Frostbitten

Valentine's Day

I crossed my arms and looked at the stupid girls crowding around Cupid. Valentine's Day was tomorrow, and they were all freaking out, flirting with him, trying to win him over and make him do what they want. Not only did I hate Valentine's Day because it was on my birthday, but I hated it because I never had a Valentine. I'll probably never find my true love for two reasons. One: Cupid doesn't like me and won't ever make it happen. Two: I'm gay and I don't know any other gay person in this entire world, other than Bigfoot and Abe, but they're old and dating. So they give me hope that maybe one day I'll find the right guy, but I doubt it. Even if there were gay guys, they wouldn't want to date me. I'm not much to look at or talk to. I sighed and walked away. I went through the school day in my normal, upset stupor. I couldn't help it. Life was simply against me, and my biggest adversary was myself.

"Valentine's Day is, like, the most important day of the year," said Elva. Midsummer's Day was the most important day.

"Totally. I hope Cupid, like, shoots an arrow at me and either it's him or Boogie."

"I think they both really like you - and me."

The girls laughed stupidly. "I wish the snow would melt faster."

"I know. The snow is so unromantic."

I clenched my jaw. It only got worse through out the day.

"I hope the snow will be mostly gone by tomorrow."

"Snow is so ugly."

"Will you make the snow melt tomorrow?"

"Make the snow go away."

"That's why no one likes you, cause you make it snow."

By the end of the day, I was so completely enraged and depressed. People were just horrible. They only cared about themselves. I mean...I had feelings, too. If they were polite then I'd be more kind, too, but that's just too hard for them. I went home, no one having said a word to me that day other than insulting me. None of my friends said anything to me either. I went home and Mom wasn't there because she had to meet with Green and Nat and the council. I collapsed onto the bed, despising everything. I kept thinking of ways to make people appreciate snow, but in the end I only came up with an idea that would only benefit me. After Mom got home, and all was still through the night, I got out of bed and snuck out of the house. I tip-toed my way through the capitol and towards the reindeer house. It's where Santa kept his reindeer when it wasn't Christmastime. I went in and a few of them peaked their head up.

"Jack?" Blitzen asked. "What're you doing here?"

"Well, I'm suppose to make a snow storm tonight," I lied.

"Really? I thought winter was over with."

"One last storm before November. Care to help?"

"If Green and Nat expect it then I suppose I have to." He stood up and stretched. "Let's go."

"Alright, and it's just a regional thing," I said, since I just wanted to get back at the people around the capitol. I hopped onto his back and held onto his antlers. He kicked off and flew into the air. We flew and I drifted my hand over the sky. "It's going to be a huge storm," I told him. We were out there for an hour, and the snow came above the door. A few inches would melt by morning and so it would be a little below the door. I conjured up some clouds so it would keep on snowing, but I wasn't sure how likely it would keep up. After, Blitzen went back to the house and I went home, sleeping contently.

The next morning, though, was one of those moments where you realized you had been an idiot. Mom woke me up gently and I drowsily opened my eyes. "Morning Mom," I said, sitting up, forgetting about the snow.

"Honey, what did you do?" she asked.

"What?"

"School's cancelled. It's a snow day."

I froze, remembering what I had done in my angry stupor. "I..."

"Why'd you do it, dear? You know everyone's going to be mad."

"I know," I mumbled, letting a few tears fall. "And you know why, Mom."

She grabbed my hand sympathetically. "We have to go to the capitol building."

"But we're snowed in."

"You have to get everyone out."

"Everyone?"

"The capitol members."

I sighed and got up. I put on some new clothes and opened the door. I held my hand in front of me and blew the snow out of the way. I did it to all of the capitol members' house, trying to get away before they came out of the house. Mo was the last one I had to do, and the three of us went to the capitol building where everyone was at already. I sat in the room, Mom next to me, and everyone looking at me.

"Jack," Mr. Green sighed.

"I know," I said.

"Then why did you do it?" Cupid asked, enraged.

I didn't answer. I just looked down.

"Jack," said Santa. "You know winter is over."

"I know, but..." I tried really hard to hold back my tears, but it was hard. "I was just mad at everyone."

"Why would you be mad?" Vivian asked.

"It's my birthday...and no one ever remembers other than Mom and she's the only one who ever acknowledges me. Otherwise they all just obsess over their Valentines."

"You know I remember it's your birthday," Cupid said.

"Yeah, but we're not friends."

"Jack," said Baba.

"Well we're not!"

"Lady, Mary, Drake and Boogie had a surprise party for you, but you just blew it," Cupid said.

"Oh they did not," I protested.

"They don't care about Valentine's Day, you know that. Tell him Boogie."

Boogie had an entire black mask covering his face, so I couldn't see anything. "It's true, Jack. We really did have a surprise for you."

"You never have before, though!"

"You never looked so sad before."

"Well...I don't see what the big deal is. Snow never hurt anyone. The sun hurts people! It can cause sunburn and dehydration."

"Yeah, and the cold can cause frostbite and hypothermia," Cupid snapped. "This is my day and you it's ruined. I don't ruin your day."

"Yes you do!" I yelled

"Like hell I do!"

"Your birthday is on the first day of winter. Everyone always worried about giving you a gift but no one cares about winter," I said, clenching my fists.

"Because no one likes the winter, Jack. Just accept it."

"No! Why should I? I get by every year when no one pays attention to the fact it's officially winter. You can do the same." I rolled my eyes.

"No I can't. This is my relief, Jack," Cupid said.

"But you work all day."

"Yeah, but with all the couples out and about it makes it so much easier for me. I don't have to search for love. It comes out right in front of me."

My lip trembled and I bit it. I looked at my hands, feeling even worse than the day before. Green stood up and walked to the door. He opened it up and with the wave of his arms, all the snow was gone. Immediately I heard cheers and saw people running around outside. "Snow will be postponed this year, Jack," he said. "As punishment for breaking your rules."

I started to sob, and Mom put a hand on me, but I ran out of the building. I ran through the crowd of cheering people, some shouting cruel things at me, others not even noticing. I ran along the beach, past the selkies and merfolk. I ignored Nessy's squeals and kept running until I came to a cave along the beach. I sat inside it and just cried. I was wrong for making it snow off schedule, but I felt so alone. Mom was there but she just didn't know what to do. I was just an alone mess.

Winter wasn't all bad. I know the cold weather made people's mental health worse, but there was beauty in walking through the snow on a still night. Nobody ever saw the beauty in it. Nobody ever saw the beauty in me.