#i can just imagine Jim and Yam bringing this up with the group

[iridescentis]

I can imagine Jim and Yam being convinced that Nina is at least bisexual for a while, eventually they figure out she's not but they never even think to consider if Luna likes girls at all.

Then one day they're having a sleepover or something and talking about celebrity crushes and Luna mentions several women and Jim and Yam are like. What. Because of course Luna never thought to tell anyone because she just assumes everyone likes everyone.

[theherondaels]

Two’s Company

New life year (22 whohoo!) means new update

There it is, the long-waited sequel of Holy Trinity! I dedicate this to my lovely birthday twin sky-girls

Have fun reading!!!

“Look who’s back!” Gastón exclaimed happily, having followed Matteo’s conversation with the girls intently. “Did you complete the dare?” Ramiro questioned, only caring if he could keep his ten dollars.

“New girl will be at the party. Just like her friends,” Matteo informed them pleased. True, it could have gone smoother, but the prettiest one was coming to the party. He was positive her read-headed friend would make sure of that.

Also, only an idiot would miss a party when you were personally invited by himself.

“Nice,” Gastón grinned widely. Ramiro handed the Italian his money over, looking not very happy. Matteo took it with a smug look on his face, putting the ten dollars in his left side pocket. “But why does she have to bring her friends along?” Ramiro asked irritated, it hadn’t been part of Matteo’s dare after all. “Oh, I know! She didn’t fall for your charm,” he said, grin a bit too spiteful. It was obvious he was sour because he had lost the bet.

The tallest boy rolled his eyes. As if. He was Matteo Balsano, the captain of the soccer team, he had all girls eating out from the palm of his hand.

“Well, me being my generous self I thought it would be only fair if you have someone on Friday too,” he then told his friends with a grin. “How selfless you are,” Gastón grinned back. “I call dibs on the blonde,” Ramiro said, eyes now on the three remaining girls.

“Whatever makes you feel better about losing,” Matteo hadn’t been able to swallow that taunt. Ramiro shot him a dark look.

“Hey, he still can lose the other dare,“ Gastón tried to cheer up Ramiro. The older curly-haired boy snorted.

“I won’t,” Matteo said, having no doubt about that, the smug grin on his face again, “No girl can resist me.” They always melted in his hands like honey. He knew the new girl would be no exception.

Just then he felt as if he was being watched, Matteo adverted his gaze from his friends to the group of girls a few metres away. He caught the new girl right on the spot. Matteo winked at her, feeling some pride when she looked away, cheeks turning red as strawberries.

Matteo licked his lips. He would have lots of fun on Friday.

~

Luna was very nervous. She just had adjusted her black skirt for the fifth time this evening. The material was a little shorter than what she normally wore, but her new friends had insisted to help her buy a new party outfit.

Now Luna knew it wasn’t Cancun, but the fashion here was a lot more revealing than to what she was used to. Her red top clung too tightly on her body, and she seriously hoped her parents wouldn’t see her in this. Luna gave herself one last once-over before grabbing her little black purse.

She almost tip-toed down the stairs, not wanting to get her parents’ attention. She had already made it to the door when she heard her mother’s voice behind her. “You’re going out?” Mónica asked surprised.

"Oh, someone from our year is hosting a party. It'll be mostly people from our year." Luna had never lied so much in her life. She hoped her mother wouldn’t notice her nervousness, but she didn’t need to worry, Mónica was concerned with something else at the moment. “Is this how they dress in Buenos Aires?” The Mexican really had the urge to pull her skirt down to her knees. "Nina lend it to me,” Luna lied again,” She’s going to the party too. Just like Jim and Yam.” A soft smile appeared on her mother’s face. “It's nice you found friends so quickly," she said. “Now go, before your dad sees you in this,” she added quickly.

Luna nodded, slipping on her ballerinas. Yam had wanted to convince her to buy some high heels too, but she had refused vehemently. Luna thought she walked like a baby giraffe in them, she didn’t want to embarrass herself at that party. Especially not in front of Matteo.

When doorbell rang, she was relieved to see that she fitted right in with her clothes. Luna greeted all three girls with a quick kiss on the check. "Let's see if their parties are really that good,” Jim grinned.

