"Hey, leggo my ego Adam," Cinder laughed as they both grabbed the
waffle out of the toaster.
"Yeah, right sis," he replied smiling as they played tug of war with it. He yanked it hard pulling her across the counter with it. The sleeve of her purple long sleeved shirt moved up her arm a bit. He saw the bruises that sat on her wrists and lower arm. Dropping the waffle, she smiled and placed it on her plate. "Where'd they come from?" He spoke quietly as he grabbed her arm gently.
"I don't know," she replied narrowing her eyebrows together. "I just wanna eat my waffle, please."
"Don't give me that look. He's doing it to you isn't he?" Adam questioned knowing fully well that he was.
"If by he you mean Charlie, then no," she said firmly pulling her arm away from him. Lizzie bounded into the kitchen, ignoring the looks Cinder and Adam were giving each other. She smiled as she grabbed the waffle off Cinder's plate and bit into it.
"Thanks for the waffle cuz," she smiled. Cinder glared at her then looked back at Adam. She shook her head and put her plate on the counter before running up to her room.
Cinder sat by her window and sighed as she watched the snow falling onto the ground heavily. School had been cancelled and she was grateful for that. It was the first day of classes after mid-terms week. They'd be getting their report cards in the mail that day and she really didn't want the results of her geometry class. She saw a group of her friends walking down the street and she opened her window.
"What the hell are ya'll doin out there?!" she called down to them. They all looked up at her and smiled.
"Come down here and we'll show ya!" Jeff yelled up to her.
She nodded at them and slammed the window shut. She pulled on her coat and gloves as she ran down the stairs. She ran out the door, not thinking about the snow and the fact that her friends could be evil. She stepped onto the porch and looked around, unable to find the group. She jumped over the railing and was nailed in the back of the head with a snow ball, fired by Jay. She jumped and ran at him, tackling him to the snow. Then she was pulled off him and hung over Matt's shoulder before he threw her into a snow bank, receiving a white wash.
"Do you all realize how much you suck?!" she yelled at them with a large smile on her face.
"Yeah, we had a feeling we did," Amy laughed throwing a snowball at her. Cinder balled up snow and ran at her throwing it on her way by, getting a direct hit. She jumped behind another snow bank before she could be hit by the others. She packed some more snow balls and peeked over the top of the bank.
"Come out, come out, where ever you are!" she called to them. Jeff's hair made him stick out in the snow, as it was a bright reddish orange color. She grinned and aimed, only to be hit from behind by a snow ball from Trish. Cinder turned around in shock as Trish stood there smiling at her.
"Oh come on, you couldn't have thought I was that bad at throwing, now did you?" Trish smirked as a snowball her shoulder. Trish jumped as Cinder laughed, pointing at Jeff who tried to hide himself. "Jeffrey!" Trish made a snow ball and ran at him.
"Hey, let's make up teams," Adam suggested. "We'll have a good old fashioned snow ball fight." They all came out from their hiding places with snowballs ready in hand, just in case it was a trick.
"Alright, I vote Cinder and Adam captains," Oscar said dropping his melting snow ball.
Cinder set up her team of Jeff, Lizzie, Matt, and Jay while Adam set up his team of Trish, Oscar, Shannon, and Amy. Cinder strategically scattered her team up around the yard while it seemed Adam kept his close by. There was a countdown from 5 and at once snow was flying from all directions. Trish was the first to be taken out, by her boyfriend as Adam hit his best friend, Jay. Lizzie and Shannon stood in front of each other, snowballs ready. They stared at each other, almost daring the other to let the snowball go. Then by some sort of miracle, Matt took out Shannon. Lizzie laughed as she watched Shannon take a seat next to Jay and Trish on the porch. Lizzie didn't have much time to celebrate as Amy was gunning for her. Lizzie ran behind Matt just as Amy let go of her snow ball, nailing him right in the face. Amy dropped to her knees as she couldn't control her laughter. Matt turned angrily to Lizzie and threw her in a nearby snow bank. He wiped the snow off his face as he took the walk of shame to the porch. Cinder was stalking Oscar and snuck up behind him just before he could hit Lizzie. Cinder jumped up in excitement as Oscar shook his head all the way to the porch. Cinder, Jeff, and Lizzie regrouped as Adam, and Amy did the same. Then, unexpectedly, Amy hit Lizzie in the back and she was out, but only after she threw many snowballs at Amy. During this attack, Jeff took it upon himself to try and get Amy out by slamming a snowball over her head, but he was taken out at the same time when Amy saw him coming and crammed a snowball in his face. They both walked away to the porch, pushing each other back and forth until Amy shoved him roughly into the snow bank.
