Fragments

Chapter 5

I held on tightly to one of the train poles, the ones that you always see people gripping when there weren't any seats left to keep you from falling. The train wasn't moving that fast, but holding onto something gave me a little bit of comfort. I was in unfamiliar territory after all, with a bunch of strangers that were giving me a few odd glances now and then. I'd wish they'd mind their own business, it wasn't like I was running away from home or anything but I had a feeling that's what they thought. I guess maybe I was an odd sight, a thirteen year old kid riding the metro at 4:37 P.M. Honestly, I wasn't one of those shy, quiet, kids. I've never have been and I had a feeling I'll never be but my adventure with Gabriel left me a little spooked.

Gabriel, the brown haired, brown eyed boy with a tendency to ask weird questions and apparently think that everyone's annoyance on the train was directed towards him. Now that I'm at least four miles away from him, I didn't know what to think. The way Gabriel acted really freaked me out, not that I would ever admit. He probably has a medical condition or something, maybe he hates bakeries and trains. Who knows? I don't. The only thing that I'm sure of is that my mom is gonna give me one hell of a lecture when I get home. Then again, the sun was already down. Maybe she'd be hooking up with a new man to take home.

I nearly fall over as the train comes to a sudden halt, the conductor's voice echoing throughout the whole train, telling us we had finally arrived to our destination. I let go of the pole and waited till everyone who was seated got out, I didn't accidentally want to push someone onto the tracks or anything like that. It's not that far fetched, I've seen it happen before. In movies.

I stepped out of the train and into the bright lights of the metro station, suddenly feeling all tired. Chasing after Gabriel hadn't left me that winded, but it had been a long day. At least, it felt like one. With trying to get a crazy boy back home in the falling snow, I could've sworn I was starring in a book. Which would be weird, after all, who'd ever wanna read about me? Catherine, the writer girl, the girl who thought she was living in a fairy tale so it'd be okay to pick up a random stranger off the street.

With a sigh, I step out of the bright lights of the station and into the dark streets. I was right about one thing, the sun had already went down, covering all of Boston in it's wintry darkness. I begin to walk towards Common Park, trying my best to keep on marching on with soaking wet socks. The park lights illuminated the frozen wonderland, making it a decent sight for pictures. I would've stayed and danced and do whatever reckless thing thirteen year old's usually do but I couldn't. Not when my mom was probably throwing booze bottles at the wall wondering where I am.

I trudge on and on through the thick snow, my legs burning from exhaustion. In school, I could run fast, faster then any other girl but not then any other guy. I could even beat some of the high school girls, but mostly everyone tended to beat me in long distance races. I wasn't really built to be walking all day in thick, heavy snow. I was more built to be that one white girl who ran away from a psycho killer in the movies

I stop at the frozen pond in the middle of the park, curiosity etched onto my features. In the morning, there would probably be a bunch of people skating on the pond. Adults, teenagers, kids...Heck you'd even see some owner skating with their dog every once in a while. There wasn't anyone here right now though, not when it was snowing and every so a shower of ice would fall from the sky. I put my right foot on the cold, hard, ice. I pushed my right foot down, making sure it wasn't too weak that'd it break under my weight. My left foot joins my right as soon as I'm convinced it won't. I calmly walk a little bit to the center, taking small steps. I wasn't the best at skating on ice, but I could at least keep my balance on it.

I stand in the middle of the frozen pond, snow falling fast all around me. I tried my best to push down the giggly feeling that was arising in my chest, I had a feeling I looked dramatic standing like this. I twirl lightly, my feet pivoting. I dance lightly on the ice, as if I were a skater or ballerina. Don't ask me why I was doing, honestly I couldn't tell you myself. I closed my eyes, thinking. If I had told my father about my adventure, what would he'd say to me?