by Sarah Gai
"I'm Charlie," the guy turned and stuck his hand out to shake.
"Nolan," he responded.
"Jeez man, you're lucky you came and sat here. Sadie's a pariah and by the end of the day she would have eaten you up!" Charlie bellowed out loud.
"Quiet down, Mr. Harris," the teacher scolded. "Welcome Mr. Reed, I see you've been introduced to Charlie. This year he will be your lab partner. I'm Mr. Foster. Now, please open your books to page 8 and we will get started."
"Mr. Foster, Nolan was supposed to be my partner. I'm showing him around today, so it's best if he sticks with me," Sadie whined still standing at the front of the classroom.
Mr. Foster peered down at her, arms crossed looking slightly amused. "Well, Ms. Freeman, Nolan seems more than capable of figuring out the school. Why don't you take a seat next to Missy and we will get started."
"But..."
"No buts, now go...sit," he pointed at the spare stool in front of him. Sadie reluctantly took her place and turned to look at Nolan. He gave her a smile and nodded letting her know everything was fine. She scowled back at him before turning to face the front.
The morning passed without a hiccup and, with the help of his quickly acquainted friend Charlie, he found all of his classes. As the bell rang signaling lunch, Nolan made his way out of English Lit and found Charlie waiting in the hallway for him.
"Ready for the worst lunch of your life?" he asked Nolan, clapping him on the back. "See, you'll know to bring your own tomorrow," Charlie held up a brown paper bag, obviously past experience encouraged him to pack his own.
"I'll give it a go. Can’t be that bad, right?" Nolan responded as they walked into the cafeteria.
"Well my friend, you go dish up and I'll be over there," Charlie pointed to a table in the far right corner. "I'll introduce you to some people," he grinned as he walked away.
Nolan joined the lunch cue line up at the counter. After surveying the array of hot food offerings, he settled on a plate of fried rice and what appeared to be sesame chicken. Then, with tray in hand, he wound his way between the lunch tables until he reached Charlie.
"Come, sit man and I'll introduce you to the guys." Nolan placed his tray on the table and slid into the seat. "This is James, Steven, and Henry," he pointed to the three guys sitting across from them. "These boys are on the football team."
"Nice to meet you. I'm trying out after school today," Nolan let them know.
"Yeah, for what spot?" the lanky sandy-haired guy named James asked.
"Wide receiver, hopefully," Nolan responded, as he forked some of the fried rice into his mouth only to spit it out mere seconds later. The table erupted in laughter.
"Didn't Charlie tell you how bad the food was?" Henry, the shortest of the lot, stared at him amused.
Pushing his tray to the center of the table, Nolan also laughed, "He did, but I wanted to give the cooks the benefit of the doubt."
"Well, now you know," Charlie patted Nolan on the back.
James drew their attention back to football. "So, wide receiver, hey? Man, I hope you get in because last year Ollie played wide and he sucked." The three guys across the table all nodded in agreement.
"You boys better not be talking football again on the first day of school. I tell you all, I will throw an epic tantrum if that's the case," a high-pitched voice broke in.
Nolan turned to look up at the tall girl who took a seat on the other side of Charlie—short black hair with a purple streaked fringe, nose and brow piercings, heavily lined eyes, wearing black jeans and a fuchsia tank top. She leaned over and kissed Charlie on the cheek. Nolan watched his new friend’s face redden.
She looked over at Nolan and eyed him up and down before leaning across Charlie and extending a hand, "Hey there handsome, I'm Nicole, the future Mrs. Harris if I have my way."
Nolan looked amused as he watched Charlie shake his head. "Nice to meet you, I'm Nolan," he took her hand in his.
"Oh, I know who you are. The whole female population and half of the guys are talking about the smoking hot new guy," she winked. Nicole sat back down properly and began to unwrap her sandwich.
"So are you guys dating?" Nolan looked at his friend.
"NO!"
"One day,” Nicole said at the same time Charlie denied a relationship. Nicole laughed as she bit into her lunch and spoke around a full mouth. "You just keep fighting this thing between us Charlie." He observed Charlie blush again as the guys across the table all laughed.
