The First Snowfall

Who Are You?

Dedicated to LeizlCanlas. Thank you. To you, and to everyone. x

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Chapter III - Who Are You?

December 04; 17:24; Central Park (by the bridge)

You know what's weird? I seem to be seeing Rolf frequently now. I saw him the day after we met, and I saw him just yesterday. We didn't stop by each other to drop a conversation, or a greeting though. He just looked at me, scrutinizing me. And I didn't mind, as long as he doesn't touch me or do me any harm.

The nightmares on the other hand have scarred my relationship with my parents. I couldn't get Rolf's question out of my mind. It kept going on and on, and I couldn't even look at my parents in the eyes anymore.

Am I adopted?

I have found several reasons to prove that fact, yet the reasons of being biologically theirs are much stronger.

I can't just ask them straight up though. Maybe I'm just afraid, or maybe I'm just confident to know that I am theirs. But never have I once felt like I am adopted. I frown, suddenly remembering my best friend's words, "You know, I surveyed two types of people; the ones who are biological children to their parents, and those who are adopted. I just found out that the non-adopted children always feel like they are adopted, and maybe they have other parents out there; yet, those who are adopted are the people who never feels like that. And maybe, just maybe, I have come into a conclusion that the adoptive parents are more affectionate to their adopted children, ya' know?"

I groan and shake my head. Maybe it's just a coincidence. I mean, Lana can't always be right. I chuckle to myself and stop as I see my best friend skipping towards me. Why is she here?

"Lana," I call her name, coming out like a question.

Her beautiful dark brown wavy hair flows with the wind, as her piercing blue eyes stare at me happily. "Lily," she says.

"What are you doing here?" I ask, hugging her fit body. She's actually taller than me for about three inches, and that makes her 5'9.

"Dad and mom wanted me to tell you that you are invited to our dinner tonight, and since I am your best friend, I know that you are going to be here, so here I am. And you left your phone, by the way," she grins.

"Could you please tell Mr-" before I could even finish my sentence, Lana glares at me for calling her parents formally. I laugh a little and say, "I mean, could you please tell Ralph and Maura that I gladly accept the invitation to dinner."

My best friend shrieks in excitement. I have no idea why but she always likes it when I come over. Especially when she knows that her parents love me as much as they do to Lana. Mr. and Mrs. Wolfric - Lana's parents - pretty much stands out every time there are meetings in school ever since our elementary days. Both of them were the center of attraction, with their beautiful genes, of course everyone would stop and take a look at them. And obviously, Lana became the perfect combination of her parents'.

"Be there at seven, don't be late! You can bring your parents!" Lana giggles as she hugs me and skips away back to her home. Lana actually lives alone, which is quite weird. Her parents only come by every once in awhile. Now that I think of it, they never stick here too long for me to introduce my parents. Maybe it's the right time.

I smile to myself as I hang around the bridge again. I feel the cold breeze against my skin, and I hum a song that has been stuck in my mind ever since I don't know.

"A Wolf's Lullaby," I hear someone say behind me, and with the surprise that shot through me, I look back as fast as I could, only coming into contact with the same man I have been thinking about since he first mistook me as a girl named Amethyst.

Wait... that name... it's been whispered in my dreams a lot. The same dreams where my parents' clones were in a hospital bed, dying.

"Excuse me?" I ask, backing away from him a little bit.

A smirk draws on his lips, my heart beating fast. "The title of the song you were humming; A Wolf's Lullaby."

"How do you know?" I ask.

"My adoptive parents used to sing that to us when we were cubs," he smiles weakly, pain in his eyes as he remembers the memories.

"Oh," I sigh. "I'm sorry."

"It's alright. I know how you know that song by the way."

I shift uncomfortably, holding on the cold concrete. "How?"

"You know. You're just denying what you already know what's true."

"I don't know what you're talking about." I sneer, and turn myself around and start walking away, but his hand grabs my arm and pulls me close to him.

"You know who you are Amethyst! Open your damn eyes! Who are you? Tell me, tell me you are Amethyst!"

I push him away and cry, "I'm not Amethyst! I don't know what you're talking about!" I turn my heels and run, run like the wind towards my home. I'm not adopted. I'm not. I'm my mother and father's daughter. I am an Ashton. I'm Lilac Ashton, not Amethyst, and definitely not adopted.

"Mum, dad, are you guys ready?" I call from downstairs. I got home about an hour ago, shaken, but I managed to calm down when I told my parents about my best friend's invitation. They gladly accepted since they finally get to meet her parents, and the couple who has been taking care of me as well when I was sleeping over.

"Let's go?" My mum asks as she graciously stands in front of me with a red dress down to her knees, with a sweetheart cut. She looks beautiful as always. My dad suddenly appears behind her with dress shirt and the pants that go along with it, going for the casual formal outfit. I smile at them and giggle.

"Let's!" I say and grin to them. The three of us quickly got out of the house and locked it. The drive is pretty short. About five minutes, and as we arrive, I tell them, "Please be your amazing selves, parents. I love you guys."

"No problem, sweetie." Dad says.

"We love you too." Mum kisses my cheek and we get out of the car heading to the front door.

I ring the doorbell and I hear Lana's footsteps coming towards the door. And as she opens it she jumps on me and hugs me like we haven't seen each other for so many years.

"I'm so glad you made it!" She squeals.

"We're here!" I grin, and point at my parents behind me.

"Oh my gosh! Mr. and Mrs. Ashton! You're here!" She jumps in excitement and she looks around. "Mom, Dad! Come here! I want you to meet Lil's parents!" She looks back at us and says, "Come on in!"

The three of us steps inside and I see Mr. and Mrs. Wolfric in their splendor smiling at me, but as they look behind me their smiles drop and horror is evident in their eyes.

My brows furrow in confusion.

What the heck is up now?

"Scarlet," Mr. Wolfric whispers - somehow it sounded loving, and there is a pint of hurt coated in his voice.

"S-Scarlet," Mrs. Wolfric says, surprised and teary-eyed.

"Szari," both of them says at the same time.

"Mr. and Mrs. Wolfric, I think you've mistaken. These are my parents. Uhm, Red and Gray Ash-"

But my introduction is cut short as I see both Mr. and Mrs. Wolfric running to my parents and hugging them like they haven't seen them in such a long time.

What the fuck?

And in the back of my mind, Rolf's voice haunts my head.

"You're adopted."