Snow

Three

A man near the forest area of Goldenleaf was found dead this Friday morning.

I heard the news from my Aunt's television as I went down to pick up my things and go to school. 

I saw Auntie watching earnestly while taking a sip of her hot choco.

"Auntie I'll be heading out" I called out to her, she finally realized I was there and turned her head to look at me.

"Okay dear, but can you go back home a bit early?" There was worry in her face.

I reached out to her and kissed her forehead.

"Don't worry about me Auntie. I promised Misha I'll go to the mall with her, it's almost her Mother's birthday."

I caress my auntie's shoulder, reassuring her.

"But the news lately..." I cut her off. "It's probably bears in the woods, the man was homeless" just how I heard the news say it was a homeless man. 

Poor man. It has wounds I guess all over the body but blurred by the media with black and white due to its gruesome state.

Aunt May held my hands and nodded. "Just make sure you have someone to come walk you home."

I kissed her again, now on the cheek and head off.

Misha was just in time to pick me up with her black BMW convertible.

My best friend is filthy rich, her mother was a fashion designer and her father owns a few businesses in the area.

I also saw Louis was already at the back smiling at me. I smiled and sat on the front passenger side and we all headed at school.

***************

It was the usual day in school, everyone was with their own peers.

"I saw this beautiful piece in Pandora that I think my mom will love"

I hear Misha while we grab our lunch at the school cafeteria and sit all three together on the round table just beside a big tree.

"I'm not exactly the jewelry type but I think whatever gift you give, your mom will love it"

I said to her while munching my muffins. I have muffins, pasta and strawberry milk for lunch.

I'm always hungry nowadays.

"Sure babe if it's you? But this is Mom.. She had everything." she rolled her eyes and I giggled.

"Why not throw her a party then?" Louis suggested while eating his lunch.

Misha instantly stood up with her hands above her, like it was a bright idea.

"Oh my god! You're right Louis!" she was smiling and clapping her hands. I laughed at her gestures.

We were interrupted by a commotion we hear not so far from us.

We looked and there was spaghetti all on the floor with Kenneth-- a classmate of ours on the floor as well.

It seemed like he fell with his lunch but we weren't there to see what actually happened.

A girl was standing above him with her red mini skirt, leather jacket and black tops now covered in spaghetti sauce. Her disgusted face was looking down at Kenneth on the ground.

It was Anastacia and her red lips from her lipstick that stood out formed a disgusted shape.

"Look what you did! You pathetic mongrel!" she shrieked.

"I'm sorry it was an accident..." Kenneth was obviously apologetic.

"There's no such thing as accident, stupid!" She spat on him and motioned her head to Cas.

Cas immediately grabbed Kenneth by the shirt dragging him up to his feet. 

Everybody's eyes were fixed at them and I immediately acted on impulse and went over to them. 

I was angry for how they handled Kenneth.

"Wait Snow!" I heard Misha call me and Louis stood up with her trying to follow me.

Ana was standing with her fist clenched and Cas was grabbing Kenneth by the shirt, motioned his knuckles up in the air as if to throw a punch at the poor guy.

I got to them just in time and held Cas fist before it could give its punch.

He was shocked but pushed my hands away. I stood in between them and held Kenneth by the arms. 

"He said he was sorry." I was glaring at Cas.

"Don't get in our way b***h!" He cursed at me and looked frightening with his veins almost popping out. 

"Was it an accident?" ignoring Cas, I turned to Kenneth shaking in fear, he was a slender boy that bullies would have love to beat up.

Only we don't have bullies anymore, not until today.

Kenneth nervously nodded his head and looked down.

"You're such a nosy little b***h, aren't you?!" Ana shouted at me and I gave her glare.

I felt Misha and Louis closer to me, I hand Kenneth to them and head back to glaring Ms. Viper here. 

"You better stop calling me a bitch." I warned her. She scoffed.

"Or? What can someone like you, do to someone like me?" taunting me closer until her face was inches away at me and c****d her head to the side, grinning. 

I felt steam coming out of my nose as I wished to grab a full hair on this girl, but before I could ever do that someone stood between us.

"Hey now. We don't want to start anything here." it was Seb and he was smiling apologetically.

He looked at Ana and I saw her roll her eyes and took a step back. 

Seb turned back to me, put a hand to my shoulder as if to calm me down only to guide me walk away.

"She has her temper." He smiled while we walked away from them.

"Really? Seems to me she's just normally rude." I answered back, gaining my calmness now.

He laughed a bit and stopped when we were close to where my friends were.

"Just don't let her get to you. Ana's kinda obsessed with her property" still smiling with his perfect pearly white dentures.

Seb was really good looking, the same as his brother.

"Are you guys her property?" confused with his choice of words.

He just smiled at me and shrugged at my question then went back to his peers.

I can still see Ana's death glare at me and I equally looked back at her.

She's not scaring me. 

"I know you're always a badass babe, but I didn't know you were this bad"

I heard Misha chuckled at the back. I went over them and smiled like I was victorious.

"Thank you. I was looking for a seat and I accidentally bumped her" Kenneth said while holding his head down.

I tapped his shoulder and gave him my lunch. "Next time sit with us." I told him.

"Hey don't you think, their groups missing someone?" Misha asked curiously.

I can still see them as they walk away.

"That's right. They don't have the hottest one. The one who kept looking at Snow" Misha continued. 

