To the Arctic

Chapter One

Aurora's POV
The snow was coming down harshly that day, freezing my cheeks as I walked down the sidewalks in my town, Banff. I looked up at the snow capped mountains as I walked, snowflakes getting caught on my eyelashes as I peered through the snow at the enormous mountains, wishing I was going snowboarding instead of going home. I couldn't feel my legs and hands anymore. So I zipped up my jacket and ran home, my books flying in my backpack behind me.
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I got inside huffing, as I took off my jacket, and threw my backpack to the floor. I tore off my hat that revealed my long, wavy brown hair that was tangled into a mess. Then, picking up my stuff, I got startled by someone's voice.

"How was school honey?" My dad asked, startling me.
"Oh, it was fine. I'm happy that it's finally winter break." I replied, hanging up my jacket on the hook and putting my hat and backpack away.

I walked into his massive office and saw him working online, as he usually does. I sat on the chair beside him and started on the computer.
"What are you doing now?" I asked, scanning the screen while he typed.
"I'm making a PowerPoint for my next school presentation." He explained.

"Oh, fun." I got up, walked away and went into the fridge.
"What are we having for supper?" I called. "Uhh... I'm not sure yet." Dad called back. I grabbed a yogurt then ran upstairs into my room.
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My room was huge for a two story house. My walls were painted turquoise and yellow, I had a queen sized bed, along with super soft bedding from my favourite brand Pink. The hard wood floors in my room had a big blue rug in the center, and the two windows from where I could almost see the whole neighbourhood in.

I flopped down onto my bed and turned on my TV. Changing the channels every few seconds, I found that nothing interesting was on. So I went on my iPhone and looked at Instagram, while eating my yogurt.

Suddenly, I hear my dog, Lola, racing down the hall and jump onto my bed, wagging her tail.
"Lola, sit!" I commanded. She sat.
"Good girl." I said and pat her.

Lola is a Golden Retriever Mix, and quite active for a 11 year old dog. Whenever I get home from school she always follows me around, and never gets tired of it. So I guess I could say she loves me more then Dad.

I went back to my iPhone for the rest of the evening.
At around 7pm I got called downstairs for supper.
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We ate in silence for most of the time. Just the silence of voices and the sound of forks hitting glass plates. Then, Dad interrupted my train of thought.

"Hey, I might be going out to Churchill in the following week." He said, looking up at me, with his soft hazel eyes.

He was the one that I got my eye colour from, and I was glad about that. Just mine are a bit different then his, I have hints of green and yellow in them, while he has green and grey.

"Good, I'm coming, and I'm going to ask Quinn and Natalie, too." I responded.
"Only if it's ok with their parents." He said, looking away back down at his food.
"Always." I answered.

Silence fell over the room again, my thoughts coming back to me and knocking me into a daze. I looked at my surroundings. The island close to us, piled with cooking tools that we will have to soon clean up, and behind Dad, the living room with the TV shut off, the couches completely abandoned.

Suddenly, Dad's phone started to ring. We both looked at it, his facial expression to curiosity, and he told me,
"I gotta take this."
He left the room and walked into his office, leaving me alone with Lola.

I looked down at her under the table, and the Retriever looked back, curiosity in her chocolate eyes. Soon, I finished my supper, put my dishes into the dishwasher, I put all of the food and tools away, then ran upstairs.

I watched my favourite show for about half an hour, lying on my bed with Lola sleeping beside me, and then started to get ready for bed.

I walked into my walk-in closet and picked out my favourite pyjamas: a purple tank top, with white fuzzy pants. Then, I made my way to the washroom. Once I got in there, I took off my makeup, washed my face, then brushed my teeth. After brushing my hair, I pulled it back into a braid.

Once I was finished, I turned off my light, and got into my bed carefully because I didn't want to wake up Lola. She lied curled up at the edge of the bed, sleeping. I turned on my lamp, opened my favourite book up, and read it.

Sometime later, I was about to fall asleep, but then my dad barged in and said,
"Pack your bags Aurora, we're leaving for Churchill tomorrow as soon as possible."