Chapter Text
The ice rink in the arena was glistening under the bright LED lights. Kloud sighed as she pulled up her leg warmers and fixed her skates before stepping onto the ice. Music poured from her earbuds as she glided carefully across the ice. The sound of the blades on her skates cutting through the ice was rhythmic and soothing for Kloud. Her blonde hair wrapped around her as she spun. She breathed in deeply as she landed perfectly, her skates digging into the ice before she moved to skate backward, still vibing to the music that played through her earbuds.
Kloud couldn't help but smirk a little to herself. She was happy with how clean her routine was going. Her spins were tight, and her jumps were landing exactly how she wanted them to be. She was so caught up in her practice that she didn’t realize she was no longer alone on the ice anymore. She couldn’t hear anything besides her music and her own breathing. She picked up speed, bending her knees slightly before lifting off the ice for a triple toe loop. She landed with a slight wobble, still sticking the landing, but that wobble was enough to throw her off balance just enough.
Kloud quickly tried to regain her balance, but it was too late. She collided with something hard. A sharp gasp escaped her lips as her skates slipped out from under her. She didn’t even have time to react before she fell backward, her arms flailing instinctively. The taller stranger, whoever they were, wasn’t faring much better, toppling right into her. Kloud barely had time to register the muffled shout before they both crashed onto the ice in a tangled heap of limbs. The impact knocked the air out of her lungs, and her earbuds flew out of her ears and went skittering across the ice. Kloud groaned, blinking rapidly as she tried to process what just happened. The stranger's weight was pressed awkwardly against her side, their breath coming out in sharp huffs. Her first instinct was irritation– who the hell skated onto the rink without announcing themselves? Then again… she hadn’t exactly been paying attention either. She turned her head slightly, catching a glimpse of fluffy white hair and a tan face before the stranger quickly scrambled backward. “Shit– shit, I am so sorry,” He blurted out, voice rough with embarrassment. Kloud sat up slowly, wincing as she rubbed her hip where she’d landed. The stranger hovered nervously, his green eyes flickering between her face and the ice like they weren’t sure if he should reach out to help or not. “Here, let me-” he reaches out hesitantly, but quickly pulls his hand back when Kloud shifts away from him. “I’m fine.” She muttered, pushing herself up onto her skates. She tried to ignore the way her cheeks burned with embarrassment. “Seriously, I didn’t mean to…” He started again, running a hand through his tousled hair as he watched Kloud dust imaginary ice shavings off her leggings. Their gazes met, her stormy blue-grey eyes narrowing slightly. “Just… watch where you’re going next time,” She said curtly before turning away to fetch her earbuds off the ice. The stranger didn’t respond, just continued to watch her. Kloud could practically feel his eyes burning into her back as she skated away. She didn’t even want to entertain the thought of acknowledging him anymore. She just wanted to get back to her practice. Her peace had been ruined, and she wasn’t in the mood to pretend otherwise. The stranger sighed and rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly before skating off in the opposite direction. Kloud popped her earbuds back into her ears and tried to refocus. Yet she couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. A glance over her shoulder confirmed it; he was still there. The white-haired stranger, now leaning against the ice rink’s wall, was staring at her openly, his hockey stick dangling from one hand. The way his green eyes followed her every move made her skin prickle. Kloud spun sharply, glaring in his direction. “Do you mind?” She called out, pulling one earbud out. The stranger blinked, as if startled out of a daze. “Uh–” He hesitated, then grinned sheepishly. “Sorry. Just… you’re really good,” His voice carried a warmth that made Kloud pause. She’d heard compliments before, but there was something so startlingly earnest about his tone. She exhaled sharply through her nose. “Thanks,” She muttered before turning away again, but this time, she didn’t resume skating. Her shoulders slumped slightly. Whatever momentum she’d had before was gone now as she skated to retrieve her phone from the benches in front of the ice rink. Kloud removed her earbuds, placing them back into their box and safely into her bag. The white-haired stranger hesitated before skating over towards her as she unlaced her skates. “I’m Travis,” he offered, leaning against the bench beside her. Kloud glanced up, studying him for a moment. The way he held himself was relaxed and confident, but his fingers tapped nervously against his hockey stick. “Kloud,” She responded quietly, pulling off her skates and slipping her feet into her worn-out sneakers. Travis grinned, “Like the sky?” Kloud blinked. Most people would have made jokes about her name sounding like ‘cloud.’ “Yeah,” She admitted, standing up and slinging her bag over her shoulder. Travis fumbled to grab his bag and match her pace as they walked towards the exit. “So, Kloud,” He started, shoving his hands into his hoodie pockets. “You here every night?” Kloud glanced at him sideways. “Most nights,” She admitted. Travis hummed, nodding. “Same,” He chuckled. “Guess we’ll be seeing more of each other then.” Kloud glanced at him, “Just don’t run into me again.” Travis laughed and raised his hands in mock surrender, “I won’t, I won’t!”
