Changing Seasons

chapter three

The flashback had left her collapsed in a puddle, with either tears or drops of rain streaming down her cheeks.

Which was perfectly normal.

Winter always had the flashback. It was always something small that triggered it, and it always happened once a week. Always, always, always.

She didn't tell the staff at the orphanage because she was smart enough to know that procedure would have her go to one of those terrible government admitted counselors, like the ones she had to go to when her parents and Charlie died in that crash.

That was two years ago.

Winter spent two years alone. Granted, alone in an orphanage with dozens of other lost souls, but still alone in her head with her thoughts.

Two years changing into a completely different person. Dyed brown hair to the natural white blonde. Sun dresses to jeans, t-shirts, and combat boots. Pale blue eyes full of life to eyes that could belong to a corpse.

Summer to Winter.

No one could marvel at the change that had happened after the accident. Except herself, Winter thought. Everyone else was dead.

After spring break it was all paperwork and a new bed every night. It was foster care for about a month, as Child Protective Services tried to find Summer- or Winter, as she now demanded to be called, relatives to stay with. No living relatives.

So then they shipped her back off to Manhattan, because it'd be easier to cope while being home, right?

Wrong.

Everything good reminded her of her family. Everything bad was the orphanage, with its faded walls and moldy carpets and almost non-existent mattresses. Cold rooms and no privacy because the locks on the doors were all broken, and lasagna for dinner pretty much every night. And lasagna is good, but not for 22 months in a row.

And so Winter developed a system for herself.

Wake up. School. Homework. Wander around Manhattan. Dinner. Wander around Manhattan some more.

People watching was what kept her sane. Knowing that some lives in the world weren't nearly as screwed as hers made her happy, but their ignorance to all the pain around them made her sad. Their ignorance towards her.

A pair a dress shoes splashing lightly in the puddle broke her train of thought. Her eyes slowly moved up and connected with the eyes of the owner of the shoes. They were kind and warm and brown and...

familiar.

As were the brown locks carelessly brushed away from his forehead.

The Boy on the Roof. He was actually there.. she didn't imagine it.

"Well, we just keep bumping into each other, don't we?" He chuckled.

Winter sniffed in reply, her face still stained red from the attack of the flash back.

The boy's expression softened, "Are you okay?" he tilted his head in the same manner as on the roof.

"Yeah," replied Winter, "I sit in puddles at 10 PM for fun."

"Well," he dragged out, "No need for the sarcasm. I'm just trying to be a gentleman and help out."

She rolled her eyes and lifted herself off the ground, leaning against the building for support. "I'm fine," she tried in the firmest voice she could, "I don't need your 'help'," she finger quoted, "I was just heading home and I slipped."

The boy let out a sigh and leaned next to her. "Again with the lies?"

"Leave me alone."

"No."

"Why?"

"Because you're interesting. Anyone who's name is Winter is interesting."

"Were you stalking me?"

"Psh," he waved his hand, dismissing the idea. "I too wander around Manhattan aimlessly in the dark."

Winter just glared.

"Fine, I followed you. I wanted to make sure you didn't do anything stupid."

She still glared.

"Can I give you a ride home?"

Silence.

"Can I give you a ride close to home?"

Her shoulders loosened. "Yeah."

"Alrighty," he broke out his pearly white smile, and hooked arms with her. "Follow me," he winked.

The boy lead Winter to a very expensive looking town car. She raised her eyebrows, but didn't say anything, and climbed in the car when the boy held the door open.

"Where to?" he inquired.

"North end of Central Park."

The boy raised his eyebrows, but the look on Winter's face kept him from questioning.

This was going to be a very interesting car ride.