Fic: Boards & Bearings
Dec. 17th, 2013 12:02 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
boxxsaltzTitle: Boards & Bearings
Author: boxxsaltz
Rating: PG
Pairing: Yuri/Boa, Sooyoung/Tiffany
Summary: Yuri always thought Boa was untouchable. Not so much anymore.
AN: Inspired by these pics here and here
Boards & Bearings
Rolling out of bed, Yuri made her way to the bathroom.
She coated her toothbrush half asleep and was near fully awake when then strong mint of the toothpaste turned her tongue on fire.
Voices down the hall told her she was late. Stuffing the money off her dresser into the pocket of her ripped jeans, she found a shirt on the floor under her skateboard. Sniffing it, she threw it on over her sports bra that showed bright and blue from the cut off sleeves.
Taeyeon hated it when she wore those shirts. Because she did, Yuri made sure to wear one most days out of the week if only to garner a reaction from her
"Morning," she paced into the kitchen, grabbing a bowl from the cabinet and sank down in a chair next to Sooyoung who had already arrived. "Couldn't wait?"
Sooyoung brought another spoonful of cereal to her mouth as Yuri poured her own bowl. "Taeyeon offered."
Of course. And Sooyoung was never one to turn down food.
"Take it to go."
"I'll get milk everywhere," Sooyoung protested. "What about you?"
Tilting the bowl at her lips, Yuri poured dry cereal into her mouth, eyes narrowed at a glaring Sooyoung.
"Spoon, Yuri-yah. Spoon." Taeyeon warned, tossing one over at her. It clattered onto the table as Taeyeon doubled back to finish frying whatever breakfast she was making herself on the stove.
Yuri disregarded it, getting up. "I'm done. Lets go."
Sooyoung wiped the milk slipping of her chin with the back of her hand. “But-”
“Let’s go!”
-/-/-/-
She picked up a skateboard when she was ten.
It was the only thing she found in her parent’s garage that was faster than walking and not nearly as lame as the bike with the training wheels turned up but never taken off.
She didn’t know where it came from. Probably some piece of crap her dad hoarded with the rest of the junk her mom told him to get rid of but never could so it stayed lodged between a surfboard and a tackle box of fishing gear untouched and dusty.
Yuri had been determined enough to run away that she dealt with each bump and scrape she got falling off the thing. Maybe if the bag on her back wasn’t so heavy and she wasn’t wearing hand-me-down sneakers with souls so thick it made her already tall height three inches towering above the boys she would’ve balanced better.
But she kept on, trying her best to mimic the pro guys she saw on TV a few times.
“What’re you doing?” Those were the first words Choi Sooyoung spoke to her.
She had bounced up to her having been watching Yuri get up and fall her way down the street on top of the board.
“Runnin’ away.”
“Cool,” Sooyoung’s strides were large enough then to keep up with Yuri’s wobbly riding. “Can I come?”
“Whatever.”
She disappeared a moment, hurrying into the house for her own backpack. Yuri found out later that it was full of nothing but snacks and juice pouches when they gave up their pursuit to Japan after realizing they’d need a boat. Instead they ended up sitting down by the Han River, drinking and laughing.
“I’m Sooyoung.”
“Yuri.” She licked the chip residue off her fingers and reached for another bag.
“You should totally learn to skate,” Sooyoung kicked at the skateboard that had been discarded near their feet. “I’ll learn too. Then we could really run away.”
“Okay.”
It took two weeks of being grounded for running off and one more waiting for Sooyoung’s parent’s to let her go further than the front yard before they both acquired boards and took to the pavement.
Sometime in the weeks of skinned knees and scraped up hands, running away wasn’t so important anymore.
Yuri had found her escape with Sooyoung at her side and the wind on her face.
-/-/-/-
“Slow down!”
Yuri ignored her as she pushed off the ground, propelling faster down the street.
She didn’t have time. They had wasted minutes already when Sooyoung offered to clean the dishes and Yuri had to convince her it was pointless when they had a dishwasher.
Air blew the flyaways on her head, whipping back with her thick ponytail. Sooyoung appeared beside her, hair down and bellowing just as widely. They rode down the middle of the street as if they owned the place. What mentality they had conjured up when they were kids, kicking boys off their sidewalks and challenging petty girls to their cat fights, had remained.
The world was theirs.
“Hang right.” Called Yuri over the torrent of the wind.
“But school’s the other -”
“Right!” Yuri pressed, shifting her weight to turn them down a new corner.
She heard Sooyoung grumble something behind her as they shot down a busier road.
Shops lined the street but only one held Yuri’s attention. She saw a yawning Boom flick the open sign on so it burned bright red and blue neon in the window.
“We’re gonna be late.” Sooyoung muttered as they came up on the curb. Dismounting her board, Yuri kicked it up into her hand and tucked it against her side. “What’re we doing here?”
“I heard Jonghyun talking about the new boards.” Yuri pushed inside causing the bell to jingle above.
Her eyes scanned around the Skate Store. Boom was nowhere in sight but his presence lingered in the smell of cheap alcohol and oranges he had left in his wake. The store was only Boom’s for open and close. For the other remaining business hours it was -
“Hey, Yuri.”
Clipping on her nametag, Tiffany flipped her thick, red hair over her shoulder smiling at them from the register.
“Hey.”
“Hey, Soo.” Tiffany bit into her bottom lip coyly.
“Hi,” Sooyoung mumbled, eyes dropping to look anywhere but Tiffany who giggled. “New, uh, shipment?”
“They’re not for display yet but….” Tiffany’s smile something devilish, body leaning over the counter as she eyed Sooyoung thought mascara thick eyelashes. “You want a peek?”
“Can we?” Yuri perked up.
“They’re over here. Follow me.” She rolled herself off the counter. Yuri saw Sooyoung’s eyes follow every wave of her body and rolled her eyes.
They crowded behind Tiffany who bent down to pull back the flaps of a box. Bubble wrap and packing peanuts fell out onto the floor as she pulled out a sleek new board. Yuri took one into her hands, smoothing her fingers along the wood.
“You like?” Tiffany handed another off to Sooyoung just as the front bell jingled. “I’ll be back. Try not to break them. And clean your fingerprints off when you’re done!” Tiffany warned as she disappeared around a shelf to attend to whoever had entered.
Yuri turned the board over in her hand. “How much did you save up?”
“A month of lunches to go before I have enough.” Sooyoung whistled, holding it up in the air.
Yuri felt the wrinkled money in her pocket. Maybe if she begged her dad for that birthday money he forgot to send her the past two years...
“Boom put it back here.” Tiffany’s voice grew closer.
“Let’s get out of here.” Yuri placed the board back into the box. Sooyoung followed suit and started after her when Tiffany came around the corner followed by two others.
Yuri stopped abruptly causing Sooyoung to smack right into her. She hissed some indecipherable curse, fussing at Yuri to hurry the hell up. She went quiet when she finally looked up to see what had turned her best friend immobile.
“Aww, leaving already?” Tiffany pouted.
“We’re gonna be late for school.” Sooyoung answered.
Tiffany nodded, slipping past them. She moved a couple boxes out of the way and pulled out a new polished ride with lime green wheels.
“Here she is.”
“Damn, Boa,” the guy with her whistled much the way Sooyoung had. “What you have to do for Boom to give you that?”
“Changmin, your jealous is showing.” Boa nudged him in the stomach with an elbow. Using a finger, she spun one of the wheels. “I’m only testing it out for him.”
“They’ll be on sale tomorrow.” Tiffany informed. Changmin stuffed his hands in has pockets disgruntled.
“Wow,” Boa breathed.
Yuri’s eyes zapped onto her examining the board. She handled it carefully, smoothing the pads of her fingers along the curves and bends. Flicking at the wheels, she grinned excitedly at the near silent scroll of the spin.
A stab in her back had Yuri peering over her shoulder. Sooyoung made a face, lips moving in a warning about time and first periods and how they were a strike away from a week of detentions if they got to class late again.
“We’re gonna go, Tiff.” Sooyoung announced.
“You’ll come back to see me, won’t you?” She winked at Sooyoung.
“I don’t- I don’t know…” she tripped over her words. Yuri wondered if Sooyoung would catch on and realize how much fun Tiffany had playing with her. It was becoming more embarrassing than amusing to watch.
“C’mon, Soo.” Yuri started to walk off.
"Do I know you?"
Yuri froze in place, eyeing back over her shoulder. All eyes were on her. Yuri felt heat take over the back of her neck as her gaze shifted from Tiffany to Changmin and finally to Boa who had asked the question.
Boa stared straight at her, head titled. “I think I know you…”
“Maybe?” Her voice croaked. She swallowed past the nervous lump in her throat, trying to tell her heart to shut up so she could talk properly. “I don’t kn- I don’t think so.”
“That’s Yuri,” Tiffany came in hardly saving her. “Taeng’s pseudo-cousin or something.”
“Ah,” her brow creased then smoothed, interest completely gone.
Yuri felt herself deflate a little as her attention went back to the board in her hand. Changmin stepped forward effectively blocking Yuri’s view of her.
Sooyoung tugged on the front of her shirt getting her to move. They weaved through the shelves and hit the pavement outside with boards to the street and rolled off.
“‘I d-d-d-don’t th-think so’.” Sooyoung mocked, voice in a dopey drawl a whole octave lower.
Yuri cut left, barely missing the nose of Sooyoung’s board. She smirked hearing Sooyoung’s scream on the wind as she went crashing onto the ground and rolled.
“Yah!”
-/-/-/-
Yuri could remember the first time she laid eyes on Boa.
Kwon Boa.
The girl who shared part of Yuri’s name and a massive quantity of her attention, the occasional insomnia, and was reason why she woke up so damn early on weekends just to get down to The Strip because she knew that’s where the University skaters hung out.
It was before the summer Tiffany graduated and Yuri got a year closer to getting out as well. Yuri and Sooyoung were sitting on the living room couch playing PlayStation while Taeyeon talked to Tiffany over wine coolers in the kitchen.
“Isn’t Boom lookin’ for someone?” Sooyoung had nudged Yuri who tuned into the conversation the two were having about jobs and college and things beyond a seventeen-year-old Yuri.
