Snow, Snow Is Here To Stay

Affection

The minute I entered my house, I ran straight to my room. Flopping down onto my bed, I checked my phone and saw that there was a message from Marco. We had exchanged numbers after school much to Marisa's dismay. She had been shooting me death glares the entire time. The text said:

Marco: Hey, I'm sorry about Marisa. I should have told you. Can you forgive me?

I leaned against the bed frame and sent him a reply.

Anna: ofc

He sent back a thumbs up and happy face emoji.

"Hey, Anna! I'm home!" my brother called out.

"Hey, Adrien. What took you so long? I waited until three-thirty!" I cried, walking into the living room.

"I was with some friends. Mark and Helen. I got you bubble tea!" He handed me a cup of my favourite bubble tea flavour with bobas filling up half the container.

"Thanks," I beamed, taking the bubble tea from him and taking a sip.

"I need your advice," he admitted.

"Sure," I nodded.

"Should I ask Helen to the Valentine's Party?"

I froze. Adrien was having thoughts about a girl already?

"Does Mark like her?" I asked.

"No. He told me. He doesn't like anyone."

"Well, sure. But you may want to wait. See if she gives you any hints," I suggested.

Adrien sighed, "You girls are so complicated. Thanks, Anna."

He ruffled my hair and went up to his room. Then, a thought occurred to me. Would I have to go to the party with someone? Marco flashed through my mind and I immediately scolded myself. He and Marisa were going to be a couple. But as I cleared my thoughts, Ben popped in. Caring, generous Ben. Maybe? But I'd just met him, and asking him to the party might ruin whatever chance of friendship we might have. Before I could think about this more, I fell asleep.

I woke up an hour later to my mom shaking me.

"Hi, Anna. How was your day?" she wondered.

"It was fine. Made some new friends."

Mom hugged me. "I am so proud of you. Come out now, your dad ordered take out."

I walked into the dining room, seeing Adrien frantically texting on his phone.

"Is that Helen?" I teased as he sat down next to me, shaking his head. He looked around like he was checking if our parents were eavesdropping. Mom entered at that moment.

"Who's Helen?" she chuckled. I gasped and Adrien cleared his throat.

"My friend," he said.

"That's good. I'm happy both of you are making friends," Mom grinned with a gleam in her eyes. "Tomorrow, our neighbour Martin Florence invited us to dinner with his family, so I'm going to make some cake pops after dinner."

Cake pops were our family's specialty baked goods. For dinner, we had pepperoni pizza and salad even though we never usually had that at home. It was like a symbol for our new beginning here. A delicious beginning.