"It's the fight of the century. Copeland versus Copeland!" Matt yelled to the remaining two. Cinder and Adam stared at each other.
"Which sibling will be the winner?!" Shannon said.
"This is gonna be a wonderful victory. In fact, I'm so sure that I'm gonna win, how about we place a bet on this," Adam smiled.
"I'm listening," Cinder said intrigued.
"When I win, you break up with Charlie," he said.
"And if I win?" she asked.
"Then I never say another thing about you being with him," he said.
"Fine. Let's do this big brother," she growled letting go of a snowball before he could even blink. In the back of her head, she was screaming at herself for not letting him win. That would be the easy way out of the relationship. It had finally gotten to the point where she was scared of just breaking up with him. She was afraid of what he'd do to her if she did. Her face was set in a small victorious grin as she looked up at the snow dripping down his chest. "Now I finally get peace and quiet."
He laughed at her before charging. He threw her over his shoulder and slammed her right into a bank. Snow caved in over her face as she tried to get up. The cold had rendered her breathless as she was pulled out. "Congratulations little sister." He hugged her tightly and rubbed her back, trying to warm her up a bit. "You won fair and square. You won't hear another word from me about Charlie."
"Thank you," she said softly.
"Hey Cin, you up for a little dare?" Amy smiled as Oscar held out a plastic sled.
"You know me, I'm always up for a little dare," she replied.
"We dare you to slide off the porch roof," Jay said pointing up. Cinder nodded and grabbed the sled. She got up on Jay's shoulders and pulled herself onto the roof. She moved towards her window and sat on the red plastic flying machine, holding onto her window.
"Cinder, you don't have to do this! We were just kidding!" Jeff yelled to her.
"Jeff, it's not big deal! Io posso maneggiarlo!" she yelled back letting go of the window. She slid down the roof slowly and finally there was only air beneath her. "WOO!" she screamed as she punched the air with her right hand. She hit the icy snow covered road and realized she couldn't stop. She screamed for help as a tree across the street was quickly approaching. 'Well, they can put tree break on my tombstone,' she thought closing her eyes. Suddenly she went flying off the sled and slid down the road with a hard body pressing against her. They came to a stop and she looked up. "You really are my hero now."
His brown eyes were unmistakable. His head was covered by a skull cap and he had on his wrestling jacket. He looked down at her and smiled, showing off his black and green braces. "I've been telling you this for how long now?" he asked.
"Years," she breathed. He slowly got off her and pulled her to her feet. "Thanks."
"No problem babe. You would have done the same for me," he said as they started walking to the others.
"See, Shane, that's where you're wrong. You're the superhero, not me," she replied.
"Ah, yes, but I've been telling you forever that you're my sidekick. That still stands true," he said. "You alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. You know me well enough to know that a little head on collision with a tree isn't gonna stop me," she laughed.
"Are you alright?!" Lizzie exclaimed as they all met them in the middle of the street.
"Sono prefetto," she said looking at the tree and crushed up sled. "Which is more than what I can say for the sled."
"Eh, don't worry about it. It was my brother's," Amy laughed.
"Amy!" Cinder yelled punching her shoulder playfully.
"What are you doin here man?" Shannon asked Shane.
"Just felt like taking a walk in the snow. I was bored," he replied. "So then I see this wacked out blonde heading for the tree and felt like being heroic."
"And he was!" Cinder laughed.
"So here I am," Shane said.
"Well, let's get out of this cold into the house. Hot chocolate time!" Adam announced as everyone ran into the house. Shane and Cinder lingered back a bit and walked together.
"So, um, are we okay?" she asked.
"Okay?" he questioned.
"Yeah, well, I mean, are we friends?" she asked.
"Yeah, of course. If we weren't, do you honestly think I'd waste my hurri-powers on you?" he joked. "Why?"
"Well, you haven't exactly spoken to me since, since that dance," she answered shyly.
"Ah, well, I got over it," he smiled.
"Good, I'm glad. Cause frankly, I've missed you man," she smiled.
"Strangely, so have I," he smiled wrapping his arm around her shoulders.
***************
"Report card time!" Adam yelled from the doorway. Cinder continued to sit in her room, Cold playing from the speakers. She just sat on her bed, in a pair of boxers she stole from Shannon and a t-shirt she stole from Jay. She heard Lizzie scream in happiness, no doubt loving her results. She already knew Adam got straight A's, just like normal. Adam opened her already cracked door and walked in smiling, holding out an envelop. She shook head and put her hands up to stop him. He continued to walk towards her and threw the envelop at her.