“What about the Skate Shop?” Yuri called over. Taeyeon had given her that look like she should mind her own business while Tiffany drummed her fingers on her lips in thought.
Yuri was surprised Tiffany had taken the suggestions and applied for a summer job that eventually turned into a permanent place of employment. The fall out of Taeyeon and Tiffany’s friendship once the college semester began didn’t seem to derail Tiffany’s generosity to Yuri and Sooyoung however.
“You two like this kind of stuff, don’t you?” Tiffany handed off two flyers for a skate show going on at The Strip and they went.
Yuri sat on the curb, clapping unenthusiastically for the amateur acts.
“Let’s go.”
“Wait.”
“This is lame, Soo.”
“No, wait.”
Yuri fell firmly on her ass and turned back to the lot set up with ramps and rails and cones.
And then she saw her.
Boa.
She sauntered onto the lot under the lights to heavy applause cheering her on. She tied up her long, black hair and gave a finger to the crowd before she dropped her board and pushed off. Two others joined her, weaving and working and popping tricks as one collective trio. But Yuri’s eyes were locked on Boa and only Boa as she glided effortlessly across the pavement.
“You were really cool out there.”
Yuri wanted to slap Sooyoung in the back of the head for opening her mouth as they walked by Boa and her hang - Changmin and Yunho - Yuri had learned when the announcers yelled their names.
“Thanks.” Boa ran her fingers through her bangs. For some reason the bandages wrapped around her knuckles made her all the more badass in Yuri’s mind. Dark eyes flashed over to Yuri then, chin jutting down to the board Yuri held like a lifeline. “Maybe you’ll be out there next time.”
“Yeah, that would be really cool.”
Boa laughed and Yuri thought she would pass out from embarrassment as Yunho pulled Boa away and they returned to the masses.
Yuri took two things away from that night.
One, she’d break every bone in her body to be able to skate as well as Boa.
And two, she didn’t believe in love at first sight until then.
Well...more like crush at first sight but no one was in her head to tell her she was being a little dramatic at the time.
-/-/-/-
Yuri slapped a hand over her mouth and jerked backwards.
She hid back behind the shelf, shoulders hitting the end of an aisle hard enough to make the items on the shelf quake.
“Hello?”
Yuri pinched her eyes shut, cursing under her breath as Boa called out again.
“I know someone’s in here. I saw you.”
Taking in a shaky breath, Yuri stepped around the shelf. She buried her hands in her pockets, head slightly ducked so she wouldn’t get caught up - or blinded - in the all too knowing smile Boa gave her.
“Sorry, I, uh, knocked something over.”
“Have you seen Tiffany?”
“She went to get- she’s not back yet.” And left Yuri to hold down the fort.
She had been standing behind the register, poking around at the numbers until she heard the door jingle and ducked behind the counter when she saw Boa walk in. Through the foggy glass of the register display, Yuri had watched her, eating her up from her frayed shorts rolled up an extra two inches higher and her Slashers graphic-tee with the sides cut out so Yuri could see all of her smooth skinned glory.
Boa turned back to the shelves.
They stood there awkwardly. Or more so Yuri stood there awkwardly while Boa went back to scanning the merchandise.
“What’re you looking for?”
“I need new bearings.”
Well, Tiffany did leave her in charge. “I could help.”
“Really?” Her eyebrows shot up almost getting lost in her bangs held down by a snapback against her forehead.
“Yeah, what - uh - what kind were you look- are you looking for?”
“Well…” she went into detail of a brand Yuri hadn’t heard of before.
Stretching on her toes, Yuri reached for a box. She hissed a curse under her breath as her fingers hit it, pushing it further back. Using the lowest shelf, she stepped up and strained.
“Careful.” A hand landed on her back. Yuri went rigid feeling the heel of Boa’s palm touch the skin of the small of her back that was exposed from her shirt that lifted up. “Can you get it?”
“Almost-” her nail scratched at the box and knocked it closer just as Boa’s other had came to her hip to steady her. Yuri nearly stumbled on the way down.
“Watch it!”
“Got it.” Yuri steadied herself, holding the box up with a shake. She backed away, brushing down the tail of her shirt after Boa took it from her. Yuri’s face was burning and skin still tingling where Boa’s heat had pressed into her.
“I’ve never heard of these.”
“They’re the best kind. We don’t, I mean, they don’t have what you said you wanted.”
Boa’s nose crinkled as she turned the box over in her hands. Yuri swooned at the tiny dimple that creased in her cheek. “Whatever. There’s no one here to check me out anyway.”
Yuri bit her tongue. She had already been doing that.
“I’ll go find Boom.”
By the time Yuri snuck through the employee door, knocked on the manager door only to get snores in reply, the entrance bell jingled bringing in Tiffany’s singsong voice.
“Sixteen seventy-five - oh, hey, Yuri.” Tiffany bagged the box as Boa handed over her card. “Where’s your sexy legs other half?”
“I dunno,” Yuri shrugged, missing most of what Tiffany had said. She was too busy watching Boa put her card back into her wallet and using the reflection in the metal keychain display to comb her fingers through her hair.
A snort to her left snapped Yuri’s neck over to see Tiffany smirking at her. She wiggled her eyebrows and raised two split fingers to her mouth, tongue wiggling between them. Yuri’s jaw dropped, face draining of all color at the implication. She’d forget about the weird heat that spilt through her entire body and where her mind had dipped.
“You wanna help me put these on?” asked Boa.
Yuri snapped her jaw shut.
“Who, me?”
“Who else?”
“I guess. Yeah, okay.” She looked to Tiffany. “Can I go?”
“Run along, lover girl!” She picked up the smoothie she had gone to buy and slurped at it, fingers twirling in a wave at Yuri’s glare. “And tell Sooyoung hi for me!”
-/-/-/-
“You’re really good at this.”
“It’s not so hard.”
They sat outside Taeyeon and Yuri’s apartment. Boa had offered to walk her the rest of the way home in exchange for helping her with her board. The entire way Yuri couldn't shake the feeling of being walked home by a babysitter. But then again, she had never had this sort of a crush on a babysitter before.
“You’re Taeyeon’s cousin?”
Yuri shook her head as one of the nuts clattered to the ground. “That’s what we tell people but we’re not. Our families were close when we were younger.”
“How’d you end up living with her?”
Yuri shrugged as she took out a bearing from the box. “My dad travels and my mom’s always on call at the hospital so...yeah.”
“Must be nice living with your best friend.”
“She’s not my…” Yuri trailed off. It wasn’t necessary to dive into the friend tree. Sorry Sooyoung. “Yeah, it is.”
Silence came to them. Yuri was thankful for the task at hand keeping her distracted from the girl sitting beside her. She probably put more concentration into working than was needed. She almost wished she hadn’t once the last bearing was in place just before the sun could dip below the horizon.
“Done.” Giving the wheel a spin with her finger, Yuri handed it over.
Getting up, Boa dropped the board down. She used a foot to push it back and forth, getting a feel of the new bearings. Hoping on, she pushed off and coasted down the street.
Yuri cleaned her hands on the sides of her jeans as she stood. She squinted into the sunlight, watching Boa pop a kick flip at the end of the street then make her way back. Yuri knew she was staring, but that orangey pink background and the golden hue lighting up deep black hair were kind of sort of breathtaking.
But that sounded lame and Yuri swore she’d never admit even thinking that to Sooyoung.
“Wanna ride with me?” Boa panted.
Slapping down her board, she hurried to catch up with Boa who had started off again. The breeze was cool against her heated, flushed skin and the sound of wheels spinning and the vibration of the road on her soles were soothing.
Yuri glanced over at Boa who turned at the same time, grinning. Yuri nearly lost balance.
“These feel really good.”
Yuri dropped behind as Boa rocketed off.
They soared through the city, passed the houses of the neighborhood over and whizzed along a bumpy sidewalk. By the time they stopped at the park to take a drink from the fountain, the sun had gone away leaving only an indigo strip on the horizon.
“I think I do know you.” Boa started from where she sat on a bench. Yuri dipped to drink from the fountain, eyes turned to her. “I couldn't remember before but you hang out at The Strip, right? I’ve seen you on the rails over there.”
Yuri wiped her mouth with the back of a hand. “Sometimes. The ones at the high school aren’t as good.”
Mostly because they were rundown and the city nor school district wanted to fix them up just yet. Something about budget cuts and if it’s not broke don’t fix it.
Yuri sat on the bench, board under her feet. She rolled it back and forth along the pavement, eyes drawn to the barren park in front of them.
“You should come around more often.”
“I don’t know...they’d kick us out.”
“Show’em up.” Yuri snorted. “I mean it. You’re pretty good.”
Yuri wished she didn’t blush but she felt the color come across her nose and burn at the back of her neck. “Uh, thanks.”
Boa nodded, finger picking at the scuffed underside of her board “Yunho is throwing a block party next weekend. He’s renting in a full pipe. You should come. And bring your friend - Sexy Legs?”
“Sooyoung?” Yuri blanched. She’d slap Tiffany for even dropping that ridiculous name in Boa’s head. “Yeah, I’ll ask her.”
Boa stretched as she got up. “I should get home.”
“Yeah, me too.”
They were quiet on the way back to Taeyeon’s, sun gone completely and riding through streetlamps. Yuri flipped her board into her hands as they walked up the walkway.
“You’re name will be on the list,” said Boa once they reached the door, “so don’t bail on me.”
“I won’t.”
Boa nodded. Taking off her hat, she placed it onto Yuri’s head and pulled down the bill so it covered her eyes. “See you around.”
Pushing up the hat, Yuri watched as Boa took a running start and jumped on her board before she slipped inside.
“Yes!” She pumped a fist in the air.
-/-/-/-
“She invited you to a party?”
“Uh huh.” Yuri nodded, slapping a sponge against the wall. Red spray paint mixed with soap as she scrubbed.
She’d have Jonghyun’s ass for this prank he left her and Sooyoung to take the blame for. There was just no getting out of it when they were discovered on the side of the building during lunch, hiding spray cans Jonghyun and Taemin had left behind.
skaterz 4 lyf
It was tacky and hardly creative. But one look at the boards on the ground and the cans in their hands, the principle was set on giving them detention no matter how many times Yuri name dropped the true culprits.
