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“If you let go of my hand, I'll kill you."
Dustin laughed at her words, although he held tightly to her forearms.
"You would need to be able to skate on your own to catch me."
They were both out on Lover's Lake in the middle of winter, having succeeded in finding two pairs of skates from Dustin's garage. Dustin moved his feet in and out and El really tried to concentrate on what he was doing. He was going in and out, in and out, skating backwards as he held her. Although he told her to follow his movements, the ice was slippery. It wasn't like running in the forest. It was like, well, being on an uneven dinner plate whine trying to balance on knives. She felt like her legs might give out from under her at any moment, and thus she did her best to concentrate. And concentrate she did.
Dustin smiled at the look on her face. It was one that he adored. Her tongue stuck out just a little bit. Her eyes were laser-focused on her feet, and he could see, in her mind, the cogs turning.
“In and out,” she murmured. “In and out, in and out.”
As they glided along the lake, despite her look of concentration, she was doing beautifully and continued to do so as they made it a quarter mile, swooping around the arch of the lake’s heart. It was a quiet snow day. The world was covered in a layer of ice that clung to the trees, painting the whole world white. Even their breath came out in little white puffs.
It was just the two of them today. The rest of the party were off doing their own thing. Max had physical therapy, and Lucas was, of course, joining her. Will was working his part-time job at the ice cream store, and Mike was, of course, stuck babysitting Holly.
So the two of them enjoyed a rare adventure together. Although they promised not to talk about it to the others, for fear jealousy would bubble up. El would definitely tell Max, and Dustin would probably tell Will, but they knew that the two of them wouldn't tell the other boys.
Dustin slowed them to a stop, and El looked up, pausing.
“What's wrong?”
“Nothing,” he said, staring at her before he leaned in and kissed her.
El was not caught off guard by his actions. She knew him well enough to read his face the moment before. And it was so obvious to her when he was getting ready to kiss her. He got this little heartstruck look and his eyes softened. They almost seemed to be pouring over with love. Max told her they were called heart eyes and he definitely looked like that. He would also close his eyes first and then tilt his head to the left. He’d pucker his lips and wait for her to lean into him. As if waiting for her to do the work of actually kissing him.
She just giggled every single time. Then leaned in to kiss him because he was so cute. The second her lips touched his, he reached up and held her face. His breath was warm against her bitter cheeks. And she smiled as she let go of his forearm. She put her arm around his waist as she pulled him in.
His leg slipped between hers as they moved into each other. He moved his lips to open her mouth and she greeted him with her tongue. They lost each other in the passion too quickly.
Suddenly, she felt the world slipping out from under her. “Dustin!”
“Shit!” As he screamed, his words echoed across the lake, disturbing the birds as they flew away and circled around the cold, quiet pond.
She grabbed him, trying to hold on as Dustin flung out his arms. She felt like a chicken trying to study herself flying out before he tumbled back. Although startled, she reacted quickly, grabbing them for a moment and freezing them in place with her powers.
Dustin almost landed flat on his ass, and she was on top of him. They both hovered just inches above the ice, and neither was hurt. With a flick of her wrist, she had them upright again, floating just above the lake. She concentrated, her nose starting to bleed as Dustin wiped it away. Then she set them both down on their feet. He gripped her forearms again, and she held him tightly.
“Okay, lover boy,” she said, tightening her grip again. “No more kisses until you teach me how to properly skate.”
“Lover Boy, where did you learn that term?” Dustin asked, raising his eyebrows as he leaned back.
“From Joyce,” El said with a shrug as she smiled.
“Well, I don't like it.”
“Too bad.”
He stuck out his tongue at her and she stuck hers out back at him. Then he smirked and leaned in. He stole a kiss to her cheek, although he pulled away, gripping her forearms again.
“You're a rascal, you know that,” El said, glaring at him, although her eyes didn't mean it.
He just smiled. “Yes, and that's why you find me so charming.”
She gave him a shove, and he laughed again. But they went back to skating. They picked up their pace, going in and out with their legs, and El found her footing soon enough. After they had made one loop around the lake, Dustin moved behind her, putting his gloved hands on her waist.
