ã€ŠAutumn to Winterã€‹


 Fall into Winter

    Fenella Fall woke up bright and early to the sunshine streaming through her window. She sat up in bed and her brunette hair wasn''t a mess at all because that''s just how things were. She took a brush to it, anyway, because that was also how things were. When she was done, she opened her window to let in the crisp, refreshing air of their perpetual autumn. Red and brown leaves fluttered to the ground outside and Fenella watched as more red and brown leaves slowly grew out from the branches to take their place. Despite seeing this occur every single day of her life, she was mesmerized by the beauty. She loved the fall season and was grateful to be living in the autumn territory.

    "Fenella! Come downstairs!" Fenella''s mom''s voice rang from the kitchen. "We need to tell you something!"

    Fenella quickly pulled on a black shirt, a reddish brown skirt, and leggings covered in fall leaves. Everyone in the autumn territory proudly wore their season''s colors every day. Other colors were in such low demand that they didn''t even bother making clothes with them. Even green was scarce. Clothes in the autumn territory that weren''t in earthy tones was as non-existent as hair that wasn''t brown or red.

    Fenella entered the kitchen and found her mother and father sitting at the table. They gave her a big smile as she walked in.

    "There''s our precious, beautiful-but-doesn''t-know-it daughter who somehow didn''t grow up to be spoiled despite the fact that we are the richest family in the autumn territory! Come have a seat!" Mr. Fall said.

    "Being rich is great because it''s like being royalty without the responsibility!" Mrs. Fall commented as her daughter sat down. "And our last name is literally Fall! And we live in the autumn territory! How can we not be rich, powerful, and well-liked?"

    "But we''re getting off-topic," Mr. Fall said. "Fenella, you''ve just turned fifteen and you''re ready to start high school. Have you ever thought about studying abroad?"

    "No," Fenella said. "I love the autumn territory. Plus, traveling to other seasons is illegal and punishable by life in prison."The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    "Surprise!" Mrs. Fall said. "We got you special permission from the Seasons Council to live in the winter territory! You''ll be going to school there and living on your own without our supervision!"

    "Wait, what?!" Fenella asked. "How? Why did the Seasons Council suddenly decide it was okay for me to go when not even a week ago someone got sent to jail for doing the exact same thing?"

    "Because you''re special!" Mr. Fall said.

    "Oh. I guess that makes sense. But what about the kids at school? They''re going to pick on me for not being a native to the winter territory."

    Mrs. Fall patted her daughter on the back. "Nonsense! You''ll be different and unique! That''s a good thing!"

    "Maybe to a potential love interest and new friends that will stick by me no matter what, but not to school bullies! They''ll tear me to shreds!"

    "Fenella," her mother said, "you better stop complaining. You''re going to lose your sweet and relatable depiction."

    Fenella sighed. "You''re right. I''m sorry. I just love fall so much."

    "You better go get packed," Mr. Fall said. "The limo to take you to the winter territory will be here in half an hour."

    "That''s so little time! Why didn''t you tell me about this before? I could''ve at least set an alarm to get up earlier."

    Mr. Fall smiled at her. "Because you''re special!"

    Fenella raced up the stairs and started throwing her belongings into a conveniently located suitcase. Just as she packed away the last item, a limo''s horn honked to alert her of it''s arrival. She took a deep breath, walked down the stairs, hugged her parents goodbye, and stepped out into the front lawn. Dry leaves crunched under her feet as she made her way to the long, black vehicle. She was going to miss that sound. She hoped the snow crunched just as loudly.

    The driver exited the limo as Fenella approached. "Fenella Fall?" he asked.

    "Uh, yes sir." Fenella studied the man''s red hair and autumn-themed clothes. "Are you the driver from the winter territory?"

    "Nope," the man said. "That guy got arrested for crossing the seasonal border to pick you up. I''m taking over for him."

    "Won''t you be arrested for crossing the seasonal border to drop me off?"

    "I knew the risks when I became a limo driver."

    The driver opened the door for Fenella and offered to take her suitcase. He tossed it in the trunk as Fenella got comfortable, then returned to his rightful spot behind the wheel. As the limo pulled away, Fenella looked to her old home and saw her parents waving at her from the porch. She waved back at them until they faded from view. She took a deep breath and prepared for her new life.

 Making Friends Is Snow Problem

    As soon as they got to the tall, stone wall that marked winter¡¯s seasonal border, Fenella¡¯s driver was taken away in handcuffs and replaced with another limo driver. Fenella stared at him with wide eyes. He had light blue hair that faded into white at the tips. His clothes were dark blue. Fenella had never seen so much blue before in her life. The driver gave her a knowing smile.

    ¡°You haven¡¯t seen anything yet,¡± he said.

    The driver eased the limo through the border¡¯s gate and Fenella¡¯s jaw dropped. Everything was covered in snow. Evergreen trees covered in white dotted the landscape. The houses had icicles hanging from the roofs. Igloos and snowmen were in every yard and blue and white haired people were shoveling their driveways. Fenella drank it all in and suddenly she felt cold. She shivered and rubbed her arms. She had never been so cold! The air in the autumn territory was always pleasantly chill. How can people stand to be this cold? She took another look at the driver. He had a jacket on, but it wasn¡¯t much thicker than the ones she wore at home. Maybe they were just used to it.

    The driver pointed out all the interesting things the town had to offer while they drove down the street. He showed her the library, some popular cafes, and a bunch of parks.

    ¡°That¡¯s the aquarium, that¡¯s the ice skating rink, and that,¡± the driver pointed to a building that was at least four stories high, ¡°is the Art Museum of Art.¡± On one side of the museum was a giant mural of a woman dressed in luxurious clothes holding a baby. ¡°That lady on the side right there is the lost queen of the winter territory. Legend has it that she fell in love with someone from a different season and ran away to live with him in secret. She was never found.¡±

    Fenella gazed up at the mural. ¡°She looks like a younger version of my mom,¡± she whispered, ¡°and the baby looks a little like me.¡±

    The driver shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m sure that''s purely coincidental and will never come up again. Anyways, we''re almost at Winter Academy. That¡¯s your new school.¡±

    The limo pulled into a long driveway leading up to the high school. The school wasn¡¯t really fancy or prestigious.  It looked like a normal public school. The walls were white and the roofs were blue. Students played in the snow and some were even building ice sculptures. The driver parked the limo in a fire zone and opened Fenella''s door for her. She took her suitcase and followed him around the edge of the school to a small shack nestled in the far back corner of the property.

    The driver gently pushed the shack¡¯s door open and motioned for Fenella to take a look inside. ¡°This is where you''ll be staying.¡±

    Fenella peeked her head through the doorway and gasped dramatically. The room was much smaller than Fenella''s room back home. The walls were painted an icy blue and white curtains were draped over the windows. A daybed with comforters covered in snowflake designs stood against the left side wall. A white dresser with a snowflake shaped mirror had been pushed against the opposite wall. There was a door beyond it leading to a bathroom and a door by the daybed leading to a closet.

    ¡°Oh,¡± Fenella said. ¡°This is nice. Definitely cozy.¡±

    ¡°Do you like it?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­Give me a little bit of time to mourn my past reality and grow an attachment to this new one." Fenella paused for ten seconds. ¡°I love it! Winter is amazing!¡±

    ¡°Perfect! Class starts promptly at seven and you¡¯re free to explore the school grounds until then. Also, since your parents aren¡¯t here, you¡¯re legally the responsibility of the school, so you¡¯re not allowed the leave campus for any reason whatsoever.¡±

    ¡°Wait, really? Then why did you show me around town before bringing me here?¡±

    ¡°So you¡¯ll always know that there¡¯s a winter wonderland right outside the school gates that you will never get to experience. You should have stayed in the autumn territory where you belong.¡±

    The last sentence was full of such vitriol that it took a minute for Fenella to process it. She felt like she had been slapped. She didn¡¯t have a response to his sudden hostility, but the limo driver didn¡¯t give her any time to answer anyway. He thrust a piece of paper into her hands and Fenella looked it over. It was her class schedule.

    ¡°My name is Principal SnowHills. You may refer to me as Principal Principal SnowHills. That¡¯s right, I was secretly the principal the entire time! I¡¯ve been the principal of this school since before you were born. The Seasons Council may have forced me to allow you entry, but mark my words if your grades slip even one point below a C, I will send you packing back to the autumn territory!¡±Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    ¡°You''re the principal?¡± Fenella sputtered. ¡°And you were posing as a limo driver to see what I was like before taking me to Winter Academy?¡±

    ¡°No, limo driving is just a side job. Remember to rate five stars.¡± He kicked over her suitcase, like any professional principal would, and all her belongings fell out onto the floor. ¡°Good luck. You¡¯re going to need it.¡±

    Fenella watched him go and flinched when he slammed the door shut. She sat in silence, too afraid to leave the shack. If that¡¯s how the principal was going to treat her, she could only imagine what the students would do. Still, her parents presumably worked hard to get her here and she wasn¡¯t just going to throw away their efforts. There was nothing she could do about her brown hair, but she might be able to get a hold of some winter territory clothing. She gathered her stuff from the floor, and then gathered her courage and set out to find some new clothes.

    Fenella went into the school through the back entrance. The halls were empty, but Fenella could see through the windows on the doors that the classrooms were full. She looked down at her schedule. The bell for recess (because what high school doesn¡¯t have recess?) would ring in about ten minutes. She bit her lip and thought. Schools didn¡¯t have clothing stores and she couldn¡¯t risk leaving school grounds with the crazy principal looking for any excuse to get rid of her. The only place she could find winter clothes would be in the locker rooms, and they¡¯d already be owned. Fenella couldn¡¯t risk losing her sweet and relatable depiction by stealing, but maybe if she went and looked pathetic enough, someone would take pity on her and give her their clothes.

    Despite this being the first time she¡¯s set foot in this school, Fenella knew exactly where to go. She snuck around the halls, careful to dodge any hall monitors running around, and ducked into the girl¡¯s locker room. She wandered the empty room for a few minutes until she found a locker that was slightly ajar.

    ¡°I¡¯m not stealing. I¡¯m just looking,¡± she muttered to herself.

    Inside the locker were clothes that were exactly her size. They were also the same cut as the ones she was wearing now. They were just in winter colors instead of fall. The leggings had snowflakes on them, the shirt was light blue, and the skirt was blue and white. They were perfect.

    A voice behind her startled Fenella. ¡°You look lost and pathetic and like you¡¯re about to do something bad that would ruin your sweet, but relatable depiction.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s sweet and relatable,¡± Fenella said. ¡°And no I wasn¡¯t! Didn¡¯t you hear my external monologue about not stealing just looking?¡±

    ¡°You know darn well we''re legally forbidden to hear other people''s asides,¡± the girl said. ¡°Anyway, my name is Nitro and why are you snooping through my locker? And where did you get those clothes? I¡¯ve only ever seen clothes like that on TV.¡±

    ¡°I-¡±

    ¡°They look so cool, but weird, too. I like the colors.¡±

    ¡°Well-¡±

    ¡°Though, I like blue much better. It¡¯s my favorite. I like really dark blue and you can tell because that¡¯s all I wear. Lots of people wear different shades of blue and white, but I¡¯m all about dark blue.¡±

    ¡°Um.¡±

    ¡°I love it so much. Do you like dark blue? Anyway, where did you get those clothes? And why is your hair brown? I¡¯ve never seen brown hair except on TV, which is also where I see clothes like that, too.¡±

    Fenella stayed quiet and waited for Nitro to interrupt again. It seemed Nitro ran out of things to say because she stayed completely silent. Fenella studied Nitro, trying to decide if she was worth trusting or not. Nitro was shorter than her and when she spoke, her voice was high and innocent sounding. Logically, that meant she was nice and trustworthy.

    ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m a transfer student from the autumn territory.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Nitro gasped. ¡°That¡¯s so cool! What¡¯s it like there? Is it true there¡¯s no snow? What do you guys do without snow? Do you actually have leaves all over the ground? All we have are pine trees! Do you celebrate Christmas? Do-"

    ¡°Nitro, take a breath!¡± Fenella said. ¡°It¡¯s great there, but I can¡¯t go back. My parents will be so upset. I have to make my stay here as easy as possible and to start, I need to find some winter clothes.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll never fit in with brown hair. No one has brown hair here. It¡¯s all blue, light blue, and white. Hair dye doesn¡¯t exist for some reason.¡±

    Fenella reached into her pocket and pulled out a wad of twenty-dollar bills to casually remind you that she was from the richest family in the autumn territory. ¡°Here. I¡¯ll give you this if you let me take your extra clothes.¡±

    ¡°They won¡¯t fit you. I¡¯m way shorter than you.¡±

    ¡°No, they fit perfectly. This is high-school-friends logic.¡±

    ¡°Oh, okay. But no, you can¡¯t take them.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°Because you need to learn how to love yourself for who you are! Clothes won¡¯t make you happy! Standing up for yourself in the face of mockery will make you stronger and it builds character! Besides, you are a representative of the autumn territory. If people see you walking around in winter clothes, they¡¯ll think the autumn territory is so bad that its inhabitants will take any other season they can get.¡±

    ¡°I guess I never thought of it that way,¡± Fenella said. ¡°I would never do something that would make my season look bad.¡±

    ¡°Tomorrow¡¯s your first day of school, right?¡± Nitro said.

    ¡°Of course. All new students start their first day in the middle of the school week,¡± Fenella said.

    ¡°And I¡¯m sure we coincidentally have all the same classes, right?¡±

    ¡°Sounds right to me.¡±

    ¡°Then I¡¯ll show you around and introduce you to all my friends! And if anyone tries to pick on you, I¡¯ll be right by your side, being picked on, too! Tomorrow is the first day of your new life!¡±

 The Cold Shoulder

    The next day, Fenella Fall stood at the front of the class dressed in her best red, brown, and yellow clothes. Nervous, she kept her head down while the teacher introduced her, but stole a glance at the students when her curiosity got the best of her. Everyone was in blue and white. The classroom was decorated in blue and white. Nitro was in the back row giving her two thumbs up. Fenella took a deep breath.

    ¡°Fenella,¡± the teacher turned to her. ¡°Why don¡¯t you tell the class a little bit about yourself?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m from the autumn territory,¡± Fenella said. ¡°That¡¯s pretty much the entire basis of my character.¡±

    ¡°Fascinating. Why don¡¯t you have a seat in the back row between the girl who looks like she knows you and the popular boy you¡¯ll probably develop feelings for later?¡±

    Fenella walked forward and all the eyes in the room tracked her as she did. Most of the students looked like normal teenagers, but a group of three girls in the middle row caught her attention. They were wearing clothes that had no business being anywhere near cold weather and their make-up was thick, obvious, and overdone. They were whispering to each other and giggling menacingly while pointing at random students. They stopped giggling when Fenella passed them and instead, they watched her with hostile expressions.

    The teacher, being an adult in a story revolving around teenagers, was oblivious to the girls¡¯ attitudes. She turned to the board. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s start the lesson. Everyone turn to a random page in the middle of your textbooks and I¡¯ll write things down on the board.¡±

    Fenella did not have any school supplies or books. She twiddled her thumbs awkwardly before noticing the three girls glaring at her. She leaned over towards Nitro and whispered, ¡°hey, who are they?¡±

    ¡°Those are the meanest girls in school,¡± Nitro said. ¡°They¡¯re bullies, but also somehow super popular at the same time. We call them Other Girls.¡±

    ¡°Why Other Girls?¡±

    ¡°You know the whole ¡®Me vs. Other Girls¡¯ thing? They¡¯re the Other Girls. We¡¯re not like the Other Girls because we¡¯re good and smart."

    ¡°Why are they looking at me like that?¡±

    Nitro shrugged. ¡°Because you look different and are new. They hate new things that look different. That¡¯s how you know they¡¯re bullies. Anyway, shh now. School!¡± Nitro started scribbling in her notebook.

    ¡°Class,¡± the teacher said, ¡°make sure to write down everything on the board. It will be on the test I¡¯m going to give you eventually.¡±

    Fenella looked over to Nitro, hoping she could borrow a sheet of paper and a pencil from her friend, but Nitro was busy writing. Fenella hesitated, then turned to the boy on the other side of her.

    ¡°Hey, can I borrow a pencil and a sheet of paper?¡± Fenella whispered.

    The boy looked up at the sound of her voice and smiled. Four nearby girls saw it out of the corner of their eyes and swooned in their seats. The teacher called the nurse¡¯s office to send someone over to help revive them.

    ¡°Sure,¡± he said. ¡°Here you go.¡±

    ¡°Thanks!¡± Fenella took the items and turned back towards the board. Nitro gaped silently at her. ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Dude, that was Winston Winter!¡± she breathed. ¡°He¡¯s the cutest, most popular boy in school! His family is the richest family in the entire winter territory! That¡¯s like being royalty without the responsibility! Everyone loves him and you just talked to him!¡±This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

    Fenella huffed. ¡°I don¡¯t see what the big deal is. It was nice of him to let me borrow a pencil and paper, but that doesn¡¯t make him a saint. He¡¯s probably secretly spoiled or a jerk.¡±

    Nitro squealed and covered her mouth. ¡°You didn¡¯t instantly fall in love with him like every other girl does? That probably means he¡¯s going to fall for you! I can¡¯t believe my best friend is going to end up with Winston Winter!¡±

    ¡°In his dreams!¡± Fenella hissed. She paused and looked to Winston. ¡°Did you just hear any of that?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s illegal to hear other people¡¯s asides,¡± he said.

    ¡°Okay, good.¡± She turned back to Nitro. ¡°Never in a million years!¡±

    ¡°But Fenella!"

    Fenella turned away and faced directly forward. For the rest of the class period, she did her best to ignore Nitro. Nitro poked her with her pencil, left multiple folded up notes on her desk, and constantly called her name. After what felt like an eternity, the bell rang and the students were dismissed. Unfortunately, Nitro was in her second period class as well.

    ¡°Fenellaaaaa,¡± Nitro whispered as the oblivious teacher was trying to provide a better future for the bored students. ¡°Fenella, just promise me that I¡¯ll be the maid of honor, okay? I¡¯ve always wanted to be a maid of honor.¡±

    Fenella wasn¡¯t listening. She was busy trying to pretend that no one was staring at her. Just like in her previous class, she had been pulled to the front and introduced. Now she could feel everyone¡¯s eyes stealing glances her way.

    ¡°Maid of honor for what?¡± Fenella heard someone whisper. She looked up and saw a boy with as much white on him as there was dark blue on Nitro.

    ¡°Winston Winter gave Fenella a pencil and a paper and she didn''t fall instantly in love with him!¡± Nitro replied.

    The boy whistled. ¡°That¡¯s a start to a romantic comedy if I¡¯ve ever heard one.¡±

    ¡°That means we''re the funny and loveable sidekicks!¡± Nitro squealed. ¡°Oh, Fenella, this is my best friend since kindergarten Sastrugi. We call him Polar because it sounds better.¡±

    ¡°Nice to meet you,¡± Fenella said.

    ¡°One time me and Polar built an igloo, lured the Other Girls in it, then jumped on the top so it collapsed in on them. They haven¡¯t smiled since.¡±

    The teacher stopped what he was doing and turned to the class. ¡°I really hope everyone is paying attention,¡± he said. ¡°This will be on the test I¡¯m going to give you eventually.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the second time a teacher''s mentioned a test,¡± Fenella whispered. ¡°Do they give a lot?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s no big deal,¡± Nitro said. ¡°It¡¯s just First Round.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s from the autumn territory,¡± Polar said. ¡°She might not know what that is.¡±

    ¡°You guys don¡¯t do First Round?¡± Nitro asked and Fenella shook her head. ¡°Oh boy. First Round is where the teachers spend the first two weeks of school shoving as much information as they possibly can into our heads. Some teachers go through an entire year¡¯s worth of material in those two weeks. Afterwards, they give us a huge test on everything and since there¡¯s no way any of us could retain all that information, our grades plummet. We spend the rest of the year building our grades back up. It¡¯s supposed to teach us the importance of hard work. There''s nothing to worry about. It happens to everyone.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s definitely something to worry about!¡± Fenella cried. ¡°Principal Principal SnowHills said he¡¯d throw me out if my grades go below a ¡®C''!¡±

    Nitro and Polar gasped. ¡°No grade has ever survived First Round! Even Winston Winter got a D minus on his First Round last year, and he was the smartest kid in school!¡±

    ¡°This is terrible! What am I going to do?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll tell you what you''re going to do,¡± Polar said. ¡°You¡¯re going to get Winston Winter to fall in love with you.¡±

    Nitro squealed. ¡°That¡¯s a great idea! Winston Winter is not only the richest, cutest, smartest, sweetest boy in school, but he¡¯s got connections! His mother is the winter territory''s royal family¡¯s favorite maid! If you date him, he can ask his mom to ask the king to stop Principal Principal SnowHills from kicking you out! It would take an order from the Seasons Council to get that overturned and we all know that¡¯s not going to happen!¡±

    ¡°What? No way! I¡¯m not going to use someone like that!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not using someone if you both fall in love with each other!¡± Nitro said. ¡°This is romantic comedy logic, remember?¡±

    ¡°Maybe I can just bribe the principal,¡± Fenella sighed. ¡°I¡¯m rich enough.¡±

    Polar shook his head. ¡°He won¡¯t take it. He hates the autumn territory with a burning passion.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°Probably some past trauma we won¡¯t find out about until the revelation of a giant plot twist.¡±

    Nitro was so excited she was squirming in her seat. ¡°This is going to be so much fun! It¡¯s settled we have to get you and Winston Winter together! We''re going to save your school year!¡±

    ¡°Why do you keep saying his first and last name like that?¡±

    ¡°Because it¡¯s cool!What¡¯s your last name, anyway? Does it start with an F like your first name? Do you like it? Is it-"

    Polar gave Fenella an apologetic look while Nitro went off.

 Throw Cold Water On That Idea

    Word about the autumn territory transfer student spread like wildfire and by lunchtime Fenella Fall was the talk of the school. No one approached her directly, but students and teachers alike went out of their way to pass by her to get a look at her strange colored hair and autumn clothes. Everyone wanted to see her and everyone had something to say about her.

