Chapter 7: Snow, Huckleberries and Friends
Aiden:
I opened my eyes with a yawn, glancing over a Gem. She was still sleeping. I stood stretching out my sore muscles.
I carefully make my way over to the window and peek outside. It was snowing. I smiled widely and my eyes brightened.
I've always liked snow, it was always so satisfying to throw a snowball and watch it hit my brothers face.. I glance back a Gem before dragging the chairs away from the door. I cracked the door.
Cool air chilled my arms as i stepped outside. I reached down and picked up a handful of snow. Perfect packing snow. I decided to not go very far so i wouldn't make to many tracks.
I shivered as i found a berry bush.
Huckleberries!
My teeth chattered and i skidded to the bush excitedly.
I took my hat off my head and began picking them, using my hat as a bowl. Snow gathered in my shaggy air and on my bare arms.
After this i would need to go inside, i shouldn't have came out. Especially since i left my coat for Gem.
I stand, my hands shaking with cold and my face freezing. I began trudging back to the shack, my hat, full of semi frozen berries, in my arms.
As i approached the shack i heard a rustle. I whipped around and nearly dropped the berries. I narrowed my eyes, a growl building in my throat.
I open the door and step back into the shack, shutting the door behind me with more force than needed.
"Can you explain to me why you left?" I heard a quiet growl.
I nearly jumped out of my skin, and barely hung onto my hat.
I looked over and Gem was sitting up, my jacket thrown about six feet away. She looked drowsy and tired. But very mad.
"Um...I s-saw berries!" I said through my chattering teeth.
Gem narrowed her amber eyes at me. She pushed a lock of her wavy ebony hair out of her face.
"Without a coat? Do you want hypothermia?" She snapped.
"Well, what fun is snow without a little risk?" I said, giving my best goofy smile.
I swear i heard her mumble 'Dork' under her breath. From what i knew about her, she only called her brother that.
I made my way over to her in a couple of steps and sat next to her. She tensed and started to lean away but i stopped her by putting my hand on her arm.
I held out the hat full of berries out to her.
"Want some?" I ask. She glances down at them. She picked one up and inspected it with narrowed eyes.
"Just eat it." I tell her poking her shoulder. She glared at me and popped it in her mouth. Instantly her dreary eyes brightened.
"Huckleberries!" She exclaimed, with a smile. (i hated to admit it but i really liked it when she smiled.)
I nodded Smiling back at her.
Together we ate about three quarters of the berries.
"I think we should save the rest." She told me, grabbing my hand and pulling it out of the hat.
I stuck my lip out and pouted.
"But huckleberries!" I said with a whine. She shook her head and rolled her eyes.
"I swear your a child in a fourteen year olds body." She scoffed.
"Mind you it fourteen and eleven months and six days!" I stuck my tongue out at her.
She let out a laugh. I smiled brightly.
"Wow! I made her laugh! Do i get a prize?" I ask resting my chin on my knuckles and giving her another dorky grin.
She smiled and rolled her eyes, pushing me.
"No! You've found my weakness!" I cry as i flop onto the ground.
Gem's smile faltered a bit. That's not good! Smile! Please!
"What's wrong?" I asked her, rolling onto my stomach and resting my head on my arms.
"Just remembering." She said, looking down at her hands.
"Tell me." i demand. Why is she so upset?
"No"
"Tell me"
"No"
"Teeeelllll meeeeee!" I whine. She rolls her eyes.
"Fine." I smile at her and i swear, i could hear her roll her eyes this time.
"Don't hurt yourself with all that eyes rolling." I tell her, reaching up and bopping her on the nose, which resulted in a death glare from her.
"It's just...You remind me of Stone. Except, sunnier. That's why...that's why.." She stammered at the end.
I sat up, my eyebrows raised, questioning her.
"That's why what?" I ask.
"That's why i let you in. why i..i haven't pushed you away." She told me, looking me in the eyes.
