“Hey,” Jude said softly as he helped me stand up. He kept a firm arm around my waist as he guided me out of the rink. Somehow I got my skates off and put my boots on. Then he walked me up to the gazebo, and I collapsed on the bench inside.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” I blubbered.

“Why are you sorry? It was the penguin’s fault. We should go on a penguin-punching expedition, you and me.” He placed his hand on my back, making slow, soothing circles. I felt the warmth of them through my coat.

“That… would be… so unpopular,” I managed to choke out.

“Hmm?”

“Everybody… loves penguins.”

Jude smiled, and I could see his body relax. I hadn’t realized how tense he’d been before.

He took his hand from my back and touched his green glove to my cheeks, drying the tears that threatened to freeze there. Then he dabbed under my nose. Just like that. Like it wasn’t gross to have someone else’s snot on your hand-knitted gloves.

I took several deep, steadying breaths, blinking up at the slanted wooden beams of the gazebo roof. “It was so weird,” I was finally able to say. “It didn’t even really hurt, but I… I heard my bone breaking.”

Jude was silent for a moment, looking out at the rink. “Was that the first time you’ve fallen like that since you broke your leg?”

I nodded. There are falls where you stumble and right yourself almost immediately. And then there are falls, where you lose control of your body for a moment that stretches out into forever. I hadn’t had that kind of fall since I broke my leg.

“Then maybe it triggered that memory?” Jude asked.

“Maybe.” My brain had been doing weird things lately, like my tailspin after watching Diya’s bench scene at rehearsal. Maybe it made sense it would do this, too. It had been a while since I’d heard the horrid sound of my bones breaking as I tried to fall asleep, but of course the fear wouldn’t let go that easily.

“I’m really glad you’re okay,” Jude said.

“Me too.” I took a breath, a little less shakily this time. “I… I thought I wouldn’t be able to dance in the musical.”

It was quiet for a few seconds, except for the distant sounds of skating and laughter. I glanced up at Jude. He was staring at me in a way that made my cheeks flush.

“I wouldn’t have let that happen.” He brushed a few strands of hair out of my face. “You promised to dance me to death. You can’t let me off the hook.”

I leaned in, whispering. “I promised not to dance you to death.”

“Right,” he whispered back. His breath tickled my ear. “I guess the other way sounds more exciting.”