    ¡°I hate her.¡± Dahlia was the leader of The Other Girls. She and her friends, Staysee and KeightLynn were in the bathroom putting on more makeup over their already done faces. Dahlia was decked out head to toe in jewelry that spelled her name like ¡°Dawleeuh¡±. It was a dark secret of hers that her name was spelled normally and she hoped beyond hope that no one would ever find out her name wasn¡¯t unique.

    ¡°I hate her because she¡¯s new,¡± Staysee said, applying an extra layer of lipstick. ¡°New people are the worst.¡±

    ¡°I hate her because she¡¯s new and different,¡± KeightLynn said. ¡°Different is the worst kind of new person.¡±

    Dahlia scoffed. ¡°I hate her because she¡¯s new, different, and I saw her talking to Winston!¡±

    Staysee and KeightLynn gasped in unison.

    ¡°Talking?¡± Staysee demanded. ¡°That¡¯s like kissing! And kissing is like being married! How dare she marry your future husband?¡±

    ¡°I know, right? The nerve!¡± Dahlia rummaged through her baby blue makeup bag, looking for something to fill the hole in her heart left by her bad childhood. She found a tube of foundation instead and decided that was close enough. ¡°If she thinks she can get away with talking to my man, she has another thing coming!¡±

    Staysee wiped some of her lipstick off to make room for more lipstick. ¡°Hey, by the way, when are you going to talk to him? I don¡¯t think you guys will get married if he doesn¡¯t know who you are.¡±

    ¡°Oh shut up, Staysee. He doesn¡¯t need to know who I am as long as everyone else knows for him. Reputations precede people.¡±

    ¡°What does that mean?¡± Staysee whispered.

    KeightLynn shrugged. ¡°Maybe more mascara will help us understand.¡±

    Dahlia took a makeup sponge out of her bag and started applying a thick layer of foundation on. ¡°She probably thinks she¡¯s so cool because she¡¯s a foreigner. She probably thinks Winston will wait on her hand and foot. She probably doesn¡¯t even wear makeup!¡± Staysee and KeightLynn gasped in unison again. Dahlia put her sponge down and scowled at her reflection in the mirror. ¡°Well, I''m not going to sit around and do nothing while she takes away my happily ever after. When we''re done with her, she¡¯ll never show her face around school again!¡±

    <hr>

    On the opposite end of the school, Fenella, Polar, and Nitro were spending their lunch watching Winston through the snow-covered bushes. He was eating with two of his close friends and ignoring not only Fenella''s group, but multiple other groups of girls who were also watching him through various snowy foliage and behind a couple of snowmen. Some of the girls had even built tiny igloos to watch him in comfort.

    Nitro grinned. ¡°Look at those poor girls who think they have a chance. Winston Winter is as good as yours!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Fenella said. ¡°They¡¯re a lot prettier than me. I¡¯m plain.¡±

    ¡°Everyone knows plain girls are actually secretly super pretty! If anything, that makes you more likely to win him over! Remember, romantic comedy logic?¡±

    ¡°What do I do? Go up, say hi, then ask to hang out sometime?¡±

    ¡°No way!¡± Nitro said. ¡°That¡¯s what normal people do!¡±

    ¡°Ew, normal!¡± Polar said.

    ¡°We need a grand gesture that will make Winston Winter fall in love with you! It has to be big, public, and covered in shiny stones!¡±

    Polar nodded. ¡°The quickest way to a man''s heart is through his stomach. There¡¯s a coffee shop down the road that all the cool kids go to after school every day. There¡¯s a secret drink on the menu that¡¯s only available to employees and it comes in a cup decked out in real diamonds. You bring that to him, and he''ll be yours forever.¡±Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    ¡°But it won¡¯t be easy,¡± Nitro said. ¡°It¡¯s only reserved for employees who have been working there longer than five years. Also, the employee has to drink it in an off-limits room that has so many security systems in it that the king gives his speeches there because that¡¯s where he¡¯s most safe from assassins!¡±

    ¡°But I can¡¯t leave school grounds,¡± Fenella said. ¡°Principal Principal SnowHills said the school is responsible for me.¡±

    ¡°Which means it''s their fault if you disobey! Not yours!¡± Nitro said.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s how it works.¡±

    ¡°It does in the winter territory! Anyway, no one will even know you left the school.¡±

    ¡°No one except the countless number of students and staff who frequent the coffee shop,¡± Polar added. ¡°Which won¡¯t be a big deal.¡±

    ¡°Right! If they¡¯re getting coffee, it¡¯s because they¡¯re tired. And if they¡¯re tired, they won¡¯t recognize you!¡±

    ¡°What if the principal goes to my shack and sees that I¡¯m not there? What if he looks for me, can¡¯t find me, and realizes I¡¯m gone?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s where things get a little tricky,¡± Nitro admitted. ¡°But don¡¯t worry your little autumn leaf about it! We''re going to summon a janitor!A janitor will be able to help us."

    Fenella gasped. ¡°A janitor? We can¡¯t! It¡¯s too risky!¡±

    Polar took a breath. ¡°We know. We still hear stories about the one kid they found living in a bag of baking soda after his janitor experience, but for you we''re willing to take that risk.¡±

    ¡°We can''t-¡±

    ¡°Yes we can!¡± Nitro said. ¡°And we do it today after school!¡±

    Suddenly the group was doused in water. They shouted in surprised and looked up to see The Other Girls standing over them with their now empty buckets.

    ¡°Haha, you''re covered in water,¡± Staysee said. ¡°Which means you¡¯re all uncool and losers.¡±

    ¡°Which also means Winston will never love you,¡± Dahlia said.

    ¡°And also it means we''re literally going to freeze to death if we don¡¯t dry off immediately!¡± Polar said.

    ¡°This is why everyone hates swim practice!¡± Nitro cried.

    Nitro and Polar took off running towards the school building, but Fenella was caught by The Other Girls before she could chase after them.

    ¡°You''re not going anywhere, red leaf,¡± Dahlia hissed as she latched on to Fenella''s arm.

    KeightLynn grabbed Fenella''s other arm. ¡°That¡¯s our derogatory term for people from the autumn territory, even though neither of those words are in and of themselves offensive.¡±

    Fenella cried, ¡°that¡¯s the worst kind of derogatory term!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right! And twelve years from now people will use it as a term of endearment for their really close friends!¡±

    ¡°No! How can you be so cruel?¡±

    Dahlia, Staysee, and KeightLynn began dragging Fenella further away from the school. Fenella kicked and fought, but was no use against all three of them.

    ¡°Consider this your first warning,¡± Dahlia said. ¡°You are never to see Winston or speak to him ever again! If you go anywhere near him, we''ll make your life a living nightmare!¡±

    ¡°We''ll spread rumors about you!¡± Staysee said. ¡°That¡¯s pretty much all we can do without getting expelled.¡±

    ¡°That and this,¡± Dahlia said.

    ¡°And what?¡± Fenella whimpered.

    ¡°We¡¯re going to throw you in the dumpster at the front of the school.¡±

    ¡°How is that not going to get you expelled?¡±

    ¡°Because this is teen drama logic.¡±

    ¡°I thought we were in a romantic comedy!¡±

    ¡°Not if you want to get through school in one, rumor-free piece.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± The concerned voice behind them made The Other Girls stop cold. They dropped Fenella and whirled around with fake, innocent smiles on their faces.

    ¡°Oh, Winston, hi!¡± KeightLynn said. ¡°We were just showing the new girl around.¡±

    ¡°She was looking a little lost,¡± Dahlia agreed, ¡°and wet. We didn''t want her to freeze out here.¡±

    "I love you,¡± Staysee said. Dahlia kicked her.

    ¡°I think she¡¯s not the only one who¡¯s lost,¡± Winston said. ¡°The school building is in the other direction.¡±

    ¡°Oh. Oops!"

    ¡°Silly us!¡±

    ¡°Please marry me.¡±

    Winston walked forward and took Fenella''s hand. The Other Girls gaped silently at them, shocked. ¡°How about I bring her back to school and you find a map you can give her? That would be easier than guessing.¡±

    ¡°Uh, I mean¡­Sure! Of course! We''re always happy to help you, I mean, new people, right girls?¡± Dahlia stammered.

    ¡°Yes! Always! We are kind people!¡± KeightLynn agreed.

    ¡°Love me!¡± Staysee shrieked. ¡°Love me or face the consequences!¡±

    Winston gave the three girls a smile and they started uncontrollably giggling girlishly before racing off.

    ¡°I¡¯m really sorry about them.¡± Winston started leading Fenella back. ¡°I''ve heard they¡¯re really mean, but they¡¯ve also had bad childhoods, so I can¡¯t hold it against them because I¡¯m caring and compassionate.¡±

    ¡°Wow, caring and compassionate,¡± Fenella whispered. ¡°Those traits go really well with sweet and relatable.¡±

    ¡°Unfortunately, I haven¡¯t yet met a girl who was sweet and relatable. Every single girl in this school has some sort of major flaw in their personality. Literally every single one of them. It would take someone super special to have a good personality. I say personality because that¡¯s the only thing that matters to me, even though I¡¯m probably going to end up with someone that¡¯s secretly very pretty underneath her plainness.¡±

    Fenella grinned. ¡°I''m plain! And my family says I¡¯m special, too!¡±

    ¡°What was that?¡±

    ¡°Oh, no, it was an aside. But hey, have you met Nitro? What¡¯s her major personality flaw?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s a pyro.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I can see that.¡±

 Cold Call

    ¡°And then he brought me back to my shack, waited while I changed into dry clothes, asked if I was okay, then left when I told him I was,¡± Fenella said for the fourth time to Nitro as they waited for the school halls to clear for the day.

    Nitro was staring at her with eyes as wide as dinner plates. ¡°Woooooah. Tell me the story again!¡±

    Fenella sighed and leaned against the lockers. She had answered question after question until Nitro ran out of things to ask, but still Nitro wanted more. ¡°Maybe I should just write it down for you.¡±

    Nitro squealed. ¡°Yes! I''ll read it a million times every day! You got rescued by Winston Winter!¡±

    Fenella crossed her arms and looked away. ¡°It¡¯s not that big of a deal. He would have done the same for anyone.¡±

    ¡°But he did it for you!¡±

    The students filed out of the hallway at a slow leisurely pace. Fenella was nervous about summoning a janitor and the wait was making things worse. Eventually, the teachers started leaving the classrooms and they gave the two girls weird looks as they passed. Fenella and Nitro had to pretend to be searching for things in their bags to get them to go away. Finally, just as the last of the people were leaving, Polar ran up to them with his bag full of supplies.

    ¡°I took what I could from the cafeteria,¡± he said, opening his bag and looking around to make sure no one was spying on them. ¡°We have ketchup packets, lunch food wrappers, and even a used fork.¡±

    ¡°Its perfect!¡± Nitro said. ¡°This plan is actually going to work!¡±

    Fenella forced a nervous smile. ¡°That¡¯s kind of what I¡¯m worried about.¡±

    ¡°We''ll be fine! Polar, go lock the doors to the outside as soon as the last person leaves, okay? I''ll start setting up.¡±

    Fenella watched anxiously as Nitro emptied the ketchup packets onto the floor. She smudged the ketchup a little with her shoe for good measure, then threw down a couple of napkins and put the used fork on top of the lockers. Fenella heard the click of the lock echo down the deserted hallway and gulped.

