How Long Has It Been?

[Violet "Vi" Coustic]

Feet moving and balance staying, Violet slid across the ice while trying to maintain being upright. She knew she wasn't the best skater in the world, but that didn't mean she didn't enjoy it.  She wouldn't go nearly as fast as some of the younger kids skating, but that was fine. Gaze moving, Violet was much more content simply watching the speedsters race around the rink with a small smile. There was almost never any snow back home, so the first time she had seen it had been when she came to Kalispell years ago. Memories flooding, Violet smiled wider as she remembered how fascinated she had been with the snow.

One of the first things her friends had gotten her to try was ice skating. Completely new, Violet had fallen a number of times, but always tried again. Eventually she had gotten the hang of it, although she wasn't very fast. She had still felt pride in her small accomplishment anyways. Smile growing and chuckle following, Violet shook her head as one child speed right past her.

Looks like everyone's enjoying the cool at least somewhat.

Eyes averted, Violet accidentally bumped into someone while skating. 'Oh! I'm real sorry 'bout.... Callie?" She asked, tone surprised. Smile growing, Violet was more than happy to see her friend. "Callie! It's awful nice'ta see you. Sorry for bumpin' inta you."

[Callie Montgomery]

It was slowly turning into the holiday season. The one time of the year that she found herself becoming homesick. It was tough enough that she hadn't been home in four years. But the holiday's just made it worse. It was the one time of the year that most people were with their families, and yet here Callie was. Without a family. She never got mad at her parents. She understood why they had never visited. It was more on her anyways, she had plenty of opportunities to go back home to visit. She just found herself more preoccupied with certain things here. Perhaps one day she'd make time to go.

Callie had taken a trip off campus to visit the skating rink. She loved what the town did every year. It was quite magical. The lights, the decorations, it really was a sight to behold. She had invested in her own pair of skates. Not wanting to risk it with rentals, and over the years she had taught herself to skate, quite well at that. She was able to keep her balance and learned how to stop. Things were going well until she felt herself bump into someone. That was odd, she was usually much more careful and observant than that.

She was about to apologize before realizing who it was. "Violet?!" She said, almost shouting a little over excited for someone who just literally bumped into her friend. "It's okay! I'm sorry, I should've been payin' more attention." She said happily, her drawl behind each word she spoke. "I'm so happy to have bumped into ya." Her smile grew from ear to ear. She wrapped her arms and gave a hug to her friend. "Whatcha doin' 'ere? You alone?" She asked, looking around to see if her friend had company.

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Tag: Violet "Vi" Coustic

[Violet "Vi" Coustic]

Smile widening, Violet couldn't help but be amused at how excited Callie was. Softly chuckling, she shook her head. "It's alright! It was just a mistake, n' neither've us got hurt." She said, voice warm and sweet. "N' I'm happy you bumped inta me too. Feel like it's been a while." She added, tone soft and calm. Violet really was happy to see the younger girl, even though they saw each other frequently.

It's like the younger sister I never had.

Hug returned, Violet wrapped her arms around Callie as well and held her close with a soft laugh. Power suppressed, Violet still stayed careful; especially with Callie, considering how close they were. Violet never wanted another incident to take one of her friends away. Smile growing fondly, Violet nodded her head. "I used'ta always go skatin' with my friends back at the school. Now'a days I usually just go by myself. What about you? What brought you out'ta the rink?" She asked, words curious and calm. Eyes observing, Violet noticed that Callie was alone herself.

Now what's a sweet young thing like her doing at the ice rink all alone?

[Callie Montgomery]

Still partially in shock Callie didn’t move. Her face was gleaming with excitement and happiness as her smile seemed to take over her entire face. “I’m grateful for that! We could of ended up on our butts.” She said amusing herself with the thought. She let out a giggle and started playing with the tips of her hair. “It has been. We gotta change that!” She said giving a firm nod. Even though it hasn’t actually been that long. They saw each other quite frequently and Callie knew a trip to the stables could easily fix that.

It was nice. Violet was like family now. Over the years she has turned into something more. Maybe that’s why Callie didn’t have a need to go home and visit her actually family. She had her own right here. The thought made her smile grow even bigger, if it was even possible.

“You don’t gotta be goin’ be yourself. Ya got me!” She said with a giggle as she pointed at herself. “I just came to see the sights. They always make it so beautiful.”