“What about Jonghyun and Taemin?”
Yuri seethed at the names. She was seriously contemplating board smacking them both. “Just us.”
“Sweet.” Sooyoung lifted a fist. Yuri bumped hers against it, celebrating their tiny win. “Do you think Tiffany’s going?”
Yuri shrugged, dipping her sponge into the bucket. She’d make sure to tell Tiffany about the party next time she went to the shop. Maybe bribe her into coming just for Sooyoung.
“You should ask her out.”
“No way!” Sooyoung yelled then ducked her head, dropping her voice. “You really think so?”
“Yeah, Sexy Legs.”
Sooyoung stopped. She blinked.
“Tiffany’s words, not mine.”
“Yah! Don’t repeat it!” Sooyoung flicked her sponge at her.
Yuri threw up her arms trying to block the nasty water from getting in her face as she laughed.
“Sorry, hey, chill. That’s gross!”
She swung her own sponge earning a squeal. Sooyoung took off and Yuri chased after her, water flinging everywhere until the principal stopped them around the corner and ordered them to get back to work.
Returning to the wall, the two scrubbed in silence.
“She thinks my legs are sexy?” Sooyoung asked after a long moment.
Slapping a blushing Sooyoung on the shoulder, Yuri busted into laughter.
-/-/-/-
“Hey!”
A car horn had Yuri slow down.
She grabbed Sooyoung’s backpack, stopping her as she turned around. Out the window of a car waved Boa who rolled up next to them walking on the sidewalk. Pushing up her sunglasses, she smiled at both of them.
“What's up? School was out hours ago.”
“Detention.” said Yuri, glancing back at Sooyoung who stood a little taller. Something like detention probably sounded lame to someone like Boa but they weren’t going to make that matter.
“Do you want a ride home?”
Yuri glanced up at Sooyoung who was smiling all too knowingly at her. Yuri rolled her eyes away from her back to Boa.
“You sure?”
“You don’t live that far from here.” She turned to Sooyoung. “Are you going to her place?”
“Yeah, I’m--” Yuri jabbed her with her board. Sooyoung hissed. “I mean, no.”
“Is that cool?” Yuri hoped it was.
Boa shrugged. “Get in.”
Yuri hurried to the front seat and fell in while Sooyoung clamored into the back, knees hitting the back of the seat. Yuri glared at her through the rearview mirror earning a violent middle finger.
“So, where do you live, Soo?”
Yuri heard her trip over her words at the nickname before she answered. And Yuri thought she was the one with the crush.
They cruised with the windows down and music blaring. Yuri held her backpack tight in her lap, pulse hitting hard when they pulled to Sooyoung’s and she got out, jogging up the walkway. Yuri waved to her before she slipped inside.
“I’m not taking you home.”
Yuri whipped her head around to face Boa who was grinning over at her. Yuri thanked everything she wasn’t able to see her eyes but the curve of her eyebrows said she was looking something mischievous.
“Where’re we going?”
Boa smirked, teeth biting into her lip.
Yuri felt her blood turn molten in her veins.
-/-/-/-
The sun was just on the horizon when Boa pulled them through a beat up parking lot with grass and roots growing between the cement. Yuri climbed out the car when Boa did, grabbing her board as an afterthought.
“Where are we?” She looked at the abandoned building they were parked in front of.
“An old gym,” Boa clarified, slamming her trunk. In her hand she held her board. Yuri felt a sense of pride knowing she was the one who put those bearings on. “Wait ‘til we get inside.”
Boa winked and Yuri didn’t know if the thrum in her stomach was because of the excitement of what was inside or that such a simple gesture had turned her knees to jell-o.
The place was even more rundown inside: windowpanes missing, broken ceiling tiles scattered on the floor, graffiti tagged concrete, paint chipped counters. Their steps echoed as they walked deeper inside. With the setting sun, the place looked creepy but it didn’t distract from the cool factor. Or the fact she was there alone with Boa - that was a plus.
“Do you like to swim?” The question took Yuri aback and she tripped. Boa laughed, head motioning over to where a large, empty swimming pool sat in the ground. “Last one in is a goofy foot.”
Boa took off. A second later Yuri chased after.
They dropped into the pool at the same time, boards to the floor and feet kicking. The wind whooshed in the hollowed place, flapping Yuri’s shirt noisily. Their moves and tricks were loud in the silence, speed racing fast like the adrenaline building in Yuri’s veins as she weaved with Boa along the slope.
“This is awesome!” Yuri yelled over the wind.
“Yeah?” Boa zipped passed her, riding up the side.
Yuri slowed to a stop watching her hit a hand plant on the edge of the pool before riding back down and stopped in front of Yuri, panting.
“You’re awesome.” The words fell out and she flushed,
Boa laughed sweetly, knocking Yuri lightly in the chin with a fist. “You’re cute.”
Fire took over Yuri. She could feel the color in her face and neck go red with the hard pumping of her heart that put it there. The hand that ruffled her hair only made it worse.
“Come on. I have something to show you.”
-/-/-/-
“Can you do it?”
Yuri looked down to the bottom of the stairs where Boa stood, hands cupped over her mouth calling up to her. Her eyes glanced to the long railing that connected the top story of the gym to the bottom all rusted and dangerous and a perfect thrill.
“Aw, is Yuri gonna chicken out?” Boa teased.
“I’m not chickening out!”
She gripped her board and walked deeper into the second story to Boa’s laughter. Her hands were trembling when she readied herself, one foot on her board rolling it back and forth. Taking in deep breaths, Yuri tensed her muscles. She be damned if she screwed this up and embarrassed herself.
“Yuri hwaiting!” Boa shouted and Yuri all but rolled her eyes.
Sucking in a breath, she took off.
The rail came up on her fast and she popped the board up, hitting it right on point. Her body vibrated with the rust as she grinded, concentration on balance while her eyes were on Boa’s impressed face as she coasted down.
“Badass!” Boa congratulated.
Yuri tightened her stomach, shifting her weight to the left to balance. Coasting off the end of the rail, she hit the ground hard and rolled fast - too fast. Way too fast.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” firm hands grabbed onto her.
The sudden loss of speed sent her body forward and her board sliding from beneath her feet. The world whirled around her and she held onto Boa tightly, spinning until they slowed. Leaning back, Yuri tried to find her balance when her foot knocked against Boa’s ankle sending them both onto the ground.
The body beneath her cushioned most of Yuri’s fall. It took a moment before her mind caught up with what her body was already experiencing. Wide eyes locked onto Boa who had one eye closed in a teeth bared in grimace.
Somewhere in the distance Yuri could hear the wheels of her board still spinning.
“You okay?” Boa groaned.
Yuri’s mouth bobbed a few times before she settled on nodding. Boa laughed shakily, hand coming up to rub at a sore spot on the side of her forehead.
“Those rails are steep.”
“Yeah.”
“I should’ve warned you.”
“It’s okay. I’m okay.”
“You were badass up there.”
“I…”
Work lights flickered with the flutter of Boa’s lashes. Bottom lip pulling between her teeth, the corner of Boa’s mouth pulled up in a heated smile. Yuri was suddenly aware of their chest straining shallow breaths against one another’s. She was aware of the hands that had dipped down to her waist when they had fallen. And she was aware of how their legs had managed to tangle around one another’s.
With the curve of Boa’s lips, Yuri knew she was painfully aware of it herself.
The movement of a hand along Yuri’s side made her stiff. She fought to control her breathing as Boa’s fingers smoothed through her hair, pushing it back over her shoulder.
Yuri shivered at the touch, body easing down on its own accord. She kept her eyes on Boa’s face, molded into focused concentration as she ran her fingers over Yuri’s jaw and beneath her chin. They hooked perfectly causing Yuri to suck in a breath as she was pulled closer and her face was titled just right to -
“Yuri?”
She swallowed, voice coming out uneven and heavy. “Yeah?”
“You’re bleeding.”
“What?”
“Here,” Boa turned Yuri’s face and ran her thumb along a cut on the side of Yuri’s temple. She winced at the sting. “It’s not deep. You must’ve clipped it.”
“Oh,” sitting up, she touched at the scratch. She could feel the thick consistency of blood against her fingertips. “I should take care of this.”
“Yeah.” Boa looked down at where Yuri was still straddling her hips. “Um, Yuri?”
“Sorry.” She scrambled to her feet.
Boa followed, dusting herself off. “I’ll find your board. Catch. There’s some napkins in the car.”
Yuri caught Boa’s keys and turned to head back through the gym. Clicking the key remote, she followed the flash of lights to where the car sat in the dark.
She did a full one-eighty before she started kicking at the tire.
“Dumb, stupid, idiot!”
Opening the door she fell in, dropping her head back against the seat. Her entire body was humming. Closing her eyes, she breathed in deep as the images of Boa’s face below her sprang up.
She could taste everything from the frappucino off her breath to the sweet fragrance of the gloss on her lips. Yuri licked her own as if she could savor the thing she didn’t have. Her body burned.
She figured that was how it would always be with Boa.
Close enough to touch but never quite enough to have.
-/-/-/-
“Hurry up!”
“Don’t rush me.”
“I’m gonna leave you.”
“You can’t get in without me.” Yuri opened the door to her room.
Sooyoung came in, shutting it behind her and plopped onto Yuri’s bed. The music playing from the stereo changed as Sooyoung played with the dial. Yuri snatched Boa’s snapback hanging off a hook on her closet door and put it on.
“You said she put us on the list.”
“She might have forgotten.”
“Whatever, no she didn’t.”
Yuri ignored her, doing another turn in her closet mirror. She twisted and bended to get a look at every part of her outfit in the right light. One look at Sooyoung told Yuri she was dressed right but the thought of Boa made her pants feel too tight, her shirt too big, and her shoes to dirty.
“Not again.” Sooyoung groaned, rolling onto her back.
Yuri threw the shirt she had on into her face. It fell to the floor in a heap as Yuri pulled on a racerback. Digging through the mess of clothes on the floor, she slid her arms through some denim button up thing she was sure belonged to -
“Isn’t that mine?”
“No,” Yuri flicked off the stereo with the remote and snatched up her wallet. “Let’s go.”
They clattered through the halls, picking up boards discarded by the door.