    Nitro stood up straight with her hands on her hips, and smiled at her work. ¡°Alright. That¡¯s set up. Now, for the peace day resistance or whatever. Polar, if you will?¡±

    Polar stepped forward and opened his locker. He turned towards the girls and closed his eyes. ¡°Go for it.¡±

    Together, Nitro and Fenella pushed him inside, slammed the door shut, and locked it tight. Polar took a breath and started pounding on the metal door.

    ¡°Let me out!¡± he shouted. ¡°Let me out! I¡¯m totally trapped and stuff! Someone help! Get me out of here!¡±

    Fenella nearly screamed when she felt a hand on her shoulder and she could see Nitro jump out of the corner of her eye. They were pushed aside firmly as an elderly man with a mop appeared out of nowhere and stepped towards the locker.This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

    ¡°Darn kids,¡± he muttered, looking at the mess on the floor. ¡°No respect for anything these days!¡±

    Nitro instantly lost all her bravado from before and leapt behind Fenella with a tiny, ¡°eep!¡± The janitor knelt down to examine the lock and began trying to get it open with a paper clip.

    ¡°Uh,¡± Fenella started, knowing Nitro was in no condition to make the first move. ¡°Are¡­are you the janitor?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± He didn¡¯t turn around. ¡°Been working these halls for nearly twenty years and I¡¯ve worked other halls for even longer. I¡¯ve seen things you¡¯d only find in your worst nightmares. I hear the endless screams of the children thrown into lockers decades ago. I¡¯ve braved the battlefield of the food fight of ¡¯95. I¡¯ve looked kindergarteners with ink on their shirts and ink on their souls in their dead, vacant eyes as I washed away the evidence of finger painting practice. Where there is pain and suffering, a janitor is not far away.¡±

    ¡°Please don¡¯t boil us in bleach!¡± Nitro cried.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be dumb! I only hurt bad children, like the kind that shove other kids in lockers. You wouldn¡¯t be one of those kinds of children would you?¡±

    Polar pounded on the locker door. ¡°They¡¯re not! They¡¯re friends! They¡¯re friends!¡±

    ¡°Well, good then.¡±

    Nitro was cowering behind Fenella. Fenella took a deep breath. ¡°So, um, we need your help.¡±

    ¡°You sure do.¡± The janitor held up the paperclip. It had broken in half. ¡°These newfangled locks are impossible to get through. In my day, we used string to tie them closed and that worked just fine!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not it. We need-¡±

    ¡°To get out of the school without the principal finding out,¡± the janitor finished. ¡°I know.¡±

    ¡°How did you-¡±

    ¡°I am the eyes and the ears of this school. There are no secrets that can hide from a janitor.¡±

    ¡°Do you know who shoved Polar in the locker?¡±

    ¡°There are some secrets that can hide from a janitor.¡± The locker door opened and Polar fell out onto the floor. ¡°Why don¡¯t you three follow me.¡±

    The janitor walked away and the three had to trot to keep up with his fast pace. He stopped in front of a supply closet and opened it with one of a thousand keys on his keyring.

    ¡°Step into my office,¡± the janitor said. ¡°I can fix your problem for you. Thanks to budget cuts, janitors now double as handymen. Twice the work, same pay, but I take a battery from the boss''s computer mouse every now and then to make up for it.¡±

    Nitro fidgeted nervously and quietly inched away from the group. She stepped in a bucket by mistake and tried to discreetly pull it off without drawing attention to herself. The janitor ignored Nitro like Dahlia ignores off-brand shoes and pulled a box off a high shelf. He took a broom, then planted a brown wig from the box on its handle.

    ¡°Where did you get that?¡± Polar asked. "That color isn¡¯t available in this territory.¡±

    ¡°Janitors have a pretty intense smuggling ring going on between the seasonal borders. Sometimes we even recruit limo drivers. Not often. Those guys will rob you blind. Anyway, you take this broom and occasionally move it around and no one will ever know Fenella was gone.¡±

    Fenella stared with wide eyes at the broom with a wig. ¡°It¡¯s like looking in a mirror!¡±

    Fenella reached for the broom, but the janitor snatched it away. ¡°You spoiled kids think I¡¯m just going to give this to you? I need something in return.¡±

    ¡°What do you want?¡± Polar asked.

    ¡°What are you willing to pay?¡±

    Polar and Fenella exchanged glances. ¡°After each class we''ll pick up five pieces of trash.¡±

    ¡°And?¡±

    ¡°And we''ll recycle our bottles even if the bin is further away than the trash can.¡±

    ¡°And?¡±

    ¡°And we''ll wipe down the tables in the cafeteria twice a week.¡±

    ¡°And?¡±

    ¡°And Nitro will give back your bucket.¡±

    A dark grin spread across the janitor¡¯s face. ¡°And you know what happens to people who break their deals with janitors, don¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°They wake up in a pool of baking soda,¡± Nitro squeaked.

    ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± He gave Fenella the broom. ¡°Just keep that in mind.¡±

 Iced Coffee

    Fenella and her friends waited until the janitor returned to his ethereal form before putting their plan into action. They placed the broom with the wig on it in Fenella¡¯s shack, then snuck out to the farthest corner of the school.

    ¡°Think anyone saw?¡± Nitro asked with her back to the chain-link fence. She scanned the nearby area for any witnesses.

    ¡°I think we''re good,¡± Polar said.

    ¡°Fenella, you ready?¡±

    Fenella gulped and looked up at the tall, ice-covered fence. ¡°I¡¯m not used to climbing ice.¡±

    ¡°Don''t worry. Nitro and I will catch you if you fall.¡±

    Fenella took hold of the fence and slowly made her way to the top. She swung her leg to the other side and immediately lost her grip and fell into the snow.

    ¡°We caught you in spirit,¡± Nitro said.

    ¡°Why couldn¡¯t we have just walked out the front entrance?¡± Fenella asked as Polar and Nitro climbed over with ease. ¡°It¡¯s not like they guard it.¡±

    ¡°That wouldn¡¯t be as fun.¡± Polar took Fenella''s hands and pulled her to her feet. ¡°Now let¡¯s get going! Today''s your first day as a coffee shop girl!¡±

    ¡°What makes you so sure they¡¯re going to hire me?¡±

    Nitro grinned. ¡°I have connections.¡±

    <hr>

    The Iced Drink was located a few blocks from the school. It was always busy, but not so busy that people would leave at the sight of the line. The Iced Drink was a trendy, popular spot for teenagers to hang out after school. At that moment, a young barista was enjoying some downtime while the last person in line got their coffee. Her co-worker had been sent on break and she was alone at the front.

    Nitro rose from behind the counter like a snake rises out of its basket. The barista stumbled backwards. ¡°N-Nitro!¡±

    ¡°I need a favor.¡± Her tone implied she wasn¡¯t asking.

    ¡°I¡¯ll do anything! Just no more long, complicated drinks, please! There are only so many ingredients you can mix into coffee before it stops being coffee!¡±

    ¡°I need you to give me your uniform and leave for the day.¡±

    ¡°W-what? I can¡¯t-"

    Nitro pulled a folded up piece of paper out of her pocket.

    The barista gulped. ¡°What is that?¡±

    ¡°My drink order,¡± Nitro said. She unfolded the paper once, then twice, then a third time. The paper was a lot longer than a normal sheet was. ¡°I¡¯m a little thirsty.¡±

    ¡°Please no!¡±

    Nitro unfolded the paper a fourth time.

    ¡°Okay! Okay! I¡¯ll do it!¡± Tears sprang to her eyes. ¡°If the coffee shop managers come after me for leaving, tell my family I love them.¡±

    Nitro nodded. ¡°We''ll try to stop them from finding out, but if they do, we''re sorry. Your sacrifice will not be in vain.¡±

    The barista turned away. Before she could go, Nitro grabbed her shoulder and pulled her back.

    If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.¡°Go to the Val and Sleet intersection by the apartment complex. Look for a tree with a dark blue scarf hanging on one of its branches. Look at the number on it and go to the apartment that matches. They¡¯ll give you a new identity and drop you off far away from this town. You¡¯ll be free. You¡¯ll be safe.¡±

    The barista nodded, handed Nitro her apron, then sobbed as she made a break for the exit. Nitro watched her go with cold eyes.

    Fenella and Polar stared at her from their spot by the register.

    ¡°What was that?¡± Fenella asked.

    ¡°Retail managers don¡¯t like it when employees leave without permission.¡± Nitro gave Fenella the apron. ¡°The rest is up to you.¡±

    With that, Fenella was left alone to fumble her way through the rest of the shift. Her three new co-workers returned from their breaks, and despite having never seen Fenella before, they assumed she belonged there. They weren¡¯t at all impressed by her strange colored hair. They were surrounded by brown coffee all day and weren¡¯t surprised by anything anymore. Fenella felt oddly comforted by their lack of interest.

    ¡°Hi,¡± Fenella said. ¡°My name¡¯s Fenella.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m Polly, she¡¯s Molly, and that¡¯s Holly.¡±

    ¡°Our names are easy because we probably won''t be reoccurring characters, but we have to have names to make us more human,¡± Molly said.

    ¡°Hey, you!¡± An angry voice broke the employees'' conversation. A man threw a cup of hot coffee on the counter and pointed at them as rudely as he could. ¡°I want free stuff, so I¡¯m going to complain and threaten to leave a bad review until I get something!¡±

    ¡°We better give him what he wants,¡± Holly said. ¡°Reviews are businesses'' lifeblood.¡±

    ¡°Uh.¡± Fenella took a straw out of the metal container by the register. ¡°Here you go?¡±

    The man held out his hand expectantly, but before Fenella could give him the straw, it was snatched from her fingers. She whirled around and came face to face with a tall man wearing sunglasses. He wore an indigo dress shirt with a silver nametag on his chest that read, ¡°Manager¡±.

    ¡°Hold on now,¡± the manager said, putting the straw back in its rightful place. ¡°Picking on employees might get you free things literally everywhere else, but not here! Not while I¡¯m-" the lights shut off and a bright spotlight appeared on him. He dramatically removed his sunglasses. ¡°-the manager!¡±

    The man scowled as the lights came back on. ¡°I don¡¯t care who you are! This is the worst service ever! I¡¯m leaving and my lawyers will hear about this!¡±

    The angry customer stormed out, but not before taking a straw right out of a little girl''s cup and stuffing it in his pocket. The little girl began crying and the manager swooped in with two more straws and comforting words.

    ¡°Woah,¡± Fenella said. ¡°Two straws!¡±

    ¡°Our manager really is something special,¡± Polly said. ¡°Anyway, we have to get back to work and start cleaning. The king of the Winter Territory will be coming down later to give one of his televised speeches.¡±

    Fenella perked up. ¡°The king? Like, the king king?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Holly said. ¡°He gives his speeches in a special off-limits room because the security is so high. That¡¯s where we serve our special drink.¡±

    Fenella couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°You know what would make the king happy? If you gave him that special drink.¡±

    The three girls gasped. "We can¡¯t do that! We''re not worthy enough to make it! The only one who is¡­¡± They turned to face the manager, who was giving a pep talk to the coffee machine.

