True North

Chapter 9

Wren was still sleeping when I woke up. I could see light from the window but very vaguely. The snow was still coming down hard and the wind still blew. I rubbed my eyes and got out of bed. The room was cold. My bare feet touched the ground chills went up my body. My snow tights kept my legs warm and my sweater kept my chest and arms. Something felt cold to me. Not just my feet. The still cold air that drifted through the room. My immediate thought was death. I quickly ran over to Wren who was sleeping away one alive breath at a time. I looked at the wrap around my hand. I slowly unpeeled it, my wound was covered in a thick layer of dry blood. My hands were pale as usual.

I touched the wall it was warm. I began walking with my hand dragging against the wall. But something changed. The more I moved the colder the wall got. I could feel my fingers tips becoming numb. I accidentally smacked my fingers into a picture of my gran whom I never met. She never looked happy. In all the pictures she'd never crack a smile, not once. I guess that's why she left. But in all the pictures of my grandfather before she left. He was smiling happily, he had a family. Everyone was healthy but just not everyone was happy.

"Good morning." a sleepy deep voice said from behind me. I turned to Wren. He was rubbing his eye his the sleeve of his sweater.

"What time is it?" he asked.

"I don't know? It's probably morning." I shrugged.

"Check my phone. It's on the counter." he said. He slowly got up. Oh wow did he look hot in the morning.

"What?" He asked stumbling into the kitchen. He stared at me.

"What?" I asked.

"Nothing." he said.

"Why is your voice so deep?" I asked. I always wondered why guys had deep voices in the morning.

"Because it is." he shrugged grabbing his phone.

"Well it's kind of turning me on." I stated. He looked at me, eyes wide open and smiled.

"So it is." he said. I swallowed. He was so tall and so handsome. I just wanted to cuddle with him forever. Sure it would be more comfortable if he was a little chubbier instead of all muscular but I liked the way his arms sheltered me.

He came up to me and looked down. He looked my right in the eye and lifted his hand up to my face. Slowly he brushed my hair back. He bent down and grabbed the back of my thighs and hoisted me up so I was level with him. His arms were secure under my bum. His lips finally touched mine and I felt the sparks again.

This time it was shorter and less romantic but it still meant the same. Once he put me down I quickly walked away because I had no idea what to do next. I would so call up Wendy but there is no reception, even if I did get reception I'd use it to call my dad for help, and I wouldn't expect a great answer from a 15 year old.

Wren and I ate more jerky or as we'd call it, breakfast in awkward silence.

There are some days where I wish I could just have changed my life. Grew up in a normal two parent household. Remained friends with Paq. Went to public school and had lots of friends. Went to the reserve every year to stay with my aana and maybe even send letter to my moms brother Pete. But I'd never get the chance because my mom died and I practically broke off connection with the entire world.

But a day like today I'm glad things turned out the way they did. Because if they hasn't I would've never met Wren on the circumstances. We would've never had the competitive relationship. I would've never wandered off into the storm and we wouldn't be as close. We actually might've not met at all.

I spaced out for a moment and when I came to Wren mumbled something.

"Hmm?" I asked turning to him.