She hates winter. Absolutely despises it. Christmas, snow, ice and all the other stupid things that come with it. Why would someone want to run around in the freezing cold snow? Warmth is comfortable. Not cheeking-burning, nippy, winter wind.
And why would you want an ice-cold ball of slush thrown at you? How could that possibly be considered 'fun'?
It annoyed the hell out of her. It really did roast her nuts to a crisp. Watching kids run around carefree and happy, while she slugs through the annoying pile of cold crap, waiting until she can get back to the warm inside, the one place snow can't get. Maybe things would be different her if it never happened. Maybe she would actually like winter. Maybe she would be happy, and have friends. But no, she's forced to hate it all, and whatever causes winter; the snow, the frost, the cold, she hates the most. And wishes whatever 'it' is, it would just take a long walk off a very short pier.
Whatever 'it' was, it ruined her life.
"Alessia J. White! Pay attention to my lesson" an angry voice yelled at the daydreaming girl.
Alessia blinked and averted her gaze from the falling snow outside.
She turned to the front of the class. "Sorry, you were just boring me" she mumbled while looking down to her desk.
A few sniggers escaped the mouth's of her class mates. The teacher rolled her eyes and carried on with the lesson. This wasn't a new thing. Alessia found herself snapping at almost everyone around her. It was her way of keeping them out.
She turned her attention back out of the frost covered window. She looked in disgust as the snow landed softly on the ground. It almost looked as if the -beautiful- fakes were winking at her. But that was impossible.
Why snow? Why today of all days? She asked herself sorrowfully. She had to work late tonight. Which meant the snow would taunt her on her long journey home as she tried not to fall on her clumsy ass.
She glanced at the empty chair next to her. She never fitted in. She was always different to everyone around her. For a sixteen year old, she was rather what do people call it? A stick in the mud, right, that was it! She hated fuss. Birthday's, anniversaries, parties and especially Christmas! Spending all your money for one day? Why? She would rather just stay in her room and write another long book, then wrote neatly at the end, 'author: Alessia J. White' which was actually her favorite part. She took pride in her work, particularly her books, decorating them with little illustrations and doodles.
The girls in her class would mock her. They were more girly than her. They would go shopping on weekends, buy make up, get their hair done fancy, flirt with boys. She didn't care for shopping, it bored her. She never wore make up in her life and her jet black hair just hangs in loose curls and does what it wants. As for boys, well, that was out of the question for her. She was already an outcast. Imagine if she ever tried talking to a boy? Things would get pretty ugly fast and she's be a laughing-stock. It was a known fact that she was not a very social person. She just prefers to stay alone. Or that's what she likes to tell herself. Yes, it would be nice to have a friend, someone to talk to, someone to trust. She always had been a dreamer like that. But nobody would even take notice in her. It was like she was invisible or something.
A lot of teachers at her school worry about her, since she has no friends, they probably think she's a psycho, plotting for her next victim. When actually, she was just a normal 15 years old girl.
So, why did she hate snow. Of course people her age loved it, right? The excitement of not going to school, the 'awesome' snowball fights with friends (which she can't do since she has none) and the other activities that snow provides.
Well, It all happened on a cold icy day Christmas eve. It was meant to be the best day ever for 5-year-old Alessia. She had written her letter to Santa, she had left out milk and cookies for him, she was ready in her pyjamas, and best of all it was snowing outside, the best present any 5-year-old could ask for. She had plans for a big snowball fight with her mother and father tomorrow, and winning at that. She sat on her window ledge and watched the snow as it fell gracefully down from the sky, swirling in pretty patterns as it did so. She smiled to herself as she thought about the cold air hitting her small face. She loved winter. It was definitely her favorite season, without question. She took the last slip of her hot chocolate before her mother came into her room and kissed her forehead gentility.
"Sweetie, time for bed" she whispered in soft voice. Alessia nodded and passed her mother the mug before jumping into her bed. She snuggled down into the covers and yawned.
"Mommy." she whispered. Her mom smiled at her and sat at the side of her bed, she ran her hand through her daughter's hair slowly.
"Yes honey?" she answered.
Alessia looked up at her "What causes snow?" she asked.
Her mother smiled down at her. She asked she question every night. It was no doubt that the girl just loved to hear the story about the boy who flew around and glazed the streets with the cold, white frost, she knew it filled her mind with wonder.
"Well Ali. There once was a boy named Jack frost..." she began to tell the story and Alessia's smile grew and grew as the story progressed. She felt her eyes closing, becoming more and more heavy.
"The end" her mother finished, she kissed her on the cheek before getting up and leaving.
Alessia's eyes opened for a split second "Thank you for the snow, Jack" she muttered tiredly before drifting off to sleep.
That morning she had woken up at the early hour of six o'clock in the morning, waking her parents up with her.
She had opened all of her presents and loved each one, especially a soft, brown bear she decided to name Bruno. She hugged both of her parents and race up to her room. She knew the routine of Christmas. Firstly she would open her presents, then her mom and dad would take her to her grandmas, while singing Christmas songs on the car ride there, then they would come back and play in the snow with the neighbors.
She quickly changed out of her pyjamas and put on her trousers, shirt and her cute fur snow boots. She ran down the stairs and jumped up and down. "Hurry, hurry, hurry" she cried.
Her dad laughed at her "Now, Ali, what are you forgetting?" he asked. She thought for a minute, then ran out of the room, returning a few minutes later with a woolly hat, a scarf and a pair of gloves on.
He smiled at her "That's my girl. Let's go". They all walked out of the house, climbing into the car together.
With the help of her mother Alessia climbed into her car seat and buckled herself in. Her mom walked around to the front of the car and climbed in, strapping herself in after.
"We're coming grandma!" Alessia squealed. Her parents chuckled as the car started. They turned the stereo on before the song 'Rudolf the red-nosed reindeer' came on. The car began to drive off as the family sang along happily.
"...had a very shiny nose, and if you ever saw him you would even say it glows" They all sang in unison.
They were too caught up in everything to see that dog. It did come out of nowhere, and besides, the icy fog made everything harder to see.
Alessia 's mother let out a piercing scream as the car dodged the dog slightly, the wheels skidding terrifyingly on the icy road below them. Because on the snow, the breaks weren't as quick as they should have been. They didn't work properly. And the car skidded, right into a nearby tree, causing it to jerk forward violently. The only cries that were heard now, were Alessia 's. Her mother and father remained silent and motionless, blood trickling down both their heads as the music carried on. Winter had killed her parents.
After that Alessia, 'kicked' her childhood out of her life. Anything childish she would throw out.
At the age of 6 she threw out all her toys and replaced them with books. At the age of 7 she stopped leaving milk and cookies out for Santa, completely losing her belief.
And at the age of 10, she acted as if she was already a teenager, writing a new novel everyday, refusing to go out to the park, or hang out with the other children. So, she became the way she was now.
All because of winter.
If it wasn't for that stupid snow, the breaks would have worked, the car wouldn't have crashed, and her parents would still be alive. And she wouldn't hate winter with every fiber in her body.