World on Ice

Chapter 1

Chapter art courtesy of Lnacrafting212 (also: this is my first ever book/story I have ever written! Please leave feedback on how I can improve in the comments!)
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It was Christmas Morning. I was sitting next to my older brother Anthony on our old, tattered leather sofa, gazing out the frosty window frame at the glossy white snow descending from the baby blue sky. It was unusually cold for Texas because we barely ever get snow, and this particular snow seemed magical as if the snow was filled with silver sequins. I was so excited this year because snow is my favorite weather, and I almost feel connected to it in some way. It makes me feel alive. Last time it snowed hard here, Anthony and I had the most epic snowball fight ever, and that was about four years ago.

My phone buzzed in the pocket of my jeans. I slid it out secretly because Christmas Morning is a "no phone zone". I scanned my eyes over my phone screen as quickly as I could. There I saw a text from my best friend Zoe on our group text of best friends. It reads Merry Christmas Y'all, ily. I will miss you so much next year!!! Zoe, Mercy, Abby, and I have been best friends since first grade, and we will be high schoolers next year. I think about how we won't be going to school together next year and it dampens my spirits like a wet rag.

I drew in the aroma of the mint candle Mom was burning in the dining room and the freshly baked gingerbread cookies, a specialty of my Dad. I awakened out of my saddened state with a big smile on my face to show my family that I was happy, at least a little bit.

"Anthony, your turn to open your final present!" Mama announced making her way across the dark wood floors to sit on the couch with us. "Jasmine, you just wait and see what we got him!" Her twinkling green eyes I inherited from her smiled happily as she passed Anthony his small parcel wrapped in mini Santas and Reindeer.

As Anthony unwrapped the wrapping paper surrounding his gift I took another glance under the tree, even though I knew there were no more presents to open. Although when I looked, I could faintly see a silver shimmer sitting on top of the red velvet tree skirt. Just my imagination, I thought, considering there were multiple tree branches filled with dark green pine needles and my sandy blonde hair blocking my view.

Anthony's squeal drew me out of my gaze, as I looked over at him his hazel eyes were filled with surprise. "Oh my goodness!" He proclaimed. He ran his tan fingers through his brown hair as he held up a brand new copy of The Book Thief. It was his favorite book of all time, and he never stops talking about it. "It's the hardback version! Look at this beautiful cover art!" Anthony rambled stroking the spine of the book and commenting on how "beautiful the spine will look on his bookshelf".

My phone buzzed again in my pocket and I took it out once more. It was a text from Mercy and Abby. I read on the screen: Ily too! Have a good- my mom snatched my phone from my hands before I could read the rest. I swear, she came out of nowhere! It's like moms know exactly what you're doing and when you're doing it, so they can catch you at any time. "Jasmine, you know that Christmas is for family," she shook the phone in her dainty right hand, "you can text your friends later."

My dad stepped into the entryway to the living room from the kitchen. "Okay kids, let's have some Christmas cookies for breakfast! To the kitchen." Dad demanded. His brown hair and amber eyes were filled with sweat and exhaustion, considering he was baking for us all morning. My Mom and brother got up and made their way to the kitchen. "Be right there," I said.

As soon as they left the room I dropped down on all fours and baby crawled across the oak wood floors to the Christmas tree. I wrapped my fingers around a bottom branch and lifted it a few inches up. There I saw two white ice skates sitting under the tree. they looked perfectly normal except for the mysterious silver design on the heel. It looked like a flower of some sort and was glittering and reflecting the light from the fireplace.

There was no note from anyone, and the skates weren't wrapped in any tissue paper. I looked behind me to see if anyone was watching. When the coast was clear I pulled the skates out by the white laces and caressed the shimmering silver design with my fingertips.

Suddenly I saw a giant shadow cast over the white leather skates, I turn around expecting to see dad to usher me to the kitchen for breakfast but it's just my brother Anthony. "Jasmine, did Mom get you those?" He questioned me. "Um-Uh... Yea! Yes, she did." I lied. "Okay cool, let's go to the rink after lunch for a skate this afternoon." He said. "Sure, it's a plan," I responded, suspiciously, with a smile on my face.