Falls Mountain

Winter, day 1

One fell, and then another, soon the floor was covered in a sugar-like dusting. Stepping out into the open, Lucie closed her eyes and let the cool snowflakes kiss her eyelashes and cheeks. This is what she had been waiting for. Don't get her wrong, summer was amazing, time spent by the ocean at their summer house, bonfires on the beach, and sun-kissed freckles. She loved surfing and pool parties and the excitement of longer days and endless summer nights, but coming here in late Autumn, from June to September, was Lucile Regatta's favorite time of the year. The Regatta family were never settled, in the sense that they lived a foot in both worlds. The world of summer and beaches but also the world of snow and winter. They had two houses, one by the beach for the summer months, and one on Falls Mountain for winter. George Regatta had grown up in the town below Falls Mountain, Rosefield. He, an expert in all things snow sports, moved to the city briefly for study where he met his wife, Anna. Anna grew up by the beach, an expert in surfing and beach volleyball. The two created a life that housed both of their joys, the summer and the winter. After they got married Anna gave birth to three beautiful girls.

Evangeline (Evie) May was first, then four years later came Gracie, and 9 months after Gracie, little Lucile was born. The family arrived in early June on Falls mountain, Anna ran her own publicity company and did most of her work from home so moving between houses was not difficult for her. George managed a journalism company and thanks to modern technology could also do most of his work at home. Once the girls had arrived at the mountain they were able to attend the local school with all the other 'snow babies' as Anna referred to them. In the summer months, they deferred to online school.

"Lucie grab your bag," George said disturbing Lucie's thoughts. They had arrived at the entrance to the mountain. No cars could go beyond here and they had to take the shuttle up to their house. They loaded all the things they would need for the next few months into a trolley to be taken to the shuttle. Though they would be spending some time here they didn't need to bring a lot of their stuff for the winter house was already there waiting from last winter. Lucie just packed the things she took back and forth, her favorite jumpers, school books, her laptop and phone, personal items, and some new items she bought for the winter. Gracie was sitting on the bench by the shuttle stop. This winter would be the first without Evie. Evie had moved to the city last year to be closer to uni and her work.

At that moment Lucie's phone went off and she checked her smartwatch on her wrist for the notification.

Wood Street:

1 notification

Lucie smiled, the group chat was live. Of course, they all communicated during the summer months but it was not nearly as often as during winter or the weeks leading up to everyone's arrival, planning what to bring, what to do. The Wood Street group had been friends since they were babies, they all grew up spending the winter months in their chalets on Wood Street on the mountain. There was, of course, Lucie and Gracie, Benny Grey, Ross Franklin, and Candice Avalon, as well as some seasonal visitors who often stayed for a week and joined the group but weren't necessarily permanent members and didn't feature in the wood street group chat.

Gracie showed Lucie her phone screen and on it was a picture from Candice showing all the alcohol she had stocked up for the winter.

"Classic Candice," Lucie laughed remembering all the fun that had last year. Lucie's birthday was in the middle of July and this year she was turning 20. Gracie had turned 20 in November and had had a massive pool party, but Lucie was glad her birthday was in the winter months so she could celebrate with her winter friends, the best ones.

Candice was a year older and was already 21. Before the others turned eighteen, Candice was the main source of alcohol. Before that, they would take turns stealing from their parents. Benny's birthday was in October so was only just older than Gracie and Ross was the youngest with his birthday in August, exactly one month after Lucie.