“Don’t be out all night!” Taeyeon called from where she studied. “And call if you’re gone past one.”
“Yes, omma.” Yuri teased running out the door before Taeyeon could get onto her. “We’re late. C’mon.”
Even the wind on her face, Yuri couldn't shake the churning in her gut as they coasted down the street.
-/-/-/-
Yuri had always been a little envious of The Strip.
She always thought the block stocked with shops up and down the street where most of the Uni kids hung out was cool. Taeyeon only brought her once and Tiffany used to sneak her and Sooyoung into the bars before Taeyeon found out. She resorted to sneaking over when she knew the place wasn’t so packed and using their space after that.
“You gonna go all the way tonight?”
Yuri’s mouth dropped. “Would you shut up?”
She glanced back over her shoulder where they stood by a food stand towards the far side of The Strip. Yuri could recognize no one but Tiffany who was flitting around in a sinfully tight dress, smiling and waving at people.
“What?” Sooyoung shrugged, looking sour. “You already almost kissed.”
“Almost.”
“I still don’t believe you.” Sooyoung sounded scornful.
“What’re you so mad about?”
“I’m not mad.” She grumbled into her cup of lemonade.
Yuri rolled her eyes, jutting her chin across the crowd. “Tiffany’s right there. Go.”
“But she’s with that guy.”
She was. And he was about to drool all over her. Gross.
And there was Boa walking right towards them. Crap.
“Here,” Yuri shoved an unopened beer into Sooyoung’s hand. “Take her this and ask her if she wants to go get cotton candy or something.”
“Cotton candy?”
“Go!” Yuri gave her a shove.
Sooyoung faded into the crowd just before Boa made it over to Yuri smiling. Yuri couldn't help but echo it.
“Nice hat.”
“Thanks.”
“You want a drink?” she asked. Yuri frowned and opened her mouth to protest when Boa caught herself. “Taeng would probably kill me if she found out. We can try the pipe.”
“Okay.”
A hand gripped onto her wrist and pulled. Yuri figured she had done it so they wouldn’t get lost and separated but she wondered, especially with the teasing way Boa turned to her over her shoulder, if she knew what kind of jolt had sparked in Yuri’s chest at it.
Boa released her once they reached the large full pipe. Yuri subconsciously rubbed at the spot now cold but clammy from Boa’s touch.
“Want a go?”
Maybe if she wanted to break her face. “I don’t think so.”
“Don’t blink, okay?” Boa tugged down the bill of Yuri’s hat.
Yuri pushed it back up to see Boa hurrying her way to Yunho who sucked on a cigarette by the pipe. Boa took it from his lips for a drag before she flicked it down and they both took to the pipe.
Yuri stayed put, accepting the challenge of not blinking as she watched. It was just like the first time she had seen the three at the show a year and a half ago. She was transfixed, her eyes following Boa maneuver with ease. The way her and Yunho weaved by each other was seamless, but the steady, calm, knowledgeable look on Boa’s face was mesmerizing.
“Shouldn't you be in bed, kid?”
Yuri was distracted from Yunho and Boa who shared a high five as they zoomed passed each other. She turned up to see Changmin running a hand up his hair to spike the front.
“I’m not a kid.” She shot back.
He glanced down at her as if he hadn’t been talking to her in the first place and snorted.
“Yah, Changmin!” Yunho’s voice reached from the pipe. “Get in here!”
His shoulder knocked into Yuri’s as she jogged off.
Yuri felt herself fade into the background as the three rode. Setting her board on the ground, Yuri sat on it, arms wrapped around her knees.
-/-/-/-
"Yuri, wait up!"
Maybe if she pretended not to hear her...
"Hey, where're you going?” Boa slowed her jog to walk beside her. “You just disappeared."
Yeah and Yuri felt like she did as well when Boa and her boys decided to move from the pipe to where the ramps were. Yuri hung around for all bout twenty minutes before she checked out of there.
"It's getting late." Yuri shrugged, trying not to look Boa straight in the eye. "I should find Sooyoung and go."
Boa sucked her teeth in distaste. "She'll find herself, come with me."
"I don't know, Boa."
"No, really.” Grabbing onto Yuri’s wrist, she stopped her in place. Jerking back, she was forced to see Boa’s irritated scowl. “Come with me. It'll be fun. And no boys."
Yuri rolled her eyes but her blush betrayed her.
"Follow me."
-/-/-/-
“This isn’t another one of your abandon gyms, is it?”
Boa grimaced. “Sorry about that. How’s your head?”
“It’s whatever.” Yuri shrugged as she followed Boa down a path through a thicket of trees.
The night air was cool on her skin, breezing through her shirt. Boa moved closer to her so their hands bumped together. Yuri stiffened, going to draw it away when Boa grabbed hers and held on. She kept a firm grip as the dirt path turned into wood. Their feet clattered noisily along it, shadows casted back by the moon along the long dock. Reaching the end, Boa let her hand drop and stretched her arms up to the sky.
“I hope this is okay. I thought we could do something other than skate for once.” She glanced over at Yuri who was still reeling over the fact Boa had laced their hands together. “Sit down with me?”
She didn't have to be asked twice.
Dropping to the dock, Yuri followed Boa’s example and took off her shoes and socks. The water was freezing when she dipped her feet in and she hissed, body tensed up until she got used to the tiny, frigid waves lapping at her ankles.
“It was so loud back there.” Boa said after a moment.
“Yeah,”
“The view is nice.”
“Mhm,” Yuri wouldn't say it was kind of a let down seeing the outline of buildings and city lights in the near distance but she was with Boa so anything could be nice.
“Is your head really okay?”
“It was just a scratch."
“I’m really sorry.”
“Don’t be,” Yuri looked over at her. She gave a reassuring smile. “I had fun.”
“Yeah, me too.”
Conversation dipped off there. Yuri became hyper aware of their closeness again. Of the solitude they had on the dock. Of how the quiet was making everything that much louder from her shaky breathing to her heartbeat.
She hoped Boa couldn't hear it.
“Tiffany told me about your crush.”
Wait, what?
Yuri whipped around on her, horrified. Boa only grinned that shit eating grin, eyes still angled out over the water. If Boa couldn't hear her heart rate before, she was certain she could now.
“I can explain.” Yuri tried.
“Explain what?” Her eyes fell on Yuri and her mouth turned to cotton. “It’s a crush. I think it’s cute. You’re cute.”
“Don’t make fun of me.” she mumbled, hiding her face away. She couldn't take it if Boa mocked her like this.
“I’m not.” Boa knocked her shoulder into hers. Yuri didn’t look up. “Hey, I’m serious. I’m not making fun of you. I mean it.”
Yuri scoffed. “Right.”
“I mean,” Boa sighed, scrunching up her nose, “you’re kinda young but -”
“I’ll be nineteen soon!” Yuri protested then bit her tongue.
Boa only grinned. “That’s what I told Tiffany.”
Oh. Wait…
Yuri slowly brought her gaze back up. She wasn’t surprised that Boa was looking right at her, eyes clear as day.
“She really looks out for you. Her and Taeng,”
“Yeah, I guess.” she kicked her legs in the water. The mention of those two taking care of her made her feel more like she was twelve than anything.
“Do you think Taeyeon will kill me?”
“For wha-”
She wished she would’ve seen it coming. Maybe she would’ve responded quicker, maybe even stopped Boa before she could do it only so she could make the first move herself.
Maybe she wouldn’t have sat their eyes wide and body completely frozen as Boa’s lips pressed to hers for what felt like only a second before she pulled back, blinking shyly. It was the first time Yuri had seen her unsure of herself and Yuri never wanted to forget that look.
“You did want me to do that, right?” Boa looked from one of her eyes to the other. “If not then this is really awkward.”
Yuri screamed for her heart, her head, and her mouth to connect.
“No, I-” almost there. “Yes, yeah, totally. It’s not awkward.”
Boa sucked on her bottom lip, brow curving still unsure. “Should I try again?”
“Yes. Try again. Go.”
Her laugh filtered into Yuri’s mouth as their lips connected and this time Yuri was ready. She kissed back with as much as Boa put in, head tilted to the side to get more of those delicious lips. Something like fireworks and a marching band sounded off in her head when her mind finally caught up to her that she was kissing Boa. Boa was kissing her. They were actually kissing.
Whoa.
A hand against her face held her in place and Yuri’s head nearly exploded when Boa’s tongue teased it’s way into her mouth and she whimpered. Yuri was too elated to be embarrassed.
“I guess that’s a good sign.” Boa giggled, drawing back slightly. Their noses bumped and Boa tucked Yuri’s hair behind her ear. “I was a little worried.”
“Why?”
“This didn’t turn out like the first date I wanted but…” she pressed a tender kiss to Yuri that she felt in the soles of her cold feet. “I was thinking we could have a second first date sometime?”
“Yeah, second-first dates are cool. I’d like that.”
“Mmm,” Boa hummed against her lips. “Me too.”
Closing her eyes, Yuri leaned in.
-/-/-/-
It was in the morning when Yuri found Sooyoung in the aisle of the skate shop kissing Tiffany’s neck from behind while the girl was trying to work.
“Yah!”
Sooyoung jumped away and Yuri nearly fell over from laughing at the sly look on Tiffany’s face as she fixed her hair to cover the mark left.
“Be nice.” The bill of her hat covered her eyes with the push of a hand. Yuri moved it up, glaring at Boa who kissed it away easily and grabbed her hand. “Ready to go?”
Yuri flustered and fumbled over her feet as Boa led her out of the shop to Tiffany’s laugh.
Boards to the pavement, they kicked off down the street.
Oh yeah. It had been a good night for both.
Fin.
-
Author: boxxsaltz
Rating: PG
Pairing: Yuri/Boa, Sooyoung/Tiffany
Summary: Yuri always thought Boa was untouchable. Not so much anymore.
AN: Inspired by these pics here and here
Boards & Bearings
Rolling out of bed, Yuri made her way to the bathroom.
She coated her toothbrush half asleep and was near fully awake when then strong mint of the toothpaste turned her tongue on fire.
Voices down the hall told her she was late. Stuffing the money off her dresser into the pocket of her ripped jeans, she found a shirt on the floor under her skateboard. Sniffing it, she threw it on over her sports bra that showed bright and blue from the cut off sleeves.
