The Winter

Chapter Seven ~ The Past ~ Zoe's POV

"Zoe, come on you stupid BRAT!" My mother said, tapping her foot furiously.

"I'm COMING, mother! I'm almost ready," I said, brushing my blond locks so fast I thought they would rip off.

I ran down the stairs, holding my piercing mint dress down so it wouldn't fly up and show my undergarments'.

"Honey... have you been skipping your daily sessions in the workout room recently, sweetie? Your starting to get a little chubby, honey," My mother stated as I reached the bottom of the steps. 

I just looked at my glittery heels and clicked them, watching the specks of glitter cloud around them, then settle on the ground.

"Honey, you know your a little too fat to be skipping your workout sessions! I'm disappointed in you," she said, frowning at my thighs. 

"Well, why do you get to control me, anyway!?! You're always telling me to eat less, and to shower more, and to apply more makeup! I'M SO SICK OF IT!! Just stop, ok," I screamed at my mother, ignoring the horrified look on her face.

I felt a firm squeeze on my shoulder, and my fathers deep voice behind me saying, 

"Enough with this nonsense, Zoe Marie Hitlock. You know better then to argue with your mother about your lifestyle. Everything we've done is to help you improve as a person. If you continue doing what we tell you to do, you might even look decent enough to find a rich husband and make us proud."

"You could carry on our legacy and advance the Hitlock name, Zoe," My mother said.

I only nodded. I'm not taking my chances with these people. There is no reasoning with them. My father, James Hitlock, runs the Hitlock establishments company; the most successful real estate in The Hub. Unlike most, my parents have never lived in a season. Its always been The Hub. They say that if I marry a high ranked and esteemed husband, that one day they will transfer over the company to my spouse, and we can live in The Hub and continue on their legacy.

I, on the other hand, just want to find someone who cares about me as I do them, and move into a nice log cabin in winter. It's not that I love to cold, it's just the attire that goes with it..... and maybe I might enjoy the glitter that the snow presents when a fresh, undisturbed layer of it is spread on the ground. I've only ever seen pictures of it, but I've always felt a connection with it somehow. Maybe it's that we are both cold (figuratively and literally) and misunderstood as a nuisance to most.

When my mother was fifteen she gave up her life to become bound to a man who was fifteen years older then her, James Hitlock, my father. She needed to support her family who, at the time, was dirt poor. I understand her sacrifice, I just don't understand why I'm being pushed to give up my own life. We're rich! It's the 21st century! I don't need to marry someone I don't love, especially since we don't even need the money and status, so my parents are just beings selfish.

"You foolish child. Anyway, get in the car, and a servant will drive you to The Damian Atrium. We will meet you there in a bit," Mother said, sternly.

"If she had found a husband sooner this wouldn't even be happening," My father grumbled as he sauntered into the kitchen.

A servant opened the door for me on my way outside, knowing what my father would do to them if they didn't.

~~~~~~~~~~

We pulled up into the reserved parking lot of The Damian Atrium, which was separated from the visitor parking. I watched as people crowded the lot, slowly making their way into the giant entrance, labeled: RESERVED COMPANY ONLY.

I recognized some of these people from my school, all of them with their parents, all of them hugging each other dearly. My hands suddenly felt cold as I balled them into fists. 

"Kristie! Hurry up and walk with me into the building! You look like a total idiot digging in the car like that," I said to our servant. 

Does she want to embarrass me? What was she even trying to find?

"Sorry miss. Won't happen again," She said with a sly grin.

Apparently she found what she was looking for because she didn't seem bothered as we walked into the building.

Inside the giant atrium, we were instructed to pass the thousands of seats that escalated slowly while lining the outside of the dome. I'm not exactly sure why it was called The Damian Atrium, because it looked more like a sports stadium. In the center of the atrium there was a giant wooded platform with a microphone stand. People rushed around the platform as they set it up.

As I entered the hallway that ran behind the benches, I noticed Dylan amongst the crowd.

"DYLAN!!!" I yelled as my face lit up.

I ran towards him.

"Hey baby," I said, reaching for his arm to grab.

"Hey, uhm, Zoe. My parents are calling me, so," he said, running away from me.

Why does the world seem to hate me?