Frostbitten

by Heather Beck

  “I guess I can make it,” Anastasia said hesitantly. She didn’t want to spend any more time with Kate, but Chloe was trying so hard to be helpful that saying no to her seemed impossible.

  Excitedly, Chloe talked about all the fun they would have – not only at Kate’s sleepover but for the rest of the school year as well. Although Anastasia tried to pay attention, it was difficult to think about anything else other than the fact that Frost had just walked into Dale’s Diner. Was it possible that he was getting hotter each time she saw him?

  As if Frost could sense that someone was watching him, he turned sideways and looked at Anastasia, smiling but appearing hesitant to approach her. She gave him a reassuring nod, causing him to step forward. Unfortunately, he must have been too busy staring at her to notice that he’d stepped right in front of a waitress.

  The waitress, who was in a hurry to serve customers, didn’t have enough time to stop. As she collided into Frost, the tray of food she was carrying crashed to the floor. Silence filled the diner as everyone stopped what they were doing to stare at Frost, the waitress and especially the broken dishes and splattered food which now littered the previously spotless diner.

  Anastasia felt her face redden for Frost as he hurried to help the waitress. Hoping to lend a hand as well, she stood up, only to be stopped by Chloe.

  “Don’t get involved,” she advised. “He’s trouble.”

  Seeing that the staff was now taking care of the mess, Anastasia sat back down. She watched as Frost apologized profusely and offered to pay for the food and dishes. After Dale generously told him to forget it ever happened, Frost hurried to leave. Anastasia wanted to follow him, but she thought doing so may further embarrass him.

  “Well, that was awkward,” Chloe muttered.

  “You said he was trouble,” Anastasia spoke quickly. “Why?”

  “You first,” Chloe bargained, while looking very serious. “Why were you so eager to help him?”

  “Because he helped me,” Anastasia said softly, hoping that Chloe wouldn’t make any further inquiries.

  Chloe was obviously taken aback. “Didn’t you hear what Kate said about Frost yesterday? He’s a complete outcast.” She shivered slightly before continuing. “Frost was found deep in the woods as a baby. It was the middle of winter, and when Mr. Stone came upon him, Frost was almost frozen to death. That’s how he got his name.”

  “That isn’t funny,” Anastasia said, not believing the story.

  “I’m not joking. There was this big investigation, but the police couldn’t find Frost’s biological parents. After that, Mr. and Mrs. Stone adopted him.”

  “If this is true,” Anastasia began, still very skeptical, “why didn’t I know Mr. Stone had a wife and son?”

  “They didn’t come into town much – how strange is that? I even heard that Frost was homeschooled before attending Cedar Falls High, probably because his parents were afraid he’d be bullied.”

  “Poor Frost,” Anastasia muttered, while trying to process all the information she’d just received.

  “Frost’s origins make him a freak,” Chloe said softly, as if she truly believed in what she was saying. “Imagine how crazy his real parents must’ve been to abandon their baby in the woods. Compared to them, even Mr. Stone looks normal.” Chloe reached across the table to gently squeeze Anastasia’s hand. “You can’t hang out with Frost. It’ll only make you an outcast, too.”

  Anastasia felt anger swelling inside of her. How dare Chloe say these things about Frost and then try to dictate her life. It was petty, cruel and, unfortunately, true. If Anastasia was to fit in, she couldn’t associate with Frost. Trying desperately to ignore the fact that she was a complete hypocrite, she cast Chloe a fake smile. “So, what time should I be at Kate’s house on Saturday night?”

  “I’ll pick you up around six,” Chloe answered, before signaling the waitress and asking for their check. She then quickly retrieved her expensive-looking wallet. “Breakfast is on me,” she said firmly.

  “Thanks,” Anastasia responded with a sincere smile, remembering how Chloe had always been generous. She was a good friend and, despite their vast differences, one that Anastasia wanted to keep.

  Fifteen minutes later, Anastasia and Chloe entered the halls of Cedar Falls High. At first, everything appeared to be normal, but Anastasia soon got the feeling that she was being watched. All around her, students whispered. However, when she looked at them, they stopped talking and turned away. Although she couldn’t hear what they were saying, she knew that it was about her.

