I'm in it for the Long Run // Edge of Winter

08

Walking out onto the lake made everything seem a million times colder. The wind was blowing hard, bouncing off the ice and lifting the snow to our faces. We were in the middle of this lake, with no protection against the harsh conditions.

I was in between Caleb and Bradley, trying my best to warm Caleb's hands. I was rubbing them, trying to create friction, and blowing my hot breath on them. We eventually gave up, and just shoved our hands in our pockets. Trying to warm up was useless, we needed shelter before we froze to death.

I began feeling a little faint and my breath was shortening. I stopped walking for a second to gain my balance, and then my vision was blurred. My brain had a loss for oxygen and I felt like laying down and never getting up again.

Then a hand swept my back and propelled me forward. I continued walking, grabbing somebody's hand to keep my balance even though I couldn't see who it was. Their arm gently pushed me, guiding me along the ice and I could feel their body pressed against mine.

"Belle we need to move quickly." It was Bradley. "Or else we'll never find the cabin."

"Ok. Thank you." I said leaning my head on his shoulder for a split second. My eyesight was coming back from the warmth Brad had brought, but everything was still a little fuzzy.

Until we heard a noise coming from the road. There was a car or something driving. It snapped me right out of my daze and rebooted my whole system. Bradley heard it, too and turned around as he let go of me.

"Wait wait shhh! Don't you hear that?" He asked us. The noise stopped in less than a minute as it slowly faded away. I walked behind Bradley.

"Let's go." I whispered. "I want to get out of here."

"Shouldn't we go and find them?" Bradley asked his dad. His dad looked at the trees blocking the road, then started walking towards the other side of the lake.

"No. The cabin is our best chance. Follow me." He totally ignored Bradley.

"But dad, can't we go and look for them? In case you haven't noticed dad, we're all freezing here and we need help." He stated. Elliot looked back at us with the crazy glare in his eyes again.

"It's gone anyway, we're too late. Let's go." He kept trudging forward on the snow-covered ice. His focus on finding the cabin was immense and scared us all. I don't think the boys have ever seen him this head-strong.

We kept on walking, this time Bradley was the one straggling behind. But he wasn't feeling bad, it's just that he was sick of his father. He didn't want to be near the beast, much less talk to it.

Caleb and I walked next to each other, he was still complaining about the cold. All of our noses had turned red and I was almost positive there were icicles hanging from my eyelashes.

"Just try not to think about it." Elliot suggested. I took his advice and tried to switch my attention to something else. Surprisingly, my mind wandered to Bradley. It pieced together all the little moments we had, making me feel something I've never felt before.

I didn't know what it was, but it felt really good. The thought sent a chill down my spine, then warmed my toes and fingers. What was it that I was feeling for Bradley Baker? I'd never find out because Elliot said what every one of us had been dreaming to hear.

"There she is." He smiled and stopped walking. Caleb and I stopped next to him and high-fived when we saw the cabin sitting on the edge of the lake.

"Alright!" I cheered. "Let's go." We added a little pep into our step and strutted towards the cabin. Elliot, Caleb and I were walking in a line, Bradley still a good ways behind. I heard a small cracking from Bradley, but then his footsteps continued and I thought nothing of it.

Then we all heard a major crack and then something splash. Turning around, my heart sunk when I saw a huge hole in the ice where Bradley had been. First I saw his hat breach the surface, then his face, and finally his arms. He was thrashing wildly, looking for anything to hold onto.

"Help me!" He screamed. "Dad!" Elliot quickly took action and dove in next to Bradley. As he hoisted him onto the ice, he looked back at us.

"Belle! Caleb! Get off the ice!" We did as we were told and sprinted towards the cabin. Caleb knocked on the door a few times before concluding there was nobody inside. The door wasn't locked, but the cold air had sealed it shut.

I looked back at my friend as he laid on the ice, heaving his chest up and down. He pulled off his hat and panted. I knew he needed the warmth, and I guess adrenaline took over.

"Argh!" I yelled as I kicked the door open. It swung open, luckily still attached to the frame. Caleb and I busted inside. "Start a fire!" I ordered.

I ran into the back room and found a rack full of blankets. I carried them out just as Elliot entered the doorway with Bradley on his shoulder. He put him down on the ground and started removing all his wet clothes.

Bradley was in an amazing amount of pain and it was clear to tell, I hated seeing him like this. Once Elliot had removed Bradley's shirt, I began wrapping him in blankets. He accepted each one and seemed to gain more breath with each layer.

"Hurry up Caleb!" I yelled as the boy aimlessly wandered around the drawers.

"I can't find anything." He replied. Elliot seemed to catch on to our fire plan and looked at the fireplace. It was filled with wood, all we needed was the fire.

"Look for a match or something!" Elliot ordered. Caleb ducked under a cabinet and pulled out a box of matches.

"I-I got them." He said racing over to the fire. He slumped down to his knees and lit the match eagerly. He threw it onto the wood and watched them catch flames. "It's working!"

We scooted Bradley as close to the fire as we possibly could. He was still shivering and his eyes were completely shut. Caleb and I were sat on the floor next to him, as Elliot crashed onto a chair.

Bradley's eyes opened as he looked up at us. He saw our worried faces, then closed his eyes again. Reaching one hand out of the blanket, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me close to him. He unwrapped the blankets and drew me into his chest.

"Bradley what are you doing?" I asked as I felt his freezing bare chest against my face. Although he was wrapped in blankets and next to a open fire, his body temperature was still far below what it had to be.

"Body heat." Were the only words he managed to say, but I understood. I removed my coat and sweater, leaving just my long sleeved t-shirt and leaned my body against his again. I immediately felt a connection as my heat transferred to him. I wrapped up the blankets again, enclosing us in a heat circle.

"Better now?" I asked.

"Better."