Taeyeon hated it when she wore those shirts. Because she did, Yuri made sure to wear one most days out of the week if only to garner a reaction from her
"Morning," she paced into the kitchen, grabbing a bowl from the cabinet and sank down in a chair next to Sooyoung who had already arrived. "Couldn't wait?"
Sooyoung brought another spoonful of cereal to her mouth as Yuri poured her own bowl. "Taeyeon offered."
Of course. And Sooyoung was never one to turn down food.
"Take it to go."
"I'll get milk everywhere," Sooyoung protested. "What about you?"
Tilting the bowl at her lips, Yuri poured dry cereal into her mouth, eyes narrowed at a glaring Sooyoung.
"Spoon, Yuri-yah. Spoon." Taeyeon warned, tossing one over at her. It clattered onto the table as Taeyeon doubled back to finish frying whatever breakfast she was making herself on the stove.
Yuri disregarded it, getting up. "I'm done. Lets go."
Sooyoung wiped the milk slipping of her chin with the back of her hand. “But-”
“Let’s go!”
-/-/-/-
She picked up a skateboard when she was ten.
It was the only thing she found in her parent’s garage that was faster than walking and not nearly as lame as the bike with the training wheels turned up but never taken off.
She didn’t know where it came from. Probably some piece of crap her dad hoarded with the rest of the junk her mom told him to get rid of but never could so it stayed lodged between a surfboard and a tackle box of fishing gear untouched and dusty.
Yuri had been determined enough to run away that she dealt with each bump and scrape she got falling off the thing. Maybe if the bag on her back wasn’t so heavy and she wasn’t wearing hand-me-down sneakers with souls so thick it made her already tall height three inches towering above the boys she would’ve balanced better.
But she kept on, trying her best to mimic the pro guys she saw on TV a few times.
“What’re you doing?” Those were the first words Choi Sooyoung spoke to her.
She had bounced up to her having been watching Yuri get up and fall her way down the street on top of the board.
“Runnin’ away.”
“Cool,” Sooyoung’s strides were large enough then to keep up with Yuri’s wobbly riding. “Can I come?”
“Whatever.”
She disappeared a moment, hurrying into the house for her own backpack. Yuri found out later that it was full of nothing but snacks and juice pouches when they gave up their pursuit to Japan after realizing they’d need a boat. Instead they ended up sitting down by the Han River, drinking and laughing.
“I’m Sooyoung.”
“Yuri.” She licked the chip residue off her fingers and reached for another bag.
“You should totally learn to skate,” Sooyoung kicked at the skateboard that had been discarded near their feet. “I’ll learn too. Then we could really run away.”
“Okay.”
It took two weeks of being grounded for running off and one more waiting for Sooyoung’s parent’s to let her go further than the front yard before they both acquired boards and took to the pavement.
Sometime in the weeks of skinned knees and scraped up hands, running away wasn’t so important anymore.
Yuri had found her escape with Sooyoung at her side and the wind on her face.
-/-/-/-
“Slow down!”
Yuri ignored her as she pushed off the ground, propelling faster down the street.
She didn’t have time. They had wasted minutes already when Sooyoung offered to clean the dishes and Yuri had to convince her it was pointless when they had a dishwasher.
Air blew the flyaways on her head, whipping back with her thick ponytail. Sooyoung appeared beside her, hair down and bellowing just as widely. They rode down the middle of the street as if they owned the place. What mentality they had conjured up when they were kids, kicking boys off their sidewalks and challenging petty girls to their cat fights, had remained.
The world was theirs.
“Hang right.” Called Yuri over the torrent of the wind.
“But school’s the other -”
“Right!” Yuri pressed, shifting her weight to turn them down a new corner.
She heard Sooyoung grumble something behind her as they shot down a busier road.
Shops lined the street but only one held Yuri’s attention. She saw a yawning Boom flick the open sign on so it burned bright red and blue neon in the window.
“We’re gonna be late.” Sooyoung muttered as they came up on the curb. Dismounting her board, Yuri kicked it up into her hand and tucked it against her side. “What’re we doing here?”
“I heard Jonghyun talking about the new boards.” Yuri pushed inside causing the bell to jingle above.
Her eyes scanned around the Skate Store. Boom was nowhere in sight but his presence lingered in the smell of cheap alcohol and oranges he had left in his wake. The store was only Boom’s for open and close. For the other remaining business hours it was -
“Hey, Yuri.”
Clipping on her nametag, Tiffany flipped her thick, red hair over her shoulder smiling at them from the register.
“Hey.”
“Hey, Soo.” Tiffany bit into her bottom lip coyly.
“Hi,” Sooyoung mumbled, eyes dropping to look anywhere but Tiffany who giggled. “New, uh, shipment?”
“They’re not for display yet but….” Tiffany’s smile something devilish, body leaning over the counter as she eyed Sooyoung thought mascara thick eyelashes. “You want a peek?”
“Can we?” Yuri perked up.
“They’re over here. Follow me.” She rolled herself off the counter. Yuri saw Sooyoung’s eyes follow every wave of her body and rolled her eyes.
They crowded behind Tiffany who bent down to pull back the flaps of a box. Bubble wrap and packing peanuts fell out onto the floor as she pulled out a sleek new board. Yuri took one into her hands, smoothing her fingers along the wood.
“You like?” Tiffany handed another off to Sooyoung just as the front bell jingled. “I’ll be back. Try not to break them. And clean your fingerprints off when you’re done!” Tiffany warned as she disappeared around a shelf to attend to whoever had entered.
Yuri turned the board over in her hand. “How much did you save up?”
“A month of lunches to go before I have enough.” Sooyoung whistled, holding it up in the air.
Yuri felt the wrinkled money in her pocket. Maybe if she begged her dad for that birthday money he forgot to send her the past two years...
“Boom put it back here.” Tiffany’s voice grew closer.
“Let’s get out of here.” Yuri placed the board back into the box. Sooyoung followed suit and started after her when Tiffany came around the corner followed by two others.
Yuri stopped abruptly causing Sooyoung to smack right into her. She hissed some indecipherable curse, fussing at Yuri to hurry the hell up. She went quiet when she finally looked up to see what had turned her best friend immobile.
“Aww, leaving already?” Tiffany pouted.
“We’re gonna be late for school.” Sooyoung answered.
Tiffany nodded, slipping past them. She moved a couple boxes out of the way and pulled out a new polished ride with lime green wheels.
“Here she is.”
“Damn, Boa,” the guy with her whistled much the way Sooyoung had. “What you have to do for Boom to give you that?”
“Changmin, your jealous is showing.” Boa nudged him in the stomach with an elbow. Using a finger, she spun one of the wheels. “I’m only testing it out for him.”
“They’ll be on sale tomorrow.” Tiffany informed. Changmin stuffed his hands in has pockets disgruntled.
“Wow,” Boa breathed.
Yuri’s eyes zapped onto her examining the board. She handled it carefully, smoothing the pads of her fingers along the curves and bends. Flicking at the wheels, she grinned excitedly at the near silent scroll of the spin.
A stab in her back had Yuri peering over her shoulder. Sooyoung made a face, lips moving in a warning about time and first periods and how they were a strike away from a week of detentions if they got to class late again.
“We’re gonna go, Tiff.” Sooyoung announced.
“You’ll come back to see me, won’t you?” She winked at Sooyoung.
“I don’t- I don’t know…” she tripped over her words. Yuri wondered if Sooyoung would catch on and realize how much fun Tiffany had playing with her. It was becoming more embarrassing than amusing to watch.
“C’mon, Soo.” Yuri started to walk off.
"Do I know you?"
Yuri froze in place, eyeing back over her shoulder. All eyes were on her. Yuri felt heat take over the back of her neck as her gaze shifted from Tiffany to Changmin and finally to Boa who had asked the question.
Boa stared straight at her, head titled. “I think I know you…”
“Maybe?” Her voice croaked. She swallowed past the nervous lump in her throat, trying to tell her heart to shut up so she could talk properly. “I don’t kn- I don’t think so.”
“That’s Yuri,” Tiffany came in hardly saving her. “Taeng’s pseudo-cousin or something.”
“Ah,” her brow creased then smoothed, interest completely gone.
Yuri felt herself deflate a little as her attention went back to the board in her hand. Changmin stepped forward effectively blocking Yuri’s view of her.
Sooyoung tugged on the front of her shirt getting her to move. They weaved through the shelves and hit the pavement outside with boards to the street and rolled off.
“‘I d-d-d-don’t th-think so’.” Sooyoung mocked, voice in a dopey drawl a whole octave lower.
Yuri cut left, barely missing the nose of Sooyoung’s board. She smirked hearing Sooyoung’s scream on the wind as she went crashing onto the ground and rolled.
“Yah!”
-/-/-/-
Yuri could remember the first time she laid eyes on Boa.
Kwon Boa.
The girl who shared part of Yuri’s name and a massive quantity of her attention, the occasional insomnia, and was reason why she woke up so damn early on weekends just to get down to The Strip because she knew that’s where the University skaters hung out.
It was before the summer Tiffany graduated and Yuri got a year closer to getting out as well. Yuri and Sooyoung were sitting on the living room couch playing PlayStation while Taeyeon talked to Tiffany over wine coolers in the kitchen.
“Isn’t Boom lookin’ for someone?” Sooyoung had nudged Yuri who tuned into the conversation the two were having about jobs and college and things beyond a seventeen-year-old Yuri.
“What about the Skate Shop?” Yuri called over. Taeyeon had given her that look like she should mind her own business while Tiffany drummed her fingers on her lips in thought.
Yuri was surprised Tiffany had taken the suggestions and applied for a summer job that eventually turned into a permanent place of employment. The fall out of Taeyeon and Tiffany’s friendship once the college semester began didn’t seem to derail Tiffany’s generosity to Yuri and Sooyoung however.
“You two like this kind of stuff, don’t you?” Tiffany handed off two flyers for a skate show going on at The Strip and they went.
Yuri sat on the curb, clapping unenthusiastically for the amateur acts.
“Let’s go.”
“Wait.”
“This is lame, Soo.”
“No, wait.”