"A guy was looking at her?" Louis asked her, not sure with what tone was that. Shocked? Disbelief?

"Yeah, it was eyeing her up creepy when we were in Mr. Arthur's class but damn.... He was the hottest"

"Tell me who it is, is he bothering you?" Louis asked me with concern. 

"No, he hasn't been in the school lately anyway.." I shrugged while I drank my strawberry milk and smiled at Kenneth who was now eating my lunch.

"I heard he was the leader of that group and he was in some kinda business that's why he was gone"

Kenneth interrupted us while he stuffed his face with my pasta.

"Where did you get to know that?" Misha asking curiously, as if waiting for a hot gossip.

"He's been popular ever since the first day and a few girls were saying that." he added while finishing.

"Popular? He's been only at school on the first day and he hasn't shown up till then" I heard Misha.

It's true, it's been a week since I got to see that guy.

He was probably the type to only come when he wants to.

Definitely not my type. 

*********************

Mall was crowded, everyone was busy with their own shopping as the Annual Beer Festival was also near.

But we are here for Misha's upcoming surprise party for her Mom. She thought it would be great to make it a pool party but Louis and I both know it's just an excuse to wear bikinis. 

We were in the bikini aisle and Louis had to excuse himself and go to the mens aisle.

Of course he will, it'll be weird if he came with us while we try on a few pairs of bikinis. 

I giggle as Misha kept making nasty remarks of how she's definitely going to wear Bikinis and lingerie all day if she ever had a boyfriend.

Misha is truly the outspoken one.

I saw a cute black one piece, off-shoulder and simple.

I like it and instantly Misha loved it too. She took it from my hands and put it in the basket full of shopping goods.

She settled with a pink two piece that has ribbons on it. It was daring and definitely the Misha type. 

After we're all done with the shopping we met with Louis and ate at a diner on the way.

It was our favorite diner and I ordered their best country fried steak. We kept on talking about what was the best plan for the surprise party and it was going to be on Sunday evening.

It was Friday already and Misha was panicking for having no plans yet.

"I promise to help you. Let's keep it simple" I told her while I ate my steak. I am super hungry again.

"Simple cannot be the word babe. It's Mom. I'll have to call her friends when we get home and then I'll have to call Romano to help me" she pressed her temples like it was aching.

"Can I drive you guys halfway only? It's almost Saturday and I need to call them immediately" she said with a pleasing tone.

"Of course no prob." I told her and we quickly finished our dinner. 

Misha waved a goodbye kiss to me and Louis. We laughed at her and started walking.

"I'll walk you home Snow." I heard Louis from my side with his hands in his pocket.

"You know, it's just nearby and you'll be out of your way"

I told him not wanting to be a bother to him.

"No, really it's safer. After the animal attacks I know Aunt May wouldn't want you to be by yourself" He insisted and I gave up. 

There was an awkward silence between us and I did not know why. It's the first time we both were left alone, there were always three of us. Me, Misha and Louis.

The three of us were all childhood friends and we used to sleep together in Misha's enormous bedroom.

"Remember when we were like 12 and all three of us would still sleep together in Misha's room?" 

I asked him to break the silence as we walked.

"Yeah and you were both scared of the monster in the closet. So I had to open it and make sure nothing was in there." 

He added while laughing.

"I was a kid back then of course I'd be afraid of monsters" I added while laughing at the image of Misha's horrid face when we were kids.

We talked and talked some more until we finally reached my house. It was far from other houses in our town, for reasons I do not know why.

I saw Aunt May's relieved face and Adel waiting for me by the door.

I waved goodbye and thank you to Louis and watched him walk off, praying he'd be okay along the way.

When I finally couldn't see him anymore, I went back inside the house.

**************

Louis POV

I walked back to my place but it was a bit far since Snow's house was far from our town.

I had a smile on my face, I was happy to walk her home and finally have an alone time with her.

I've had a big crush on Snow for a very long time. She was my childhood crush when we were 10. 

As I walked down the path to my house, I had to walk by the creepy ass tall pine trees near the road.

Remind myself again to get a bike so whenever I'm in this area, I won't get creeped out.

Then again if I had a bike Snow might not want to ride it with me.

I remember back then, she had snow white skin the same as her name, red cute lips and a black wavy hair.

I saw her at the park I used to play when I was 10, Misha was already a friend of mine but Snow was new to the town.

She had very sad eyes back then and was always quiet. She was always at the swing by herself.

I knew then I had a crush at her and had to make her my friend. 

Only now it's different and we're not kids anymore. I find it hard to talk to her sometimes because of my feelings for her. I know I have to tell her someday, but what if she rejects me?

She never had a boyfriend, as I scare every guy that had a motive for her. 

I was lost in my thoughts when I heard the pine trees rustling, only there was no wind.

It was definitely creepy out here especially at night.

I continued to walk as I saw our town a few blocks away.

I heard footsteps by the pine trees and stood cautiously. I f*****g hope it wasn't a bear or anything.

I hurried my steps and heard the footsteps begin to run. f**k. 

I ran fast along the road. There were no cars this time but I was hoping there'll be at least one. 

I ran and ran until the town appeared to be closer in my vision.

I did not stop and looked back. 

I can hear it, it's like big footsteps but it doesn't sound like a man's footsteps. 

I was thankful enough to see the town lights as I am closer now. 

I heard a very terrifying howl. Dog?

No it was definitely not a dog. I hurried back to my house and locked the door.