Where Tears Fall Like Snow

19

-Oli-

Lizzie throws her arms up as she crosses the finish line.
"Best to twenty five?" I ask
"It's been an hour." She says
"There's still nothing from a Callum or Lauren and Steph is busy." I say
"Yeah, but Joel and I have a thing we need to do... You know who could use your company? Skye." She says
"I know you're trying to get rid of me in a polite way but it's fine because you haven't seen Joel in years." I say. I get up and walk out.

"Oli!" Skye opens the door excitedly.
"Skye! How have you been?" I ask
"Good." She says, "Are you here to see Ash?"
"I was just kinda bored, I don't really know who I'm here to see." I say. We walk into the other room. A kid sitting on the couch looks at me.
"Oh yeah, this is Andy, Andy, this is Oli." She says
"Hi." Andy says
"You wanna play Mario Party with us?" Skye asks, "We have other games but they're not really that interesting."
"Sure." I say. I sit next to Skye and she hands me a controller.

Someone knocks on the door.
"I got it." Ash says. She opens the door.
"Oh, you must be Anna's mother." She says
"I am." The woman says
"Come in." Ash says stepping out of the doorway. Andy's mom steps in and looks around.
"And you're... Skye's..."
"Right now, legal guardian." Ash says. Skye pauses the game. Andy leans over.
"Oh no." They whisper, "My mother is... narrow minded..."
"How old are you?" Their mom asks
"I'm nineteen." Ash says
"Oh... ok." She says, "Is it just you raising Skye?"
"No." Ash says, "My girlfriend, Rain, is her other guardian.
"Oh." She sounds surprised, "I see..." Andy stands up.
"Mom, we can go now." They say
"Are you sure? You looked like you were having fun." She says
"No, it's fine." They say, "I just have a lot of homework."
"Ok, let's go." She says.
"Bye Skye." Andy says. They walk out.
"I like Andy but I can't stand their mom." Ash says. She flops onto the couch.
"Andy apologizes for her." Skye says
"They shouldn't have to." Ash says, "God, I actually feel bad for them. She's so..."
"Narrow minded." Skye says
"That's more polite than what I was gonna say but sure." Ash says.
"I'm gonna go." I say
"I mean, you can stay if you want." Ash says. My phone buzzes.
"Callum just texted me anyways." I say.
"Ok, bye." She says.

"Hey." I sit down.
"Hi." He says
"How's Scott?"
"Good." He says, "Apparently he can read minds now or something."
"Did he past read?" I ask
"What's that?" He asks
"It's like mind reading except they look at people's memories and piece them together so they can see a scene or something from their past." I say
"Is that just how you start mind reading?" He asks, "You just, pass out and then you can read minds?"
"No." I say, "That's one way. It can also happen when your with someone you care about a lot or doing something that you really like, stuff like that." Lauren sits down and flips through some papers.
"So apparently, we did get here in time and they have no idea why Scott passed out." She says

-Eli-

"You wanted to talk to me?" I ask
"Yeah." She says, "Did you tell Ash that you can remake casets?"
"Yeah." I say
"Why exactly?" She asks
"Because you can." I say
"No you can't." She says. I take off my necklace and crush the gem.
"Why would you do that?" She asks.
"Reform, remake, recreate." I say. The gem reforms.
"That's not possible." She says
"Yes it is." I say, "I just did it."
"So can you remake Ash's caset?" She asks
"I dunno." I say, "Does she have the pieces of it?"
"I don't think so." She says
"Them probably not." I say, "How long ago was it?"
"Couple days ago." She says.
"Then I might." I say, "I can't make any promises."
"You've made a ton of other promises you haven't kept." She says
"Shut it." I say

"Reform, remake, recreate." I say. Nothing happens. Ash looks at her palm.
"Damn, I took quick healing for granted." She says
"So there's nothing else we can do?" Ivory asks
"I don't think so." I say
"It's fine." Ash says, "Like I always say, have low expectations and you won't be disappointed."
"Have you even told Rain about this?" Ivory asks
"Or Skye?" I add
"Not yet." She says
"Ash, this isn't something that you can wait until you almost die or something." Ivory says, "This is effecting you and you can't stop it."
"I know." She says, "But not much has happened yet."
"Your eyes aren't gold, you bleed red and you aren't healing quickly." Ivory says
"I know what is happening with me." Ash says, "I don't need the constant reminder."
"I'm just-"
"Ari already acts like my mom and now that she's up and stuff I don't need two moms." Ash says
"I'm not 'moming' you." She says
"You kinda are." I say
"How's Rain doing?" Ivory asks changing the subject.
"Good." She says, "Coming home in a couple days and we'll officially be Skye's moms a few days after that."
"Are you nervous?" I ask
"A little." She says, "We've all established that we won't be, like, super formal about it but I'm gonna be her mom. It's so weird to think about."
"I'd assume so." I say, "You guys are, like, best friends."
"But it's still awesome though." Ivory says, "Just knowing she'll have parents there for her, I wish."