Paper Girls: Shine for You

Chapter 1: A Few More Minutes

With the crisp wind blowing gently across my face, I glide across the sheet of smooth, thick glass. I gradually gain momentum with each stride. Thousands of microscopic, crystal-like chunks of watery substance flow outward behind me off of my sharp edges as I proceed across the surface with speed. The wind plays music to my ears, and I feel my heart race increasingly more and more as I glide on and on; adrenaline pumps through my veins and my craving for rapidity is fulfilled. The warm, beaming rays above remind me of someone I long to see soon.

Naked trees in the distance catch my eyes as I glide around; soon, the sky dresses the deciduous species perfectly in white.

Back and forth, pass after pass, the heavy white substance was transported off to the perimeter with the use of a broad, flat plastic blade. White banks form. Nothing but tiny pellets of soft, white fluff and the occasional skate marks are left on the rectangle-like surface. I take a few tentative strides. It isn't so bad. I think to myself, "I could get used to this."

Small divots and withered patches of vegetation I glide over are my only obstacles, unlike the typical environment I'm used to. There are no yells nor violent punches to the throat. Instead, soaring critters squeal and cheer me on as they occasionally swoop down, almost skimming the glassy ice. This is my getaway from homelife and the streets.

I glance down at the puck and realize I'm not alone. A familiar shadow appeared on the frozen surface near me. A warm smirk appears on her face as I look up. Her presence glistens brighter than the rays above. Suddenly, I feel her nudge me perkily, our hips colliding briefly. We both grin and snicker at one another as we position ourselves a few stick lengths away from each other. It is our time, our paradise.

The birds are perfect referees as they whistle and sing with us as we pretend to make epic plays

The birds are perfect referees as they whistle and sing with us as we pretend to make epic plays. The puck floats effortlessly across the sheet, as it launches from the blade of my wooden Sherwood. KJ swiftly receives the disk with ease and attempts to return it to my blade; however, the puck becomes hidden, packed deep within the bank. I approach the edge of the bank and trudge a few feet into the fluff. I remove one of my stiff gloves and insert an arm into the depths of the heavy powder, beginning the brief investigation. Just when I feel as though my hand had been numbed to the bone, I glance up, only to abruptly meet her eye to eye, nose to nose. I feel her warmth against my cheeks as her lavender-scented vapor transpires into the air. She slips my beanie all the way over my ears and swoops in even closer than before. Soon, I melt through a bloody-cold winter into a blossoming spring. As our lips collide in graceful surges, faint tobacco and toothpaste qualities fail to override a lingering hint of honey.

After an unknown amount of time, we finally exit our trance and retrieve the lost disk as if it was a valuable treasure. Unable to grip the object firmly, I quickly decide to toss it a few feet to the slippery surface, and I lunge out of the flakes of crystalline water ice, ready to continue techniques. After a few more passes, I observe the moisture leaving her mouth from across the natural playground as she forthrightly calls me over.

"Keep your head up! Quit looking down at that puck!" KJ declares.

The stars above become visible. With the chunks of white particles contrasting the pitch of the night, we realize the time.

"It's getting late," KJ states.

"C'mon. A few more minutes. Alright?" I implore.

I'm eager to stay and impress, so I position my stance for a victorious release. The rickety old net still manages to stand quite firmly after I launch a slapshot at the crossbar.

"Nice shot, Mac Attack," KJ commends.

"Why don't you hit me with your best shot?" I shoot back.

We both grin and skate in a circular motion, trying to stay steady in sync. The birds' chirping ceases and the shriveled leaves halt their rustling. I locate a patch of vegetation to sit on so I can remove my gloves and place my stick off to the side. Shaves of watery substance launch outward as I apply pressure from my edges down into the glassy surface, quickly arriving at a complete halt. It isn't until I perch myself on the cushiony vegetation that I realize the tingly condition of my fingers. I try extending them and rubbing my palms together, but I am still left with a numb sensation. Unable to untie my own laces, I'm on the verge of asking for assistance. Within seconds, electrifying warmth overcomes me as her steady hands caress mine.

"I got you." KJ tenderly utters.

KJ continues to sit there with her cheeks all rosy, toying with her adorably frizzy hair curled up in many angles. Her relentless grinning pierces well with her conspicuous dimples and striking eyes. I feel my veins energize with her touch and ponder whether my circuitry will ever be the same. I continue to sit there quite static, now heated up so comfortably in the dead of winter.

We rest in silence for an unknown amount of time. KJ graces her thumbs back and forth against mine. She then tilts her head like a puppy and teasingly raises her eyebrows, eagerly waiting for my eyes to meet hers. A couple seconds pass and I release the warmest grin of my entire life. I think to myself, "Her enchanting smile along with the moon and stars above light up this shitty town."

"So, should we come back here soon?" KJ whispers.

"You fucking know it!" I exclaim as I spring vertically off of my tiny feet to wrap my arms around her waist.

Before our departure, we quench our thirst with some sweet brown liquid. My taste buds sing with delight as I vigilantly sip from the thermos; however, a negligible burning sensation impacts the tip of my tongue. I am soon met with a face-full of snow.

"You better watch yourself!" I holler.

"You know you like it!" she pipes back.

I quickly compact as much snow as I could into a daunting ball. It's a hopeful revenge, one might say. So, I whip the ball with a hulking force straight into her forehead.

"Is that your best shot?" she eagerly declares.

"We'll see about that," I confidently throwback.

"Will we now?" she cries jokingly, giggling nonstop.

The occasional gust of tumbling snow from the banks captures our attention every few minutes as we indulge ourselves with the warm beverage. I notice the white of our breaths against the brisk air as we chat softly, following the paths of our vapor as they suddenly dissipate into the atmosphere. Just when I'm about to shiver, KJ instinctively embraces me softly, her arms caressing around my neck and her head perfectly resting on my shoulder. I place my hands on her waist and rest my chin securely. I pause for a moment and gaze above at the black velvet sky sequenced in countless twinkling stars, and fearlessly declare, "Look how they shine for you."

"You softie!" KJ chirps excitedly, still clinging to me.

"Yeah, but only for you." I nobly confess.