As Cold As Ice // Charlie Gillespie

Chapter 47

"I'm so sorry I didn't tell you. I was scared and... embarrassed." Charlie's gaze immediately turns soft. "It's ok. I just wish you didn't have to go through that alone." I nod weakly. "It didn't feel like something to say over the phone." We both know it wasn't. If I would have told him it would not only have become real for me but it would have also made everything even harder. I know Charlie would have wanted to help me but how could he when he's in a different country? I knew it's wasn't too long until I was gonna see him and maybe some part of me had hoped that by then I would have worked it out.

I hate the gloomy mood between us because of that topic. I've been struggling with this long enough. It's better now. I've been back on the ice today. Time will show if I can work through my issues and get back to who I was. Even if I can't, I'll deal with it. At least I know again that I can be on the ice without hurting myself. Playfully I knock on Charlie's chest four times and sing "Do you wanna build a snowman?" completely off key. His expression lightens up immediately before he replies "Come on let's go and play." At the exact same time I can feel laughter and surprise building in my chest but the laughter wins. Charlie joins my laughter right away which feels funny because I'm still partly laying on his chest.

"You know frozen?" I ask once I've calmed down. "Of course I do! It's a classic!" I raise my eyebrows as I say "A classic, huh? First High School Musical and now Frozen. You're a real softy." Before I can see it coming Charlie is attacking my with tickles and I squirm, trying my best to escape him. I have no luck so I eventually scream "I surrender!" Charlie immediately stops tickling me but looks at me with a devilish expression. "You'll pay for that comment." Didn't I pay enough already? Before he can come up with another attack I jump out of his bed. "I'll be right back. I'll just get some warmer clothes." - "What?" He seems genuinely confused. "For building a snowman?" - "Oh, you were serious?" - "Deadly."

So far building a snowman is going really well! We've rolled the biggest bottom ball I've ever build in my entire life. I must say, it's not hard since we have plenty of snow available in Charlie's backyard. I'm currently working on the middle part of the snowman. Charlie has gone off to grab a carrot, a pot as a hat and some stones for the buttons and eyes. I've found sticks for the arms when we were heading to the backyard. Without me noticing my ball has grown to a remarkable size already. If I don't stop now it'll be too big. I try lifting it up on top of our bottom ball but it's too heavy. Damn, this is really embarrassing. I can't even lift a big snowball. "Charlie?" There's no response. He's been in the house for quite a while now.
"Charlie?" I call again, a bit louder this time, but I don't get a response. As I'm about to turn around to have a look something bumps against my shoulder. What was that? I'm not standing underneath a tree so it can't be snow falling down. Before I have a chance to determine what it was I'm hit again. This time I'm certain what it was so I turn around in the direction it came from which turns out to be a big mistake. The next snowball hits me directly on my tummy. "Hey!" I yell playfully. It's not fair to attack me without a chance to arm myself! "Told you you'll pay." I quickly look around but I can't find a proper hiding spot. My only option is to hide behind the bottom ball of our snowman. With a big jump I jump behind it and duck down as far as I can. I'm not too tall and the ball is quite big but it's far from enough to fully protect me. There haven't been any new attacks since my jump though, so maybe Charlie is giving me a grace period to prepare.

"What's taking you so long, Mia? My patience is running out." I can tell Charlie is trying real hard to sound like a tough warrior waiting for his attack but I know he's having a hard time suppressing his smile. I haven't attacked back yet but that doesn't mean I wasn't busy. I've produced at least twenty snowballs that are waiting to be used. He has no idea what he's gotten hisself into. "Just a second." I try to make my voice sound as innocent as I can and I guess I succeeded because he keeps waiting. I reach for the tiniest snowball and throw it at Charlie, carefully aimed at his arm. "Woah Mia, I didn't think it was gonna be that easy." He takes a snowball and throws it right at my chest. Of course I let him hit me right where he wanted to. I have him right where I wanted him now. Before he has any chance to know what happening I reach for a bigger snowball and aim at his chest. Without waiting for it to hit him I reach for the next and aim at his tummy. They were both aimed perfectly. Charlie seems so surprised he doesn't react which makes it almost too easy for me to land two more hits. After yet two more he slowly realizes what's going on and that he doesn't stand a chance. Why is he walking towards me? That's making it even more easy! Wait, he's coming too close! Before I know it Charlie has tackled me to the ground. I have no chance of escape. I'm trapped between the ground and his body but I don't mind for a second.