Lone Survivors

Memories and Awakening

Stephanie turned around in her chair for the umpteenth time with an irritated look on her face.

"Stop. Pulling. My. Hair." She hissed through gritted teeth.

The boy behind her smiled snidely at her. "But I like your hair."

"Yeah." She said irritated. "I know. You already said that."

"Well I wouldn't have to say it again if you would quit turning around and bothering me."

Stephanie threw her hands up in exasperation.

"I hate you." She said before turning back around.

"Well I don't hate you. I think you're pretty." The boy said.

She gritted her teeth but didn't turn around. She didn't want to fuel him even more.

She clasped her hands over her desk and silently waited for the teacher to begin the lesson.

Once again she felt her hair being tugged.

She growled and stood from her seat raising her hand.

"Miss Tuke?" She said.

The redhead looked up. "How can I help you Stephanie?" she said.

"Can I borrow your scissors?" she asked.

Miss Tuke nodded and held them out. Stephanie quickly went to retrieve them. Then she went and stood over the boys desk.

Without a second thought she began to cut her long locks straight onto his desk.

He gaped at her along with the rest of the class. "Stephanie!" Miss Tuke took the scissors away before she could do any more damage.

"Well, now he can't pull my hair." Stephanie reasoned crossing her arms over her chest proudly.

Stephanie's first memory of Parker.

The storm was at its peak, anything and everything outside was frozen. Sunlight was promised the next day, so in the meantime, the students of Rutherford High huddled around a fire solemnly drinking their hot chocolate.

There had been news of the truck accident with their fellow classmates. They were all dead.

The four bodies of Shelbie, Charlotte, James, and Natalia were found frozen, inside the snow covered vehicle.

The truck driver was also pronounced dead. They'd figured that Stephanie and Parker were missing because of the footprints leading away from the car.

A search party could not be sent out in the harsh weather but would set out at the first break in the storm.

Nobody was having fun at the lodge and nobody could go home. Phones were ringing and teachers were conversing urgently in the lounge. There had been so many tears shed about the disaster that nobody could even cry anymore.

€

When Stephanie awoke, she didn't know whether relish in the fact that she was in Heaven, or to cry because she'd died.

She didn't feel her skin slowly burning, and there was no screaming, so she slowly opened her eyes. She had to keep blinking to adjust to the scene in front of her.

Stephanie was in a dark room, a warm cloth rested heavily on her forehead.

Panic filled her as she truly realized that she was no longer in the snow covered field, and she was no longer laying next to Parker.

She attempted to scramble to her feet but fell back down wincing in pain. It was too dark to tell, but her feet were afflicted with frostbite.

Stephanie bit back her tears and cried out. "Hello?!"

Footsteps outside the room brought her attention to the door. It slowly opened and light flooded the room.

She could not make out the silhouette of her visitor until it closed he door and turned on the light.

And that's when she truly realized she wasn't dead.

"Mom?" Stephanie said, sitting up. Her mother rushed to her in tears. "Oh, baby, I was so worried. I'm so you glad you're okay!" She was thrown on top of Stephanie crying hysterically.

"We're okay." Stephanie whispered. "We made it."

Her mother pulled back with a strange look on her face.

Suddenly Stephanie's mind went blank and only one picture cam to mind. "Where's Parker?" She asked shakily.

Her mothers face changed. "Parker?" She repeated.

Stephanie's eyes widened. "Mother! Don't play games with me! Were is he?!" She screeched.

Stephanie's mother slowly pushed Stephanie down, but she refused. "I'm so sorry Steph." Her mother said shaking her head.

"No!" Stephanie shouted shaking her head. "Please. Please tell me you're lying." Her voice went down to a whisper. Her mother shook her head.

Stephanie's whole body was frozen, she didn't fight her mother this time when she pushed her down. She took Stephanie's hand and sat down.

"I know you probably won't want to see this, but I really think you should. she passed Stephanie her phone which was opened to a video. Stephanie took it slowly and pressed play.

"At the first sign of the storm clearing in Sunapee, New Hampshire, a search party was sent out to find Ms. Stephanie Voght and her classmate Parker Warren. The two had been walking in the opposite direction of the Steelman lodge where students from their school, Rutherford High were staying for the holidays. As the only survivors of the fatal truck accident earlier in the week with five deaths, the two seemed to be able to survive for three days. The most miraculous part of the story is where they were found. Parker was laying on top of Stephanie, covering and protecting her from the bitter cold. His bravery and sacrifice ultimately saved her life, though his had-" Stephanie cut off the voice just as the tears began to fall.

She stared unseeing at the paused screen until her mother took the phone away. "Were you guys friends?" She asked her.

"No...until..." Stephanie blushed.

Her mother frowned. "I'm so sorry Stephanie." More tears fell.

"Me too mom." She replied. "Me too. "