    ¡°Hey, Mr. Manager?¡± Fenella started.

    ¡°Mr. Manager was my father,¡± he answered. ¡°What can I do for you?¡±

    ¡°I was thinking. The king comes by to make his speeches here, but it seems in bad taste to give him regular coffee that anyone can order. What if we gave him that super exclusive drink that¡¯s not available to the public? The one that comes in a cup bedazzled with real diamonds?¡±

    The manager stared silently at her and Fenella shuffled her feet awkwardly. Finally, his face broke out into a big smile. ¡°Fenella, that¡¯s a great idea! If we had any other job besides barista and manager, I would promote you in a heartbeat!¡±

    ¡°You can make it up to me by letting me deliver the drink!¡± Fenella said. ¡°I¡¯ve, uh, always wanted to give the king a drink?¡±

    ¡°Then I shall help you achieve your dreams for I am-¡± the lights went out again and the spotlight reappeared. ¡°-a great manager!¡±

    ¡°Why do the lights keep doing that?¡± Fenella whispered.

    ¡°Budget cuts,¡± Polly whispered back.

    The manager took Fenella''s arm and pulled her to the back rooms. ¡°Come with me, autumn child! The king will be arriving any minute now and I want his special drink to be ready when he arrives!¡±

    Getting the drink was much easier than Fenella thought it would be. After the manager made it, Fenella offered to take it outside and put some ¡°authentic Winter Territory snow" in it to prove to the king how loyal they were to their season. The manager was overly impressed by her improvised excuse and let her do it. Once she was outside, she shed the apron and took off with the drink. Once she was a safe distance from the coffee shop, she dialed Nitro''s number on her phone.

    ¡°I did it!¡± Fenella said. ¡°I have the drink! Diamond cup and everything! Do you know where Winston is?¡±

    ¡°Yeah.¡± Nitro sounded surprisingly unenthusiastic. ¡°I¡¯m looking at him.¡±

    ¡°Great! Where is he? I can give him the drink right now and-¡±

    ¡°SkateSlope park,¡± Nitro muttered. ¡°Ask directions. Everyone knows where it¡¯s at.¡±

    Fenella paused. ¡°Is everything-¡±

    ¡°Just get here.¡± Nitro hung up.

 The New Girl in S-cool

    Fenella wasted no time in getting to the park. She didn¡¯t like how upset Nitro sounded over the phone. It took until the end of the call for Fenella to even process the hostility in Nitro''s voice, but Nitro was always a little over the top. Was she legitimately angry or just annoyed? Was she mad at Fenella? No way. Getting her together with Winston was her idea. Why would she be mad at Fenella for it? Still, Fenella was frightened.

    When Fenella arrived, she saw Nitro standing on a snowy hill with Polar and Dahlia by her side. Fenella''s eyes narrowed, but it didn¡¯t seem like Dahlia was causing any trouble. They had their backs to Fenella and didn¡¯t respond when she ran up with the diamond encrusted coffee cup in her hands.

    ¡°Nitro?¡± Fenella asked. ¡°I got the coffee.¡±

    Nitro took it out of her hands and chugged it down in less than ten seconds. She threw the cup on the ground and pointed down the hill. Fenella followed her finger and saw Winston Winter talking to someone she had never seen before.

    The new girl was tall and very pretty. She had a light blue heart on her cheek and a baby blue sun hat on her head. Her hair was long and she played with it flirtatiously as she spoke to Winston. Winston was smiling and laughing with her and didn¡¯t move away when she got too close.

    ¡°Oh no,¡± Fenella whispered.

    ¡°You got that right,¡± Dahlia snarled. ¡°That hussy thinks she can move in on my man?¡±

    ¡°Looks like she can,¡± Polar scoffed. ¡°Look at them! They¡¯ve only known each other for an hour!¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the story?¡± Fenella asked.

    ¡°New girl,¡± Nitro said. ¡°Just moved here today from across the Winter Territory. She¡¯s from the second richest family and she has a pet alpaca.¡±

    ¡°No, no this isn¡¯t right at all!¡± Fenella said. ¡°She¡¯s not plain! She¡¯s gorgeous! Gorgeous people aren¡¯t supposed to be the heros of stories!¡±

    Dahlia tossed her hair. ¡°Unless they have tragic childhoods.¡±

    ¡°Which she doesn¡¯t have!¡± Nitro said. ¡°Her life is perfect! Loving family, lots of friends, upbeat personality! She already has it made. Why does she need Winston?¡±

    The reality of the situation slowly dawned on Fenella. Without Winston asking his mother to put in a good word for her to the king, she¡¯ll never get through First Round. She¡¯ll flunk out of school and get sent back to the Autumn Territory. Her parents will be devastated and she¡¯ll never see Polar or Nitro again! She¡¯ll never get to see the snow ever again!

    ¡°We can¡¯t let her get away with this!¡± Fenella cried. ¡°I need Winston way more than she does!¡±

    ¡°You?¡± Dahlia said. ¡°Who''s the one with the tragic backstory here? How am I supposed to fill the empty hole in my heart without a perfect boyfriend?¡±The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

    Fenella let out an aggravated sigh. ¡°Look, I only need him until the end of First Round. If you help us get him away from the new girl, I¡¯ll break up with him when we''re done with the tests and you can keep him. Deal?¡±

    Dahlia gritted her teeth. ¡°Deal.¡±

    <hr>

    Back at the Winter Academy high school, Principal Principal SnowHills was making his rounds around the campus to make sure everything was neat and orderly. The kids have gone home for the day and the teachers were sleeping peacefully under their desks. Everything was in perfect condition. There was only one place left to inspect and he groaned at the thought of seeing Fenella''s shack.

    She probably trashed it. Those Autumn Territory folks have no respect for their homes! Principal Principal SnowHills stormed up to Fenella''s door and knocked. No response. He knocked again and still Fenella did not respond.

    She must have snuck out! That¡¯s grounds for immediate expulsion!

    Principal Principal grabbed the doorknob and threw open the door. He frowned when he saw Fenella standing in the middle of the room. She looked a little thinner than normal and she wasn¡¯t moving, but there was no doubt that it was her. He could tell by the hair.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you answer me when I knocked?¡± he demanded.

    Fenella didn¡¯t say anything.

    ¡°Ignoring me won¡¯t make me go away. When I ask a question, students need to answer!¡±

    No reply. The principal groaned.

    ¡°Look, I know you probably think I¡¯m the bad guy, but I¡¯m doing what¡¯s right for the Winter Territory. Exchanging students will lead to exchanging colors! And that will lead to free travel across the territories and that would lead to chaos! Can you imagine how terrifying it would be if all the seasons just combined and changed every few months? There would be pandemonium!¡±

    No word came from Fenella.

    ¡°Fine, be like that. After First Round, you¡¯ll be out of this school and out of the good people of Winter''s lives forever!¡±

    The principal left the shack and still Fenella didn¡¯t say anything.

    <hr>

    Night was coming up fast, but Winston and the new girl were still talking, and Fenella''s group was still spying. They discreetly made their way closer to the couple to try to hear what they were talking about. It wasn¡¯t anything interesting. They were just telling stories about their lives and sharing their hobbies and interests.

    ¡°Boring,¡± Nitro hissed.

    ¡°Shh!¡± Dahlia peeked out from behind the bush they were hiding behind. ¡°I need to know if his favorite color is blue or white. I need to know what our wedding decorations will look like.¡±

    The new girl started talking and Fenella strained her ears to hear. She had learned her name was Kate and her voice was sweet and soft.

    ¡°I¡¯m nervous about my first day at school tomorrow,¡± Kate said. ¡°Going from homeschool to public school seems like a really big step.¡±

    Fenella gasped. Homeschool? How was she supposed to compete with that? Being homeschooled and then going to a public school was like main character 101!

    ¡°And main characters always get the guy,¡± Fenella muttered.

    ¡°Maybe we can do something to make her less main,¡± Nitro said.

    ¡°Me and my girls can pick on her,¡± Dahlia said.

    ¡°No! That will make it worse!¡±

    ¡°I can try to date her,¡± Polar offered. ¡°It¡¯ll keep her away from Winston.¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Nitro cried. ¡°That will just make her seem more desirable! This is a nightmare!¡± She paused. ¡°I can set her on fire.¡±

    ¡°No!¡± the other three yelled.

    ¡°Well, do you have a better plan?¡±

    ¡°Maybe we can just ask her to stay away from Winston,¡± Fenella said.

    ¡°Maybe we can murder her,¡± Dahlia snarled.

    ¡°I¡¯m down for the murdering,¡± Polar said.

    Fenella gaped at them. ¡°You guys!¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Polar shrugged. ¡°We don¡¯t want to lose you.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to lose Winston!¡± Dahlia cried.

    ¡°Wait, you¡¯re fine with murdering her, but not with me setting her on fire?¡±

    ¡°Guys, enough!¡± Fenella said. ¡°I¡¯m okay with a little competition. I¡¯ll just win Winston the old fashioned way. By being sweet and cute and asking for help studying.¡±

    The four stopped when they heard Kate giggling over something Winston said. Nitro frowned. ¡°Okay, but if that doesn¡¯t work, I¡¯m getting the matches out.¡±

 Relax and Cool Off

    When Fenella got back to her shack that night, she dropped her backpack on the floor and threw herself on the bed. This was only her second day in the Winter Territory and already she had been bullied, made friends, got a job, stole from her job, and lost her potential lover. She sighed and buried herself in her blankets. Her textbooks lay on the floor with her homework strewn on top of them. She didn¡¯t bother even trying. If Winston wasn¡¯t going to date her, all the studying in the world wouldn¡¯t help her.

    The next day, the teacher introduced Kate to the class. Kate was all smiles and she talked about herself like she had prepared in advance to do so. The teacher had her sit on Winston''s other side. Fenella and Nitro exchanged glances. There was no doubt that Kate coincidentally had all the classes that Winston had.

    ¡°Maybe he won¡¯t like her when he gets to know her,¡± Nitro whispered as she and Fenella watched the two pass notes.

    Kate dropped her pencil and it rolled under Winston''s desk. He picked it up and gave it back to her. She blushed as they made eye contact, then she turned away.

    ¡°It''s hopeless,¡± Fenella squeaked.

    Nitro grabbed Fenella''s eraser and threw it at Winston''s desk. It bounced off and hit Kate in the face. Winston bent down to get it for Fenella and for a split second, Fenella and Nitro saw rage on Kate''s face. Her lips curled into a snarl, her eyes narrowed into slits, and her teeth clenched tight. Her furious expression was gone almost instantly and she rubbed her cheek with an awkward, but adorable smile.

    ¡°Did you see that?¡± Nitro asked once Fenella got her pencil back.