  “I know you’re the new girl, but this is ridiculous,” Chloe said, obviously sensing the strange atmosphere. “What’s going on?”

  “I have no clue,” Anastasia responded, feeling more self-conscious than ever.

  “Let me walk you to class,” Chloe offered, with a concerned expression on her face. “I’m going that way, too.”

  Anastasia nodded gratefully. “Let me grab my chemistry textbook first,” she said, before turning a corner and almost bumping into a small group of students who were gathered around her locker. “Excuse me,” she muttered in annoyance.

  With Chloe by her side, Anastasia stopped in front of her locker. That’s when she noticed the dark blue rose which was carefully placed through the loop of her combination lock. Tied to the rose with a thin black ribbon was a handwritten note which read, Welcome to Cedar Falls.

  “It’s so wrong,” a girl spoke loudly, while glaring at Anastasia.

  “Can I help you with something?” Anastasia snapped as she stepped toward her.

  The girl cast Anastasia another unfriendly glance before walking away. The other students began to leave, too, whispering as they went.

  “Is this the reason people are staring at me?” Anastasia asked in an exasperated tone, more to herself than Chloe. “It’s just a rose!”

  “I doubt that’s the only reason,” Chloe stated as she took the rose and examined the note. “I don’t recognize the handwriting. Who do you think it’s from?”

  “I don’t know,” Anastasia answered quickly, even though she suspected and hoped it was from Frost. Knowing that Chloe wouldn’t be too happy about that prospect, she kept her thoughts private.

  “Well, I have a guess, and it would explain this negative attention you’re getting.” Chloe looked closely at Anastasia and then asked slowly, “You’re not dating Frost, are you?”

  “Seriously, Chloe? I only met him yesterday.”

  “Then let people know it’s not true before the rumors get any worse.” Chloe handed the rose back to Anastasia. “Whoever did give this to you is thoughtful – he removed the thorns.”

  Admiring the rose, Anastasia noted its beauty and how special it was because of its scarcity. If the rose really was from Frost, she couldn’t help but think how perfectly it epitomized him.

  “Coming?” Chloe asked as she began to leave.

  Quickly, Anastasia retrieved her textbook and then gently placed the rose in her locker. She’d never received a flower from a boy before, and she wouldn’t allow anyone to ruin the moment. Smiling slightly, she hurried along the hall with Chloe and then said goodbye as they reached their separate classrooms.

  As expected, chemistry class was boring and lonely. She was forced to sit with Jack and Jill again, but at least neither of them spoke a single word to her. They were far too busy playfully touching each other and doing anything besides their school work. Jack and Jill weren’t the only students who were distracted, though. Hearing her name whispered around the classroom made it difficult for Anastasia to concentrate on the formulas that Ms. Stevenson wrote on the whiteboard. She was about to raise her hand and ask for extra help when her cell phone vibrated, alerting her of an incoming text message.

  I was wrong about the rumors, the message from Chloe read. They’re about Mr. O’Donoghue. Everyone thinks you’re hooking up with him.

  Feeling sick and overcome with confusion, Anastasia stared at the message for several mome
nts, praying that it would somehow change to read anything other than what it did. Who would start such a rumor and why? It had absolutely no foundation, but sadly, Anastasia knew that the most vicious rumors usually had no accuracy.

  A new text message from Chloe caused Anastasia’s cell phone to vibrate again. This is harsh, but I thought you should know what’s being said. I’m so sorry this is happening to you. There was a link below the message which directed Anastasia to a very active social media page. To her sheer horror, there were hundreds of posts about her and Mr. O’Donoghue. Someone had even created a poll which asked voters if they thought Mr. O’Donoghue would end up in jail. As Anastasia continued to scroll through the page, she felt like crying. It seemed like everyone had an opinion on the disconcerting topic, but the consensus was the same: Mr. O’Donoghue was a pervert, and Anastasia was a slut.

