Surviving my Scholarship

Wolfram

                Have you ever had a secret that ate away at your very soul? All your throat wants to do is burst with it and beg the person to understand, but here I swallowed again and opened the door to the backyard.

                 I walked to the backyard and gasped.

                Pierce had used his Comm in the car to turn their backyard into a proper summer, winter wonderland. I couldn't tear my stare from the beauty of the globes that hovered above the ice creating a beautiful twinkling snow storm. There was even a hot chocolate stand for when you get cold. I walked over to a small bench and sat down enjoying the scenery. I had a feeling I could stare at it all night and not be able to notice everything.

                "What do you think," Pierce asked quietly behind me. I turned and smiled at him. "It will do?"

                "How did you do all this in just a few hours," I question as he shrugs and pops a marshmallow into his mouth.    

                "I just made a few calls," Pierce walked away from the ice rink with a smirk.

                "Probably doesn't hurt that you are a Galloway," I grumbled and he winks at me.

                "That too," he pulls out dark shoes from a storage box. "I haven't worn these in years."

                He blows off the imaginary dust from the skates, rubbing his hand down the shoe. I roll my eyes. Everyone knows that the new storage boxes are sealed tight so there is no damage to the contents inside. Not even a moth could find its way in without triggering the sensors.

                "I think I have an older pair that might be your size," he grumbles as he practically disappears into the box digging deep to the bottom.

                As he remains bent over the box, I take a second to appreciate the body part Pierce left exposed and smile. I could stare at this view all night without complaint either. My mind is shaken out of its perverted ways by an idea.

                "I own skates," I boldly state. Pierce reappears and looks at me in confusion.

                "You carry skates in that bag of yours," he questions as he glances down at his shoe and maneuvers it.  Is he seriously trying to figure out how skates could fit in my satchel? I groan internally and shake my head.

                "My mom used to skate when I was younger," I explained. "I'm sure I'm her size. If I could get to the estate..." I baited. Please. Please. Please. Bite the hook, my little fishy.

                "I'm sure we have something in your size," he shrugged and dove back into the box. I frowned. Lucky for me, he comes back up for air in disappointment. "Guess not. I'll let Jon know to get a pair shipped over immediately. Can't have my penguin being grounded." He smiled as he headed towards the house.

                "It would be easier just to go and get my mom's," I whine and he looks back at me in concern.

                "They will be outdated and insufficient," he frowns at me and I look down at my hands.

                "Come on Violet, you are so close to the prize," I think to try to pump myself up.

                "Okay," I say forcing as much disappointment as I can into the word. It drifts to him so slowly from all the weight of my dissatisfaction that it takes a second for his smile to falter. He closes the distance between us and holds onto my hands as he pulls me to him. Pierce I'm lying to you! Don't believe me! Please! I'm sorry.