Nicole’s gaze went up above Nolan’s head, her eyes rolling with disdain. "Okay, I'll stop...for now," she grinned.
Nolan did not hear anyone speak from behind him so he turned to see whom this strange girl was talking to. He didn't expect the reaction his body felt as his eyes landed on the most angelic creature he had ever seen. His mouth became dry as it dropped open at the sight of the prettiest girl in existence. She was short, maybe only 5'2, with long raven hair, porcelain skin, and the largest emerald green eyes, the kind of eyes you could get lost in, drown in, and never fight to resurface for air. His breath was knocked right out of him as he took in every inch of her.
She tilted her head to look down at him, as if she was trying to figure him out, study him, yet not a single word had left her lips.
Charlie spoke from behind him, severing the silent intense moment between Nolan and the mystery girl. "I wouldn't look at her that way for too long. First off, her boyfriend Connor will skin you alive and second, she's my sister, man."
Nolan felt like he had been doused in ice cold water with those words. With all the strength he could muster, he managed to peel his eyes away from her, and just in time, as he saw a blond guy almost as tall as him come up behind her and wrap his arms protectively around her waist. He watched as she peered up lovingly into the guy’s eyes. Nolan’s heart shattered. Heck, he didn't even know her and within two minutes of seeing her he had fallen hard and had his heart broken. It was crazy!
"Nolan, meet my sister, Winter and her best friend/boyfriend Connor," Charlie introduced.
Connor looked up from Winter with his lovesick eyes and smiled. "Ah, the new guy. Nice to meet you," he said, unwinding an arm and stretching it out towards Nolan with genuine kindness.
Nolan took it and gave a firm shake. Connor seemed nice, which meant hating him would be one hard feat.
Connor let go of Winter and turned to face her. "This is Nolan, the new guy," he signed and also said aloud. Winter shook her head and smiled, signing back.
"Ah, yes! The one all the girls are talking about," Connor laughed. Winter turned and looked at Nolan, moving her hands in a magical dance of fingers that entranced him. Connor sat down at the end of the table and pulled Winter onto his lap, causing Nolan to look away towards Charlie.
"She said it's nice to meet you," he interpreted. "My sister is deaf," he continued, speaking like it was no big deal. Nolan looked back at her and the couple looked as if they had gone into their own world where no one else was admitted entrance.
"Are you guys twins?" Nolan asked Charlie, not able to once again take his eyes off the beautiful girl.
"Nope, she's a year younger than me, along with Connor and Nicole. You see, things don't work here like other schools. Jocks, cheerleaders, brainiacs, class levels, we all just kind of hang with whomever we want, not by cliques. Well...except for Sadie and her minions. They think they're popular, but really they're just mean," he added as he noshed on his sandwich.
"So your sister can't hear anything?" Nolan had to ask. Not that it bothered him, but there was something about her that stole his breath and he struggled to remind himself to take in air.
"Nope, nada. She was born with moderate hearing loss, but she got meningitis when she was three and after that it was severe hearing loss. My parents took her to a specialist when she was younger about cochlear implants, but she wasn't a candidate. No matter, she's super smart and can pick up some of what you say by lip reading and she signs." He shrugged as if it was not a big dea
l. "And I see the way you're still looking at her, man. Trust me, many have tried, but it's always been Connor, so I’d drop the crush before it grows," he smiled at Nolan sadly, knowing exactly what the new guy was thinking.
Nolan couldn't help but look over again. He watched her and Connor, signing between each other. That morning he thought the year was going to be a piece of cake. Oh, how wrong he was.
Winter
Summer, 2010
"I told you, man, you gotta work as a team!" Connor shouted, throwing down the game remote and signing to Charlie.
Winter couldn't help but giggle. The lack of sportsmanship when it came to her two favourite men was an everyday occurrence.
"Hey man, I can't help it if I'm the smarter player. Besides, I was kicking some serious butt!" Charlie smugly shrugged his shoulders at Connor.