It took them almost a whole hour to get to Matteo’s house. After 30 minutes of subway they had to walk the rest. Maybe they would have been faster if Luna didn’t have to stare at every house. This neighbourhood was very fancy and Luna seriously wondered what his parents did for a living.

The house were the party was being held had been easy to spot, all lights were on and you could hear a bass beat. Yam walked towards the door, handle already in hand when Luna gulped loudly.  

“Don’t we need to knock?” she asked, shocked by her friends' lack of manners. “Like they would hear us with that music volume,” Jim shrugged beside her. “That’s just the way things are here,” Nina explained, but Luna could see that this whole situation didn’t sit right with her too.

Yam rolled her eyes, finally opening the door. Loud music hit the four girls. “Let’s find the living room,” the blonde said decisively, “I need booze after that walk.” They just followed the music, making their way through the crowd of dancing teenagers. Some were shamelessly making out, causing Luna to blush. Parties in Cancun certainly never had been heated like that.  

They still were on their way to the punch bowl when Luna heard a familiar voice behind her. “You came,” Matteo stated, no surprise in his voice. She stood dead in her tracks. Something told Luna to run, to ignore Matteo, but his voice had already lulled her in.

The brunette turned around. “Yes, my friends would have never forgiven me otherwise,” Luna said. “So, I’m not the reason you’re here?” he questioned, curiosity in his eyes. “Are you always this self-absorbed?” Luna couldn’t help but ask. Matteo began to grin. “It comes with the position.”

Luna didn’t say anything in return, she was a bit dazzled by that gorgeous grin. Matteo looked around the room, before adverting his gaze back to her. “Care to dance, new girl?” She didn’t even have time to say no, his hand was already around her wrist, dragging her to the dance floor. Luna turned her head around, green eyes searching for her friends. She spotted them on the red leather couch, drinks in hand, just in time to witness the high-five Jim and Yam exchanged. Even Nina's smile, who sat between them, was solemn.

Luna was thankful a fast-paced song was playing, there was a bit space between her and Matteo. Well, not that much. She doubted Balsano knew what the word personal space meant.

“So, what’s your name, new girl?” Matteo asked, after he had twirled her. Boy, could he dance. “Luna,” she said, proud of herself for not stuttering. “What a lovely name,” Matteo said with a smile. Luna literally could feel herself melt. Her common sense should have told her to get away from him now. He was obviously a player, but she didn’t move away, because he played her heartstrings like a guitar.

Not long after that the music shifted to a slow song. Luna groaned internally. Whether it was from frustration or agony she didn’t knew at this point.

Matteo somehow manged to get even closer to her, his lips only a breath away from her face. His hands found her way to her hips and Luna was sure she knew now what heaven must be like.

Dancing with one of the school's hottest boys (and in Luna's opinion he was clearly the hottest), wasn't how she had imagined her first Friday night in Buenos Aires.

And yet here she was, Matteo's hands traveling all over her sides.

The kiss came unexpected. His hand had been in her hair seconds ago and now his lips were perfectly aligned with hers. She felt his mouth forming into a smirk, when she didn’t pull away. Luna wished she could freeze time, she never wanted this moment to end. She didn’t even register the music anymore.  

As soon as Matteo’s tongue traced her under lip Luna backed away, suddenly aware again that they weren’t alone. Matteo didn’t seem to mind, a devilish grin appearing on his features at her low moan.

“I know somewhere we can go,” he whispered into her ear. Luna followed him without questioning, right know she’d jump of a bridge if he requested it.  

Matteo led her through the crowd. Luna’s mind was too foggy to even to think to look for her friends. She felt so light-headed, even if she hadn’t drunk anything yet.

A door was opened, and Matteo didn’t waste any time to close the gap between them. Every fibre in Luna’s body sang when their lips touched again.

Feeling bold, she mimicked his earlier movement with her own tongue, and by the sound Matteo made he really enjoyed that. Luna probably shouldn't be proud of that, but hell, she was. Just as Matteo’s hands had wandered under her top, the door was opened. Luna almost cried out of disappointment.

“Oh God. Sorry,” Gastón giggled, already closing the door again. “Get out,” Matteo yelled, followed by some words Luna didn’t understand. The younger boy’s Italian curse knowledge was way better than hers.

