Chapter 1
Sitting down on the crunchy snow, right above a sugar maple tree; leaves fall from the branches.
Looking at the beautiful scenery of early winter, many types of trees spray out on the field, leaves of many shades of orange hang onto the branches. A deep sigh comes from her lips, seeing the girls breath in the cold atmosphere; wearing a thin dark green knitted sweater with a scratchy cream-colored scarf, the girls’ beanie matches the scarf but is much too big for her to wear.
Lifting her head to look up at the gray sky, chunks of clouds drift away; grabbing the leather bag, putting it on her lap. Digging her hand inside of the main pouch, gently tapping around to find her desired object; the girl made a well-pleased face, a sly smile creeping onto her lips. Grabbing the items from the bag, an Altoids cinnamon mint tin, and a lighter; popped the lid open with her thumb while putting down the lighter on her thigh. A small row of cigarettes with a few mints is in the tin, picking up two mints; putting the mints in her mouth, softly chewing while grabbing one of the cigarettes; resting on her lips while lighting the cigarette, then gently putting the tin back in her leather bag.
Watching the smoke whisk into the air, looking at the frozen pond which is a few feet away from the tree.
All of a sudden, someone snatches the cigarette from her lips, the girl jolts in shock. Slowly lifting her head to see a guy with curly sleek, orange-brown hair holding the cigarette between his two fingers;
“Smoking is really bad for you, wasting money just to earn misery of addiction,” The lanky boy with freckles spoke honestly, smirking at the girl. Squinting his light brown eyes at the cigarette then glancing at the girl that sits on the snow.
“I know Oli, may I have it back? I will quit soon, ” She hopelessly begged, wrapping her arms around her shoulders. Her short gentle curls poke out of the beanie as she stares at Oli, the beanie about to slip off of her head. Oli’s facial expressions look guilty, handing back the cigarette; right before he hands it to her, he drops it on the snow. Stomping on the cigarette to turn it off.
“Oopsies, I am so sorry Beatrix, you know smoking is very bad for you” He spoke, taunting Beatrix, gently flashing a smile at her; gently putting his hands on his chest where his heart is.
“God you are annoying, but you are lucky Oliver,” Beatrix rolled eyes at him, her hazel eyes twinkled with humor and her dimples appeared on her cheeks. She stands up from the ground, seeing her footsteps and how she sat on the snow. Beatrix bends to grab her leather bag that sits on the snow-packed grass, putting the strap on her shoulder, resting by her left hip.
“Cmon Oli, let’s go on a stroll by that pond,” Beatrix softly spoke while pointing at the semi-frozen pond,
“Alright Bea’, let’s go,” Oli tucks his hands in his leather jacket pockets, a white-collar pokes out of his brown sweater; his chest raises as he takes in a deep breath as they walk towards the pond.
Trees of many types scatter around the park, snow settling on tree branches. They go on the sidewalk with little snow covering the concrete, mosey along towards the natural pond, the snow barely touches the cattails at the end of the pond.
Due to being so cold, ice forms on the sidewalk right by the pond that sinks into the ground. Beatrix steps on the wrong side of the sidewalk, shock strikes her she shrieks as she slips down in the pond. Hitting the curb on the path, just barely falling into the frozen water,
“Oh my god, Beatrix!” Oliver panics and follows, but doesn’t go down along with Beatrix. As she falls down the slope, her small figure slowly stops moving downwards on her back. Soft giggles come from her throat, holding back her laughs. Snow intertwines with her curls, lifting her head but not moving her limbs to see Oliver’s face. Worried and shock is written all over his face, his brown eyebrows scrunched up and his lips slightly parted; his breath shows in the cold air.
