The Winters Freeze the Stage. Maybe just the school.

Chapter Two

When Karl saw the construction work being done, excitement was an understatement. The village was small. very small. Everyone knew each other's names, and people's yards could hold twelve more houses in them. The school was small but packed. After living here his entire life, things began to become monotonous for him. Everything was the same. It was pretty much underpopulated, and there wasn't much going on. So, when these huge trucks and vans and bulldozers came trailing in, he was more than ready to find out what was going on.

"Hey, tall ass! What's going on? " He said, walking up to Alcina. While they aren't blood-related, they are like siblings that won't stop fighting. They had grown up together in the orphanage, along with two others. The four of them were inseparable and made living here a bit more worthwhile. That didn't stop him from being jealous that she was taller than him. In fact, she was the tallest person in the village. Standing at six feet eight,

"Newcomers. From what Miranda had told me, they're from America. I don't know any names though. " She said, looking at the construction that was being done. She took a huff from her cigarette and blew slowly.

"Seriously? Who in God's name would want to move here in the middle of nowhere? " Karl crossed his arms in anticipation. Finally, something was happening. He longs for something new.

"Them apparently. I'm pretty sure one of them is going to teach at the school as well." She mussed.

"Well, well, even better. I'm going to go information hunting! " He turned and left. Alcina said nothing but rolled her eyes. Her brother was a genius. She'll give him that, but he was also a moron. "How can someone so smart be so dumb?" was a question she often asked herself.

*Several months later*

"Heya Rose, where do you want these boxes?" Ethan asked as he picked two up.

"In my room, please, Dad." She shouted back. Ethan deeply dreaded going up those stairs. The house was so fucken huge but Ethan was satisfied with getting his money's worth. The girls loved the house the few times they flew over to check it out. They were already claiming and envisioning their rooms, and they still had rooms to spare. Ethan loves the house and the area around it. They had already met a few people who were technically their neighbors. Elena and her father were his closest neighbors. They had met Luiza and her husband. Ethan also met the town mayor, Miranda, who doubled as the school's principal, and her daughter Eva. That must be a lot of work. Everyone was nice and respectful. Ethan could only do the same.

"Oops, sorry dad," Eveline said, almost crashing into him.

"It's alright, love. Have you almost finished moving boxes in? " He asked, placing the boxes in his arms down.

"Yup yup! I plan on unpacking later tonight. " She said, leaning on the door, arms crossed.

"Actually, I was planning on going out to eat. We can go to that one restaurant we went to last time. Hopefully, we will get the little booth in the corner again. You know the one. " He spoke.

"Oh yes! Yes! I want to eat that pork goulash thingy again. That was so goooooood." She bounced happily. The food wavered in her mind.

"Ok, but we have to finish here first, missy." He said, walking past her. She groaned and followed him to the truck. They both walked down, and Rose rushed her to her dad.

"Dad, there are some people coming over." She warned. Ethan smiled and thanked her. He put on his mask and made sure his gloves were on before walking out. Both girls followed a bit far behind, out of curiosity and shyness.

"Um... hello?" He spoke in Romanian. The people blinked back in shock at their native language, but smiled and walked over. Ethan took the time to study and learn the language years ago, out of boredom when he was still decommissioned from the hospital. Although to this day, he's still learning. It was partially the reason Chris suggested Europe. Rose and Eve were still learning, and Ethan would talk to them in the language randomly for practice. One of them stuck his hand out to shake, which Ethan politely accepted.