"Adam, my philosophy about this thing is that if I don't look, then it's not true. So I prefer not to look. But thanks anyways," she replied. He shook his head and shoved it in her face. She curled her legs underneath her with a sigh and grabbed the envelop. Adam sat down and smiled at her. She pulled out the piece of paper that was inside and read the grades aloud. "English, B. Art, A of course. Italian, B. Chemistry, C. Gym, B. And geometry, C. Damn it!" She threw the paper down angrily then picked it up in shock. "That's really a C, isn't it?!"
"Yeah, Cinderella, you got a C in geometry. You passed!" Adam hugged her tightly.
"Oh my God. I love Matt. I love him. I'm telling Amy that he's mine now," she joked.
"You did it. You earned it. Not Matt. He just helped a bit," Adam smiled.
"This is like the best thing ever!" she exclaimed. Lizzie stood leaning against the frame of Cinder's door drinking a drink box.
"Well, sounds like we all did pretty well," Lizzie smiled as the front door slammed shut and Leeann stormed up the stairs. The kids looked at each other before running to her room.
"Mom?" Adam said as the stood in the doorway.
"Kids, Gil and I have broken up," she cried.
"Oh, sorry Mom," Adam said walking to his mother's side.
"What happened?" Cinder asked joining her brother with Lizzie close behind.
"We got in a fight and ended it," she said simply. "Don't worry about it kids. But I'd like to be alone for awhile."
"Sure," the three of them said as they slowly left the room.
"You don't think this is gonna hurt our friendships with Matt and Jeff, do you?" Cinder asked Adam.
"I hope not. I'll see you two in the morning," Adam said leaving the girls in the hall. Cinder followed Lizzie into her room and sat on her cousin's bed.
"What do you think happened?" Cinder asked.
"I couldn't really tell ya. I honestly didn't expect them to break up," Lizzie replied.
"Yeah, they did seem to fit together," Cinder smiled.
"Yeah, unlike a certain couple I know," Lizzie grinned.
"Sorry, Cinder's not at home right now. But if you leave a message at the beep, she'll be sure to ignore it!" Cinder said walking out of the room.
***********
A/N: The weird language you read in this chapter is Italian. They mean, in this order, I can handle it and I'm perfect. Just didn't want ya'll to go what the fuck is she doin or something like that. lol
"Yeah, right sis," he replied smiling as they played tug of war with it. He yanked it hard pulling her across the counter with it. The sleeve of her purple long sleeved shirt moved up her arm a bit. He saw the bruises that sat on her wrists and lower arm. Dropping the waffle, she smiled and placed it on her plate. "Where'd they come from?" He spoke quietly as he grabbed her arm gently.
"I don't know," she replied narrowing her eyebrows together. "I just wanna eat my waffle, please."
"Don't give me that look. He's doing it to you isn't he?" Adam questioned knowing fully well that he was.
"If by he you mean Charlie, then no," she said firmly pulling her arm away from him. Lizzie bounded into the kitchen, ignoring the looks Cinder and Adam were giving each other. She smiled as she grabbed the waffle off Cinder's plate and bit into it.
"Thanks for the waffle cuz," she smiled. Cinder glared at her then looked back at Adam. She shook her head and put her plate on the counter before running up to her room.
Cinder sat by her window and sighed as she watched the snow falling onto the ground heavily. School had been cancelled and she was grateful for that. It was the first day of classes after mid-terms week. They'd be getting their report cards in the mail that day and she really didn't want the results of her geometry class. She saw a group of her friends walking down the street and she opened her window.
"What the hell are ya'll doin out there?!" she called down to them. They all looked up at her and smiled.
"Come down here and we'll show ya!" Jeff yelled up to her.
She nodded at them and slammed the window shut. She pulled on her coat and gloves as she ran down the stairs. She ran out the door, not thinking about the snow and the fact that her friends could be evil. She stepped onto the porch and looked around, unable to find the group. She jumped over the railing and was nailed in the back of the head with a snow ball, fired by Jay. She jumped and ran at him, tackling him to the snow. Then she was pulled off him and hung over Matt's shoulder before he threw her into a snow bank, receiving a white wash.
"Do you all realize how much you suck?!" she yelled at them with a large smile on her face.
"Yeah, we had a feeling we did," Amy laughed throwing a snowball at her. Cinder balled up snow and ran at her throwing it on her way by, getting a direct hit. She jumped behind another snow bank before she could be hit by the others. She packed some more snow balls and peeked over the top of the bank.