“Yeah, yeah. Two’s company, three’s a crowd,” Gastón cackled from the other side of the door.

[silveranchor]

Fire on Ice

Okay, so I said I wouldn’t update this fic during my vacations, but I did a terrible thing and this was the only way I could think of to make amends. I know this is terrible and late, but the muse is nowhere to be found this time of the year.

Anyway, @deliverychicafresa  sorry it took a while, but I am sorry and love you very much.

Also, proper grammar, quality, and proofreading who? I don’t know them.

SL figure skating!AU

June, off-season. 2 months till competition. Buenos Aires. Marissa Juliana Mint Skating Club

"Luna, make those edges clear during your turns! Pick up the speed, Gastón! Matteo, what the hell are you doing with those arms? Don't think I didn't see you stumbling on that three-turn, Jim. Ramiro..." Juliana sighs loudly, bringing her fingers to rub her temple. "You can do whatever you want during individual practice, but right now we are practicing turns, not jumps."

Group sessions with Juliana are always the hardest. Usually, Tamara or Mariano would direct the session, but sometimes Juliana takes charge. When she does, Luna wants nothing more than to collapse on the rink after a few minutes.

They take a 5-minute break before continuing with individual practice, in which Ramiro leaves for a snack, Matteo drinks something blue, and Gastón lays face down on the ice while she and Jim stretch.

It's a comfortable routine they've settled in. It's been a month since she started practicing with the rest of the elite group and she enjoys it a lot. Everyone has a different style and technique and she has certainly learned a lot from watching, just like her coach said she would.

At her old rink, she was on a level of her own, so she trained by herself. Here, the elite skaters spend a lot of time together in the rink and she's got to know all of them.

She hit it off with Jim immediately. She's not only a great skater but an amazing dancer and one of the friendliest people she's ever met. She's homeschooled and in her last year too, so they often do homework together in the cafeteria with Nina and Jim's best friend, Yam.

Ramiro is not an overly friendly guy, but he's nice enough, she guesses, and he can do acrobatic skating, so that's neat.

Gastón is the funniest guy ever and she can never keep a straight face with him around. He was the first one to come back to the rink after vacation, so she met him first. He's been a great teammate, always raising the morale and making sure everyone has a good time. It seems hard to believe he and Nina are actually a couple, considering just how different they are, but somehow they work. She can definitely see why Nina loves him so much.

Matteo, well... He's been a surprise, that's for sure.

She's been a fan of his skating since she first saw one of his programs online, back when he was a junior. She got to see him skate live at his last and her first Junior World's Championship, where he took the gold.  She'd been in awe of the speed and height of his jumps, as well as his presence and confidence on the ice.

Ever since she first arrived at the MJM Skating Club, she'd been anxious about meeting him. She'd gone over every possible way she would start a conversation with him and what she would say, but when she finally got around to meet him, it went nothing like she'd imagined. Not that she was complaining. He did compliment her spirals, after all.

After that first meeting, she was surprised when he talked to her again, considering how much of a blushing mess she'd been. It's gotten better now, though. She's still a mess, but at least he seems not to mind since he hangs out with her even outside of practice.

Becoming friends with The Matteo Balsano is something she dreamed of but never expected.  It is nice, though... When he's not being an arrogant jerk.

The devil is summoned by thoughts, apparently, because at that moment he bumps into her, throwing her off balance and catching her at the last second, holding as if he were dipping her in a dance.

He looks down at her, amused as if waiting for her reaction. If he wanted to catch her by surprise, though, maybe he shouldn't do it at least twice a day. As it is, she raises an eyebrow at him, unimpressed. He does nothing but chuckle, the bastard.

"Are you two going into ice dance now? Because I honestly thought that if Matteo ever paired up with someone it would be me," Gastón says with a chuckle.

"You are way too heavy for me to lift," Matteo shoots back without even looking at him.

"You are lucky I care about Luna's safety or I would tackle you right now." She can't really look at him, but she knows that Gastón is smirking like an idiot.

"Put me down," she grumbles at Matteo.

He winks, "As you wish", and lays her down on the ice.

