This is the first book I've made. Respectful feedback would be highly appreciated. I will post this book chapter by chapter and i will not post on weekends most of the time. I do switch pov a lot and I apologize for that.
TW!
Hope you enjoy.
Chapter 1
"Winter!" Her mom yelled from downstairs. "Hurry up you're gonna miss the bus!" Winter got up from her untidy bed and threw on some clothes. All her clothes and hand-me-downs from older cousins. "Yes ma'am, I'm coming down." Winter has always been careful what she said to her mom because she had a reputation of being abusive both mentally and physically.
When winters mom was sixteen she met this guy that made her skin flush hot and butterflies fly laps in her stomach. Blah blah blah they got married and she was head over heels for him, and he was crazy about her. Winters mom later found out she was pregnant with his baby! This was better than anything she could have imagined, but when she told him he yelled at her for being so careless and beat her. He filed for divorce and soon winters mom was all alone. Ever since then winters mom has yelled at, beat, cussed at, and looked down at Winter. She always blamed Winter for him leaving. To make matters worse winter looked nothing like her mom, she was the spitting-image of her dad.
Winter packed her bag and slipped on the bracelets that came all the way up her arms, her favorite baggy jeans, and a baggy t-shirt. She walked downstairs and her mom met her with an icy glare. "G-good-bye ma'am." Winter walked out the door into the ice cold fall morning air, and she walked to the bus stop sitting alone in the blistering cold just like every other day.
"Hey" the new voice scared Winter half to death and she jumped. "Woah there baby I'm not gonna bite you!" He grabbed Winters shoulder giving it a playful squeeze. "Sorry I'm use to being alone up here... are you new?" He nods his black curls falling over one of his eyes. "Well nice to meet you, I'm Winter. I could show you around school if you'd like." Winter is blushing at this point because she got caught in her own little world (zoned out) and also because this guy is really... cute.
"Well hello Winter, my name is James. I would love a tour of the school from you." He smiled brightly his perfect white teeth almost blinding. "What classes do you have?" James pulls out a piece of paper and they compare there classes and... wow they have all the same classes. "Looks like I'll see you around Snowy." Her heart gives a flutter at the nickname, it was so innocent yet you don't just give anybody a nickname. "Yeah see ya."
The bus hisses to a stop in front of them making Winter yelp again. "Dang! You good Snowy? You're awfully jumpy." James seemed genuinely concerned. "Yeah I just-" my words catch in my throat. I couldn't tell him about my mother. "Yes I'm okay." That's the only thing I could say.
We sit together on the bus and I tell him everything he needed to know about the school. "The first class is Mr.Will he is okay with food, gum, and he won't take your phone but you're not allowed to have it out." I chatter away not really paying attention to anything or anyone around me but when I finish I look at him. He's staring at me, his emerald green eyes staring deep into my eyes like he's trying to look into my soul. Our eyes met for a second before we both glance away. I look back at him and see he's blushing. 'Aww!'
"Um... so... how do you get home?" I ask desperate to save this conversation. "Oh um I-I go home in this same bus, bus 9." James replies still slightly flustered. I just nod, "same." The bus hisses to a stop in front of the school. All the people shuffle off the bus. "Here, hold onto my jacket so we don't lose each other." I hand James the sleeve of my jacket and he holds on tight.
We walk into our first class. "Hi Mr.Will this is our new student James, he is super nice. I think you'll like him." I give Mr.Will a charming smile and he welcomes James to his class. "I don't have any friends other than you, so you can sit with me if you want or you can make more friends." James looks around the room at all the students, they all clearly have their tight group of friends. "Nah I pick you Snowy." James walks over to an empty table and I follow him.
The people in class start to whisper, "hey who's that with her?" "Omg Winter has a friend? I didn't know that was possible!" I just look down, I've always let their words sink into me. "Hey Snowy look at me," James tilts my chin up to look at him, his hand lingering before he pulls away. "Don't listen to them, you have a friend now." He smiles softly and I couldn't help but smile back. "Thank you." James squeezes my hand reassuringly, "No thank you Snowy." I blush slightly, "for what?" He answers quickly, "For being my friend." I look down trying to hide my big smile and faint blush. "You're-" I get cut off as he pulls me into a hug. I was shocked at first but then I hug him back. The warmth of his body seeps into me and it's comforting almost makes me feel... Safe. I had almost forgot what it felt like to feel safe. Oh who was I kidding, I had forgotten what it felt like. Just as he pulls away the bell rings making me jump again. At this point he was use to it so he doesn't say anything about it, but he does shoot me a concerned look. "I'm fine don't worry." I give him a reassuring smile.
We navigate our way through the crowded hall. James is holding onto my jacket again. We file into our next class and three girls eyes land on James, I'm surprised their eyes didn't literally turn into hearts. Suddenly this flash of anger washes over me really hard and intense, so hard I nearly stumble over into James. "Woah there Snowy, don't go falling for me." I know he's only joking, a playful tease if you will, but my cheeks flush red and I stutter. "S-sorry James a-a-are you ok-okay?" He looks at me for a second as if studying me, then he just nods. I introduce him to Mrs.Smith and we take our seats next to each other.
That class goes by in a blur and next class then next then last period, now it's time to go home. "Hey Snowy I was wondering," his cheeks turn a rosy pink and I have to bite back a giggle. "Could I get your number?" Now it's my turn to blush and for a second I just sit there, my mouth opening and closing like it wants to speak but no words come out. Finally after a good five awkward seconds I find my voice although it is slightly strained. "Oh um yes!" I give him my number warning myself an icy glare from the girls in our second class but also earning me a warm smile and faint blush from James which makes it worth it.