“Okay, next lesson. Pick up one skate, then push off.”
“How do I do that?”
“Do you want me to let you go and show you?”
“Yes.”
He let go of her, although he made sure she was steady. Then he stood in front of her with his back to her. She got a nice view of his little ass and the dorkiest little blue-and-purple snowsuit with neon orange accents that he was wearing.
It was something Mrs. Henderson insisted upon. ‘I just want my baby to be warm,’ she had said as she stuffed the hat onto Dustin's head. Before promptly turning to El and stuffing a hat and gloves onto her as well.
“And my darling dear, of course. Now, you two don't get frostbite out there, and turn back if it gets too cold. And if you fall through the ice, just remember to float on the water….”
“Yeah, yeah, we got it, Mom,” Dustin had said, a little annoyed, as he adjusted the hat back into a position where he could actually see.
“Just be safe,” Mrs. Henderson stressed as the two of them exchanged a look. She had no idea how unsafe their behavior often was, but they let her baby them either way.
To have an almost mother-in-law El affectionately called her, was different from having her mother, Joyce. Mrs. Henderson was often overly protective and smothering at times, as Dustin referred to it. She truly loved her and welcomed El into her home as if she were her daughter. The truth was that El loved being loved by another person. She had craved it for so long that every time it came upon her, it was something she treasured to no end. So she let Mrs. Henderson fuss over the two of them and indulged every one of her worrisome whims.
But concentration brought her back to the present. Dustin pushed off with one leg, picked up the other, and pushed off again. His movements were slow, and she figured it was deliberate on her part.
She held out her arms, steadying herself as she picked up one leg and turned her ankle the way he had. She turned her toes outward before putting her foot on the ice. With one skate straight, she pushed off with her back leg and sent herself forward. She balanced on that one leg before setting the other down again. Then two feet straight ahead as she glided. She smiled a little at her achievement as Dustin turned around and clapped, having watched her.
“That's it! That's it! Come on now, skate over to me!”
He held his arms out to her, and she did so again, skating toward him with one step, then two, and then again and again until they had developed a rhythm between the two of them. Finally, El collapsed into his arms. He laughed, infectious, as she smiled as well.
“Come on,” she said, tugging on him. “It’s cold and you promised me some hot chocolate.”
“And I know just the place,” he said with a smile, wrapping his arms around her waist. Before they skated together back to the edge of the lake, where they had left their belongings.
A few minutes later, they were seated at Joey's Diner, eating waffles and drinking two cups of hot chocolate. The diner was a contrast to the winter outside. It was bustling with customers and the heat from the kitchen always made it a little hot inside. They had been there quite a few times, and it had quickly become El's favorite place. As she devoured her second waffle, Dustin just sat there smiling at her.
“What?” El asked around a bite full of waffles as her eyes narrowed at him.
“Nothing,” Dustin said with a shake of his head. “Just thinking about how cute my girl is.”
She smirked. “Flattery will not get you a bite.”
“Aww, come on. You always share.” Dustin said with a pout.
“Not my waffles,” El said pointedly as she poked her fork at him, and he recoiled with a frown.
“Did you have a good time, though?” Dustin asked, smiling again at her.
“I like it when you teach me new things,” El said, an innocent blush creeping up onto her cheeks.
“Yeah, well, you're one of the only people who really enjoys taking the time to learn with me,” Dustin bit his lips and looked away too. A familiar flush across his cheeks.
She smiled as well, then she picked up her plate and pushed it toward him. But blocked his fork because he went in for a bite. Before she stood up and came around to sit in the booth next to him. Dustin smiled, putting one arm around her as she leaned into him. They finished their meal together. However, she did have to stop his fork again, almost poking his hand as she swatted at it. He shot back, shaking it as if she had actually stabbed him.
“Ow,” he said grumpily.
“Here, I'll kiss it better,” she said, grabbing his hand and giving it a kiss.
“You're lucky you're cute,” Dustin said, tilting his head and leaning in to kiss her.
El laughed as she kissed him back. “Don't I know it.”