Threads Of Forever

-LIFETIME FOUR-

Elle rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest. "I'd mind very much, actually," she replied sharply, her tone cooler than usual. "What do you want now, Carter?"

His golden eyes sparkled mischievously as he slowed down, coming to a stop right in front of her. "Well, I was thinking maybe we could... have a little competition. A test of skills, you know? You with your ballet, and me with my skating. Let's see who really has the better craft."

Elle raised an eyebrow, the challenge sparking something in her chest. It was ridiculous. Absurd. But part of her-an unwilling part-liked the idea of showing him up. Proving that ballet was a thousand times harder, a thousand times more graceful and precise than his reckless, carefree skating.

"You think you can beat me?" she asked, unable to keep the edge of sarcasm from her voice. "You don't even know the first thing about ballet."

"Guess I'll find out, won't I?" Carter grinned. "I'm sure you're great at dancing. But I bet you can't skate for five minutes without falling on your face."

Elle's eyes narrowed, her competitive nature immediately surfacing. "Five minutes? I'll make it ten."

Carter's grin widened, clearly pleased with her response. "Deal."
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The next day, they met in a quiet part of the park, an area with wide, open spaces and a smooth, flat surface perfect for both skating and dancing. Elle arrived first, as always, her posture stiff with determination. Carter followed shortly after, rolling up on his skateboard, his usual easygoing demeanor in place.

"So, what's your first move?" Carter asked, raising an eyebrow as he kicked his skateboard off the ground and adjusted the wheels.

Elle smirked, unwrapping her warm-up jacket and tossing it aside. She wasn't about to let him see how nervous she felt, how uncertain she was about what would happen when she danced in front of him. But she pushed those thoughts aside, her mind focusing on nothing but the challenge.

She stepped to the center of the open space, her body fluid but tense, preparing herself mentally as the first beats of an imaginary music filled her head. She was going to show him just how wrong he was about ballet. She would make him see.

Carter leaned against a nearby tree, arms crossed, waiting with that infuriatingly confident grin on his face. "Show me what you got, ballerina."

Elle didn't waste time with words. She sprang into motion, her feet gliding effortlessly across the pavement as she executed a flawless pirouette, the muscles in her legs working with precision, each movement controlled and deliberate. She added an elegant leap, spinning gracefully in the air before landing in a perfect plié.

Carter watched, eyes locked on her as she performed, his expression unreadable. He didn't seem impressed, or at least, he didn't show it. But Elle could see the slight shift in his gaze, the way his eyes lingered just a bit longer than usual on the fluidity of her movements.

"Not bad," Carter said after a beat, his tone more neutral than usual. "But let's see how well you handle yourself on a board."

Elle glared at him, irritated, but her lips curled into a small, tight smile. "You're on."

Carter took his turn next, stepping onto his skateboard with the same ease as always, showing off with a series of flips, jumps, and impressive tricks. The way his body flowed with the board was almost hypnotic, the confidence he exuded as he effortlessly defied gravity giving him an undeniable charm.

But as Elle watched, she realized something she hadn't fully admitted to herself before: there was something about the way he moved that... captivated her. His motions, though far more reckless than her own, had a kind of fluidity she couldn't deny. There was a freedom to it, a rawness she had never allowed herself to experience.