The Legend of Snow

The train

I arrive at the train station and hear the excited murmur that always follows wherever I go. I hear the familiar click of cameras. I lean in and me and my grandmother exchange a kiss to each cheek. She holds my head when I'm about to pull away and whispers "Break a leg."

The whole world is our stage. Echoes my grandmothers voice inside my head. And you Fragrance, are the star. My conscience chimes in. 'The only way to advance, is to use people. It's every man for themselves, but that doesn't mean you cant speed things up.' Sometimes I think I'm going mad. I have two constant voices inside my head telling me what to do and how to act. They are more like friends to me though. They help me stay in line, grab attention, stay perfect. And what's more, they can hear my conflicts, problems, and thought processes. I know I keep calling them 'they' as if they are a different person but that's just how they feel.

"Yo, white girl" says a guy with half white half black hair. I looks him up and down. 'His nose is too big, yet he seems to have a rare element...no use to you. Just wants to use you and there is nothing you can gain from him'

"Yo, skunk. What's up?" I say mocking him. A few of his friends behind him snicker. He looks flustered and I watch as his almost white skin goes pink. 'He cant even control his emotion. Amateur.' After a moment of beautiful embarrassment, he turns around and steps onto the train. It's one thing to make a mistake, but it's another to accept humiliating defeat.

I skip ahead of the cue waiting to get their watch scanned for the train. I get to the front. And pull down my jewel encrusted shades.

"I presume you know my Grandmother.... Artie" I say glancing at his nametag.

"Y-yes r-right a-a-away ma'am" he says scrambling and pushing people out of the way. He offers his hand to me as I step up onto the shiny silver train. I don't usually pull the you-know-my-grandmother' card. But she holds a lot of authority around here and this is the first day back of school. I am not showing up as some 'privileged' girl. I'm showing up as a star.

'Look around, find your group. You must be recognized as included, valuable' says my conscience. I walk down the isle, glancing at tables looking for the familiar faces.

"Ren! Over here!" Says that familiar deep female voice. I see them in the next carriage.

"Rose!" I say flashing a pearly smile.

"Scoot" whispers Jasper to some random kid sitting next to him. The kid looks shocked but gets up and sits one table away looking disappointed.

Jasper pats the seat next to him.

I sit down erasing my smile and putting a nonchalant expression. 'You don't care about them, you don't even need them. If they want to be friends with you, they have to work for it.'

"How was your summer?!" Says Clemmie in her over-excited pitchy voice. She isn't the smartest person but her parents are close with auntie. They might even be more rich than us. Of course we hold more political and social power than them.

Everyone looks around not knowing whether to act too-cool for her, or answer.

"Oh the usual. Galas, Viewings, Filming, etc." I say leaning back and crossing my legs.

After I contribute the group starts adding on to one-up me. It's always a competition with these people. And I always win.

"Yea my dad just got elected head officer for the E.O.E.D" says one kid I forgot the name of. His family is barely holding on to staying in the top ring. They are partially outcasts. Yet nobody knows about their financial problems except for the Alaska's.

"Those who talk about power don't have it" I say taking a sip from the drink that a waiter had just brought by. I like to hit people when nobody else knows how much damage I just caused.

The table goes silent as they stare at me. I soak it all up. 'You hold the cards, use it'

"Well that sounds awesome!" Says Clemmie beaming with happiness and breaking the silence. "It must be fun to have a dad in the office" She adds smiling. Her appearance matches her personality perfectly. Fluorescent pink hair, Magenta eyes, and long curly eyelashes she always adorns with ornaments and makeup. She is a Flower elemental; sweet to smell, but not taste. Being near her is a nice touch, but getting close is risky. I keep all my Friends at arms length. Allies. Whispers the voice.

The train ride continues mostly consisting of jokes, mocking, and polite chatter. Not the type of chatter adults use. 'The weather is absolutely beautiful today' or 'Have you read about the newest celebrity gossip in the news?'. It was the type of polite chatter to avoid silence. Talking about experiences, funny stories, etc. Yet none of us actually  found them funny, we just laugh because that's what we do. We laugh. At people, and at our own jokes. 

"And then, she told me to get out and go home! I mean- I have been her friend for 7 years! And all of it went downhill because she assumed I was the one who stole her necklace." Says Rose in her deep voice.

"Well did you steal the necklace?" Says Jasper in his I'm-too-cool-to-show-emotion voice.

"Of course not." Says Rose defiantly. I roll my eyes under my shades as my grandmothers words echo throughout my brain. There are some topics that should, and should not be brought to any table. Anything that will bring you down in any way must stay buried deep. Alaska's are perfect, not relatable. And under No circumstance should you mention dilemmas we face. Emotions are put there to show the weak. Only the strong can fake and hide them. 

The train continues to soar through the air. I peer discretely out the window watching as the tracks form beneath the wheels. I should be so rich that a flying train doesn't impress me; but the truth is, I love flying. Being in the air, looking down below at the city. Its amazing. I watch as we approach the assortment of mansion-like buildings that are our school. The train slowly makes its way down, down, down. I don't even feel a thud when we hit the ground. The excited chatter of students fills the carriages. 

"You excited Ren?" Says Jasper. He always has had a crush on me. Ever since the first day of school. Don't get me wrong, he hasn't told me, but I can tell. I like to watch him suffer silently as I date others. It's like a game. How long can Jasper stand me dating other men game. He is like a little puppy bouncing at me feet. 

"I guess" I say standing up and reaching for my bag in the overhead compartment.

"Here let me get that for you." He says quickly grabbing it and dropping it on Rose's head.

I laugh quietly as an argument breaks out among them

"Watch it!" Says rose standing up. I could almost see steam coming from her nose and ears.

"Well I'm sOrRy" Says Jasper sarcastically

"You wanna go?! Huh? Huh!?" Says Rose standing up to full height. Which is quite tall. Rose has a sporty, demeaning kind of vibe. Like you don't want to be on the opposite team for volleyball type of vibe.

"Oh shut up you too. Rose your fine. Jasper don't even allow yourself the pity of thinking you can beat Rose up" I say smiling. Rose glares at Jasper one last time before grabbing her bag. Jasper's face flushes with crimson.

Amateurs. Whispers the voice.

My friends- Allies. whispers the voice. Allies. I correct my thought. Are like a pack of starving wolves. Always fighting over who is in charge and ready to launch at anyone or anything. I am the Alpha. Nobody dares to challenge me. As far as they know, I have no problems and 100 times more power than them. I'm keeping it that way.