    ¡°That was actually kind of scary,¡± Fenella said. ¡°I thought she was going to attack someone.¡±

    ¡°Me thinks the girl is not as sweet as she¡¯s trying to make us believe.¡± A twisted grin spread across Nitro''s face. ¡°Winston Winter would never date a jerk. We just have to get Kate to show us and him her true colors.¡±

    The teacher sensed whispering among the class and turned to them with a sour expression. ¡°I hope everyone''s paying attention. All of this will be on the test. Literally all of it. Anyway, like I was saying. Blah blah blah blah with the importance of blah.¡±

    Nitro began scribbling on a piece of paper. She folded it up and gave it to Fenella.

    ¡°Pass this to Kate.¡±

    Fenella tapped Winston on the shoulder. ¡°Pass this to Kate.¡±

    Winston reached for it, but before he could grab hold, the teacher swooped in and tore it from his hands.

    ¡°A note?¡± the teacher demanded. ¡°Note passing is the worst offense a student can commit! How dare you try to communicate with your peers without distracting the rest of the class by talking?¡± She cleared her throat and read the note out loud. ¡°Kate, do you want to hang out with us after school? From Nitro.¡±

    Kate smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you outside of detention hall!¡±

    ¡°Great!¡± Nitro said.

    ¡°Detention for both Nitro and Fenella!¡± the teacher said. She walked back to the whiteboard. ¡°Winston, you¡¯re lucky you didn¡¯t touch the note or you¡¯d be joining them! Now where was I? Blah blah blah¡­¡±

    Fenella leaned over and whispered to Nitro. ¡°Why did you invite Kate out?¡±

    ¡°To trap her,¡± Nitro whispered back. ¡°We''ll pretend to be her friend, make her drop her guard, and then try to get her mad.¡±

    ¡°Principal Principal SnowHills will flip if he finds out I¡¯ve been passing notes. This better be worth the detention.¡±

    ¡°Relax. We won¡¯t be in detention,¡± Nitro said.

    <hr>

    Several hours later, two brooms with wigs were being babysat by a teacher too underpaid to care. Nitro and Fenella met with Kate in the hallway and walked with her towards Polar''s locker.

    ¡°So,¡± Nitro began, ¡°is Kate short for something? Katie? Kaitlin?¡±

    ¡°Nope! Just Kate. I¡¯m named after my grandmother who served as an emergency medic during the Freezing Cold War. That¡¯s where she met my grandfather.¡±

    ¡°Interesting backstory for your grandma,¡± Nitro said. ¡°What¡¯s yours?¡±

    ¡°Is it tragic?¡± Dahlia''s voice made the three girls jump. Dahlia had been in the middle of writing ¡°Dawleeuh" all over her locker in glittery marker, but she stopped when she saw the group walking by.

    ¡°Uh, a little,¡± Kate replied. ¡°I don¡¯t really want to get into details about it. The wounds are still fresh.¡±

    So help me if she¡¯s sweet and relatable, Fenella thought bitterly.

    ¡°Was it a bad childhood?¡± Dahlia demanded harshly. ¡°Did your parents not love you enough?¡±

    ¡°No! Nothing like that! I was homeschooled and my parents loved me very much, but they died in a car accident. I¡¯m living with my long lost aunt who nobody knew about beforehand. She doesn¡¯t have the credentials to homeschool me, so I came here.¡±

    ¡°You lost both your parents?¡±

    Kate nodded. ¡°I¡¯m an orphan and sometimes I feel like my long lost aunt, who¡¯s also verbally abusive and emotionally distant, only took me in because of my inheritance.¡±

    Nitro, Fenella, and Dahlia exchanged glances. That was exactly the kind of tragic life that warranted a boyfriend like Winston.

    Kate continued. ¡°The worst part is that I¡¯m all the way over here in Snowy Way, while my parents are buried clear across the Winter Territory on Icy Island. I can¡¯t even visit their graves when things get too difficult.¡±

    ¡°Has it been hard for you to make friends?¡± Fenella ventured.

    ¡°Not at all!¡± Kate''s face brightened slightly. ¡°Everyone has been so nice to me, especially Winston Winter. Don¡¯t you just love how his first and last name start with the same letter? It¡¯s so cool that I just have to say both every time!¡±

    Nitro looked ready to throw hands. Fenella stepped between her and Kate. ¡°Let''s go find Polar and see where we should go to hang out.¡±

    It took the five a long time to decide where to go. Dahlia wanted to go to the coffee shop and Fenella couldn¡¯t explain why they had to stay away from there for a while. Kate wanted to take a walk through a nearby snowy forest and Nitro wanted to hang out on the off-limits school roof. Finally, they came to a compromise that made no one happy and spent the next few hours on a nearby park''s playground.

    ¡°They need to shovel the playground,¡± Dahlia complained about the inch of snow at her feet. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have to walk through slush.¡±

    Kate took a seat on the swing set. ¡°It¡¯s been so long since I¡¯ve been on an actual playground. I remember me and my friends back home would try to make the swing go all the way around.¡±

    ¡°Bet you failed,¡± Dahlia muttered.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

    ¡°We did.¡± Kate was oblivious to the malice in Dahlia¡¯s voice. ¡°My friend almost made it, but he ended up flying off and breaking his arm when he landed on a patch of hard ice. If he had only been a few feet to the side, he would have been safe in the snow.¡±

    ¡°We had a playground we used to go to back in the Autumn Territory,¡± Fenella said. ¡°There were three separate play structures and each of us would take one and pretend it was our base. Then we had to go raid the other bases and try to take over.¡±

    ¡°I lost a tooth here in fifth grade,¡± Nitro said.

    ¡°I found it,¡± Polar added. ¡°We chucked it at the Other Girls.¡±

    Dahlia scowled at them. ¡°I remember why I don¡¯t like you now.¡±

    ¡°Have any of you ever played the game where one person is a lava monster and everyone else has to stay off the ground to be safe?¡± Kate asked.

    ¡°Yes!¡± Fenella said. ¡°We''d throw water at them to ¡®cool off the lava'' so we¡¯d be safe for ten seconds.¡±

    ¡°We used snowballs!¡± Polar said.

    Kate grinned. ¡°What¡¯s stopping us from playing that now?¡±

    Dahlia scoffed. ¡°We''re way too old for baby games.¡±

    ¡°We''re never too old!¡± Nitro squealed. ¡°I want to play! Not it!¡±

    ¡°Ugh. Nitro, this is why you¡¯ll never be popular,¡± Dahlia said.

    Kate smiled at her. ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong with nostalgia. I¡¯m sure even you used to play during recess with your friends. Besides, running around on the playground is great exercise.¡±

    Dahlia scoffed and rolled her eyes. Kate shrugged and turned to Fenella. Fenella bit her lip. Kate was smiling at her, waiting for a response, but all Fenella could think about was her and Winston walking off into the sunset together as Fenella was shipped back to the Autumn Territory. Kate wanted to be friends, Fenella knew that, but she couldn¡¯t let her win. Becoming friends would make it harder to take Winston away from her.

    Fenella kicked the sand at her feet. ¡°I don¡¯t really want to play.¡±

    The smile left Kate''s face. ¡°Is it because I got mad when Nitro¡¯s eraser hit me?¡±

    Fenella, Nitro, and Polar stopped moving. Dahlia looked at them, confused.

    Kate shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ve always had a temper. I¡¯m trying not to, but it¡¯s hard. I was hoping you guys missed it, but I guess you saw. I¡¯m doing my best to not get angry all the time. I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    The remorse in Kate''s voice broke Fenella. ¡°No! It¡¯s not that! I mean, I¡¯d love to play with you!¡±

    ¡°Really?¡±

    ¡°Sure!¡± She grinned at Dahlia who gave her an annoyed look.

    ¡°Not it! Not it!¡± Nitro called and took off for the top of the playground.

    Just for today, Fenella thought. We can stop being enemies for one day.

    They had originally intended to play for maybe twenty minutes to relive their childhoods, but those twenty minutes became an hour and that one hour became more. Sunset came and went and still they played in the dark. Dahlia, who had decided to sulk on the swing set, reluctantly joined in after seeing how much fun the others were having. She whined the entire time about how they were forcing her to play, and didn¡¯t stop complaining even when they told her she didn¡¯t have to. Their game of tag slowly evolved into hide and seek and that turned into a game they made up as they went along. Soon, Polar, Nitro, and Fenella were seated at a pretend restaurant while Dahlia and Kate took their orders.

    Nitro and Fenella pretended to flip through an imaginary menu. Polar was watching the stars. The park was in the middle of a residential area, but still not a place he was comfortable being in so late at night. Only a single lamp lit up the darkness, but it was located by the picnic tables a good distance away from their spot in the snow below the playground.

    ¡°Maybe we should go home,¡± Polar said. ¡°It''s dangerous to be out so late.¡±

    Nitro laughed. ¡°We''re five teenagers loitering around a playground at night. People are afraid of us.¡±

    ¡°True,¡± Polar said.

    Nitro put her pretend menu down and looked to Dahlia and Kate. ¡°I¡¯ll have a bowl full of all the condiments you have mixed together.¡±

    ¡°I want a salad made entirely of silverware,¡± Fenella said, giving Nitro a smug look.

    Not to be outdone, Nitro picked her imaginary menu back up. ¡°And for dessert, I want the sponge you use to wash the dishes.¡±

    ¡°For dessert, I want the contents of your vacuum cleaner.¡±

    ¡°And to drink, I want a literal brick from the foundation.¡±

    ¡°And I¡¯ll have an avocado with a straw in it.¡±

    Polar gave them a disgusted look. ¡°If that¡¯s the kind of restaurant we''re at, I¡¯ll just have the water.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t want to know what we put in the water,¡± Kate chirped.

    Polar threw his hands up. ¡°Check, please!¡±

    Dahlia gave the group a disgusted look, but went with Kate behind the slide to pretend to make the food. The two made violent chopping noises, fake screams, and repeatedly hit the playground. They came back.

    ¡°If the food starts moving, let us know and we¡¯ll give you free breadsticks,¡± Kate said.

    ¡°Mine won¡¯t,¡± Dahlia added. ¡°I¡¯m the better cook. Kate¡¯s probably will.¡±

    ¡°Can I get a refill?¡± Nitro gave them her non-existent cup.

    While Dahlia and Kate had their backs turned, Nitro dropped her voice. ¡°Okay, it¡¯s time to dine and dash.¡±

    ¡°We can¡¯t do that!¡± Fenella said. ¡°They¡¯ll serve us to the next guest if we do!¡±

    ¡°I just had water.¡± Polar said. ¡°I¡¯m in the clear whether we pay or not.¡±

    Hearing their conversation, Kate turned back to the group. ¡°Everyone enjoying their meal?¡±

    ¡°Now!¡± Nitro yelled and leapt out of her seat. Fenella fell over and stumbled after her. Polar got up, but Kate and Dahlia caught him before he got very far.

    ¡°We have your friend!¡± Dahlia called after Fenella and Nitro''s retreating backs.

    ¡°Keep him!¡± Nitro called.

    ¡°Nitro!¡± Polar cried.

    Nitro made a heart with her hands and grinned at him.

    ¡°This isn¡¯t fair! I only had water!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re an accessory to theft of food!¡± Kate snarled. ¡°To pay for the crimes of your accomplices, you¡¯ll be washing dishes for the rest of your life!¡±

    ¡°Nitro!¡± Polar cried.