"Come out, come out, where ever you are!" she called to them. Jeff's hair made him stick out in the snow, as it was a bright reddish orange color. She grinned and aimed, only to be hit from behind by a snow ball from Trish. Cinder turned around in shock as Trish stood there smiling at her.
"Oh come on, you couldn't have thought I was that bad at throwing, now did you?" Trish smirked as a snowball her shoulder. Trish jumped as Cinder laughed, pointing at Jeff who tried to hide himself. "Jeffrey!" Trish made a snow ball and ran at him.
"Hey, let's make up teams," Adam suggested. "We'll have a good old fashioned snow ball fight." They all came out from their hiding places with snowballs ready in hand, just in case it was a trick.
"Alright, I vote Cinder and Adam captains," Oscar said dropping his melting snow ball.
Cinder set up her team of Jeff, Lizzie, Matt, and Jay while Adam set up his team of Trish, Oscar, Shannon, and Amy. Cinder strategically scattered her team up around the yard while it seemed Adam kept his close by. There was a countdown from 5 and at once snow was flying from all directions. Trish was the first to be taken out, by her boyfriend as Adam hit his best friend, Jay. Lizzie and Shannon stood in front of each other, snowballs ready. They stared at each other, almost daring the other to let the snowball go. Then by some sort of miracle, Matt took out Shannon. Lizzie laughed as she watched Shannon take a seat next to Jay and Trish on the porch. Lizzie didn't have much time to celebrate as Amy was gunning for her. Lizzie ran behind Matt just as Amy let go of her snow ball, nailing him right in the face. Amy dropped to her knees as she couldn't control her laughter. Matt turned angrily to Lizzie and threw her in a nearby snow bank. He wiped the snow off his face as he took the walk of shame to the porch. Cinder was stalking Oscar and snuck up behind him just before he could hit Lizzie. Cinder jumped up in excitement as Oscar shook his head all the way to the porch. Cinder, Jeff, and Lizzie regrouped as Adam, and Amy did the same. Then, unexpectedly, Amy hit Lizzie in the back and she was out, but only after she threw many snowballs at Amy. During this attack, Jeff took it upon himself to try and get Amy out by slamming a snowball over her head, but he was taken out at the same time when Amy saw him coming and crammed a snowball in his face. They both walked away to the porch, pushing each other back and forth until Amy shoved him roughly into the snow bank.
"It's the fight of the century. Copeland versus Copeland!" Matt yelled to the remaining two. Cinder and Adam stared at each other.
"Which sibling will be the winner?!" Shannon said.
"This is gonna be a wonderful victory. In fact, I'm so sure that I'm gonna win, how about we place a bet on this," Adam smiled.
"I'm listening," Cinder said intrigued.
"When I win, you break up with Charlie," he said.
"And if I win?" she asked.
"Then I never say another thing about you being with him," he said.
"Fine. Let's do this big brother," she growled letting go of a snowball before he could even blink. In the back of her head, she was screaming at herself for not letting him win. That would be the easy way out of the relationship. It had finally gotten to the point where she was scared of just breaking up with him. She was afraid of what he'd do to her if she did. Her face was set in a small victorious grin as she looked up at the snow dripping down his chest. "Now I finally get peace and quiet."
He laughed at her before charging. He threw her over his shoulder and slammed her right into a bank. Snow caved in over her face as she tried to get up. The cold had rendered her breathless as she was pulled out. "Congratulations little sister." He hugged her tightly and rubbed her back, trying to warm her up a bit. "You won fair and square. You won't hear another word from me about Charlie."
"Thank you," she said softly.
"Hey Cin, you up for a little dare?" Amy smiled as Oscar held out a plastic sled.
"You know me, I'm always up for a little dare," she replied.
"We dare you to slide off the porch roof," Jay said pointing up. Cinder nodded and grabbed the sled. She got up on Jay's shoulders and pulled herself onto the roof. She moved towards her window and sat on the red plastic flying machine, holding onto her window.
"Cinder, you don't have to do this! We were just kidding!" Jeff yelled to her.
"Jeff, it's not big deal! Io posso maneggiarlo!" she yelled back letting go of the window. She slid down the roof slowly and finally there was only air beneath her. "WOO!" she screamed as she punched the air with her right hand. She hit the icy snow covered road and realized she couldn't stop. She screamed for help as a tree across the street was quickly approaching. 'Well, they can put tree break on my tombstone,' she thought closing her eyes. Suddenly she went flying off the sled and slid down the road with a hard body pressing against her. They came to a stop and she looked up. "You really are my hero now."