"So, friends?" I ask her.
Her lip twitched, like she was about to smile.
"Yeah...friends." She said the word slowly, like she was trying to study it, and hold onto it.
We sat in silence for a few minutes. Until i broke it.
"I've gotta check your arm." I tell her.
"I hate you."
"Aw, so sweet." i say, sticking my tongue out at her.
I move so i'm on the her left. I carefully grab her arm, and peel the strip of cloth away, and unwrap the bandage.
"Good news!" i tell her. "Bleedings stopped. Bad news, your too cold."
"How come you know so much about Medicine?" I ask him.
I shrug.
"Found a book at the library. Eventually, i became the go to guy of my group for any of the dudes in Jake's gang for things like this. They got in a LOT of fights." I tell her, dragging my bag closer so i can get clean bandages.
I re-wrap her wound.
"What did you mean by i'm to cold?" She asks me, shifting away a bit.
"You really cold, like you were the one out collecting huckleberries with no coat. Not me." I tell her, bopping her nose again, which resulted in another death glare.
"Well, i did lose blood." she snapped, pulling her newly bandaged arm from my grip.
"That's right, which means you probably should go back to sleep and get some rest. I'll get out some water real quick." I stand up and rummage through my bag again, finding an unused pencil sharpener. I open it and put the lid with the sharp part in my pocket.
I don't want Gem getting ahold of it. I didn't want her to get anything sharp, and it was bad enough she has her own blade.
I rinse out the plastic, cleaning anything out of it. I fill it, getting about a ¼ cup of water to bring Gem.
"I could have gotten this myself." She grumbled, accepting the little makeshift cup i handed her.
"Yeah," i grinned. "But i wanted to be a good friend." I tell her, flipping my shaggy hair dramatically.
And that earned a snort of a laugh.
"I did it again!" I cheered, throwing my arms in the air rat my accomplishment. She punched my in the leg.
"Ow!" i laughed.
I settled down next to her as she finished the water.
"Now that were friends…" i began, clasping my hands together. "Can we play a game?"
"What kind of game?" She asked narrowing her eyes at me.
"Like, a question game. We'll go back and forth for a little bit." I leaned forward, touching my toes.
"So like this? What's your favorite color?" She asked hesitantly, poking my arm.
I sat back up, thinking for a moment.
"hmm….Brown."
"Brown?"
"Not just brown. But brown with golden, and red undertone. The color of dark tree bark in the summer." I explain, pointing to one of the trees outside the window. She just nodded.
"What about you Gem, do you have a favorite color?" i ask her, crossing my arms.
"yeah…. Red, like pomegranate seeds." she said thoughtfully.
Red huh, neat.
"Anyways, what your favorite song?" She asks me, spinning my hat that still held the berries.
I thought for a moment.
"True love, by P!nk." I tell her. "I know, i know, weird for a boy. But i like it. Makes me...hopeful. Like i could find someone that i hate so much, but i love so much at the same time." i explain to her. "What about you?"
"Probably a tie between Little lion man by Mumford and Sons and Secrets by One Republic" She tells me.
This went on and on for a while. I learned a lot about her.
Her favorite food is Huckleberry pie, she loves the smell of maple and brown sugar, her favorite pop is cherry soda, her favorite animal is a snowy owl. She loved to sing, especially duets, but only ever sang when it was just her and her brother.
I learned that she is someone i wanted to be friends with. Someone i would pick up and put on my shoulders while she laughed and yelled at me to put her down. Someone that i could trust. Someone like a sister.
She had fallen asleep and ended up leaning against me, snoring softly. I grabbed her coat and mine and drape them both over her, carefully laying her down.
I moved to the wall that was across from her. And i sat. i stared into space, lost in my own thoughts.
Then i heard voices outside.
DUN DUN DUHHHHHH!
So, whatcha guys think so far?
also any questions or tips, leave a review or PM me!
~Lynx
P.S I'll be updating The Hybrids soon!