Yuri fell firmly on her ass and turned back to the lot set up with ramps and rails and cones.
And then she saw her.
Boa.
She sauntered onto the lot under the lights to heavy applause cheering her on. She tied up her long, black hair and gave a finger to the crowd before she dropped her board and pushed off. Two others joined her, weaving and working and popping tricks as one collective trio. But Yuri’s eyes were locked on Boa and only Boa as she glided effortlessly across the pavement.
“You were really cool out there.”
Yuri wanted to slap Sooyoung in the back of the head for opening her mouth as they walked by Boa and her hang - Changmin and Yunho - Yuri had learned when the announcers yelled their names.
“Thanks.” Boa ran her fingers through her bangs. For some reason the bandages wrapped around her knuckles made her all the more badass in Yuri’s mind. Dark eyes flashed over to Yuri then, chin jutting down to the board Yuri held like a lifeline. “Maybe you’ll be out there next time.”
“Yeah, that would be really cool.”
Boa laughed and Yuri thought she would pass out from embarrassment as Yunho pulled Boa away and they returned to the masses.
Yuri took two things away from that night.
One, she’d break every bone in her body to be able to skate as well as Boa.
And two, she didn’t believe in love at first sight until then.
Well...more like crush at first sight but no one was in her head to tell her she was being a little dramatic at the time.
-/-/-/-
Yuri slapped a hand over her mouth and jerked backwards.
She hid back behind the shelf, shoulders hitting the end of an aisle hard enough to make the items on the shelf quake.
“Hello?”
Yuri pinched her eyes shut, cursing under her breath as Boa called out again.
“I know someone’s in here. I saw you.”
Taking in a shaky breath, Yuri stepped around the shelf. She buried her hands in her pockets, head slightly ducked so she wouldn’t get caught up - or blinded - in the all too knowing smile Boa gave her.
“Sorry, I, uh, knocked something over.”
“Have you seen Tiffany?”
“She went to get- she’s not back yet.” And left Yuri to hold down the fort.
She had been standing behind the register, poking around at the numbers until she heard the door jingle and ducked behind the counter when she saw Boa walk in. Through the foggy glass of the register display, Yuri had watched her, eating her up from her frayed shorts rolled up an extra two inches higher and her Slashers graphic-tee with the sides cut out so Yuri could see all of her smooth skinned glory.
Boa turned back to the shelves.
They stood there awkwardly. Or more so Yuri stood there awkwardly while Boa went back to scanning the merchandise.
“What’re you looking for?”
“I need new bearings.”
Well, Tiffany did leave her in charge. “I could help.”
“Really?” Her eyebrows shot up almost getting lost in her bangs held down by a snapback against her forehead.
“Yeah, what - uh - what kind were you look- are you looking for?”
“Well…” she went into detail of a brand Yuri hadn’t heard of before.
Stretching on her toes, Yuri reached for a box. She hissed a curse under her breath as her fingers hit it, pushing it further back. Using the lowest shelf, she stepped up and strained.
“Careful.” A hand landed on her back. Yuri went rigid feeling the heel of Boa’s palm touch the skin of the small of her back that was exposed from her shirt that lifted up. “Can you get it?”
“Almost-” her nail scratched at the box and knocked it closer just as Boa’s other had came to her hip to steady her. Yuri nearly stumbled on the way down.
“Watch it!”
“Got it.” Yuri steadied herself, holding the box up with a shake. She backed away, brushing down the tail of her shirt after Boa took it from her. Yuri’s face was burning and skin still tingling where Boa’s heat had pressed into her.
“I’ve never heard of these.”
“They’re the best kind. We don’t, I mean, they don’t have what you said you wanted.”
Boa’s nose crinkled as she turned the box over in her hands. Yuri swooned at the tiny dimple that creased in her cheek. “Whatever. There’s no one here to check me out anyway.”
Yuri bit her tongue. She had already been doing that.
“I’ll go find Boom.”
By the time Yuri snuck through the employee door, knocked on the manager door only to get snores in reply, the entrance bell jingled bringing in Tiffany’s singsong voice.
“Sixteen seventy-five - oh, hey, Yuri.” Tiffany bagged the box as Boa handed over her card. “Where’s your sexy legs other half?”
“I dunno,” Yuri shrugged, missing most of what Tiffany had said. She was too busy watching Boa put her card back into her wallet and using the reflection in the metal keychain display to comb her fingers through her hair.
A snort to her left snapped Yuri’s neck over to see Tiffany smirking at her. She wiggled her eyebrows and raised two split fingers to her mouth, tongue wiggling between them. Yuri’s jaw dropped, face draining of all color at the implication. She’d forget about the weird heat that spilt through her entire body and where her mind had dipped.
“You wanna help me put these on?” asked Boa.
Yuri snapped her jaw shut.
“Who, me?”
“Who else?”
“I guess. Yeah, okay.” She looked to Tiffany. “Can I go?”
“Run along, lover girl!” She picked up the smoothie she had gone to buy and slurped at it, fingers twirling in a wave at Yuri’s glare. “And tell Sooyoung hi for me!”
-/-/-/-
“You’re really good at this.”
“It’s not so hard.”
They sat outside Taeyeon and Yuri’s apartment. Boa had offered to walk her the rest of the way home in exchange for helping her with her board. The entire way Yuri couldn't shake the feeling of being walked home by a babysitter. But then again, she had never had this sort of a crush on a babysitter before.
“You’re Taeyeon’s cousin?”
Yuri shook her head as one of the nuts clattered to the ground. “That’s what we tell people but we’re not. Our families were close when we were younger.”
“How’d you end up living with her?”
Yuri shrugged as she took out a bearing from the box. “My dad travels and my mom’s always on call at the hospital so...yeah.”
“Must be nice living with your best friend.”
“She’s not my…” Yuri trailed off. It wasn’t necessary to dive into the friend tree. Sorry Sooyoung. “Yeah, it is.”
Silence came to them. Yuri was thankful for the task at hand keeping her distracted from the girl sitting beside her. She probably put more concentration into working than was needed. She almost wished she hadn’t once the last bearing was in place just before the sun could dip below the horizon.
“Done.” Giving the wheel a spin with her finger, Yuri handed it over.
Getting up, Boa dropped the board down. She used a foot to push it back and forth, getting a feel of the new bearings. Hoping on, she pushed off and coasted down the street.
Yuri cleaned her hands on the sides of her jeans as she stood. She squinted into the sunlight, watching Boa pop a kick flip at the end of the street then make her way back. Yuri knew she was staring, but that orangey pink background and the golden hue lighting up deep black hair were kind of sort of breathtaking.
But that sounded lame and Yuri swore she’d never admit even thinking that to Sooyoung.
“Wanna ride with me?” Boa panted.
Slapping down her board, she hurried to catch up with Boa who had started off again. The breeze was cool against her heated, flushed skin and the sound of wheels spinning and the vibration of the road on her soles were soothing.
Yuri glanced over at Boa who turned at the same time, grinning. Yuri nearly lost balance.
“These feel really good.”
Yuri dropped behind as Boa rocketed off.
They soared through the city, passed the houses of the neighborhood over and whizzed along a bumpy sidewalk. By the time they stopped at the park to take a drink from the fountain, the sun had gone away leaving only an indigo strip on the horizon.
“I think I do know you.” Boa started from where she sat on a bench. Yuri dipped to drink from the fountain, eyes turned to her. “I couldn't remember before but you hang out at The Strip, right? I’ve seen you on the rails over there.”
Yuri wiped her mouth with the back of a hand. “Sometimes. The ones at the high school aren’t as good.”
Mostly because they were rundown and the city nor school district wanted to fix them up just yet. Something about budget cuts and if it’s not broke don’t fix it.
Yuri sat on the bench, board under her feet. She rolled it back and forth along the pavement, eyes drawn to the barren park in front of them.
“You should come around more often.”
“I don’t know...they’d kick us out.”
“Show’em up.” Yuri snorted. “I mean it. You’re pretty good.”
Yuri wished she didn’t blush but she felt the color come across her nose and burn at the back of her neck. “Uh, thanks.”
Boa nodded, finger picking at the scuffed underside of her board “Yunho is throwing a block party next weekend. He’s renting in a full pipe. You should come. And bring your friend - Sexy Legs?”
“Sooyoung?” Yuri blanched. She’d slap Tiffany for even dropping that ridiculous name in Boa’s head. “Yeah, I’ll ask her.”
Boa stretched as she got up. “I should get home.”
“Yeah, me too.”
They were quiet on the way back to Taeyeon’s, sun gone completely and riding through streetlamps. Yuri flipped her board into her hands as they walked up the walkway.
“You’re name will be on the list,” said Boa once they reached the door, “so don’t bail on me.”
“I won’t.”
Boa nodded. Taking off her hat, she placed it onto Yuri’s head and pulled down the bill so it covered her eyes. “See you around.”
Pushing up the hat, Yuri watched as Boa took a running start and jumped on her board before she slipped inside.
“Yes!” She pumped a fist in the air.
-/-/-/-
“She invited you to a party?”
“Uh huh.” Yuri nodded, slapping a sponge against the wall. Red spray paint mixed with soap as she scrubbed.
She’d have Jonghyun’s ass for this prank he left her and Sooyoung to take the blame for. There was just no getting out of it when they were discovered on the side of the building during lunch, hiding spray cans Jonghyun and Taemin had left behind.
skaterz 4 lyf
It was tacky and hardly creative. But one look at the boards on the ground and the cans in their hands, the principle was set on giving them detention no matter how many times Yuri name dropped the true culprits.
“What about Jonghyun and Taemin?”
Yuri seethed at the names. She was seriously contemplating board smacking them both. “Just us.”
“Sweet.” Sooyoung lifted a fist. Yuri bumped hers against it, celebrating their tiny win. “Do you think Tiffany’s going?”
Yuri shrugged, dipping her sponge into the bucket. She’d make sure to tell Tiffany about the party next time she went to the shop. Maybe bribe her into coming just for Sooyoung.
“You should ask her out.”
“No way!” Sooyoung yelled then ducked her head, dropping her voice. “You really think so?”
“Yeah, Sexy Legs.”
Sooyoung stopped. She blinked.
