2 x 3 (working title)

2- Venus (real chapter)

One month earlier....

  

I'm so excited!! Alex and I are gonna go hiking on the "Big Snowy Mountain" today. Well, that's what we dubbed it as anyway. We were supposed to meet at the Coffee shop that's down the road from my house but as usual, I'm running late. I'm guessing- and hoping-Alex placed our order. I know he'll get me my iced coffee with a pinch of cinnamon and extra creamer. Right. No daydreaming.

    I had grabbed a small bag from under my bed to pack my stuff. Though, I'm not sure how I managed to find anything in good condition under my bed but whatever. I quickly stuffed some food, water, extra mittens and socks-the snow gets everything wet- a hiking stick, heat warmers, and Alex's Christmas gift.

  

   Ok, so we agreed not to have a gift exchange this year but still was I really support listen to him. I got him a brand new sketch book with top quality paper and professional artist pencils. He's gonna love it. Y'know I guarantee he got me something to. It's not like him not to-even if he was the one who decided that for this year.

  

Anyway, I quickly get into my car, double check I have everything, and drive off in my frozen car.

                           000

   Shoot. I better hurry I'm low on gas. And Alex-as sarcastic as he is- has probably been there for a while. He's probably sketching or-no. Stop daydreaming you gotta hurry Venus. Dang talking to myself. In third person. That's not good. I only do that when I'm being really stupid. Like really stupid.

  

I neatly park the car in a few seconds-it takes lots of practice. Everything does have to be neat- and nearly run into the shop. I see Alex drawing in his sketch book-surprise surprise- in the booth closet to the back patio door. That's our usual hangout. It may sound a bit strange but hey, we can get very busy so coffee and hangout works great. I sat down quickly.

  

"Well hey there! Somebody's excited." He smiled. Gosh does he always have to be so sarcastic. I'm just sitting down. Alex waved to Becky, our normal waitress, and brought me my iced coffee.

  

"Thanks Becky," I gave her a dollar tip. I took a sip of my drink.

  

"Back with the sarcasm, I see. You don't really change, do you Alex?" I laughed.

  

"Yeah..." He pulled out his pencil and did something in his notebook. He gave it to me. I was <insert good word here>. It was such a lovely feather.

  

"Hey! This is awesome! Thanks." I folded it perfectly and tucked it into the small pocket of my bag.

  

"No problem." He sipped his coffee while hair fell over his face. As he readjusted his hair he left some money for our waitress. "So, shall we head out on out hiking adventure?" He smiled to me.

 

"Sure, let's go. We should take your car; I'm almost out of gas myself." I sighed.

  

"Alright." We grabbed our bags, and drinks, and walked over to his car. Alex's car is a bit different. It's a black Honda CR-Z with flames and other crazy stuff; including his favorite saying. "Take It As It Is".

  

We hopped in the car and began our drive to the "Big Snowy Mountain". It was about a 2 hour drive and we talked forever about everything. It was nice; getting to hang with him. Even if we're in a car.

  

Unfortunately for us, we didn't arrive until around 5 that afternoon. I should've arrived at the shop earlier. Oh well. Alex quickly parked and we began our hike.

  

It was probably the best sighting ever. The snow on the mountain glowed in the pale evening light. At some point we saw beautiful male peacock. It had its feathers spread out and everything. It was so majestic. Then Alex, being an ignoramus, went over to pet it. He got a gash in his arm, completely his fault no blame on me, but seemed to deal with it just fine. He fell into the snow head first a few times, he should learn to slow down, and I stubbles a bit but it was all worth it. The view. The climb. The cabin at the top.

  

Anyway, decently high up we found a good resting place on a small, frozen bench. Alex began rumbling through his bag as I was catching up. He looked to me, "Hey! Look what silly old me brought!" He pulled out a Polaroid camera.

 

I smiled. Alex was always strange in that way. "How cool! Why don't we snap a photo right now? It's nice here." We walked over to the edge of the mountain, the frozen forest below us; stretching as far as the eye could see.

  

"Ready?" He glanced at me.

  

"As ready as I'll ever be."

  

Alex positioned the camera, said "Cheese"(what an amateur), and hit the button. The flash blinded us both, but I'm used to his sort of thing.

  

A sudden chill ran through the air; I began to shake as Alex handed me the film. He placed the camera in his bag as I walked over to him. "Hey Alex! Come and see it!" I smiled it was surprising good quality for a super old camera like that.

   "Wow that turned out really good," he sounded tired as he hugged me. "Hey, you can keep it," he said, "I already have tons at home, and I think you'll get more out of it than I would."

  

"Oh thank you Alex. Let me just put it away quick..." I tucked the small photo, being about 2x3 inches, in my jacket pocket. Alex opened his bag.

  

"So do you want Doritos or Lay's?"

  

"Lay's." We ate for a bit so that we were ready for the last part of the climb.

  

"You ready for the final bit?"

  

I gave a little laugh."Yup. You betcha."

  

He quickly packed up his stuff. He turned to me and said,"Hey, I'm gonna go ahead a bit. Can you catch up with me in a minute? I promise I won't go to far." I looked up from my bag uneasily. A hesitant "ok" came from me and off he went. I called out to Alex,"Hey you be careful! See you in a second!"

  

"I will. See you soon!"

  

After a few minutes I had finally finished packing up the rest of my stuff.  He was maybe 30 feet or so ahead of me up the mountain. I began to climb after him. It took me a while to get to his level; the snow was really deep trust me. Or maybe I'm to short. Meh, either way it still took forever. I stopped and looked upward. I will never forget the horror of this moment. A huge wave of ice and snow and death rushed down the top of the mountain.

  

"ALEX RUN! AVALAN-" my voice was cut off by the sounds of rushing snow. Alex glanced towards me and was swallowed by the coldness. "NOOOOOO!" He was gone. Some of the snow at the mountains edge was a light pink. I began hyperventilating; I had never been in a situation as extreme as this. I was crying u controllably as I hiked the rest of the mountain; knowing I would freeze and die too if I stayed any longer. As I trudged to the cabin at the top, I took one last look at the mess of snow that was now Alex. With my eyes full of tears, I walked inside and shut the door.