His brown eyes were unmistakable. His head was covered by a skull cap and he had on his wrestling jacket. He looked down at her and smiled, showing off his black and green braces. "I've been telling you this for how long now?" he asked.
"Years," she breathed. He slowly got off her and pulled her to her feet. "Thanks."
"No problem babe. You would have done the same for me," he said as they started walking to the others.
"See, Shane, that's where you're wrong. You're the superhero, not me," she replied.
"Ah, yes, but I've been telling you forever that you're my sidekick. That still stands true," he said. "You alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. You know me well enough to know that a little head on collision with a tree isn't gonna stop me," she laughed.
"Are you alright?!" Lizzie exclaimed as they all met them in the middle of the street.
"Sono prefetto," she said looking at the tree and crushed up sled. "Which is more than what I can say for the sled."
"Eh, don't worry about it. It was my brother's," Amy laughed.
"Amy!" Cinder yelled punching her shoulder playfully.
"What are you doin here man?" Shannon asked Shane.
"Just felt like taking a walk in the snow. I was bored," he replied. "So then I see this wacked out blonde heading for the tree and felt like being heroic."
"And he was!" Cinder laughed.
"So here I am," Shane said.
"Well, let's get out of this cold into the house. Hot chocolate time!" Adam announced as everyone ran into the house. Shane and Cinder lingered back a bit and walked together.
"So, um, are we okay?" she asked.
"Okay?" he questioned.
"Yeah, well, I mean, are we friends?" she asked.
"Yeah, of course. If we weren't, do you honestly think I'd waste my hurri-powers on you?" he joked. "Why?"
"Well, you haven't exactly spoken to me since, since that dance," she answered shyly.
"Ah, well, I got over it," he smiled.
"Good, I'm glad. Cause frankly, I've missed you man," she smiled.
"Strangely, so have I," he smiled wrapping his arm around her shoulders.
***************
"Report card time!" Adam yelled from the doorway. Cinder continued to sit in her room, Cold playing from the speakers. She just sat on her bed, in a pair of boxers she stole from Shannon and a t-shirt she stole from Jay. She heard Lizzie scream in happiness, no doubt loving her results. She already knew Adam got straight A's, just like normal. Adam opened her already cracked door and walked in smiling, holding out an envelop. She shook head and put her hands up to stop him. He continued to walk towards her and threw the envelop at her.
"Adam, my philosophy about this thing is that if I don't look, then it's not true. So I prefer not to look. But thanks anyways," she replied. He shook his head and shoved it in her face. She curled her legs underneath her with a sigh and grabbed the envelop. Adam sat down and smiled at her. She pulled out the piece of paper that was inside and read the grades aloud. "English, B. Art, A of course. Italian, B. Chemistry, C. Gym, B. And geometry, C. Damn it!" She threw the paper down angrily then picked it up in shock. "That's really a C, isn't it?!"
"Yeah, Cinderella, you got a C in geometry. You passed!" Adam hugged her tightly.
"Oh my God. I love Matt. I love him. I'm telling Amy that he's mine now," she joked.
"You did it. You earned it. Not Matt. He just helped a bit," Adam smiled.
"This is like the best thing ever!" she exclaimed. Lizzie stood leaning against the frame of Cinder's door drinking a drink box.
"Well, sounds like we all did pretty well," Lizzie smiled as the front door slammed shut and Leeann stormed up the stairs. The kids looked at each other before running to her room.
"Mom?" Adam said as the stood in the doorway.
"Kids, Gil and I have broken up," she cried.
"Oh, sorry Mom," Adam said walking to his mother's side.
"What happened?" Cinder asked joining her brother with Lizzie close behind.
"We got in a fight and ended it," she said simply. "Don't worry about it kids. But I'd like to be alone for awhile."
"Sure," the three of them said as they slowly left the room.
"You don't think this is gonna hurt our friendships with Matt and Jeff, do you?" Cinder asked Adam.
"I hope not. I'll see you two in the morning," Adam said leaving the girls in the hall. Cinder followed Lizzie into her room and sat on her cousin's bed.
"What do you think happened?" Cinder asked.
"I couldn't really tell ya. I honestly didn't expect them to break up," Lizzie replied.
"Yeah, they did seem to fit together," Cinder smiled.
"Yeah, unlike a certain couple I know," Lizzie grinned.
"Sorry, Cinder's not at home right now. But if you leave a message at the beep, she'll be sure to ignore it!" Cinder said walking out of the room.
***********
A/N: The weird language you read in this chapter is Italian. They mean, in this order, I can handle it and I'm perfect. Just didn't want ya'll to go what the fuck is she doin or something like that. lol