“You uh, should help me get up...I can’t feel anything,” Beatrix lets out a chuckle, throwing her head back on the snow. Waiting for Oliver to pick up her limp figure; soft rustles of crunching snow and grunts of struggling. Oliver grabs her foot as he sits down on the sidewalk, Beatrix’s body slowly lifts away from the freezing cold water with the help of Oliver. Mellow snorts come from the girl, flinging her arms back as Oliver pulls her up from the small slope. The boy gently sits down on the opposite side of the sidewalk where the snow-packed grass is, resting as he watches his friend.
“Thanks, Oli,” Beatrix giggled while looking up to the wintery cloudy sky,
“My pleasure Beatrix, do you want to like, walk back home to get ready for tomorrow?” Oliver asked while folding his arms in front of his chest, huffing out the air from his lungs. Signaling that he is tired but Beatrix snickers, she gets up from the snow.
wiping off the snow that tries to get inside of the leather bag. Walking up towards where Oliver sits, lifting his head to see his short friend that is nearly a foot away.
“Come on, let’s walk back home. I’m hungry for dinner anyways” Beatrix truthfully stated, she extends her arm out towards Oli; he looks at her hand then grabs her; lifting himself with a stumble. His eyes widen from the strength from Beatrix’s arms,
“My brothers like to play rough so I will kick their butts when I visit my family, I will show them who’s boss.” Beatrix rolls up her sweater sleeve, flexing her muscle at Oliver while holding in her laughs. Oliver chuckles at her, rolling his eyes at the girl flexing her arm.
“God Bea, roll down your sleeve. It’s freezing and you will probably get a cold,” Oliver once again rolled his eyes, softly smiling at Beatrix; she scoffs then pulls down her sleeve.
“Well, it’s not that cold but I guess I will listen to you,” Beatrix replied to Oliver’s worries while walking the main path. Leading out of the park with Oliver right by her side, walking underneath a pine tree. The branches spread out above the sidewalk with snow. A smug look appears on Oliver’s face, as he slowly looks up to see a big branch with snow a few feet away.
“God, I am so glad that you got me away from my parents, they are worried that I will get kicked out of the all-girls school again.” Beatrix shared, swinging her arms back and forth, gently kicking some of the snow that sits on the sidewalk. As they get closer to the gates that lead out of the park, Oliver quickly extends his right arm to pull down the branch
“And-” Beatrix gets caught off guard with snow falling on top of her head, into her sweater and scarf, a long yelp comes from her then while most of the snow falls on top of Oliver’s head, spilling forward on his face.
A big ‘Oomph’ comes from Oliver, shaking off the snow that sticks to his face and giggling; flashing a big smile at Beatrix, struggling to hold in his laughs. Beatrix’s mood instantly becomes more furious, her eyes twitching as she slowly turns towards Oliver. Clenching her jaw and furrowed eyebrows, bringing her hand up to her face, pinching the bridge of her nose.
“Why do you always try to get in trouble! I hate it when you do this; You big dumbo... god why are you so immature!” Beatrix lashes out at Oliver’s stupidity, wiping off the remaining snow that sits on her head and shoulders. Smacking his upper arm as she struggles to find words, clearly irritated with her childish friend.
Oliver’s expression was slowly woeful, tears welling up in his eyes; his face slowly slipped from joy into a darker tone. His cheeks become flush with a soft red color added to being red from the winterly weather as well. This emotion never made Oliver feel well, he feels guilty; also he’s to blame. Holding in his tears, seemingly hoping not to show any sign of submission.
“Because, because...I don’t...know... I’m sorry,” Oliver mumbles out, his voice about to shatter from sadness.
His eyes darted onto the pavement of the sidewalk, then continued walking to the gates, trying to get away from Beatrix. Her facial expressions slowly soften as Oliver walks away in sadness. She doesn’t move from her spot, watching Oliver walk out of the park. Beatrix gathers all of her thoughts as she walks out of the gates,
looking at the semi snowy road and sidewalks, the street lamps light up the small town.
Looking up at the evening sky with rain slowly descending from the sky,
“I’m sorry Oliver,” She whispered. Remaining motionless, letting the raindrops hit on her face.