    ¡°Fine, fine.¡± Nitro walked back and gave Dahlia an imaginary card. ¡°Keep the change.¡±

    ¡°To your credit card?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m a good tipper. Give Polar back.¡±

    With the night getting older, the group grew more tired. They took a break from their games to relax under a fir tree. Occasionally the wind would move its branches and traces of snow would fall in a flurry.

    ¡°Hey, Fenella?¡± Kate started. ¡°Are you cold at all? I¡¯ve been meaning to ask you.¡±

    ¡°No colder than Dahlia should be,¡± Fenella said.

    ¡°You''re jealous,¡± Dahlia muttered.

    Fenella continued, ¡°but, no. Not really. I was freezing when I first got here, but I think I got used to it.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t think people from other territories could get used to the weather,¡± Kate said.

    ¡°If I ever visit another territory, it¡¯d be Summer,¡± Dahlia cut in. ¡°Can you imagine me and my girls on the beach? We¡¯d be the envy of everyone! I was born in the wrong season, that''s for sure.¡±

    Kate smiled. ¡°I want to go to the Spring territory. I once had a poster of a field of spring flowers on my wall.¡±

    ¡°Smuggled in by a limo driver?¡± Polar asked.

    Kate nodded. ¡°My abusive aunt ripped it up after we had an argument because she knew it would hurt me.¡±

    Fenella took a breath. She had to convince Kate to leave Winston alone. It was a now or never situation and with every word Kate spoke, Kate was becoming more and more worthy of the title of main character and the love interest that comes with it.

    ¡°Kate, you need to stay away from Winston Winter,¡± Fenella said.

    The wind picked up again and more snow fluttered to the ground. There seemed to be an endless supply of it on the branches. For a moment, there was silence as everyone processed what had just been said.

    ¡°Why?¡± Kate asked. ¡°He seems so nice.¡±

    ¡°He is,¡± Fenella said, ¡°but I need him to date me so he can introduce me to his mother, and then his mother can get me on the king''s good side, so Principal Principal SnowHills can¡¯t send me back to the Autumn Territory after First Round.¡±

    ¡°And then he¡¯s going to date me,¡± Dahlia said, ¡°to fill the void left in my heart by a bad childhood!¡±

    Kate was taken aback. Everyone was looking at her, waiting for an answer. She drew her knees up to her chest and looked sadly at the ground.

    ¡°I''m sorry,¡± she said. ¡°I never knew I¡¯d be such a burden on everyone. Winston Winter has been so nice to me. He was the first person to talk to me when I moved here. He made me feel happy. It''s been so long since I¡¯ve been happy. I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    Kate looked back up to the group, but their faces were stone. This was not an issue they would budge on. Kate¡¯s eyes narrowed.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she repeated. Her voice cracked. ¡°I always cause trouble for people. I¡¯m trying my best to be useful and good, but no matter how hard I try, I can¡¯t. I don¡¯t want you guys to hate me. I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    No remorse from the group. There was too much on the line for them. Kate would not be getting her way with tears this time.

    Fenella spoke slowly and clearly. ¡°We need you to leave Winston alone.¡±

    Kate sprang to her feet and grabbed Fenella by her shirt collar. Kate yanked her to her feet and pushed her away into the snow. Her face was twisted with rage.

    ¡°Stop it!¡± Polar and Nitro shoved Kate back against the tree when she advanced on Fenella. The tree shook and snow poured down around them. Kate kicked at the pair, who wisely backed away.

    Dahlia took Fenella''s hand and helped her to her feet. ¡°You¡¯re a monster!¡± she yelled at Kate.

    ¡°At least I got my parents to love me,¡± she shot back. ¡°Just like Winston will! He¡¯s going to fall in love with me and we''re going to get married, and then I¡¯ll be so rich I¡¯ll never have to see my stupid aunt ever again!¡±

    ¡°You only want him for his money?¡± Fenella snarled. "What about your inheritance?"

    "I can''t touch that money until I''m eighteen!¡± Kate said. ¡°Assuming my good for nothing aunt hasn''t spent it all by then. Winston is my only hope of escape and I¡¯ll be dead before I give him up to someone like you!¡±

    Kate took a step forward. At that moment, the wind kicked up full force and knocked an avalanche of snow down on Kate''s head. The weight of the snow and the speed it fell made her buckle and fall to the ground unconscious. Nitro and Polar scrambled to where she lay and dug her out. She wasn¡¯t breathing and her neck was twisted at an angle that no unbroken neck could be in.

    ¡°Guys,¡± Nitro breathed. ¡°I think she might be-¡±

    A scream erupted from behind them. Fenella, Nitro, Polar, and Dahlia spun around in terror. The ghostly form of Kate was staring in shock at her nearly transparent hands.

    ¡°What¡­.What did you do?¡± she screamed.

 In Cold Blood

    ¡°What did you do?¡± Kate shrieked.

    ¡°Nothing!¡± Nitro said. ¡°It was the tree-¡±

    ¡°You killed me!¡± Kate shouted. ¡°I¡¯m literally dead!¡±

    ¡°Stop yelling! Someone¡¯s going to hear!¡± Dahlia hissed.

    ¡°Oh, that would just be the worst thing to happen today, wouldn¡¯t it?¡± Kate screamed.

    ¡°Okay okay!¡± Fenella held up her hands. ¡°I get that you¡¯re mad.¡±

    ¡°I''m furious!¡±

    Dahlia covered her ears. "Stop screaming you deadweight! Why are you even here? Shouldn¡¯t you be flying away to Heaven?¡±

    ¡°Trust me, Little Clothes, I have a lot of unfinished business here,¡± Kate snarled. ¡°The first being my revenge!¡±

    Kate leapt forward and tried to grab onto Fenella''s neck, but her hands passed right through her. Kate stumbled forward and hit the ground.

    Fenella breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Oh thank God, you can¡¯t hurt us.¡±

    ¡°Maybe not physically. Hey Dahlia, remember how your childhood sucked?¡±

    ¡°Bite me, you bedsheet.¡±

    ¡°Guys, stop! We have more important things to worry about.¡± Polar pointed to Kate''s corpse lying on the ground. ¡°We have to call the police.¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Nitro said. ¡°They¡¯ll never believe we didn¡¯t do it! A group of kids who just so happened to hate Kate invited her out in the middle of the night? And she just coincidentally died when her neck broke totally by accident by some snow falling on her? They¡¯re going throw us in prison!¡±

    Kate looked over to her body. ¡°Is that what happened? It happened so fast, I just assumed one of you came up behind me and did it.¡±

    ¡°We would never!¡± Fenella cried.

    ¡°I might,¡± Dahlia said.

    Kate huffed. ¡°I¡¯m still mad at you, even if it was just an accident.¡±

    ¡°What can we do to make it up to you?¡± Fenella asked. ¡°Actually, strike that. What can we do to help you complete your unfinished business so we don¡¯t have you floating around us for the rest of our lives?¡±

    ¡°I just got killed and you¡¯re only concerned about getting rid of me?¡±

    Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.¡°What are you so concerned about that you¡¯re sticking around here for it?¡±

    Kate scowled and crossed her arms. ¡°I want to be buried on Icy Island with my parents. I want white, pink, and red tulips to be brought to our graves.¡±

    ¡°Tulips?¡± Nitro asked. ¡°Why not some heather or Japanese quince? They¡¯re easy to get.¡±

    ¡°I want tulips,¡± Kate snapped. ¡°They don¡¯t grow in the Winter Territory. I¡¯ve only ever seen them on my poster. I want those on our graves. I want a lot of them, too. Not just a handful each. I want entire armfuls of them.¡±

    Fenella took a breath. ¡°Okay, we¡¯ll do what we can.¡±

    ¡°¡®What you can¡¯ is not good enough. No tulips no passing.¡±

    ¡°We can¡¯t-¡±

    Nitro elbowed her. ¡°We''ll do it.¡±

    ¡°Good. You do those for me and I¡¯ll leave quietly.¡±

    Dahlia rolled her eyes. ¡°The lengths we go to to get rid of the competition.¡±

    Fenella pointed to Kate''s body. ¡°That still leaves us with a really big problem.¡±

    ¡°Hey!¡± Kate said.

    ¡°Sorry. That still leaves us with a skinny, in-shape problem.¡±

    Dahlia scoffed. ¡°What, did her spirit weigh fifty pounds?¡±

    ¡°At least my throat isn¡¯t coated in stomach acid and this morning''s breakfast!¡± Kate snapped. She turned to Fenella. ¡°Just take it to Icy Island.¡±

    ¡°How? How are we going to get a corpse clear across the Winter Territory without anyone noticing?¡±

    Kate shrugged her ghostly shoulders. ¡°Sunglasses and a story of narcolepsy?¡±

    ¡°She''s so boring she puts herself to sleep.¡± Dahlia shook her head.

    ¡°Dahlia, you¡¯re so middle child I bet your birthday is in August.¡±

    ¡°What about school?¡± Fenella cried. ¡°What about our classes and First Round?¡±

    ¡°Hey, yeah, so I¡¯m dead, but go ahead and worry about your grades.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t skip school for that long without Principal Principal SnowHills throwing me out! A wig broom can only get us so far!¡±

    ¡°Calm down!¡± Nitro said. ¡°All we have to do is dress some people up like us and we''ll be set! Who do we know that has enough time on their hands to pretend to be us all day?¡±

    <hr>

    A short while later, Fenella, Polar, and Dahlia were trying to figure out a way to get Kate''s body over the fence surrounding Winter Academy. Nitro was talking quietly on the phone, trying to pull a few strings to get help with their eventual departure.

    ¡°Maybe we can catapult her somehow?¡± Polar said halfheartedly, looking up at the tall fence.

    ¡°That¡¯ll take forever!¡± Dahlia whined. ¡°I want to go home!¡±

    ¡°Trust me, we want nothing more than for you to go away,¡± Kate said. ¡°Just hide it somewhere. Pile a bunch of snow on it.¡±

    ¡°What if someone finds it?¡± Fenella asked.

    ¡°They won¡¯t. I¡¯ll scare them away. No one will go near a haunted area.¡±

    ¡°They¡¯ll recognize you and know you¡¯re dead!¡± Fenella said. ¡°You made almost as big a commotion when you transferred here as I did. They¡¯ll know who you are.¡±

    ¡°Guys,¡± Nitro cut in. ¡°I got some volunteers to pretend to be us while we''re gone. Trustworthy, too! They-¡±

    A bright light suddenly flashed on the group and they covered their eyes in pain. Kate¡¯s form vanished in the glow.

    ¡°What are you kids doing out here?¡± the man demanded.

