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The snow covers the ground outside when I get out of bed and it is like a winter fairy tale. It is Christmas card beautiful.
I bundle up in a few layers of clothes and quickly do a bit of homework instead of going down to get breakfast.
“Come Elizabeth, it’s time to go.” Esther comes into my room and runs to my window. “Isn’t it just pretty?” she asks.
“Very much so.” I smile as I toss my books into my bag.
“I know you were unhappy moving here and I am sorry, but I am so glad we did,” she says, while looking out the window.
“I am not unhappy anymore. I now understand that everything happens for a reason and that we can’t fight destiny.”
She looks at me frowning and she shakes her head. “You’re weird. Let’s go, or else Mum will be upset because you’re late again.”
When I get downstairs, my mum is looking at me questioningly, and I know it is going to be a very long drive to school, with many questions and I told you so’s.
Eventually I get to school, and I meet up with Jane, waiting for me, as always. Good thing she is well bundled up, because I can already see traces of blue around her lips.
“I really enjoy our walks down together, but honestly Jane, it’s freezing out here,” I express my amusement at her trying to keep her shivers discreet.
“I don’t mind and besides I am used to the cold.”
“I don’t think you could ever get used to this cold,” I say and plumes of white smoke cloud out of my mouth. I push my hands into the cuffs of my jumper.
My stomach is knotting up painfully, the closer we get to the main building, not knowing what to expect from Jared. Wanting to avoid walking into the building, I stop and turn to Jane, saying, “Thank you for arranging everything on Saturday. It was the most magical night of my entire life to date—guaranteed.”
“You really do like him a lot, don’t you?”
“I do. It makes me nervous that I fell for him so quickly. It feels as if at any moment he would decide it was a mistake and then he would realize he was in fact waiting all this time for Sarah to come to her senses and settle down.”
“I doubt that would ever happen,” Jane says, laughing sarcastically.
“So, tell me. What happened with Aaron?”
“We sat together watching the movie, and he did eventually hold my hand.”
I look at her, waiting for more.
“And he phoned me late yesterday afternoon and said he was at home alone. It was after Jared went to drop you off. I don’t know if he phoned me because he was feeling lonely or if he needed a shoulder to cry on, because now he knows with certainty that you will never be his.”
“I am so sorry Jane and please tell me that you don’t resent me. I told you from the very beginning I was not interested in him as more than a friend.” I smile a sad smile. “Besides some boys just need a nudge in the right direction, it is not always a loud banging of atoms.”
“Yeah,” she says despondently. “Sometimes love has to grow on you.”
I lean closer to her and give her a comforting hug.
She lets me hug her and then she says, “Let’s go in, I’m freezing.”
My back teeth are chattering against each other.
She drags me by my arm into the main building and I follow her nervously. We walk through the doorway and I see Jared at the end of the long corridor, leaning against my locker laughing and talking to Connell. Sarah is with Connell, his arm around her waist and she seems to be listening to every word Connell is saying.
“Connell must have had an impact on her,” I whisper sarcastically to Jane.
Just then, as if he senses me, Jared looks in our direction. He smiles at me and the knots in my stomach unravel as I smile back at him. His smile lights a fire inside me, and I start to feel warm from the inside out. He moves away from my locker and walks toward me. I cannot help beaming at him when he stops in front of me, putting his hands on my shoulders and then he bends down and kisses my cold nose lightly. Smiling, he says, “Your cheeks are so rosy red today, you look beautiful.”
I laugh happily, only a little embarrassed.
Jared walks with me to my first class and gently squeezes my elbow when I walk through the door into the classroom. Everyone in class is staring at me as I walk to my desk and I quickly sit down, without making eye contact with any one of them.
My next class is Biology with Aaron. Jane does not take Biology, so I make a point of walking next to Aaron. I have to walk fast to keep up with him.
“Are you avoiding me?” I ask him, out of breath.
“No, of course not,” he says dismissively.
“Just because of me and Jared, it doesn’t mean you and I cannot be friends, you know?”
“I know, but I can’t help it. Even though I can see much more between you and Jared, I feel I should have had a chance.”
“But how could you have had a chance, when all I could ever feel for you is the greatest friendship?” I am starting to feel a little annoyed.
“I’m sorry, the words are not coming out right,” he apologizes, still aloof.
“I was going to tell you something, but I think I should rather leave it.”
“No, tell me. I said I was sorry, and I am sure I will get over you,” he insists nastily.
I ignore his cruel comment, because I want us to still be friends and I understand he must be upset, so I continue, “I’ll feel silly telling you now.”
“I am not going to beg, Elizabeth,” he says spitefully.
I cannot help retaliating, “You are being so mean, right now. You have been the greatest friend, you and Jane even arranged for Jared and me to be together this weekend and now you are acting as if I cheated on you.”
He laughs cruelly. “I did no such thing. I phoned Jane to ask you, so that you and I could meet up. Then somehow I was dragged into getting you and Jared together.”
I shrink back, but I say softly anyway, “I was going to tell you about somebody who worships the ground you walk on.”
“The only person I’m interested in worshipping the ground I walk on, is you.” He turns around hurriedly and then he walks in the opposite direction, away from Biology class.
Flabbergasted I stare after him, feeling sad that I had lost his friendship.