Now back into the bus where we sit in the same seat that we sat in earlier that morning. When the bus hisses to a stop I jump again, "sorry." I say truly sorry. "It's alright Snowy don't apologize." We walk off the bus into the blistering cold that makes it hurt to breathe through your nose. The walk home isn't far at all but in the cold it felt like forever. Soon enough we get to my house and I wave to James, "Bye! I'll text you." He waves back and walks to his house two doors to the left of me.
A few minutes go by and soon I get a text alert, it's James! My heart rate speeds up and there is a slight shake in my hands. The text says 'Hey Snowy I just wanted to say you're so sweet and a great friend! Thank you for being my friend! I wanted to know if you would come to my house tomorrow? If you don't want to that's totally okay.' But what really makes me swoon is the heart emoji at the end. I text him back as soon as my heart starts beating normally again. "Ofc I would love to!" My mom would probably be drunk or high so that didn't matter.
Chapter 2
That night I lie awake staring at my ceiling. The next morning I put my clothes on fast and pack a bag and shove it in my backpack for just in case situations or if I end up spending the night. I meet James outside my house and we walk to the bus stop together. On the bus ride to school we talk about what we could do and stuff like that. The day goes by slowly, giggling and talking with James, him holding onto my jacket as we walk the halls, icy glares from the girls, and warm smiles that melt their glares away.
After school we ride the bus and when the bus stops I do my daily jump and this time my jump gets a deep chuckle from James. We walk home but pass my house this time, we walk to his house but as we pass my house this uneasy feeling washes over me. "Hey I'm gonna check something at my house really quick. I'll be back." I say to James and he responds with a nod. I grab my coat and head outside to my house. When I get there I open the door with my key and my heart starts pounding. I walk into my mom's room and my heart stops and my blood runs cold.
(James pov)
It has been quite a bit since Winter left. James tugged on his jacket and headed to Winter's house. He goes to open the door and he's shocked when it opens. "Winter?!" He wanders around until he finds an open door and he sees Winter and what must have been her mom on the floor. The older woman has needles stuck in her arm, oh... she's not alive! Winter is on the floor too! He sinks to his knees next to her checking for a pulse although she is visibly breathing. He lets out a deep breath of relief when he finds one. He puts her head on his knee gently shaking her shoulder. "Winter come on! Wake up Snowy. Please, I need you!" He dials 911 right as her eyes starts to flutter open. "Hi sweetheart are you okay?" He searches her visible skin or any scrapes, bruises or blood. Winter try's to sit up but James doesn't let her. "Please stay down the police and others are gonna be here soon."
911 pick up, "Hello this is 911 How can we help you?" James starts to talk, "Hey my friend was at my house and she came back to her house. She found her mom is dead. She has needles in her arm. I think she overdosed, my friend was taking a while so I came to check on her and she was unconscious. I think she fainted from shock or fear. She is awake now, but she is still on the floor. I don't want her to sit up until y'all get here." They asked for the address and he gives it to them.
"Shh Winter it's ok I'm here. We're gonna get help." Winter was sobbing at this point. "S-she's gone! It's my fault! I should have stayed to stop her!" She's basically hysteric. "Winter tell me something... did she ever hit you?" Winters entire body tenses, and she hesitates. Winter gives a tight fast nod and turns into James body. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I didn't know how." James's eyes flash with anger and he glares at Winter's mom no sign of the fun, loving , James Winter had come to know. "Oh Winter I'm so sorry! Shhh it's okay she can't get you now." Winter sobs into James's shirt. "Winters...?" Winter looks up at James her eyes shinning with tears. "Will you come live with me?"
Chapter 3
At this point the cops and ambulance were here. A doctor has winter sitting up now, in the back of an ambulance. James is next to winter holding her hand. The doctor was asking Winter bunches of questions about how she was feeling. The cops asked James and Winter what had happened and Winters hand tightened around James's hand. "My mom... She is a drug addict and she drinks a lot... She got her heart broken when I was born, her husband left her... She beat me for it and yelled at me for it. She just have took to much." Her eyes shine with unshed tears. The cops do some more investigation and after some time finally decide it is an overdose and they take her body. Winter is okay she has no spots on her she just got shocked.
Winter comes back to my house and she sniffles slightly." James...? " I look at her music heart cracking a little bit at her broken form." I want to live with you, please I would love that. " I pul Winter into another hug. "Anything for you Snowy. " I smile slowly. "I love you Snowy so much... " I blush as what I just said hits me. " I-i love you too James. "
(Winter 1 person)
My heart starts gunning my chest. He meant loves me as a friend right? Based off of the blush on his face he was thinking the same thing. Maybe I'm not the only one that feels this odd heart warming feeling. No! It's not going to happen, I need to get over this silly little crush! He is my only friend and I can't ruin that. I mean yes he's sweet, funny, cute... Dang it! Winter stop! I must have been zoned out because James suddenly ask,"You alright? " I look up into his beautiful green eyes and nod, forcing myself to tear my gaze away from him." Look Snowy I'm sorry I didn't notice what you were going through. I want you to know you can tell me anything. I will do my best to make sure you're happy and safe here. You will not have to face these demons alone, will always stick by your side. If you need space, I give you space, you need comfort, I hug you and tell you everything is okay, you need to vent, I'll listen, you need to cry, I get chocolate ice cream, and the best movies, with soda and candy and blankets, whatever it is you need, take to me. I want to make you happy!" After I let this all seep into my very soul, warming me for head to toe, inside and out I finally respond. "... I'm kinda happy she's gone... This war I've been fighting my whole life is over... This weight I didn't even know I was carrying is gone. " suddenly it hits me... I'm free!