We pulled into the parking lot of the assumed roller rink and I scanned the building. The outside paint was chipping everywhere and the windows were dark as if they hadn't been cleaned in ages. I'm surprised Terre, or any of the other cars, knew where parking spots were because there was not a single line or trace of a line to be seen. All of it gave me creepy vibes and I was honestly starting to worry if I had misjudged Terre's character.
"I know it looks really bad, but Luna, trust me. It looks so much better inside." Terre promised as he saw how uncomfortable and tense I looked.
"Okay... I'm trusting you." Terre got out of the car and quickly ran around the hood to open my door for me while I was putting my phone in my purse. "Oh, thank you." I giggled.
I got out of the car and walked with Terre to the entrance that seemed even sketchier than the rest of the building. It looked like an automatic door but it was actually a pull door. I felt better once we walked in. It was modern and had a galaxy theme to it.
We walked up to the counter and the kid looked like all he wanted to do was go home. His face lit up once he noticed us.
"Hello, welcome to Skater Planet! The rental rate for rollerskates is five dollars and the rate for rollerblades is seven dollars. Which would you like to rent to rock your world today?" The kid explained with more enthusiasm than I was expecting.
"I'll do the rollerblades. Luna?" Terre looked at me.
"I'll do the same, I guess." I shrugged and dug in my purse to get money to pay but I heard Terre put something on the counter and saw fifteen dollars laying there.
"Keep the change, Mark." Terre looked at me and winked. "Gotta be quicker than that."
I smiled and followed him to one of the tables by the rink. We put our stuff down on the table and quickly put our rollerblades on. Terre helped me to the rink and I almost fell as we entered the circle of people.
"Terre, I am literally going to fall!" I exclaimed as he let me go and turned to stand in front of me.
"Try standing up straight. It will help your balance," Terre chuckled as I wobbled all over the place trying to stand up straight. He grabbed my hands and started skating backward. I wobbled as I started going forward.
"If I fall, I'm blaming it on you!" I laughed.
"Don't worry, Luna, I'll catch you if you fall." Terre shyly smiled, "Now that you have your balance, try pushing one leg out and back." I did what he said and ended up falling forward. As Terre promised, he caught me before I fell. I looked up at him with a sheepish smile. Terre chuckled as he helped me stand back up.
"Hey, Mahina! How's it going?!" I turned to who said it and my smile dropped. It was Kennedy with his cousin Megan on his arm. I snuck a glance at Terre whose smile had also faded.
Kennedy has got to be joking me right now.
"Uh, hey, Kennedy. What are you doing here?" I stood up straighter and locked my fingers with Terre's. Terre gently squeezed my hand while rubbing the back of it with his thumb.
"Megan and I decided to hang out today. Who is this?" He gestured to Terre.
"Get off the rink if you're just gonna stand there!" Some punk kid yelled at us as he zoomed past us.
"Yeah, let's get off the rink so someone doesn't run into us," Megan stated and pulled on Kennedy's arm. I nodded and Terre helped me off the rink. Thank goodness we were close to the exit. We got to their table and sat down.
"So who is this, Mahina? Is he like your cousin or something?" Kennedy joked.
"Ken, obviously he's her boyfriend! They were holding hands on the rink." Megan is more observant than I first thought.
"Oh," Kennedy sounded hurt, "You've already moved on?"
"Like you didn't while we were still together." I spat then turned to look for the bathroom. I spotted it then reached down to take off the rollerblades. I could sense that Terre was uncomfortable because of the tension between me and Kennedy. Luckily, Megan came to his rescue.
"Anyway, what's your name?"
"I'm Terre. Kennedy said your name was Megan, right?" Terre relaxed a little bit. I got the rollerblades off then stood up out of the booth since I was on the outside.
"I'm going to run to the bathroom, I will be right back." Terre nodded at me and I ran to the bathroom. I stood at one of the sinks looking at myself in the mirror.
Alright, Mahina. Do not let him get in the way of your night with Terre. Just ignore him. You know he's going to try and manipulate you into getting with him or at least going home with him. You don't need him anymore. Don't let him back in.
I took a deep breath and nodded at myself. I threw my hair up in a bun since I was already feeling warm. I walked back to the table and saw that Terre was still talking with Megan.
"Hey, Luna! Welcome back." Terre said as I sat down next to him. I quickly put the rollerblades back on.
"Luna?" Kennedy questioned.