“Tiffany’s words, not mine.”
“Yah! Don’t repeat it!” Sooyoung flicked her sponge at her.
Yuri threw up her arms trying to block the nasty water from getting in her face as she laughed.
“Sorry, hey, chill. That’s gross!”
She swung her own sponge earning a squeal. Sooyoung took off and Yuri chased after her, water flinging everywhere until the principal stopped them around the corner and ordered them to get back to work.
Returning to the wall, the two scrubbed in silence.
“She thinks my legs are sexy?” Sooyoung asked after a long moment.
Slapping a blushing Sooyoung on the shoulder, Yuri busted into laughter.
-/-/-/-
“Hey!”
A car horn had Yuri slow down.
She grabbed Sooyoung’s backpack, stopping her as she turned around. Out the window of a car waved Boa who rolled up next to them walking on the sidewalk. Pushing up her sunglasses, she smiled at both of them.
“What's up? School was out hours ago.”
“Detention.” said Yuri, glancing back at Sooyoung who stood a little taller. Something like detention probably sounded lame to someone like Boa but they weren’t going to make that matter.
“Do you want a ride home?”
Yuri glanced up at Sooyoung who was smiling all too knowingly at her. Yuri rolled her eyes away from her back to Boa.
“You sure?”
“You don’t live that far from here.” She turned to Sooyoung. “Are you going to her place?”
“Yeah, I’m--” Yuri jabbed her with her board. Sooyoung hissed. “I mean, no.”
“Is that cool?” Yuri hoped it was.
Boa shrugged. “Get in.”
Yuri hurried to the front seat and fell in while Sooyoung clamored into the back, knees hitting the back of the seat. Yuri glared at her through the rearview mirror earning a violent middle finger.
“So, where do you live, Soo?”
Yuri heard her trip over her words at the nickname before she answered. And Yuri thought she was the one with the crush.
They cruised with the windows down and music blaring. Yuri held her backpack tight in her lap, pulse hitting hard when they pulled to Sooyoung’s and she got out, jogging up the walkway. Yuri waved to her before she slipped inside.
“I’m not taking you home.”
Yuri whipped her head around to face Boa who was grinning over at her. Yuri thanked everything she wasn’t able to see her eyes but the curve of her eyebrows said she was looking something mischievous.
“Where’re we going?”
Boa smirked, teeth biting into her lip.
Yuri felt her blood turn molten in her veins.
-/-/-/-
The sun was just on the horizon when Boa pulled them through a beat up parking lot with grass and roots growing between the cement. Yuri climbed out the car when Boa did, grabbing her board as an afterthought.
“Where are we?” She looked at the abandoned building they were parked in front of.
“An old gym,” Boa clarified, slamming her trunk. In her hand she held her board. Yuri felt a sense of pride knowing she was the one who put those bearings on. “Wait ‘til we get inside.”
Boa winked and Yuri didn’t know if the thrum in her stomach was because of the excitement of what was inside or that such a simple gesture had turned her knees to jell-o.
The place was even more rundown inside: windowpanes missing, broken ceiling tiles scattered on the floor, graffiti tagged concrete, paint chipped counters. Their steps echoed as they walked deeper inside. With the setting sun, the place looked creepy but it didn’t distract from the cool factor. Or the fact she was there alone with Boa - that was a plus.
“Do you like to swim?” The question took Yuri aback and she tripped. Boa laughed, head motioning over to where a large, empty swimming pool sat in the ground. “Last one in is a goofy foot.”
Boa took off. A second later Yuri chased after.
They dropped into the pool at the same time, boards to the floor and feet kicking. The wind whooshed in the hollowed place, flapping Yuri’s shirt noisily. Their moves and tricks were loud in the silence, speed racing fast like the adrenaline building in Yuri’s veins as she weaved with Boa along the slope.
“This is awesome!” Yuri yelled over the wind.
“Yeah?” Boa zipped passed her, riding up the side.
Yuri slowed to a stop watching her hit a hand plant on the edge of the pool before riding back down and stopped in front of Yuri, panting.
“You’re awesome.” The words fell out and she flushed,
Boa laughed sweetly, knocking Yuri lightly in the chin with a fist. “You’re cute.”
Fire took over Yuri. She could feel the color in her face and neck go red with the hard pumping of her heart that put it there. The hand that ruffled her hair only made it worse.
“Come on. I have something to show you.”
-/-/-/-
“Can you do it?”
Yuri looked down to the bottom of the stairs where Boa stood, hands cupped over her mouth calling up to her. Her eyes glanced to the long railing that connected the top story of the gym to the bottom all rusted and dangerous and a perfect thrill.
“Aw, is Yuri gonna chicken out?” Boa teased.
“I’m not chickening out!”
She gripped her board and walked deeper into the second story to Boa’s laughter. Her hands were trembling when she readied herself, one foot on her board rolling it back and forth. Taking in deep breaths, Yuri tensed her muscles. She be damned if she screwed this up and embarrassed herself.
“Yuri hwaiting!” Boa shouted and Yuri all but rolled her eyes.
Sucking in a breath, she took off.
The rail came up on her fast and she popped the board up, hitting it right on point. Her body vibrated with the rust as she grinded, concentration on balance while her eyes were on Boa’s impressed face as she coasted down.
“Badass!” Boa congratulated.
Yuri tightened her stomach, shifting her weight to the left to balance. Coasting off the end of the rail, she hit the ground hard and rolled fast - too fast. Way too fast.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” firm hands grabbed onto her.
The sudden loss of speed sent her body forward and her board sliding from beneath her feet. The world whirled around her and she held onto Boa tightly, spinning until they slowed. Leaning back, Yuri tried to find her balance when her foot knocked against Boa’s ankle sending them both onto the ground.
The body beneath her cushioned most of Yuri’s fall. It took a moment before her mind caught up with what her body was already experiencing. Wide eyes locked onto Boa who had one eye closed in a teeth bared in grimace.
Somewhere in the distance Yuri could hear the wheels of her board still spinning.
“You okay?” Boa groaned.
Yuri’s mouth bobbed a few times before she settled on nodding. Boa laughed shakily, hand coming up to rub at a sore spot on the side of her forehead.
“Those rails are steep.”
“Yeah.”
“I should’ve warned you.”
“It’s okay. I’m okay.”
“You were badass up there.”
“I…”
Work lights flickered with the flutter of Boa’s lashes. Bottom lip pulling between her teeth, the corner of Boa’s mouth pulled up in a heated smile. Yuri was suddenly aware of their chest straining shallow breaths against one another’s. She was aware of the hands that had dipped down to her waist when they had fallen. And she was aware of how their legs had managed to tangle around one another’s.
With the curve of Boa’s lips, Yuri knew she was painfully aware of it herself.
The movement of a hand along Yuri’s side made her stiff. She fought to control her breathing as Boa’s fingers smoothed through her hair, pushing it back over her shoulder.
Yuri shivered at the touch, body easing down on its own accord. She kept her eyes on Boa’s face, molded into focused concentration as she ran her fingers over Yuri’s jaw and beneath her chin. They hooked perfectly causing Yuri to suck in a breath as she was pulled closer and her face was titled just right to -
“Yuri?”
She swallowed, voice coming out uneven and heavy. “Yeah?”
“You’re bleeding.”
“What?”
“Here,” Boa turned Yuri’s face and ran her thumb along a cut on the side of Yuri’s temple. She winced at the sting. “It’s not deep. You must’ve clipped it.”
“Oh,” sitting up, she touched at the scratch. She could feel the thick consistency of blood against her fingertips. “I should take care of this.”
“Yeah.” Boa looked down at where Yuri was still straddling her hips. “Um, Yuri?”
“Sorry.” She scrambled to her feet.
Boa followed, dusting herself off. “I’ll find your board. Catch. There’s some napkins in the car.”
Yuri caught Boa’s keys and turned to head back through the gym. Clicking the key remote, she followed the flash of lights to where the car sat in the dark.
She did a full one-eighty before she started kicking at the tire.
“Dumb, stupid, idiot!”
Opening the door she fell in, dropping her head back against the seat. Her entire body was humming. Closing her eyes, she breathed in deep as the images of Boa’s face below her sprang up.
She could taste everything from the frappucino off her breath to the sweet fragrance of the gloss on her lips. Yuri licked her own as if she could savor the thing she didn’t have. Her body burned.
She figured that was how it would always be with Boa.
Close enough to touch but never quite enough to have.
-/-/-/-
“Hurry up!”
“Don’t rush me.”
“I’m gonna leave you.”
“You can’t get in without me.” Yuri opened the door to her room.
Sooyoung came in, shutting it behind her and plopped onto Yuri’s bed. The music playing from the stereo changed as Sooyoung played with the dial. Yuri snatched Boa’s snapback hanging off a hook on her closet door and put it on.
“You said she put us on the list.”
“She might have forgotten.”
“Whatever, no she didn’t.”
Yuri ignored her, doing another turn in her closet mirror. She twisted and bended to get a look at every part of her outfit in the right light. One look at Sooyoung told Yuri she was dressed right but the thought of Boa made her pants feel too tight, her shirt too big, and her shoes to dirty.
“Not again.” Sooyoung groaned, rolling onto her back.
Yuri threw the shirt she had on into her face. It fell to the floor in a heap as Yuri pulled on a racerback. Digging through the mess of clothes on the floor, she slid her arms through some denim button up thing she was sure belonged to -
“Isn’t that mine?”
“No,” Yuri flicked off the stereo with the remote and snatched up her wallet. “Let’s go.”
They clattered through the halls, picking up boards discarded by the door.
“Don’t be out all night!” Taeyeon called from where she studied. “And call if you’re gone past one.”
“Yes, omma.” Yuri teased running out the door before Taeyeon could get onto her. “We’re late. C’mon.”
Even the wind on her face, Yuri couldn't shake the churning in her gut as they coasted down the street.
-/-/-/-
Yuri had always been a little envious of The Strip.
She always thought the block stocked with shops up and down the street where most of the Uni kids hung out was cool. Taeyeon only brought her once and Tiffany used to sneak her and Sooyoung into the bars before Taeyeon found out. She resorted to sneaking over when she knew the place wasn’t so packed and using their space after that.
“You gonna go all the way tonight?”