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Tag: Violet "Vi" Coustic

[Violet "Vi" Coustic]

Softly chuckling, Violet nodded in agreement to Callie's words. "We could'a! I used'ta fall on my rear a number'a times back when I first came 'ere." She admitted, words calm and kind. "It was quite the sight watchin' me tryin'ta learn how'ta skate, lemme tell ya." She added, tone amused and head shaking. Ears listening, Violet was in total agreement with seeing Callie more again. "That we do, so long as you ain't missin' school or somethin' to come see me." She teased, voice playful and warm.

Smile widening, Violet laughed and nodded her head. "Alright. I sure don't mind your company." She said, tone sweet and soft. Head turning, Violet gaze around before looking back at Callie and nodding. "They do. I remember I'd never seen ice n' all before comin'ta Kalispell. My friends just had'ta get me out on the ice'ta try skatin'." She added, words fond.

[Callie Montgomery]

Callie let out a giggle. Picturing herself falling just as many times as Violet had probably as well. “I think most folks are like that the first couple of times.” She said, her accent following each of her words as she spoke. “I ain’t no stranger to fallin’ on the ice.” She admitted, letting out another giggle, now twirling he ends of her hair.

“I’d never do such a thing. You know how important class is ta me.” She said, reassuring her friend. It was something Callie had prided herself on. She enjoyed her classes, and rightfully so. She had finally declared a major and it was exactly what she was looking to get into. The only thing is hoping she could find a job when she graduated. But she had a few more years to worry about that.

“Ya better not mind it.” She said teasing. Callie re-positioned herself next to Violet and looped her arm around her friends. With a little bit of a tug Callie began moving, joining the rest of the people in a lap around the rink. Her blue eyes shifted between her friend and in front of her, not wanting to bump into any more people. She had just been lucky who she had bumped into in the first place. Someone else may have not been as kind. “It’s really quite somethin’ I had never seen anything quite like it before comin’ here either.” She said, smile still present. “It’s amazin’ how folk around ‘ere can’t believe us southern gals never seen ice…or snow for that matter. You should ‘ave seen me when I had to get my first winter coat.” She said, eyes now focused in front of her letting out a laugh as she grabbed her friend a little tighter for some balance.

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Tag: Violet "Vi" Coustic

[Violet "Vi" Coustic]

"I think you might be right there." She agreed, voice sweet. "Though it's good'ta know I'm not alone." She added, tone teasing and playful. She wasn't too surprised if Callie had fallen a few times too. Ears listening, Violet chuckled softly and nodded, happy with Callie's answer even if she knew it. "I know, I'm just teasin' you, Callie." She admitted, words kind and a wink added. Callie was a good student from what Violet knew of the girl.

"I don't, promise." She responded, voice sincere. Arm opening a little more, Violet smiled as Callie looped their arms together and they skated on. Ears listening, Violet smiled and nodded her head in agreement as she looked around. "It is pretty amazin'. I remember I just wanted'ta stay outside all day 'n see it. Eventually I had'ta go inside cause I'd gotten so cold." She stated, tone amused and soft. Arm tightening, Violet helped Callie keep her balance when she felt the girl grab more firmly. "'N that must'a been a sight, huh? Winter coats seemed too thick for my likin', but my friends insisted. I'm glad they did." She added, words fond and soft laughter following.

"So how's school, speakin've it." She asked, voice curious as eyes glanced at Callie.

[Callie Montgomery]

“Ain’t nobody alone. There’s seven billion people on this planet, at least one person been through somethin’ you ‘ave.” She waved her free arm out in front of her for dramatic effect, as if her one arm gesture could encompass the whole world. Laughing she looked back at Violet. “Ya best be teasin’.” She said lightheartedly wagging her finger.

Callie listened quietly as Violet spoke, lost in her memories. “Silly cold, ruinin’ nice moments.” She said with a giggle. As much as Callie loved the outdoors, she disliked the cold. Being in Montana she now experiences the winter, which the loves. The snow is always a magnificent sight when it coats everything in a glimmering white power. It’s being cold she doesn’t like. “I gotta agree. It was somethin’ when I was told I needed some bulky thing to stay warm. Seemed like such a hassle.” She said laughing as she was now wearing the coat she was reluctant to buy.

Their pace remained moderate, not too slow, and not too fast. There was a few people that would pass them every so often. She didn’t mind. When Violet asked about school Callie’s blue eyes lit up. “Schools ‘mazin’. I ain’t sure if I told ya or not, but I finally picked a major.” She said, her drawl thick every time she got excited.

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Tag: Violet "Vi" Coustic