"It's my nickname for her." Terre smiled and put his arm on the back of the booth.
"How did you come up with it?" I could hear the malicious intent behind Kennedy's words. I cut the conversation short as I stood up out of the booth again.
"It's a long story, but Terre and I will let you guys get back to your date." I looked at Terre hoping he would read how uncomfortable I was around Kennedy. To my relief, he did and stood up out of the booth.
"It was great meeting you guys." Terre smiled.
"It was my pleasure! Maybe we could hang out sometime?" Kennedy gave him his signature phony smile.
"Maybe, I'm usually pretty busy, but I'll see you guys around." Terre took my hand in his and quickly helped me over to the rink. I let out a sigh of relief as we got back on the rink.
"So that's Kennedy?" Terre asked once I gained my balance. He was in front of me helping me skate forward.
"Yep, he's been trying to be friends for at least two weeks." I rolled my eyes, "He's using his cousin as a cover-up for a date."
Terre laughed, "Well his cousin is definitely cooler than he is. He always focused the conversation on you. Asking about you, your music, your family, if you've mentioned him and other stuff like that. He's totally lame."
I laughed and hadn't realized Terre had let go. I was skating on my own. Not very fast, but forward is forward.
"Oh my God! Terre, I'm doing it! By myself!" Terre applauded me and I tried to go a bit faster but somehow misstepped and fell forward onto Terre. He wrapped his arms around me to stop me from falling to the ground. I looked up at him, "I guess you have enough balance for the both of us." I giggled. Terre rubbed his nose against mine giving me an Eskimo kiss. My face burned red as he let me go so I could stand up again.
"You're really cute when you blush like that," Terre said as he grabbed my hands again.
"Well, you're really cute all the time." Once I realized what I said I covered my face with my hands out of embarrassment. Terre laughed at me and took my hands away from my face.
***
Terre and I had done quite a few laps around the rink before Kennedy wanted to talk to Terre.
"I won't let him take up too much time, I promise." Terre gave my hand a promising squeeze as he went with Kennedy to his table. I was sat with Megan next to the rink as I waited for Terre to come back.
"It's nice to see you, Mahina. It probably sounds like a load of bull coming from me, but I really mean it." Megan smiled at me, "I told Ken that you would know who I was right away."
I smiled back at her, "Yeah, I knew right away that he was trying to make me jealous. The wig looks super realistic, by the way."
"Thank you!" She started peeling it off and pulled down her natural black hair. "I'm so glad you realized it was me because I don't think I could stand that wig any longer."
"I don't blame you!"
"Kennedy does not stop talking about you now that you're making a name for yourself these days," Megan sighed, "I keep telling him to shut up and that you've obviously moved on but it's like talking to a brick wall."
"Ah, so nothing has changed?" I laughed.
"He really wanted to come here and sabotage your date, but I could tell right away that Terre was not going to be swayed easily. Lucky for you, neither was Kennedy," I could almost see the sarcasm dripping off her words, "So, just a heads up, Kennedy is putting lies in Terre's head. I wish I could tell you what, but I honestly have no clue what he's saying."
"Thanks, Megan. I knew I could rely on you." I wrapped an arm around her shoulder and gave her a squeeze.
"Oh look, here they come," Megan quickly shoved the wig in her bag.
"Hey, Mahina! Who is this?" Kennedy asked once he got to us. I could see the anger burning in his eyes.
"This is one of my old coworkers who's also named Megan." I smiled with a murderous glint in my eyes. Terre walked to my side and put an arm around my shoulders.
"Luna, are you ready for dinner?" I made eye contact with him and saw a glint of sadness before it was blinked away.
"Yeah, I'm ready to head out." I turned back to Megan and Kennedy, "It was lovely to see you, Megan. Bye, Kennedy."
***
I sat at the table in the pizzeria alone while Terre was in the bathroom. I was scrolling through my Twitter timeline when out pizza arrived at the table.
"Alrighty, there's the pizza for you. Are you alone?" I looked at the waiter. A tall, scrawny, blond hair, blue-eyed, early twenties looking guy peered back at me. Not attractive, but not ugly either.
"Oh, no. My date is in the bathroom." I gestured to Terre's cup of soda on the table and smiled up at him.
"Let me know if he ditches you, alright?" I could see a kind glint in his eyes.
"I will, thank you."
