When Camellia moved to a new town, she didn't expect to even like it there. Let alone find a second family, friends and love, all of whom were hiding a great secret. It all started that Autumn of 1993.
(The song that inspired this story, in case any...
"There must be another way". I pull Noah's sleeve slightly, trying to convinve him to get back downstairs. "There isn't". He says and his eyes soften. "I won't let you fall" he promises and tries to take my hand but I step away, huffing angrily.
"As if you have jumped from the second floor in a pile of snow before"! I say accusingly and he smiles. "You'd be surprised". I roll my eyes and pull my knit hat down to my brows.
"Fine, let's do this." I zip up my coat and make sure my ski pants are in my boots. Noah climbs on the windowsill we have already broken the ice off of and offers me a gloved hand. I take it and let him pull me up.
"It will be like sledding" he says with a warm smile. "It will be fun"! He adds and sits down at the snowy porch shed, ready to slide down. ''Come on, we'll do it together". I take a seat by him and gulp as he closes the window behind us.
"One," I'm not ready, "two", not ready "three" he pulls me and we slide down towards the snow pile beneath the shed. I think I scream as I hold on to his arm. He shouts happily as we fall to the snow face first.
Only, the snow has frozen during the night and it is not soft anymore. I groan as i roll to my back to find Noah laughing over me.
"Try telling me that wasn't fun"! He says as he pulls me upright and I slip. He holds me upright and wraps a hand around my waist, bringing our faces close. "Hi". I say stupidly and he smiles. "Hi" he answers and before I onow it he leans over and kisses me.
The kiss is quick, more like a peck on the lips. I look at him surprised and he laughs at my expression as he lets go of my waist and pulls me down the snow hill until we reach where the fence door must be, burried under the snow with only the top of the mailbox sticking out.
"Where to ma'am"? He asks and i blink ,still sort of confused by the quick kiss. "I don't...I don' know". I say and he decides for me, pulling me towards the woods. "Are you sure this is safe"? I ask as we enter the forest.
"I won't let anything harm you", he says seriously and I believe him. "Come, the stream is this way." He leads us through the forest as if he's done this a million times, as if every tree is familiar to him. I catch him stopping to sniff the air more than a couple times before continuing.
He was right, the stream has a thick layer of ice and I can see the water running underneath, even a fish or two every now and then.
"And that is why you live in the-house-by-the-river." Noah explains and kneels in the snowy bank, tapping the ice once and then putting some weight on it. "Come" he stands and offers me his hand. He takes the firat step on the ice.
I step on the cold surface too and wince, expecting it to crack under our weight. "It's safe, I told you" he pulls me slightly and I slide towards him. My boots although meant for snow, easily slip on the ice.
"We can quite literally slide to my house, it ends up in a pod in our backyard" he says and pulls me forward. It's obvious he wants us to go faster but he holds back for me.
When we reach the house I have already fallen twice, making him laugh. The pod is also frozen solid. He flashes a smile and is ready to jump off the ice when he slips amd falls in the snow, pulling me down with him.
I yielp and he gasps in surprise as I land on his back and start laughing. I roll off of him, still laughing and lay on the snow, facing the sky.
His blue eyes soften as he looks down at me. "Your whole face lights up when you laugh" his voice is quiet and the words result in another smile, on my part.
He leans over and this time I am not taken by surprise when he kisses me. I touch his jaw hesitantly, when he doesn't pull back, I place my gloved hands at the back of his neck and pull him closer.
"Noah, is that Lia"? He stumbles off me and I struggle to my feet as Cozy yells from the kitchen window.
"Hi ma', We slipped" Noah says innocently and I smile at the small woman. "Hello mrs Clifford". Her smile is as warm as the house is when we enter. I let out a pleased sigh as I take off my coat and ski pants to stay in my leggings and knit sweater.
"Thank you for having me again ma'am" I say gratefully and she waves me off. "Don't you worry, I really enjoy your company dear, you can come whenever you want, you will always be welcome here"". She touches my cheek softly. "And please, call me Cozy. Ma'am makes me feel old" she scolds me and goes back to the living room with Clarke.
Nakai comes to greet us, Noah and him exchange a look and the younger boy smiles and nods. Odd.
"Come" Noah says and follows after his brother. I spend the day with them and since my parents have yet to return and the power is still down at home, Cozy insists that I stay the night. I thank her and accept the offer, because I really don't feel like going back to the cold house.
Nakai brings me a comforter for the couch since their guest room is under construction and Clarke brings me her teddy bear, so that i won't feel lonely. I thank them both and put on the button up shirt and pijama pants Cozy lended me to sleep in.
I fall asleep fast, but wake up way too early when someone bangs on the door.
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Oh, how I wish it would snow!!!!!! It's been a couple years since we last had snow here. I am hoping for a white christmas this year! I bet quarantine would be more bearable then! I hope you guys are all healthy and safe. Does it snow at Christmas where you live?