Yuri’s mouth dropped. “Would you shut up?”
She glanced back over her shoulder where they stood by a food stand towards the far side of The Strip. Yuri could recognize no one but Tiffany who was flitting around in a sinfully tight dress, smiling and waving at people.
“What?” Sooyoung shrugged, looking sour. “You already almost kissed.”
“Almost.”
“I still don’t believe you.” Sooyoung sounded scornful.
“What’re you so mad about?”
“I’m not mad.” She grumbled into her cup of lemonade.
Yuri rolled her eyes, jutting her chin across the crowd. “Tiffany’s right there. Go.”
“But she’s with that guy.”
She was. And he was about to drool all over her. Gross.
And there was Boa walking right towards them. Crap.
“Here,” Yuri shoved an unopened beer into Sooyoung’s hand. “Take her this and ask her if she wants to go get cotton candy or something.”
“Cotton candy?”
“Go!” Yuri gave her a shove.
Sooyoung faded into the crowd just before Boa made it over to Yuri smiling. Yuri couldn't help but echo it.
“Nice hat.”
“Thanks.”
“You want a drink?” she asked. Yuri frowned and opened her mouth to protest when Boa caught herself. “Taeng would probably kill me if she found out. We can try the pipe.”
“Okay.”
A hand gripped onto her wrist and pulled. Yuri figured she had done it so they wouldn’t get lost and separated but she wondered, especially with the teasing way Boa turned to her over her shoulder, if she knew what kind of jolt had sparked in Yuri’s chest at it.
Boa released her once they reached the large full pipe. Yuri subconsciously rubbed at the spot now cold but clammy from Boa’s touch.
“Want a go?”
Maybe if she wanted to break her face. “I don’t think so.”
“Don’t blink, okay?” Boa tugged down the bill of Yuri’s hat.
Yuri pushed it back up to see Boa hurrying her way to Yunho who sucked on a cigarette by the pipe. Boa took it from his lips for a drag before she flicked it down and they both took to the pipe.
Yuri stayed put, accepting the challenge of not blinking as she watched. It was just like the first time she had seen the three at the show a year and a half ago. She was transfixed, her eyes following Boa maneuver with ease. The way her and Yunho weaved by each other was seamless, but the steady, calm, knowledgeable look on Boa’s face was mesmerizing.
“Shouldn't you be in bed, kid?”
Yuri was distracted from Yunho and Boa who shared a high five as they zoomed passed each other. She turned up to see Changmin running a hand up his hair to spike the front.
“I’m not a kid.” She shot back.
He glanced down at her as if he hadn’t been talking to her in the first place and snorted.
“Yah, Changmin!” Yunho’s voice reached from the pipe. “Get in here!”
His shoulder knocked into Yuri’s as she jogged off.
Yuri felt herself fade into the background as the three rode. Setting her board on the ground, Yuri sat on it, arms wrapped around her knees.
-/-/-/-
"Yuri, wait up!"
Maybe if she pretended not to hear her...
"Hey, where're you going?” Boa slowed her jog to walk beside her. “You just disappeared."
Yeah and Yuri felt like she did as well when Boa and her boys decided to move from the pipe to where the ramps were. Yuri hung around for all bout twenty minutes before she checked out of there.
"It's getting late." Yuri shrugged, trying not to look Boa straight in the eye. "I should find Sooyoung and go."
Boa sucked her teeth in distaste. "She'll find herself, come with me."
"I don't know, Boa."
"No, really.” Grabbing onto Yuri’s wrist, she stopped her in place. Jerking back, she was forced to see Boa’s irritated scowl. “Come with me. It'll be fun. And no boys."
Yuri rolled her eyes but her blush betrayed her.
"Follow me."
-/-/-/-
“This isn’t another one of your abandon gyms, is it?”
Boa grimaced. “Sorry about that. How’s your head?”
“It’s whatever.” Yuri shrugged as she followed Boa down a path through a thicket of trees.
The night air was cool on her skin, breezing through her shirt. Boa moved closer to her so their hands bumped together. Yuri stiffened, going to draw it away when Boa grabbed hers and held on. She kept a firm grip as the dirt path turned into wood. Their feet clattered noisily along it, shadows casted back by the moon along the long dock. Reaching the end, Boa let her hand drop and stretched her arms up to the sky.
“I hope this is okay. I thought we could do something other than skate for once.” She glanced over at Yuri who was still reeling over the fact Boa had laced their hands together. “Sit down with me?”
She didn't have to be asked twice.
Dropping to the dock, Yuri followed Boa’s example and took off her shoes and socks. The water was freezing when she dipped her feet in and she hissed, body tensed up until she got used to the tiny, frigid waves lapping at her ankles.
“It was so loud back there.” Boa said after a moment.
“Yeah,”
“The view is nice.”
“Mhm,” Yuri wouldn't say it was kind of a let down seeing the outline of buildings and city lights in the near distance but she was with Boa so anything could be nice.
“Is your head really okay?”
“It was just a scratch."
“I’m really sorry.”
“Don’t be,” Yuri looked over at her. She gave a reassuring smile. “I had fun.”
“Yeah, me too.”
Conversation dipped off there. Yuri became hyper aware of their closeness again. Of the solitude they had on the dock. Of how the quiet was making everything that much louder from her shaky breathing to her heartbeat.
She hoped Boa couldn't hear it.
“Tiffany told me about your crush.”
Wait, what?
Yuri whipped around on her, horrified. Boa only grinned that shit eating grin, eyes still angled out over the water. If Boa couldn't hear her heart rate before, she was certain she could now.
“I can explain.” Yuri tried.
“Explain what?” Her eyes fell on Yuri and her mouth turned to cotton. “It’s a crush. I think it’s cute. You’re cute.”
“Don’t make fun of me.” she mumbled, hiding her face away. She couldn't take it if Boa mocked her like this.
“I’m not.” Boa knocked her shoulder into hers. Yuri didn’t look up. “Hey, I’m serious. I’m not making fun of you. I mean it.”
Yuri scoffed. “Right.”
“I mean,” Boa sighed, scrunching up her nose, “you’re kinda young but -”
“I’ll be nineteen soon!” Yuri protested then bit her tongue.
Boa only grinned. “That’s what I told Tiffany.”
Oh. Wait…
Yuri slowly brought her gaze back up. She wasn’t surprised that Boa was looking right at her, eyes clear as day.
“She really looks out for you. Her and Taeng,”
“Yeah, I guess.” she kicked her legs in the water. The mention of those two taking care of her made her feel more like she was twelve than anything.
“Do you think Taeyeon will kill me?”
“For wha-”
She wished she would’ve seen it coming. Maybe she would’ve responded quicker, maybe even stopped Boa before she could do it only so she could make the first move herself.
Maybe she wouldn’t have sat their eyes wide and body completely frozen as Boa’s lips pressed to hers for what felt like only a second before she pulled back, blinking shyly. It was the first time Yuri had seen her unsure of herself and Yuri never wanted to forget that look.
“You did want me to do that, right?” Boa looked from one of her eyes to the other. “If not then this is really awkward.”
Yuri screamed for her heart, her head, and her mouth to connect.
“No, I-” almost there. “Yes, yeah, totally. It’s not awkward.”
Boa sucked on her bottom lip, brow curving still unsure. “Should I try again?”
“Yes. Try again. Go.”
Her laugh filtered into Yuri’s mouth as their lips connected and this time Yuri was ready. She kissed back with as much as Boa put in, head tilted to the side to get more of those delicious lips. Something like fireworks and a marching band sounded off in her head when her mind finally caught up to her that she was kissing Boa. Boa was kissing her. They were actually kissing.
Whoa.
A hand against her face held her in place and Yuri’s head nearly exploded when Boa’s tongue teased it’s way into her mouth and she whimpered. Yuri was too elated to be embarrassed.
“I guess that’s a good sign.” Boa giggled, drawing back slightly. Their noses bumped and Boa tucked Yuri’s hair behind her ear. “I was a little worried.”
“Why?”
“This didn’t turn out like the first date I wanted but…” she pressed a tender kiss to Yuri that she felt in the soles of her cold feet. “I was thinking we could have a second first date sometime?”
“Yeah, second-first dates are cool. I’d like that.”
“Mmm,” Boa hummed against her lips. “Me too.”
Closing her eyes, Yuri leaned in.
-/-/-/-
It was in the morning when Yuri found Sooyoung in the aisle of the skate shop kissing Tiffany’s neck from behind while the girl was trying to work.
“Yah!”
Sooyoung jumped away and Yuri nearly fell over from laughing at the sly look on Tiffany’s face as she fixed her hair to cover the mark left.
“Be nice.” The bill of her hat covered her eyes with the push of a hand. Yuri moved it up, glaring at Boa who kissed it away easily and grabbed her hand. “Ready to go?”
Yuri flustered and fumbled over her feet as Boa led her out of the shop to Tiffany’s laugh.
Boards to the pavement, they kicked off down the street.
Oh yeah. It had been a good night for both.
Fin.
-
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Date: 2013-12-17 09:28 am (UTC)Spotty spot!NEVER FEAR. I've returned......to see that I have many more of your updates to read. (yay and crey)
Welp, THIS was highly enjoyable. Loved the length and the skateboarding them. (Skateboarding is so cool and girls that do it are ♥♥♥) I really enjoyed all the characters. What a breezy, feel-good story.
I can picture BoA as the confident skater. Just...UNF. YulBoa...yaaassss. Their dynamic is adorable and their "skate dates" were playful and very romantic. :") SooFany...well first--Tiffany's character is SMOKIN'--I loved them. So much teasing and flirting~~ In the end, they all found a kissing partner. Huzzah!!
Random, but this line: the sun had gone away leaving only an indigo strip on the horizon.-- I love it. A lot. :3
Thanks for this, man. Can't wait to get to the others. ^^
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Date: 2013-12-18 11:33 pm (UTC)Yuri + BoA = Hotness overload /Lol
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Date: 2013-12-19 12:08 pm (UTC)Skateboards + Boa = hotness
I also like your side story for SooFany. Total fan of their pairing will you be writing more about them?
Thanks for writing this! ^_^
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Date: 2013-12-20 11:03 pm (UTC)