Simulated Love (2024)

Chapter 10

Chase

As the sun went down, the lampposts lit up the snowy paths. Lights strung through the trees which created a fairy-tale experience. The visitors that walked around had thermoses filled with steaming soup or hot cider, savoring the simple pleasure of being outdoors in the snow. While the lovers walked hand in hand.

I followed Elijah's footprints through the snow.

"Is this a good spot for you?" he asked.

"Yes. I can already feel the inspiration."

I walked through the crisp winter air to the wooden benches that were dusted with snow. With a gloved hand, I wiped away the soft layer of snow before I sat down. 

While I drew, Elijah rolled snow around as he tried to make a ball.

"Are you making a snowman?"

His butt was towards me and he stopped to turn around. "What does it look like?"

I shrugged and laughed. "I don't know. That chunk of snow doesn't quite look like a ball."

"You know what." Elijah picked up a chunk of snow and balled it up in his hands. "Is this-" he threw the snowball at me. "Enough of a ball for you?"

The snowball had hit me right in my chest as the snowflakes fell onto the iPad. "Elijah!"

He shrugged. "Maybe you shouldn't talk shit."

He went back to rolling up his ball. I tried to continue my drawing, but I felt like I had to get him back. I put the iPad back in my backpack and got up to make a snowball.

"How does this look?" He asked.

Once he turned to me, I threw a snowball right at his stomach. "Looks better."

He gave me a forced smile. "Oh really." He picked up some snow.

I laughed as I tried to hurry and grab some too, but instead of balling his up, he just threw the chunk he had. It barely reached. Instead, it separated in the sky.

I made a ball in that short amount of time and threw it at him, hitting him near his face.

"Oh my god. I'm sorry," I said while laughing.

"Sure you are."

He stomped through the snow. Every step he took, every step I walked back.

"You don't have to get so close."

"What do you mean?" He had an evil smirk on his face. "I'm just tryna come be with you."

"For what?"

"I want to see what you drew so far."

"I don't think so."

He ran towards me, and I tripped and fell back from being startled. Before I could stand, Elijah towered over me and sprinkled snow all over my face. I was squirming while waving my hands in the air to block the flakes.

"Payback is a bitch, huh?"

"Elijah! The laptop!"

"Shit."

He held his arm out to help me up but I used that as an opportunity to pull him down. Unfortunately for me, it was on top of me. I let out a sound of pain from his surprisingly heavy body pressing into mine.

"You're a little bitch," he said.

I laughed and so did he before he rolled over beside me.

"You better hope that iPad is good too."