Invisible

Chapter 5

"I didn't know Winter was so brutal here!" I tried to shield my face from the gusting wind but nothing helped. I'd been in Alberta for nine months but it was my first winter there. Winters in New York were close, but not as cold or windy. Ever since I saw Shannon back on his feet and happy I'd been happy. I changed into a different person, from the shy, quiet Kathryn with only two friends to the outstanding, confident Kathryn with a group of friends.

"Yeah, it's hard," Addison said. I was walking with Addison to my barn to check on the horses and make sure there were no drafts in the structure. Matt couldn't come because he'd had hockey practice at the Old Arena near our school.

We got to the barn when the wind started picking up and blowing stronger. 

"Whew! Thank goodness the barn is warm! I exclaimed. We started walking the perimeter, checking for cracks or splinters in the wood. We met back at the entrance to see if the other found anything. There were no drafts found by either of us, so we went to feed the horses. I grabbed four bales of hay and dropped them in front of each horse; Wuther, Shenny, Mallen, and Flanna. 

"You have very odd names for your horses," Addison commented.

"Yeah, but we like them. Oh, uh, I guess we should feed the sheep, too." They were all asleep, so I took out their food and layed it in the corner with their water trough. "There, done."

We started to go back to the house, and when we stepped outside we almost got blown over by the wind. We burst out laughing and dashed toward the house.

I reached the cottage before Addison, because she was struggling against the wind. I held open the door for her, then Mom yelled, "Close the freaking door! It's freezing outside!" I slammed it shut after Addison got inside. Immediately I walked over to the kettle and put it on the stove to heat it.

"What kind of hot drink would you like?" I asked Addison.

"What do you have?" She replied politely.

"We have hot chocolate, tea, cider, and lemonade. I'm having a hot lemonade."

"I'll have one, too. I've never had one of those. It sounds delicious!"

"It is," I confirmed. The kettle squealed, and I took out two mismatched mugs and emptied a packet of lemonade into each one. I poured the steaming water into the mugs and brought them to the table where Addison was sitting. She took a sip, then exclaimed, "This is AMAZING!!!"

"I know, right? It's one of our family favourites." I easily finished mine off but Addison decided to savour hers so I told her to bring it to my room.

I told her about the horse camp I had searched the last month because I'd forgotten to tell her at school. "It only costs a hundred dollars to participate, ad I was thinking that you, Matt and I could all join together. It's only for a week, and I think it'll be fun."

"Yeah, for sure! But I think I'll wait till the Summer to sign up for it." When I started laughing, she gave me a look and said, "What's so funny?"

"That's what my mom told me!" When I told her she started laughing with me.

Addison was sleeping over and when her mom came to drop her stuff off, Mom and Mrs. Greene wouldn't stop talking and embarrassing us. "Mom!" I screeched when she told Mrs. Greene her nickname for me was "Loopy Bear."  Addison tried to hold back her laughter but failed. I forgave her for laughing when her mom said that her nickname was "Frizzy Floo."

Addison and I went back to my room to set up her bed. I got out the giant air matress and three pillows. When I got it all set up, Addison was in her pjs and lounging on my bed.

"You know, that's where I'm sleeping tonight," I told her with a bit of sarcasm.

"I know. But it's comfier than an air matress so I'll stay up here for a while."

"Fine. Wanna play 'Truth or Dare'?"

"Sure! I'll go first. Truth or Dare?"

"Truth."

"Do you like Matt?" I was caught off guard by the question. I thought she was going to ask how many boys I've kissed or dated or something.

"Well... Umm... Er..."

"You DO! Don't worry about it if you think Matt doesn't like you, because he really does."

"Really?" I asked pathetically.

"Definetely. Now it's your turn."

"Okay, Truth or Dare?"

"Dare."

"Okay, I dare you to... stick my mom's underwear in the freezer."

"Heard that!" I heard Mom yell.

"Okay... then I dare you to prank call your house."

"Fine, where's the phone?" I handed her my cell phone because Mrs. Greene had our home number. She dialed her number and pressed the call button. I couldn't help but giggle. "Hello, this is Ms. Hufferluff," she said in a ridiculous voice. "I am calling to remind you to pick up your twenty-pound case of yellow mustard from 123 thirty-seven lane." She put the phone on speaker so I could hear it, too.

"We didn't order any mustard, and I have never heard of a Ms. Hufferluff. Addison, no more prank calling the house."

"Aww, Mo-om!" She whined and started laughing. "Okay, sorry. Just for the record, Kathryn dared me."

"Would you jump off a cliff if Kathryn dared you? I don't think so, so don't do it again. At least not to me."

"Fine," Addison said and clicked off the phone.

"That went well..." I said, then went to sleep, exausted. I was pretty sure Addison fell asleep, too, but no one can tell for sure.