How to Hate (and totally not fall for) Your Son's Teacher || Whizzvin ff

Chapter 10

"God, I hate roller skating," Marvin declares a little too loudly, when they enter the building and get a first glance at the rink.

Bright, colorful lights are hanging from the roof and reflecting on the shiny wooden ground, and there's obnoxious pop music blasting from the speakers. At least there are barely any people, which isn't a surprise—it's a Wednesday morning after all.

Whizzer scoffs. "How?"

Marvin's confused. "What do you mean 'how'?"

"How can you hate something so awesome?" Whizzer asks, looking at the rink with sparkling eyes.

Marvin feels a little guilty. He doesn't really have a reason, it's just.. not his thing.
"I don't know. I just do."

He shrugs at the offended look Whizzer gives him.

After they've all got their skates, everyone makes their way to the rink. Everyone, except Marvin. He was able to convince Whizzer that he'd watch from the bleachers.

The moment Whizzer steps into the rink, Marvin can tell he's exceptional. He glides effortlessly across the polished ground, his movements smooth and precise. The lights reflect in his eyes. Knees bent, he spins, and circles the rink with ease. Then he turns, skating backwards as confidently as he did forward.

Astonished, Marvin watches his every move. The kids are all holding on to the railing, making their first steps. Whizzer gives pointers, and he and Amelia (who seems to be a decent roller skater) assist each kid for a lap, one by one.

Over time the kids get more confident—some even start playing tag. Marvin sits on his seat contently until he hears a loud thud. His eyes scan the rink and quickly land on Amelia, who's on the ground, with a man Marvin has never seen before, standing next to her. He has a worried expression and is clearly apologizing.

Whizzer rushes over and helps her up, but when her right skate touches the ground, she hisses. So Whizzer helps her off the rink and sits her down next to Marvin.

Amelia carefully takes off her skate and immediately holds her ankle. She looks up at Whizzer apologetically. "I can't go on anymore."

The teacher nods. "You should rest." He looks over to Marvin. "Your turn."

"What? No!" Marvin whines like a child. "Yes." Whizzer steps in front of him and holding out his hands.

"No. I won't be any help whatsoever. There's no point," Marvin complains, but he takes Whizzer’s hands in his, and lets the other man pull him out of his seat, anyway.

He lets Whizzer drag him along. The teacher places his right hand on Marvin's back and lets Marvin hold on to his left, guiding him through the rink.

His mouth is right next to Marvin's ear, when he gives instructions so that they're audible despite the loud music. After about three laps, Marvin is able to speed up on his own.

Then, one of the kids needs Whizzer's attention, so he slows down the two of them and leaves Marvin standing somewhere in the middle of the rink.

It's when Marvin realizes that he finds taking the first step terrifying. He feels confident enough to do it in movement, but doesn't trust himself to not lose his balance now.

So, in other words, he's stuck. He crosses his arms, looks around and pretends this is exactly where he wants to be, instead of waiting for someone (Whizzer) to save his ass.

"You need some help?" Whizzer asks a few minutes later, circling around Marvin with a smirk on his face.

"No, I'm good. Just needed a break," he lies. Whizzer stops in front of him, then glides backwards to give Marvin some space.

"Then go on," he says, moving his arms in support of his words.

Marvin doesn't move, looking anywhere but Whizzer, hoping he'd just understand and not add further to his embarrassment.

And he does. He shakes his head in amusement and comes back into Marvin's space. Carefully, Whizzer separates Marvin's arms from each other and takes his hands back in his.

He goes backwards again, this time pulling Marvin after him. They skate a few rounds, it's almost like they're dancing. Marvin starts to forget the world around him as they go.

Marvin holds eye contact with Whizzer and thinks that maybe, the music isn't that bad and that just maybe, his life isn't that awful either.

After a while, they slow down a bit and Whizzer looks at Marvin challengingly, "Wanna try to do it on your own now?"

Marvin nods, so Whizzer moves to the other side of the rink, watching with expectancy.

Marvin takes a deep breath, then carefully sets one foot in front of the other, slowly gaining some momentum. About halfway he even starts to speed up. Whizzer looks proud.

It's just that it's then, he realizes: "I don't know how to stop!" he shouts, but it's already too late.

He crashes into Whizzer—who was already bracing himself—again.

Whizzer stumbles back a little but is able to catch himself—and with that—the both of them. His hands are placed on Marvin's back and Marvin's arms are wrapped around Whizzer's waist.

"I've got you." Whizzer says. Marvin can hear the smile on his face.

"Thank you," he mumbles into the other's shoulder, embracing the hug a bit more before letting go.

Marvin looks around for his kid and finds Jason still holding on to the railing like a lifeline. "I'll go check on Jason," he says. Whizzer hums.

He spends the last 30 minutes holding up Jason while trying not to fall himself. As selfish as it might be, he finds it comforting that his son hates roller skating too. Still, Marvin decides it's all worth it every time he catches Whizzer watching them.

"And? Do you still hate roller skating?" Whizzer asks as they step outside.

Marvin pretends to consider his answer. "Yep."

Whizzer rolls his eyes. "Some might say it looked like you were enjoying yourself quite a lot today," he argues.

"Well, I hate roller skating, but I don't hate you." He should've said it with confidence, like a joke. But he doesn't. It's uncertain and.. meaningful. Like a confession.

Marvin looks to the ground and is startled when an elbow makes its way into his side. It's not hard enough to hurt.

"You're such an idiot," Whizzer declares, though he can't hide the corners of his mouth moving up.

Marvin's skin tingles where their shoulders are bumping into each other and Marvin thinks that for this, perhaps, he'd even go roller skating another time.

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I struggled soo much with this chapter, 'cause I'm awful at describing things and all I know about roller skating I got from Soy Luna😭 BUT I DID IT