Climb | ✔

Chapter 10 | Unplaceable

Gina had been rattling non-stop for the past two days over Daisy's upcoming date with Fletcher. Talks between the two had gone well, evidently enough, and they were set to go out for the classic dinner and a movie combo tomorrow night.

"I will do your makeup. You're going to look so hot," Gina gushed, only stopping in her excitement to munch on some limp cafeteria fries. "And you-" she turned to Winter. "Going to a party without us! You've grown up so fast," she mocked tearfully.

"Yeah, don't remind me," Winter gloomed, head in her hands, her rosy cheeks puffing out in pre-emptive exhaustion at the mere thought of the social engagement she got roped into.

After Evie had kindly washed and returned Winter's hoodie, she insisted that she join her and her friends Friday night for 'a small get-together.' Today being the day of reckoning, it was understandable that Winter was in heavy spirits, even during her favorite class.

"Why did you say yes if you didn't want to go?" said Daisy, her brush accidentally grazing the canvas as she went to wet it. She whispered a soft curse as she used her finger to smudge out the mistake.

Winter dipped her brush into a blob of green-blue paint, shaving off the excess on the side of her palette. "I felt obligated to since it was in thanks. It'd be rude to turn it down and if I did, she might have insisted on something else like buying a gift or something." Winter frowned, either from the thought of receiving a gift or at the work she'd just detailed in on her painting.

"True. Well, you should just have Gina go with you."

"Evie didn't say anything about a plus-one, so I didn't ask."

Truthfully, Winter would have loved to have Gina tag along. It would give her someone to stick to all night. Instead, she found herself stilted awkwardly on Evie's doorstep at 7:47p.m, entirely on her lonesome.

Rose waved goodbye at her from within the safety of her Jeep before she zipped away in a blur of sky-blue down the street and out of sight.

Winter sighed and steeled her gaze back on the house. It was a large, charming craftsman home with an arched portico supported by four large columns set at intervals on the porch. A low-hanging lantern swayed overhead in the dark wind that flowed past in bursts from a distant storm. She sent Evie a text letting her know she was there, but ended up ringing the doorbell anyway. Even the doorbell was fancy, ringing out a chipper tune to the host, who opened the door soon after.

"Winter!" Evie beamed and welcomed her inside.

Winter removed her sneakers and discarded them amongst the growing pile of shoes by the door. 

"I'm so glad you came," Evie said genuinely, pulling Winter in for a quick one-armed hug. She led her passed the curved staircase along the right side of the foyer and into a large, open space with a living room to the right, and an island kitchen to the left.

A group of vaguely familiar faces were already crowding the space, most of them congregating in the kitchen while a small group of girls occupied the living room. Winter was led to the right side and seated in the last empty space on the red velvet chesterfield next to two girls she recognized from the Halloween party. 

Evie made quick work of introductions as she took her own place on the arm of a matching red chair where her friend, Alison, sat. Alison casually slung her arm around Evie's hip. Then, she looked at Winter and waved, her manicured hands steeped in a red hue from the gas insert fireplace, giving her skin the color of burnt umber as opposed to its usual, cool-tone darkness.

There was an exchange of the usual pleasantries: the 'how do you like living here and 'what was it like in Canada' before the conversation gained any sort of substance.