She stays there for a moment, glaring at him. "Very funny, You know that's not what I meant."

He reaches out his hand to pull her up and she reluctantly accepts it. "Well, Sugar Plum, I just did exactly as you said."

"Ugh, would you stop calling me that?"

"Nope. It stays. You already gave me a fruit related nickname, it is only right I return the favor."

"Well," she says, crossing her arms, "yours fits, Chico Fresa."

He tilts his head. "No, it doesn't. I am not a strawberry. If I am any fruit, I would be a mango."

She rolls her eyes at him. "Fresa is how we call boys like you in Mexico, too arrogant for their own good."

Matteo slides closer, getting into her personal space and making her look up to make eye contact. "You do have to admit I have a lot to brag about."

If his proximity weren't absolutely messing with her head, she would push him backward, but her heart is too busy beating out of her chest for her to do anything but try to steady her breathing.

Luckily for her, Juliana returns to the rink before she implodes, starting individual practice.

Her music plays first, which means she has priority on the ice while the rest run over their elements by themselves.

Her coach watches by the boards as Luna gets into her starting position and the first notes of her song begin to play. She finished learning her choreography a week ago, but the melody is already comfortingly familiar.

She'd been working on the harness with Mariano when Juliana had told her she was expected at her office after practice. She'd been improving a lot on her jumps and basic skating skills, even if she still had a lot to work on, but being called to her coach's office still made her anxious.

Her nervousness hadn't gone away when Juliana announced it was finally time for her to start working on new programs and that she had already chosen her short program for this season.

She must have looked like an idiot when Juliana told her she'd be skating to music from the Nutcracker. "I know this ballet might be considered as a warhorse since a lot of people have skated to it," she'd said, "but I think you can really put your own spin into the music."

Juliana had played her the track she'd chosen. It was the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, a piece even Luna was familiar with, but it sounded a lot different.

"I know classic is not exactly your forte, so Pedro and Simón helped me put together a contemporary violin track with fragments of an acapella cover by a popular group. It has a very modern sound to it while maintaining the charm of the original piece. What do you think about it?"

She liked it, a lot. The Nutcracker was one of the very few ballets she was familiar with, especially because of the Barbie adaptation she used to love as a kid. Plus, she appreciated Juliana's efforts to make it more comfortable for her to skate to by using a modern rendition of the song.

They'd had various choreography sessions together, in which Juliana would teach her the different steps, turns and even arm positions and movements that went with the music. Luna had never had a program like this: so mindful of every beat and note of the song. It was not only the required elements connected by steps following a melody, it was made to tell a story.

"What does The Nutcracker make you think of, Luna?" her coach had asked on one of the sessions.

She'd thought about it for a second. "Christmas? "

"And what feeling comes to mind when you think of Christmas?"

"Happiness."

The older woman had smiled at her. "You are skating to the Dance of The Sugar Plum Fairy, the ruler of a land full of candy and flowers and all sort of beautiful things. She is Christmas joy personified. Every December, when ballet companies all over the world perform The Nutcracker, the audience always waits anxiously for her to appear. The Fairy's dance is the most exciting part, what every spectator looks forward to." She'd gripped her arm gently. "There's a very exciting and joyful quality in your skating, Luna. You get to the ice with a huge smile on your face every time and your happiness at being able to skate is so palpable everyone in the stands can feel it. I want you to channel that lively spark of yours into this program. Be the Sugar Plum Fairy; make every movement, every turn, exciting and regal. Make sure you are the embodiment joy, and you will make an impression."

It is with that in mind that she twizzles across the ice during her step sequence, losing herself in the moment.

Her edges still need a lot of polishing and she falls on her double axel, but when the music ends, her coach is smiling and Luna knows she's on the right track.

................................................................................

"I'm pretty sure you should solve problem b first, then use the result to solve the first problem."

"Matteo! I know what I'm doing, okay?" Luna stares at her book for a couple of minutes, until she realizes she's wrong. "Wait... You were right. Now how do I solve b?"

Matteo chuckles. "You should really know by now that I'm always right, Sugar Plum."

