On Thin Ice Read Online Free

friends. They’ve come to do some skating.”
    “Skating? It’s pitch black outside!” X protested. “Plus, I don’t have my skates!” Jonas added. “Who are all those girls?” Mark whispered hoarsely. “I’m outta here,” Bizz muttered. But before she could leave, Savannah grabbed her hand.
    “Please,” she said. “I want to show you something.” Bizz blinked but allowed Savannah to pull her through the living room and out into the backyard. Everyone else followed.
    The light from the house barely penetrated the darkness. Savannah dropped Bizz’s hand and disappeared around the side of the house. There was a soft click and suddenly the skating rink was aglow. Twinkling white lights, hidden beneath the garland and ribbons, encircled the rink. Music piped in from unseen speakers.
    Savannah reappeared. “I don’t want to get all mushy or anything,” she said, “but holidays are about friendship and togetherness, right? So I hope you’ll all stay awhile longer and skate. Who knows? Maybe you’ll make a new friend tonight.”

CHAPTER TEN
    Mr. Malloy produced a box filled with skates. “I collected these from your parents earlier this week,” he said to his son and his son’s friends.
    “You knew about this?” Jonas cried as he dug into the box. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
    “What, and ruin Savannah’s surprise?” Alison said. She tugged Jonas toward the ice. “Come on, shorty, close your mouth and move your feet.”
    “Shorty? Ha! I stand tall in these skates,” Jonas retorted as he tied the laces. He stepped onto the rink, promptly lost his balance, and fell flat on the ice.
    “From where I’m standing,” Alison drawled, “you still seem short.”
    “Aw, just help me up,” grumbled Jonas. Savannah laughed. But her laughter died when she saw Bizz sitting alone on a bench.
Now’s my chance,
she thought, walking over and sitting next to her friend.
    “Hey. Wanna skate?”
    “Too crowded,” Bizz mumbled.
    “Then can I give you your Christmas present?” Bizz looked up. “You got me a Christmas present? What is it?”
    Savannah reached under the bench and pulled out a colorfully wrapped present. “Open it.”
    Bizz peeled back the paper, then stared. “It’s us!” Savannah had framed a copy of the photo Alison took of them. She’d decorated the frame with tiny wooden snowboards, inline skates, and skateboards. On one side were the words “Friends to the end.” She’d made similar frames for the others, too. Inside, she’d put copies of the snowball-fight pictures.
    “It was dumb of me not to tell you about the school party,” Savannah said. “I’m sorry. Can you forgive me?”
    Bizz glanced at the photo one more time, then flung an arm around Savannah’s shoulders. “Only if you’ll forgive me for not showing up at the hill last weekend.”
    At Savannah’s happy nod, Bizz grinned. “Good thing! Otherwise, you’ll have to change what it says here!” She gave Savannah a squeeze.
    “Hey you guys, c’mon!” Jonas called from the ice. “We’re getting a game of hockey together!”
    Savannah sighed. “I hope the Academy girls don’t mind sharing the rink with hockey players,” she said. But when she looked up, she saw that several Academy girls were holding hockey sticks and looking ready to play.
    “Turns out some girls
do
like playing hockey.” Angela appeared and handed each of them a stick. She kept one for herself. “Sarah’s dad coaches a team. He had some sticks in his car.”
    Bizz raised her eyebrows. “I thought you said you’d never play hockey.”
    Angela grinned. “I can change my mind, can’t I?”

    “Sure,” Bizz replied, “but don’t expect me to take up figure skating!” Laughing, the two girls joined the others.
    The party lasted another hour. After the last guest had left, Savannah helped her parents tidy up. Then, yawning, she headed for her room to change into her pajamas.
    In the middle of her bed was a gift-wrapped box.