She yells, not even caring that other skaters are staring her down. “Can you believe him?”
“He might not have seen you,” Mel tries to make the excuse, her hand guiding her along on the railing. “He might’ve been too busy trying not to fall.”
“You’re too nice for this world, Melody. Do you ever get angry at people?”
“If they do things intentionally,” She responds. “I have my moments.”
“Oh, to be a fly on the wall when it does happen,” She hums. “Smell ya later, I’m gonna go and try to catch him up and give him a taste of his own medicine.”
Mel waves her off, fondly shaking her head and coming to a stop by the outside barriers of the ice skating rink. The temperature has dropped a little more now that it is getting late, and she can feel her nose getting ready to drop off and her hands seizing up.
“Are you always this ill-prepared?”
She shrieks at the voice coming over her left shoulder, making her turn in that direction and completely lose her footing.
“Do you just fall head over heels for strangers on the first interaction, too?” He smiles down at her from where he’s holding her up. His hands saved her from a very embarrassing fall.
“Not usually,” She grumbles, patting his shoulder to let her up, and he does. “I’m usually more graceful,”
“Could’ve fooled me.”
“Well, maybe you shouldn’t be sneaking up on girls when they’re not paying attention, it could’ve been dangerous! I might’ve hit my head or knocked someone else over, sliced my hand on my skate or-“
“So you’re a med student then?”
She stops, looking back at him and getting frustrated at his boyish smile. “No,” She says, “Okay, maybe.”
“I could tell by the fact that you listed off every potential injury you could face by my actions.” He pushes off one skate, coming to lean beside her on the railing. “So what’s a pretty girl like you hanging around with a girl like that?” He nods to where Trinity is racing around the ice, not having noticed the guy yet.
“She’s a good friend, don’t judge people just by their first interactions.” She crosses her arms, “It’s insulting.”
He holds his hands up, an easy smile on his face that reveals his perfect teeth. “Alright, alright. It was a mistake, though, what happened earlier. My friend was shouting at me across the rink, and I just mistook the distance between her and where I was heading. I would’ve apologised, but she was too busy yelling and glaring at me.”
“That’s Trinity for you, but she’s nice when you get to know her.”
“What if I want to get to know you?” He moves closer, his hand coming up to brush some hair away from her face. “I wanted to come and talk to you, away from my friends.”
“Quite the journey then,” She hums. “It must've hurt to tear yourself away from your friends just to come over here.”
“You have no idea. They’re probably watching me and getting ready to tease me, but I don’t care,” He tilts his head. “Do you have a number I can text? I would offer some hot chocolate, but I don’t think the stalls will be open much longer, and frankly, if I’m out here any longer, then I’ll freeze to death.”
She laughs softly, “I don’t even know your name.”
He gasps, his gloved hand going to his chest dramatically. “How rude of me! I’m Frank, a Pittsburgh native and definitely charming.”
She shares a smile with him, “Mel, originally from Utah and definitely cold.”
“Well, Mel from Utah, care to share that number so we can get out of this cold quicker? I also don’t want to be here too long before your friend sees me and hunts me down.”
She grabs her phone from her pocket, tapping into a new contact and mentally cursing at her frozen fingers. “You’ll have to type your number and name. I would ask for your phone, but I can’t feel my fingers right now.”
“You need to invest in some warmer gloves. How about I treat you to some on our first date?” He hands her phone back, tucking his own hands into the pockets of his jacket
“You’re oddly confident. We might talk and not even be compatible.”
“Can’t a man dream?” He tenses, looking past her, and his face turns sheepish. “Oh, look at the time, I’ll be expecting that text, Mel!” And with that, he pushes away from her and goes in the opposite direction.
“Yeah, he'd better run,” Trinity scowls. “What was he doing with you, harassing you? I can get him if you want; he may have his height, but he’s not as agile.”
Mel laughs, resting a hand on her friend's elbow. “We were just talking, Trinity. He asked for my number.”
“That sleezebag bumped into me, Mel! I can technically call that harassment.” She whines, “Don’t go with the enemy!”
“Not all men are bad, Trin. Dennis is nice, and he’s a guy.”
“Nu-uh, correction, he’s one of the girls.”
She sighs, pushing herself so she stands in front of her friend. “Look, give him a chance, please? If he turns out to be an idiot, then we can hate on him together, how’s that?”
“Can I egg his house?”
“Trin,” But she relents. “Fine, but only if he turns out not to be as nice.”
“I’ll take it. Now let’s get out of here, I hear a Christmas movie and popcorn calling our names.”