Coldsgrove

Big Gosip For A Little Town

       I grin uncontrollably up the small, bumpy gravel road, I look around me some more. Snow covered trees and ferns are everywhere, and what isn't leafy it is mossy, mist hangs thickly around the green trunks of the trees eagerly. Though, where the heavy mist isn't there is a light fog tangling and weaving around the forest floor. It becomes impossible to stop a wave of excitement course through me, I have woods all to my self to hike and study as I please. Unbeknownst to me, these woods....would shape my life, for better or for worse.

        Stopping at the top of the road I look at the fields again, they look so lonely out there. Gray, sucked of all natural color. Robbed. I turn to the left into town, the scenery doesn't change until you come to the first house, it's plain like all the others white with the same black shingles and chimney. The only thing that varies is the color of the doors. I come to a stop at the small Dollar Store, a middle aged woman stops me from going inside.

        "Hello, you must be the young lady that moved into 665. How are you settling?" the lady asks sweetly. She has brittle black hair that is greying rapidly, baby blue eyes stare into my green ones. I conclude this woman must be in her late 40s at least.

      "It's great actually, very cozy.." I stop talking and an uncomfortable silence falls over us and I begin to squirm when I want something to fill in the silence. "I'm Audrey by the way," I tell her with the same warmth she began with.

      She gasps,"Oh dear, where are my manners? My name is Mrs. Sanders and if you need anything you need let me know," I nod and quickly run through my mind for anything I need right this second.

      I shake my head,"No, I can't think of anything right this second,but I will let you know," I say and something catches my eye. The same group of five walk the side walk, one in particular holds my attention. He has pale skin like the rest of them, but unlike his friends that either have black hair or blonde he has brown hair. His eyes are dark but alive with laughter as his companions joke among them selves beside him.

    A sharp, cold wind hits me, it slices through my clothes and whips my hair around me. Though my eyes never leave him, the man seems to take a deep breath and a long grin spreads on his chiseled  features. Perfect. Angelic even.

    "Don't even think about it," Mrs. Sanders now harsh toned voice cuts through my awe and I snap my attention back to her, knowing my face was no longer red just because of the cold. "Sweetie, all five of those...those..things,are not good for a nice girl like you. Those Animals are in a gang the brown haired one seems to be the leader of the scums. Some say that they are responsible for the killings going on all around in the woods these days," she says quietly like if she was too loud they would hear her.

    "Oh,.." I let that sink in when one word catches my by surprise,"Wait killings!!" I almost shout and Mrs. Sanders nods sadly.

    "Animals, dear. Animal killings. Though that doesn't make it any better, they're all sadistic, let me tell you. Well, I had better be on my way, see you Audrey, and remember what I said," something tells me she doesn't mean just about needing help with any thing, that she wants me to remember that the five people are bad news.

       I smile my goodbye. That was bizarre. I would have never guessed that this town would have any kind of gangs, much less ones that mutilated animals, when would they move on to much bigger targets?

      I shake away the thoughts and walk into the store, it's warm so I put down the hood I hadn't realized I had on. My cheeks and nose go numb, but I ignore it so I can continue on my shopping. Walking through the store I get many greetings and welcomes from others as I pick up my food and utensils.

     When I get to the frozen isle I don't notice the lack of people in the section because I was looking at my basket trying to count numbers in my head. I hit someone hard, Male, when I ran into him he didn't move when a woman would have fallen with me. I think to my self just before something drops to the floor. I don't look at the person until I pick up the cold box that he dropped, I stand but almost fall back onto the floor.

       The supposed leader stares at me with his warm yet hostile brown eyes, it only takes me a second to compose my surprise. "I-I'm sorry I didn't see you," I say and then try to smooth it over, though knowing me I continue to trip over words. "I-" I close my eyes recovering from my stutter and when I open my eyes I smile at him and start over. "I am Audrey Wills," I extend my hand for him to shake but he only stares at it.

       I let it fall,"May I have my box?" he asks raising an eye brow and I nod.

      "Yeah sorry, Uh..What's your name?" I ask.

   "Is it that important to you?" he counters and I look him in the eye, something a lot of people have trouble doing.

    "Yes," I say with a smirk and he scowls.

    "Aiden Groves,"

    I try to keep a grin away, until he makes it leave completely. "You should leave, that old bat has been feeding you lies," I give a scowl, but make no move to leave.

   "Well if they're lies then you should have no problem talking to me," Aiden's jaw sets in anger only making his strong jaw line all the more pronounced. Truth be told, he didn't seem the like to be a gang leader, more of a CEO that was rude to his P.A., his combed hair and nice clothes clash with Mrs. Sanders title of rugged and over all illegal.

     He sidesteps me and walks away, I can hear him muttering. "Dear God she's going-," he grumbles away quietly so I can't hear anything no matter how hard I strained my ears. I ache to know what he said about me, it will eat me alive. I continue on my shopping which goes uneventful, I pay with more money than I am used to since Nathan saved me the need for a car. I stop at the door and find it snowing lightly, I make a reminder to go slow on the roads until I can get snow tires.

     I open the glass door and walk out, when I get onto the uncovered sidewalk that is already slick and starting to freeze. No matter how lightly I step I still manage to slip on the ice yet to form, but just as I expect a hard fall making my rear end hurt and wet until I feel cold hands catch my elbows. Once I find the courage to open my eyes and look up my savior I feel my face heat unimaginably, he only looks at me with stone cold, hot chocolate colored eyes. Aiden pushes me up roughly, I grunt with discomfort that he had zero compassion,"Thanks," I grumble, but he only walks away still with no emotion.

       I watch him leave, he is taller when he is closer, a good foot above me, black clothes contrast with his pale, white and icy skin color. Aiden's only surprising feature is his hair, no one I have seen has brown hair other than him....and his eyes...hot chocolate eyes...

      When a flake of snow hits my cheek I shake my head, clearing my thoughts and I walk to the fading truck that stands out in the grey town. I start to feel shaky it's so cold out here, speaking of cold, why was Aiden's hands so cold? 'Well, I guess since he seems to walk everywhere his hands would feel most of the harsh weather since he has no gloves.' I reason with myself. I reach out to the door with shaky hands, again I shutter at the frosty handle, the warm cab of the truck makes me hmm with pleasure. Like in the store my frost bit nose numbs my face and I have to wipe under it to make sure I don't have a runny nose.

      I decided one thing, that this town is too little to have so much gossip, 'But hey, whatta gonna do?' I ask my self as I start the truck and make my way to the opening so I can get back on the road, my heart momentarily stops when the tires slide on ice. I gasp and hold my hand over my heart and I can't help but notice Aiden watching me, I hold his gaze even when my breathing regulates and heart rate slows down. The only thing that makes me remove my eyes is a car horn, I yell out the window,"Sorry!" and I pull out. I find it hard not to look back at Aiden, but I make my self watch the road so I don't hold up traffic.