    ¡°Oh no,¡± Polar whispered. ¡°It¡¯s the security guard!¡±

    Nitro spoke first. ¡°We were out partying because that¡¯s what teenagers do and our friend drank too much because that¡¯s also what teenagers do. We¡¯re trying to get her to the school nurse.¡±

    ¡°That does sound like something teenagers would do.¡± The security guard shone the flash light¡¯s beam down on Kate''s corpse. ¡°She looks pale, but the school nurse already went home for the night. You should take her to a real hospital.¡±

    ¡°We can¡¯t!¡± Nitro said. ¡°She, uh, she''s allergic to penicillin. You know how much those real doctors love their penicillin.¡±

    The security man chuckled and shook his head. ¡°They sure do. Alright, pick her up. I¡¯ll let you guys in through the front gate.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m just going to climb over,¡± Fenella said. ¡°Not because I¡¯m trying to avoid being seen by someone who forbade me to leave school grounds or anything.¡±

    ¡°What an oddly specific thing to say. Okay, suit yourself.¡±

 Long D-ice-tance Travel

    Fenella didn¡¯t think she¡¯d get any sleep that night, but surprisingly having Kate wander aimlessly around her shack made her feel better about everything that had happened. It certainly relieved the guilt when she¡¯d knock something over.

    ¡°Can you not do that?¡± Fenella mumbled.

    Kate tried to pick up the lamp she had knocked over. It took three attempts before it didn¡¯t fall through her hands. ¡°Sorry. It¡¯s super weird. Sometimes I can move things and sometimes I can''t.¡±

    ¡°Stop touching things.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m so bored.¡±

    ¡°Go haunt something.¡±

    ¡°I did. You got mad at me for it.¡±

    Fenella sighed and buried her head under the pillows. Maybe she wouldn¡¯t get any sleep after all.

    Fenella''s phone rang and Kate glanced at it. ¡°Your phone''s ringing.¡±

    ¡°I know.¡± Fenella swiped it off the nightstand. ¡°Hello?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s Nitro. Where are you right now?¡±

    ¡°My shack. Where are you?¡±

    ¡°The nurse''s office. We snuck in. I got our replacements, but¡­Nevermind. Just get over here and don¡¯t let anyone see you!¡±

    ¡°But sleep,¡± Fenella whimpered.

    ¡°You can sleep when Kate''s gone. Come over.¡±

    Nitro hung up and Fenella sighed. She got up to gather her clothes.

    ¡°What happened?¡± Kate asked, turning her back to Fenella so she could get dressed.

    ¡°Nitro needs us. I think she¡¯s going to make us leave tonight.¡±

    ¡°Good.¡± Kate crossed her arms. ¡°I never realized how boring night time was. No wonder we sleep through it.¡±

    The two set out towards the school. With the glow emitting from Kate''s spirit, they could see multiple sets of footprints leading around the back. They followed it to an open window leading to the library. Kate passed through the wall while Fenella climbed inside. The librarian was sleeping peacefully in a fort made out of architecture textbooks. A small desk light was on next to her, illuminating the open pages of Sleep is for the weak : An insomniac¡¯s guide to getting over it. Fenella tiptoed past her and went out to the hallway.

    The two made their way quietly through the halls and slipped into the nurse''s office. The lights were off, but four beams from four flashlights illuminated the room. Nitro gave Fenella a light when she entered. Fenella clicked it on to see the new group.

    ¡°Holly, Molly, and Polly?¡± she asked. ¡°From the coffee shop? Won¡¯t the manager-¡±

    ¡°The manager won¡¯t be a problem,¡± Polar said. ¡°We told him our friend wanted something and put him in front of a mirror. He¡¯s been trying to take his reflection''s order for the last three hours. He still will be by the time we get back.¡±

    ¡°Like a bird,¡± Nitro added.

    ¡°Our manager is committed to providing great customer service,¡± Polly said. ¡°Something we strive for at-¡±

    ¡°No one cares,¡± Dahlia hissed. Her hair was a mess, she was still in her pajamas, and she didn¡¯t have any make-up on. Polar and Nitro must have dragged her out of bed. Probably literally. ¡°Just don¡¯t make me look bad and make sure the Other Girls still hang on my every word, got it?¡± She dropped her voice. ¡°And make Winston fall for me.¡±

    ¡°Polly¡¯s going to cover for you, Fenella,¡± Nitro said. ¡°Dahlia gets Holly and Kate will get Molly.¡±

    ¡°What about you and Polar?¡± Fenella asked.

    Polar smiled proudly. ¡°I told my parents I¡¯m going on a trip with Nitro''s family and she told her parents she¡¯s going on a trip with mine. They gave us notes for school and everything.¡±

    ¡°Is Kate the glowing one?¡± Molly asked. ¡°I will do my best to accommodate, but unfortunately I don¡¯t think I can glow.¡±

    Fenella glanced over to one of the beds in the nurse''s office. A sheet was covering Kate''s body.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Kate said. ¡°So, what do we do? Tell them how we act?¡±This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

    Nitro grimaced. ¡°We''ve tried.¡±

    Dahlia rolled her eyes. ¡°We pulled them directly from work, so they¡¯re stuck in their stupid customer service persona. It¡¯s so annoying.¡±

    Polly smiled. ¡°Would you like to issue a complaint?¡±

    ¡°Shut up.¡±

    ¡°Yes, ma''am.¡±

    Polar sucked in a breath through his teeth. ¡°It¡¯s the best we can do. Besides, it would be better to get caught skipping school with bad replacements than to get caught with a dead body. We''ll deal with whatever happens when we get back.¡±

    ¡°How are we going to get to Icy Island and back before First Round is over?¡± Fenella asked. ¡°I''ve looked up a map. It¡¯ll take us at least a week to get there by boat.¡±

    Nitro said, ¡°if we take an express boat, we can be there in two hours.¡±

    ¡°How is that possible?¡±

    ¡°Because it has the word ¡®express¡¯ in front of it. That means its faster.¡±

    ¡°So let''s get started already!¡± Dahlia snapped her fingers at Holly. ¡°I gave you my address, now go pretend to be me already! And if I come back and someone asks why my clothes weren¡¯t matching the last few days, so help me-¡±

    ¡°They¡¯ll be fine,¡± Polar said. ¡°Me and Nitro have written out instructions and as long as they follow them, everything will be okay.¡±

    <hr>

    After a quick makeover, Holly, Molly, and Polly were sent on their way. Dahlia, refusing to start the journey without a change of clothes, took a pair of pink scrubs from the nurse''s closet. Half an hour later, she was looking at herself in disgust in the reflection of the bus''s window. The group was huddled in the back, trying to avoid making eye contact with the other occupants, who looked both tired and sketchy. Kate''s body, freshly decorated with blue sunglasses and a white scarf, was leaning against Polar while Kate''s spirit was seated on the opposite side.

    ¡°I hate you guys,¡± Dahlia said to Nitro and Polar. ¡°You didn¡¯t even let me put on makeup.¡±

    ¡°You look fine,¡± Fenella said.

    ¡°I need something to cover my face!¡±

    Kate scoffed. ¡°How about a plastic bag?¡±

    ¡°How kind of you to offer me the most expensive thing you¡¯ll own once your aunt¡¯s done with your inheritance.¡±

    ¡°Guys, don¡¯t make a scene,¡± Polar whispered. ¡°Someone¡¯s going to call the cops on us.¡±

    Already Kate and Dahlia''s bickering attracted the attention of an elderly couple sitting a few rows ahead of them. They stared in disapproval and Polar awkwardly put his arm around Kate''s shoulder.

    ¡°She¡¯s narcoleptic,¡± he said, unprovoked and totally not suspiciously at all.

    Anyone who takes public transportation at night knows it¡¯s best to just not ask questions. The couple turned away and began whispering to each other.

    "How rude," Nitro said.

    It took two hours for the bus to finally reach the end of the line. The group had dozed off half an hour into the trip and had to be woken by the driver. He gave then a card for the nearest homeless shelter and kicked them out into the night. The sun would be rising soon, but for now they were shivering in the cold nighttime fog. Well, Fenella was anyway. This cold was normal for the Winter natives.

    ¡°Where even are we?¡± Dahlia demanded.

    Nitro pointed out to the darkness. At first, Fenella thought she was looking at an empty field, but when her eyes adjusted, she realized she was looking at an ocean. She could see lights from ships dotting the waves in the distance. Ice was lining the beach and each wave that came in broke the ice into smaller pieces. They quickly refroze, awaiting the next wave.

    ¡°Where''s the boat?" Fenella''s teeth were chattering. Being so close to the water made the air even colder. Polar took the scarf off Kate''s body and held it out to Fenella. Fenella reeled back. ¡°Uh, sorry. I¡¯m not very comfortable with dead body clothes.¡±

    Kate gave her a dirty look. The aura of light around her looked brighter and blurry from reflecting off the fog.

    "We actually don''t have one," Polar said. "We might have lied to you guys back there."

    ¡°So what are we going to do?¡± Kate asked. ¡°We can¡¯t get to Icy Island without a boat.¡±

    Nitro and Polar exchanges glances.

    ¡°I don¡¯t like what you did just there,¡± Kate said. ¡°That means we¡¯re going to do something bad, doesn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°We might have been planning to steal a boat.¡± Nitro quickly added, ¡°It¡¯ll be fine! No one will even know it¡¯s gone!¡±

    ¡°We''re going to get arrested!¡± Dahlia cried.

    Nitro and Polar started dragging Kate''s body towards the pier, where a row of unattended fishing boats had been docked for the night. Kate sand Fenella hesitantly followed them while Dahlia threw a dramatic tantrum. When she realized no one was paying her any attention, she quietly followed the others. Nitro and Polar climbed into one of the smaller vessels. It was a boat used for whale-watching. Small, but not so small that it was dangerous for long distance travel.

    ¡°We need to find a marker.¡± Polar began rifling through the compartments and chests. ¡°Preferably permanent or at least waterproof.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± Fenella asked.

    ¡°So we can write express on the boat and make it go faster. Kate, can you stand over here so I can see?¡± A light flashed over Polar. ¡°Thank you.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not me,¡± Kate said.

    The five teenagers looked up to the source of the light. A woman was standing on the dock with a flashlight aimed directly at them.

    ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± she demanded. ¡°Who gave you permission to be here?¡±

    Fenella braced herself to run, but Nitro stood up and held out her hand to stop her.

    ¡°I recognize that voice,¡± Nitro said.

    ¡°Nitro?¡± The beam from the flashlight fell and the group could finally see the women¡¯s face. ¡°Nitro! It''s me, Dolly!¡±

    ¡°The barista from the Iced Drink!¡± Polar snapped his fingers. ¡°I knew that voice was familiar!¡±

    Fenella looked at them, confused. Dolly grinned at her. ¡°Don¡¯t you remember? You needed to take my place at the coffee shop, so Nitro made me leave. She told me to find the people who would give me a new identity, and here I am! I¡¯m not longer Dolly from the coffee shop. I am Sally from the pier. I work security.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not mad at us?¡± Fenella asked.

    ¡°No way! This place is amazing! I don¡¯t get yelled at by customers, my managers respect me, and I don¡¯t have to deal with daily interrogations! I love it here!¡±

    Nitro smiled. ¡°Hey, since you¡¯re security, would you happen to have the keys to these boats?¡±

    ¡°Sure do!¡±

    ¡°Would you like the repay the favor? Me and my friends need to get to Icy Island ASAP.¡±

    ¡°Anything for you, Nitro. Let me go find a marker real quick and I¡¯ll make it an express ride.¡±