Shortest Infinity

Desperate?

Somewhere deep down I knew this was not going to work. I was already having a very rough time I was ready to quit and it was only December. Christmas break was coming and then I would return to Finland to see my family. One of the only places I could fit in.

"Hey Elle, I was wondering if you wanted to spend the night at my house this weekend?" Asked Sara. Suddenly I felt a tad bit better.

"Let me ask my mom when I get home." I reply.

"Okay! It will just be me, you and Sara."

"Great." I walk out the doors with my bag.

***

"Mom! Can I go over to Sara's house for a sleepover Friday night? Please?" I beg.

"Who's Sara?"

"I think she's a new friend! She's so nice!" Now I'm stretching it. Now I'm being desperate.

"Where does she live?"

"Only ten minutes from here! I think it will be fun!" Why am I so excited? It's only Emma and Sara... Am I that desperate for companions of the same gender?

"Elena, There's only two downsides to this, We are leaving for Helsinki early Saturday morning and I need to trust that you would get enought sleep so you aren't incredibly tired and jetlagged."

"I promise! I'll be good!" I say and then hug her.

***

The week goes by quick and finally it's Friday.

"Hey Sara, I may be a little late for your party because I have to go to skating practice, Is arriving around 5 alright and leaving at 10am? I have a flight to catch to Finland."

"Yeah totally fine," She says, "Oh and don't bother bringing your snow clothes we'll be spending time inside."

"Okay, sounds good." I reply.

***

I drive to her house in a deafening silence. My mom is deep in thought about something, she's muttering lightly and I can tell something's bothering her.

"What's wrong mom?" I ask.

"Well it's your very first sleepover in a foreign country with girls we don't even know . If they have beer, don't drink it and say we're Mormon, if they have drugs, tell someone, oh Elena... I don't care if you need me at 3am I will come and get you."

"Okay mom. I promise I will be good."

We pull up to a big wooden house that looks vaguely like a ski lodge, large deck, three stories and all. The driveway is iced over and I slip. I make it to the door, shuffling and two German Shepard dogs bark at me. A thirty something year old woman, short dyed blonde hair with brown roots answers the door and in a raspy voice,

"Hi! You must be Elena, I'm Mrs. Morgon, the girls will be so excited you are here!"

With a large hand on my back she leads me into her house where about twenty moose and deer hang on the walls, their black eyes boring into me as if I'm an unwanted intruder.
She comes to a door and slowly opens it to find Emma and Sara sitting on a purple shag rug writing in a journal. The quickly shove it under the bed once they see me.

"Elena!" They both say.

Here it goes... First sleepover.

***

The night is filled with eating junk food, watching TV and YouTube.

"Hey Elena, I left my iPad out on the deck, can you go get it? I don't want it to freeze."
"No problem!" I reply and we all hurry up a pine spiral staircase. I open the door to get it, grab it and just as I turn around the door clicks behind me. Emma and Sara smiling back at me devilishly. I'm standing on the deck in my socks, while the snow melts underfoot and melts and cascades down my bare shoulders. Sure we snowbathe in Finland but that was a happy feeling after a sauna at Christmastime, this cold was from the cold in their hearts as well.
They walked away and I banged on the glass, my screams probably were heard muffled inside the house, my legs were turning a raw shade of ashy red, my arms burning. My nose is numb and my teeth are chattering in rhythm to my broken heartbeat. For fifteen minutes I stay like this until Ms. Morgon comes to let me inside.