Outside, the chill of the night air hit Kloud’s cheeks, flushing them red. She sighed and tightened her scarf around her neck. Travis lingered awkwardly beside her, shifting his weight from foot to foot. “Need a ride?” He asked, nodding towards a beat-up pickup truck in the parking lot across from them. Kloud hesitated, glancing at her phone. The last bus had already left. “I don’t take rides from strangers,” She muttered. Travis smirked, “Well, now I’m not a stranger, am I?” Kloud rolled her eyes, but a small smirk tugged at her lips. “Fine,” She relented, “But only because I don’t feel like paying for an Uber.” Travis grinned triumphantly and led the way. Once at the truck, he grabbed the door and swung it open, “for you, m’lady,” he chuckled. Kloud rolled her eyes but smiled and tossed her bag into the truck before climbing in herself. Travis walked around the other side, tossing his duffel bag somewhere in the back, and climbed into the driver's seat. He started the truck, and the engine roared to life while he fumbled with the radio dial until some random 80’s rock song started to play quietly. “Where to?” Travis smiled. Kloud chuckled and gave him her address.
Kloud settled back into her seat slightly, her fingers tugging on the sleeves of her sweater. Travis hummed softly, “You’re a figure skater?” Kloud turned to look at him, “yeah I am, I’m a part of the PD figure skating company.” Travis grinned, That’ss cool, I’ve heard of them.” Kloud raised an eyebrow at him, “you have?” Travis chuckled and nodded, “yeah, hockey players don’t just watch hockey y’know.” Kloud snorted and rolled her eyes playfully, “right.” Travis glanced at her, “you got any competitions coming up?” Kloud hesitated, “yeah, the sectionals are coming up in a few weeks.” Travis hummed, “nice, do you normally do good in them?” Kloud shrugged, “I normally place top five,” she paused and smiled then added, “this year i’m aiming to place high enough to get into the nationals” Travis grinned, “I’m sure you’ll get it.” Kloud gave him a look of bewilderment, “you don’t even know how I skate” she laughed. Travis chuckled, “well… I watched you for a few minutes” he gave a toothy smile, “you’re good!” Kloud rolled her eyes, “watching me skate for a few minutes after you body slam me doesn’t mean I’m good enough for gold.” Travis smirked, “trust me, I know talent when I see it.” Kloud scoffed and looked out the window at the passing street lights, “right.” Travis chuckled and turned up the radio slightly, “so, what got you into skating?” Kloud hesitated before sighing softly, “my mom, she used to skate, she got me into lessons when I was little.” Travis nodded, “that’s nice.” Kloud glanced at him, “what about you? What got you into hockey?” Travis grinned, “My dad used to watch hockey games every week, so by the time I was in 8th grade, I begged him to let me join a team.” Kloud hummed, “That’s cool.” The street lights passed over them in blurs of orange, and the truck became silent aside from the hum of the engine, the melody of whichever song was currently being played on the radio, and the occasional click of his turn signal.
The truck pulled up in front of Kloud’s house. Her house was a modest two-story house with a small porch and large windows. Warm yellow light was spilling from the windows. The yard was covered in toys and small bicycles. Travis whistled lowly, “Nice place.” Kloud unbuckled her seatbelt and grabbed her bag. “Thanks,” she mumbled, suddenly feeling self-conscious. Before she could open the door, Travis was already rounding the truck to do it for her. She blinked up at him, startled by the gesture. “Oh, thanks,” she sputtered out, stepping out onto the pavement of the driveway. Travis leaned against the truck door, his green eyes flickering toward the house where a silhouette moved behind the curtains. “Big family?” he asked casually. Kloud hesitated, then nodded. “Yeah,” she murmured. Travis hummed in acknowledgment, his fingers tapping against the truck's doorframe, “Must be loud.” Kloud huffed a small laugh, “You have no idea.” Travis smiled, “Must be nice, I always wanted a sibling.” Kloud smiled back, “no you don’t, they are chaos gremlins, love them but...” she trailed off. Travis nodded, “yeah I get what you mean.” Kloud exhaled through her nose with a small smile. The night air was growing colder around them, and the moonlight mingled alongside the street lamps that dotted the streets. “I should head inside,” Kloud sighed quietly as sh tightens her grip on her bag. Travis frowns for a moment before nodding. Kloud headed up the stairs of her porch, “Thanks for the ride.” “No problem,” Travis responded, still leaning back against his truck, “hope to run into you at the rink more often.” Kloud paused and turned around to look at him. Travis jolted, “Wait– wait– wait thats not what I meant!” He exclaimed, his green eyes growing wide. He groaned, “I meant.. I hope to see you around there again.” He ran his fingers through his white hair, clearly embarrassed. Kloud smiled then started to laugh, “Oh my Irene,” she chuckled, “I knew what you meant, Travis.” Kloud shifted her bag on her shoulder, “I hope to see you there more too,” she smiled and gave him a nod before heading inside. Travis let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding as he slumped back against the truck door. Shit, that was so emberrsing He thought to himself as he ran a hand through his hair once more. He pushed off the truck and headed around to the driver's seat once more. Irene, Travis, how many times can you embarrass yourself in one night…