"Yeah you were, except the fact you needed to cover my back. I'm out of the game, asshole. So I guess you are just a one-man show now," Connor gruffed, standing up from the couch. Turning, he looked at Winter and his frown turned into a huge grin.
Winter’s heart exploded for about the hundredth time that day as Connor glided towards her, throwing himself down on the sofa next to Winter, pulling her onto his lap. He nuzzled his face into her neck, planting little kisses behind her ear and trailing around to her jaw. She loved him so much; sometimes it frightened her to think of the possibility he would ever be taken away.
The summer break was off to a good start. Her brother Charlie had just graduated high school and within a few weeks he would start working construction full-time. Winter could see something was going on between her best friend Nicole and her brother. They were so silly, thinking they were hiding whatever was happening between them. Did they not understand Winter watched everything? She read every movement, every facial expression, every glance that passed between them with unspoken words and every affectionate look that gave away whatever they were hiding. Winter could see it all; it was only a matter of time until they told everyone else about their relationship. She was happy for them; it really was about time.
Winter was used to it being the four of them and sometimes Charlie’s friends, James and Henry, especially on weekends. What surprised her the most this last year was the moment Nolan Reed rocked into town, he and Charlie became instant best friends—almost inseparable. Connor even brought him into the small group and they often went fishing. It was nice to see her boyfriend bond with another guy and leave her for a few hours. Winter enjoyed alone time or time with Nicole without him around; not for too long, but all the same, it wasn't healthy to spend 24 hours a day with someone.
What Winter would never admit to was the reaction she had towards Nolan the moment she laid eyes on him last year on the first day back at school. It was as if her body was begging her to go to him, as if some other force was trying to convince her to walk over and wrap her arms around his torso, and hold on for dear life. Winter stood there, frozen, trying to fight the foreign feeling. If Connor had not walked up behind her and brought her back to reality, she didn’t know what she would have done.
From that moment on, she tried to keep a little distance between her and Nolan. Although they saw each other on a regular basis, they seemed to have a mutual unspoken understanding. Of course, they were polite and occasionally tried to communicate, but Winter saw it in his eyes, too. She saw how uncomfortable he was to be around her, especially when he glanced at her when he thought she didn’t notice. Sometimes paranoia took over and she wondered if he avoided her because he hated her or whether he kept his distance for other reasons, reasons very much like hers.
Winter turned her attention away from Connor and peered over at Nolan who was seated in one of the beanbag chairs next to Charlie. He really was handsome. She could see why all the girls at school went crazy over him; he was tall and well built. His strong jawbone and ocean blue eyes screamed masculinity. Last year his hair was short and spiky, but as of late, he had been letting it grow out. Now his dark chocolate locks just touched the tip of his ears and curled up at the edges; it was...sexy. Winter caught her thoughts and internally chastised herself for checking him out.
Charlie turned to Nolan, "You up for a game of Halo, my friend?"
"Sure, if Connor’s had enough of your one-man show," Nolan looked towards Connor, his eyes briefly landing on Winter before quickly looking away.
"Go for it man. I'm done for the day," Connor responded.
Charlie threw the second controller over to Nolan and they began the new level. Winter waited for it to begin, but Charlie and Nolan were distracted, looking towards the hallway. She didn't have to turn to know what was going on. Connor wrapped her just a little tighter in his arms, a sure sign her mother must have been standing at the hallway door.
Winter turned in his arms and peered over his shoulder. There she was in her nightgown, her once beautiful hair nothing but a rat’s nest. Winter glanced at the clock on the wall; it was only twelve thirty in the afternoon. Momma shouldn't have even be awake yet, let alone drunk. But there she was, swaying in all her glory, a glass of scotch in her hand. Abigail moved her hips seductively. Her mouth was moving, but Winter could not pick up a thing.