  Anastasia was about to shut her cell phone off when she saw the post, from an anonymous user, that had started it all. Seems like that new girl, Anastasia, and Mr. O’Donoghue have really hit it off. He was totally flirting with her during class, and she stayed with him afterwards – behind closed doors, of course! Here’s a tip for Anastasia and Mr. O’Donoghue: what you’re doing is illegal!

  “Will Anastasia Lockhart please report to the principal’s office?” a voice suddenly came from over the P.A. system.

  Several students turned around in their seats to stare at Anastasia, causing her face to flush with embarrassment. She couldn’t believe this was happening, especially since it was only her second day at Cedar Falls High. It was like some twisted form of karma kept her from leading a normal life.

  “The principal’s waiting for you, Anastasia,” Ms. Stevenson warned in a stern tone.

  “In case you don’t know, his office is located beside the front doors,” Jill told Anastasia with a very smug smile.

  Feeling heavy-footed and almost numb, Anastasia slowly rose and walked out of the classroom. As she made her way down the empty hallway, dread overcame her. She knew that this had to be about Mr. O’Donoghue. What else could it possibly be? Anastasia reminded herself that she hadn’t done anything wrong, but unfortunately, that thought did nothing to ease her nerves. This was going to be bad.

  Like an ominous sign, a door marked Principal’s Office in large black lettering came into view. Anastasia took a deep breath and then knocked upon the door. Seconds later, it opened to reveal a tall, heavy-set man with thick black hair and glasses which were several sizes too big.

  “Come in, Anastasia,” he said, before stepping aside and opening the door wider.

  The office was inviting, spacious and accentuated by a variety of thriving potted plants; however, Anastasia couldn’t help but feel on edge. She took the chair the principal offered to her and then squirmed anxiously. Anastasia wanted to get whatever this was over with as quickly as possible.

  “I’m Principal Keith,” he said, while sitting down behind his large desk that was cluttered with stacks of paper.

  Anastasia merely offered a small smile in response.

  “You’re not in trouble,” Principal Keith reassured her in a tone which was gentler than expected for a man with such an imposing physical appearance.

  “Why did you want to see me?” Anastasia asked, trying to keep her voice steady and her expression one of naivety.

  “It’s come to my attention that unprofessional behavior may be occurring between a student and faculty member. Do you know anything about this matter?”

  Remaining silent, Anastasia thought about how she should respond. If she claimed to be ignorant of the matter, it might look like she had something to hide. On the other hand, if she confessed to knowing about the rumor, that would also appear suspicious.

  “Anastasia?” Principal Keith interrupted her thoughts.

  “I...” Anastasia replied, unable to say anything else.

  “You can be honest with me,” Principal Keith reassured her for a second time. “My job is to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all students. I’m here to help you, Anastasia.”

  The old Anastasia would have played dumb just to avoid any trouble which could potentially befall her. However, she now wanted to be a stronger and better person. After all, the innocent Mr. O’Donoghue was the one with the most to lose, and that wasn’t fair. “I’ve heard the rumors,” she finally admitted, “and they are absolutely not true.”

  “Why would people lie about something so serious?” Principal Keith inquired, suddenly sounding as if he was interrogating Anastasia instead of helping her.

  “I have no idea how or why the rumors about me and Mr. O’Donoghue were started,” Anastasia said hastily, with growing frustration. She cringed after speaking, realizing that she had said too much.

  “Has Mr. O’Donoghue ever displayed any behavior which made you feel uncomfortable?”

  “No!” Anastasia cried. “Didn’t you hear me the first time? It’s not true – none of it!”

  “Calm down,” Principal Keith advised. “These questions are routine for this type of investigation.”

  “Investigation of what? Nothing happened!” Anastasia assumed the impromptu meeting with the principal would be the peak of this nightmare, but with an actual investigation, the rumor would only become more public and humiliating. For once in her life, couldn’t telling the truth make things simpler?

  “Serious allegations have been brought forth by both staff and students. While your account of the events is important, I must take into consideration other factors. I have no other choice but to file a report with the school board.”

  “So, basically you don’t believe me,” Anastasia seethed, before running out of the office.

