Hearts in the Snow | Shadowglen Christmas Holidays Prequel

Jackie

I never dreamed I’d be back in Shadowglen for Christmas, and yet here I was, wearing my cute red party dress and clutching a cup of eggnog. I sipped from the red plastic party cup, standing by the drinks table farthest from the speakers where at least I could sort of hear myself think. The eggnog tasted sharp with a bitter edge instead of purely creamy and sweet, but oddly not unpleasant.

“I’ve never had eggnog like this before,” I muttered to myself. To myself, because I was all alone in the crowded old barn.

Or so I thought.

“That’s because it’s spiked,” replied a sandy-haired boy I didn’t know. He leaned against one of the weathered timber poles, watching me intently.

I jumped. How long had he been standing there?

The music grew louder, hiding my awkward laugh. Spiked? With alcohol?

I’d never drank anything before, and I hadn’t intended to tonight, but it wasn’t too bad. I took another sip. I didn’t feel any different. What was the harm in a little drink?

Besides. I frowned down into the creamy liquid. None of it mattered anyway. Not when I’d spent hours getting ready, and now Kace wasn’t even looking at me. Maybe a drink would make me feel better.

It was just like summer all over again.

Kace stood with a bunch of other Shadowglen kids across the room, surrounded by laughter and muffled words I couldn’t make out over the music.

It should have been an old wound by now, scabbed and healed. It shouldn’t have hurt so bad to be left out, but I couldn’t think of Shadowglen without wanting to see him. When I’d found out I could come back for the holidays, that was all I’d wanted.

To see Kace.

“Here,” said the sandy-haired boy I didn’t know, interrupting my thoughts. He pressed a second red cup full of eggnog into my hands. I hadn’t even realized I’d finished the first. “It’s good, right?”

I nodded vaguely, reaching up to touch my cheek. My face had started to feel strangely warm and tingly. Was that the alcohol taking effect?

He watched me until I took a sip, like he was making sure I would drink it. I didn’t want to look rude, but the way he was standing so close made me uncomfortable.

This wasn’t my usual scene. I didn’t usually do parties. Not this kind. Not the kind with alcohol and no adults and loud music pumping from giant speakers in an old barn out where nobody responsible would come snooping around.

But that afternoon, I’d overheard one of the Shadowglen girls invite Kace. And of course that meant I had to find a way to go, too.

What would Granny think of me now? I shuddered at that thought, taking another sip as I glanced toward the open doors. Crisp snow drifted down in soft flurries in the light. Granny thought I was sleeping over at Morgan’s.

I couldn’t go back now. I’d be so grounded if I came home smelling of booze.

And I couldn’t go to Morgan’s, either.

I was stuck. Stuck here, stuck without Kace, stuck talking to a boy who kept looking at me in a way that made me wish someone else would come over so I didn’t have to stand by him alone. He watched me intently, and something about the way his gaze lingered made my skin prickle with unease.

“You’re not from around here, either, right?” He looked over at the Shadowglen teens all crowded and laughing and dancing together. “I’m up here visiting my stupid cousins. This place sucks. Even this party is lame, huh? They think they’re so cool just because they know each other.” He moved closer. “That’s why we outsiders gotta stick together.”

I laughed half-heartedly in response. He wasn’t totally wrong, but I still wanted nothing more than to walk over to the group of Shadowglen kids. Or better yet—for Kace to come to me. But that was just wishful thinking.

Kace had changed when we started high school. He’d made it perfectly clear he’d forgotten all about me. Now he wanted nothing to do with me. Just like in the summer, whenever I tried to get close to him, he’d ignore me or walk away.

What was I thinking? I should never have come to this party.

I watched as another girl flirted with Kace, pushing his shoulder as she laughed, practically hanging off him. My red party cup crinkled in my hands, making me jump. I tore my eyes away.

I didn’t realize I’d been clenching it that hard.

“Come on,” the sandy-haired boy said. He slung one arm around my shoulders. “Let’s get out of here. I’ll take you home.”

Home? I blinked into the darkness as he steered me through the open doors. My brain was so fuzzy.

Home, home—snowflakes stung my face, my arms, my exposed legs. No! I couldn’t go back to Granny’s! Not now. Not reeking of booze. Not when I was supposed to be at Morgan’s.

But…I glanced back at the group of Shadowglen teens, trying to catch a last glimpse of Kace.

My heart twisted.

What did it matter where this stranger took me? At least I wouldn’t be alone.