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C is for cold:

It had been a strange week in Hollywood, California. It was only the middle of November, but the temperatures were already in the low forty's and they were calling for snow. For most people this was just an excuse to wear their new winter jackets and hats. For Jade West, however, this was the worst time of year. She hated the cold because it drove her indoors and into her awful house. She used to love the cold. It was the time she used to spend with her family, before her perfect American family fell apart right before her eyes.

It had been snowing on the day her sister, Violet, had been diagnosed with stage four nueroblastoma. The day she died was the coldest of the entire year. The first freeze of the next year was when her parents told her about the divorce. Her father married his new wife during a blizzard. Her new sister, Vivian, was born on a day it was too cold to even think about going outside. The first night her mom came home drunk was the first snowfall of that year.

Now, every time it got cold, Jade would remember her sister, her not drunk mom, her family the way it used to be. It made her sad that it was no longer that way. The winter was often the time she missed the most school because she would get migraines or simply not have the energy to go watch other people live their perfect lives.

This cold day was particularly bad. She woke up from a nightmare in a cold sweat. The hot water refused to work, giving her a very cold shower. When she went downstairs to grab an apple for breakfast, she found her mom passed out on the couch, a bottle of tequila in her hand. Jade looked at the bottle with a look of spite before going into the kitchen and getting her breakfast and backpack. She then went outside to wait for Beck. He arrived a few minutes later, her favorite coffee in hand.

"Hey Babe," he said, kissing her before handing her the coffee.

"Hey," she said, giving him a fake smile.

They drove the rest of the way in silence, his hand simply resting on top of hers. She just stared out the window, not letting him know how much that hand really meant. His hand made her feel safe and secure, something she rarely felt. When they arrived at school, he took her hand as they walked into school.

"I am so excited for snow," Tori was saying as they approached their group of friends.

"Me too," Cat said, "It reminds me of fairies and winter."

"I hate snow," Jade said, "I think it's stupid and awful."

"Someone hates winter," Tori said, giving Jade a playful smile.

"Yes, I do," Jade said, rudely, "I hate it more than I hate anything else. Let's go Beck." She dragged him away from the group, waiting until they were safely away to lean against him and try not to cry.

"I know" he said, "She's an idiot."

"My mom was passed out again this morning," Jade said to him, "Holding a bottle of tequila the way she used to hold me or Violet or Dad."

"I'm so sorry Jade," he said, stroking her hair with his warm hand. They stood there for a few seconds, just hugging. Then the bell rang and they pulled apart. He still held her hand with his, warming her cold, broken spirit.

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