  The first class of the day had just ended, and the hallways were now filled with students who were hurrying to get to their next class. Anastasia was also in a hurry, but she was heading toward the nearest exit. She flung the front doors open and then leaned against the cold brick, finally allowing the tears to flow down her face.

  Anastasia needed to talk to someone, and not knowing who else to call, she retrieved her cell phone and dialed. “Grandma?” she choked out, after the person on the other end had answered. “I need you.”

  It felt like an eternity, but Anastasia’s grandmother arrived at Cedar Falls High in less than half an hour. As soon as she pulled into the parking lot, Anastasia ran toward her car and then jumped inside. She had waited outside the whole time, and without her coat, she was freezing. However, that seemed like a much better fate than re-entering the school and facing the students and staff who thought she was capable of having such an inappropriate relationship.

  “Please, take me home,” Anastasia immediately begged her grandmother, who looked at her with great concern.

  Without asking a single question, she drove home. However, when they arrived in their driveway, Anastasia burst into uncontrollable tears. Her grandmother hugged her and didn’t let go until several minutes had passed. She then retrieved a small package of tissues from her purse and wiped away Anastasia’s tears.

  “I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve this,” Anastasia sobbed, calming down only slightly. “There’s a horrible rumor and it’s so not true. I...” Her voice cracked as she began to cry again.

  “Shhh...take your time,” Mrs. Lockhart said soothingly.

  Taking a deep breath and forcing the tears to stop, Anastasia continued. “Before I tell you what the rumor is, you have to promise that you’ll believe me when I say it’s a lie.”

  “I believe you,” she replied without hesitating.

  “People are saying I’m dating my English teacher.” As Anastasia said the words out loud, she realized how ridiculous they sounded.

  Mrs. Lockhart didn’t look the least bit shocked. “I’ve heard crazier rumors,” she admitted. “Small towns have many great attributes, but ironically, privacy isn’t always one of them. People talk, and sometimes what they say isn’t nice or true.” She paused for a moment. “Don’t ever allow anyon
e to define who you are – make that decision for yourself.”

  “I know you’re right, but how can I possibly go back to school? I can’t face my English teacher. What if he thinks I started the rumor?”

  “If you stand your ground, the truth will come out, but if you run away...” Her voice trailed off as she smoothed Anastasia’s hair and smiled. “I know you can overcome this.”

  “Why are you being so nice to me?” The words tumbled out of Anastasia’s mouth before she knew what she was saying.

  This time, Mrs. Lockhart did look shocked. “My dear, how can you ask such a thing? You know I love you.”

  Conflicted, Anastasia said nothing.

  “Oh, Anastasia,” she said, while wrapping her in a hug again. “I’ve been giving you space because I thought that would help you adjust. I hope you weren’t thinking I didn’t care.”

  “It’s my fault,” Anastasia replied quickly. “I’m sorry if you thought I wanted space because I don’t. I love you, Grandma.”

  “Let’s go inside. I’ll put the kettle on and...”

  “No,” Anastasia interrupted firmly. “You should go back to work. I’ll be fine. I just need a little time to recuperate if I’m going to return to school tomorrow.”

  Mrs. Lockhart smiled at Anastasia. “You truly are a strong girl,” she said proudly, before kissing her forehead.

  Alone in her house, Anastasia stood in the bathroom, washing her tears away. She dried her face on a soft towel and then looked into the mirror. Despite the horrible morning Anastasia had experienced, she smiled slightly at her reflection, feeling a glimmer of hope for better things to come. Her relationship with her grandmother was on the right track and heading toward a stronger bond than ever. All it took was for Anastasia to be honest instead of trying to hide behind some tough façade. It was a huge step, but she knew that the hardest challenges were still ahead of her.

  When Anastasia exited the bathroom, she heard a knock upon the front door. Uncertain of who could be there, she hurried down the stairs and then looked through the peephole. She was surprised to find Frost standing on her porch and what appeared to be his dark blue SUV parked on the road. Seeing that he was about to leave, Anastasia quickly opened the door.