She lets him take her pencil and notebook. "You are lucky I need help or you'd have to find another booth and someone else to share this huge shake with, chico fresa." She punctuates her statement by taking a huge sip out of their strawberry-banana shake, which she comes to regret after her brain freezes.

Matteo notices and laughs at her. "That's what you get for being rude and ungrateful."

She gasps exaggeratedly, "Rude, you say? I'll show you rude." Before he can reply, she flings her straw at him, splattering his shirt.

For a moment, he looks down, face blank and she's worried she did the wrong thing, but as soon as he looks up, she sees a spark igniting in his eyes and she knows it's on.

He gets some of their drink on her hair and she gets him in the face. They are both laughing their lungs out, probably attracting the gazes of the other customers, but she can't bring herself to care.

Pedro, who works at the juice bar, gets them a whole stack of napkins to clean themselves up and gives them an exasperated look.

After cleaning themselves up and checking that her book and notebook are intact from the shake fight, they continue working on her homework, making slow but steady progress. She's not stupid by any accounts, but she always had trouble paying attention, even in online classes, and understanding anything with numbers. Matteo, on the other hand, is a math and science genius, so having him explain the topics she struggles with has helped her a lot. In another life,  he could totally be a teacher, with his patient and empathetic approach.

An hour later, she can finally put her stuff back on her backpack, done for the day. Matteo orders their usual sandwiches and another large shake with two straws, at which Pedro rolls his eyes.

When he comes back with their food, he has already cut their sandwiches in two and put half of her BLT on his plate and half of his Caprese on hers, just how they like it. Luna smiles at him as he walks away muttering something about how they don't make any sense.

They eat in silence for a minute until Luna hears a familiar song coming from the speakers.

"Start spreading the news..." she begins singing under her breath.

Matteo's eyes light up in recognition before he grunts and lightly hits the table with his forehead.

"Pedro!" he calls, making other customers turn to look at them, "if you don't change that song right now, I swear I am gonna stab myself and have you clean all the gore."

Luna chuckles behind her hand.

Matteo turns to her. "Stop it. If I have to hear Frank Sinatra one more time today, I will go insane."

"You shouldn't have run through your Frank Sinatra Medley short program about a hundred times this week." Luna reaches out to tap his hand good-naturedly.

"You do have another already choreographed program you could practice on team days, you know? Or is that a myth? Because I've never seen you practice it."

The playful glint in Matteo's eyes dims instantly at the question. His expression changes so drastically, she feels like she should apologize for asking.

She almost does, except it lasts barely more than a millisecond. She blinks and he looks back to normal as if she had just imagined his face shifting a moment ago.

"Talk about yourself, Sugar Plum. Have you even chosen your long program music yet?" he says in a teasing tone, raising an eyebrow.

Luna stared at him for a minute, then shakes her head. Maybe she just imagined his sudden change.

"Actually, I have. Juliana and Simon finished matching the music to the choreo a couple of days ago. Juliana has made me practice the choreo sequence and the step sequence separately, but I'll start learning the program all together tomorrow."

Matteo takes a sip of their shake. "Cool. What music did you choose?"

"Oh, I ended up choosing a song from the August Rush movie. The one the orchestra plays at the end."

He nods. "I like that one. Pr-"

His words get abruptly cut by a golden purse landing on their table, very close to his plate.

"Well, that one was the worst plane ride of my life." The voice belongs to a girl in a cute black and white dress and a beret, who drags a chair to their table and sits close to Matteo.

"Ugh, this is the first and the last time I ever fly economy, I swear. That definitely wasn't a turkey sandwich, dammit. It was more mayo than bread", she pauses to take a look at her phone, "Truly, never again."

Luna glances at Matteo, who looks both amused and annoyed. Personally, she's just incredibly confused and a little bit in shock.

The girl looks at her phone again and curses, "Juliana is waiting for me."

She stands up and seems to notice Luna for the first time. "That top... is definitely an interesting choice," she says with a mildly concerned expression, then leaves; her heels clicking very audibly.

Luna looks down at her neon pink shirt, then back up at Matteo, who looks like he's trying hard not to laugh.

She just keeps staring at him in shock.

"Did Ambar Smith, Triple Loop Queen, just sit across from me and judge my fashion choices?"

She takes his strangled laugh as a yes.