Thankfully, Terre came back after the waiter left. He sat down silently and took two pieces of pizza and put them on his plate. We ate in silence until the waiter came around again.
"Would you guys like refills on your drinks?" His gaze flicked between me and Terre.
"I would, please. Thank you." He picked up my cup and walked away. Terre and I continued our sullen silence. I started chewing on my cheek as I waited for my cup to return.
"Luna-"
"Alright, here's your drink back." He set my cup down and quickly retreated back to his station.
I turned my gaze to Terre, "I'm sorry, what were you saying?"
He lightly shook his head, "Nothing."
I could hear the frustration in his voice, but I didn't push to find a reason why. "Okay..."
We finished in silence and Terre handed the waiter his debit card before he could say anything. I sighed as we packed up and met our waiter at the door. Terre grabbed his card, bid them a good night and walked out. I was about to follow but the waiter stopped me.
"Here." he handed me a slip of paper, "If you ever want to experience what it's really like to go on a date." I softly smiled at him and quickly made it to Terre's car where he was waiting with my door open.
"Sorry," I softly apologized as I sat in his car. I buckled myself in as we pulled out of the parking lot and made our way back to my apartment. The ride was a sullen silence once again and I just let myself go at that point. I stopped thinking about what I may have said wrong and just accepted that I messed up, yet another relationship.
We pulled into my parking complex and Terre locked the doors. He unbuckled himself and turned so his back was to his door. He didn't say anything, he only sighed heavily. My heart was beating so fast, I was positive he could hear it.
"Luna..." He started and my heart dropped. "Who is Kennedy to you? Boyfriend? Fiance? What is he?" I could hear the hurt in his voice.
I let my head hit the headrest and sighed, "So that's what you talked about?"
Terre didn't say anything.
"Do you want the whole, honest, story? Or just who he is to me?"
"Whichever one will tell me the truth," he stated bitterly.
"They both will, but I'll give you context." I took a deep breath and both prepared myself for the painful story and Terre's goodbye.
"Junior year of high school, so about 4 years ago, Kennedy asked me out at the Homecoming dance since he saw that I'd gone alone. We were amazing together, Redwood High's golden couple. Everyone loved us, including me. Kennedy on the other hand loved the attention and special treatment he got. He didn't want it to end so on graduation day, he got up to make the speech and he asked me to marry him.
"Of course I was awestruck by him and the fact that he wanted me to marry him so I said yes. The crowd went crazy. So I planned the entire wedding; picked the date, the dress, cake flavor, venue, decorations. Found my bridesmaids and his groomsmen. Sent out 'Save the dates' and the invitations. Everything was picture perfect up until a week before our wedding. I came home from a late shift at the diner and walked in on him in bed with one of my bridesmaids." I swallowed the lump that had grown in my throat.
"So, if that doesn't answer your question yet, Kennedy is my ex-fiance. I have never hated someone more than him." I tear slipped down my cheek and I quickly wiped it away. Terre didn't say anything for a while so I unlocked my door.
"Thank you for teaching me how to rollerskate. It was really fun. Goodbye, Terre." I got out of his car and closed the door. I rummaged in my bag for my keys as I walked to my building door. I quickly found my way to my apartment and opened the door. Daisy perked up when she heard me come in.
I looked up to see Kennedy on my couch.
"How did you even get in here?" I asked, not having the energy to fight with him.
"You left a spare key on top of your door, like always. Stupid idea to be honest." He got up off my couch and made his way over to me.
I closed my eyes, sighed, and dropped my shoulders. I opened the door, "Get out."
I opened my eyes to see Kennedy with a smirk on his face. I followed his gaze to Terre standing at my door. My jaw dropped.
"Terre I-"
"Save it, Mahina."
"Let me explain-"
"I said, save it. I don't need pathetic excuses." He walked away from my door and I turned to Kennedy.
"This is all your fault, you pathetic excuse for a man." I ran out my door to catch Terre, the elevator doors were sliding shut and I made a mad dash for the stairs.
I raced down the three flights and made it just in time to see Terre leave my building. I ran after him and caught his arm before he reached his car.
"Terre, please!"
"Mahina, I told you-" I grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled his lips to meet mine. He was tense for a moment before he relaxed and let his arms wrap around my waist to pull me closer. His lips danced with mine in harmony and I finally let him go after a few moments.
"Terre-"
"Shh," Terre placed a finger on my lips as he licked his own, "that was all the explanation I needed."