Winter clapped her hands trying to draw the attention of the guys in the room. Charlie looked at her and Winter signed, "Get her out of here Charlie. Please." He nodded and as he stood up, Winter looked back at her mother who had her eyes on her daughter. Still, Winter could read nothing from her mother’s slurring mouth though it must not have been good as Connor pushed Winter off his lap and to the side. Her brother frowned, grabbing their mother by the arms. Connor had to step in and reached for her mama also, as her legs went flying around. She was putting up a fight, obviously not wanting to leave.
Suddenly, Winter felt arms wrap around her waist and under her legs. It was Nolan, whisking her away, out of the house. She pushed her face into his chest as he walked quickly, taking her away from her childhood home that was once filled with beautiful memories, but now was so cold and uninviting.
At least once a month this happened. Her mother would come out of her room, intoxicated and spewing profanities towards her; luckily, Winter could not decipher the words, but she didn't understand the hate her mother had for her. There were even a few times she had managed to slap or spit in Winter’s face; most Charlie knew about, but when he wasn't home and it happened, Winter had not told him. She knew the immense responsibility Charlie already held since their father passed away; she didn’t need to add more stress to his youthful life.
Nolan seemed to know where he was going and before long they reached the creek. He managed to sit down, still cradling Winter in his arms. Looking up, she read the concern and worry on his face.
Winter signed, "I'm so sorry. I wish you had not have witnessed that."
Unfortunately, Nolan had witnessed it before, but he never had to sweep her out of there. The sad thing was this was not unusual; by now, Connor would have called his mother Rosie over. She always seemed to soothe Abigail enough to at least take a shower and get back into bed for a few hours.
Nolan shook his head. Of course, he didn't understand; he didn't know ASL. Gently, he lifted Winter from his lap and placed her next to him. He reached into his jeans pocket and pulled out a little notepad and pen. He looked up at her sheepishly before beginning to write. "I kinda carry this around just in case you ever want to talk to me." Nolan passed the notepad to her and Winter smiled.
"I always like to talk. What I signed was I'm sorry you had to see that," she went to hand it back, but then quickly, and with chagrin, wrote “Again.”
He took the note and smiled. "I would do anything to keep you safe Snowflake. Your mother’s words were cruel."
Winter didn't want to know what she had said. Nothing new she guessed; probably something along the lines of “You and your brother ruined everything” or “He loved me long before you two ever came along.” It used to cut Winter to the bone when she was younger, but after hearing it
so many times her skin had thickened. She no longer felt the hurt those words used to carry.
It was Charlie she was more concerned about. He had become the man of the house and took on the role of a father. For the past three years, he worked almost every day after school, including most weekends, just to put food on the table. After their father's life insurance money ran out, which her mother had made sure of with her pill popping, drinking, lack of paying bills, and being charged late fees on utilities all the time. Charlie stepped up and acted as the adult all those years, taking over the finances and looking after them. Winter often wondered where they would be without him. The budget was tight, but they had made it work. Winter never questioned where her mama found the money to stay high, but from what people were calling her around town as of late, she could guess.
As Winter sat next to Nolan on the grassy bank beside the creek, a single tear slipped from the corner of her eye. She tried so hard to remain strong, to not let her circumstances pull her into a downward spiral, but a sudden shame washed over her. Warm fingers gently pulled her chin around and she looked up into Nolan's eyes; his face was awash with worry. She swiped at her face, wiping the tears away. For what felt like a lifetime, yet was probably only mere seconds, Winter found herself lost in the young man's eyes. She wondered what he was thinking as she watched his mouth open and then close, as if he wanted to say something, but thought better of it, and then he looked down and shook his head.
Winter pulled away and reached down to take the notepad from Nolan's hand and wrote, "Why did you call me Snowflake?" She had to know. She watched as he blushed and gently retrieved the pen and pad from her.
"Remember last winter when we went tobogganing?" he wrote. She nodded back at him as he began to write again. "As me and the boys ran back up the hill to go again I stopped and looked back to see if you were following. There you were just standing there looking up at the sky, your arms outstretched. I saw the smile on your face as you pulled your hands back in and studied them. You were catching snowflakes and, well, it just kind of stuck. You seemed so happy in that moment. So in my mind I call you Snowflake. Cheesy, I know."
