Author: Ela Markulin, X.gimnazija “Ivan Supek”, Zagreb
It was a cold rainy day in Aurora, Colorado. Alex was rolling in her bed, tired from yet another sleepless night. The clock that sat on the table beside her read 7:05 AM. She looked out the window opposite her bed. Still dark outside. The street lights were shining in their yellow colours and the rain falling heavily just made her want to stay in bed. When the clock hit 7:15 AM, she finally got up and made her way to the bathroom. After a hot shower, she got dressed. She was wearing a black band T-shirt with a flannel over it and some black ripped jeans. She put on her headphones, a beanie and vans. On the way to the bus station she noticed a girl. She had long purple hair and was wearing glasses. She was wearing ripped skinny jeans and a leather jacket with earphones in her ears and a book in her hands. Alex couldn’t quite make out what the girl was reading, but it was a thick book. After about two minutes the bus came to the stop. Alex decided to sit next to the girl she’d seen. Alex had never noticed her much, but what always stuck out was how she would always, without fail have a book with her. The ride to school was about 15 minutes long. After about 10 minutes Alex finally found some courage and asked the girl what she was listening to. She took out one earphone and showed Alex her phone screen. It read Halsey – Strangers. Alex quickly took her phone out and showed her that she was listening to the same song. They both laughed. Alex took out her hand to introduce herself.
“Alex”, she said.
“Winter”, the girl replied and shook Alex’s hand.
Both girls smiled and rather awkwardly engaged in small talk. When they arrived at school they said goodbye. Alex was in her sophomore year of high school. She didn’t like it very much. It was mainly because of the people and the mentality of that school. The students were mostly judgemental rich kids, worried about their looks and who their friends were.
So, Alex spent her days at school alone. She didn’t have any friends because of her social anxiety and depression. Today was the first time she had made an effort to socialize. Others thought she was weird, wondering why she didn’t talk.
At lunch break she was trying to figure out what had made her do something so drastically different form her usual behaviour. Alex noticed Winter a few tables away with her friends. She was laughing at something her friend had said. Alex noticed the way Winter’s eyes crinkled up when she smiled, and she thought it was beautiful. Winter had small dimples and freckles on her face. Her long purple hair perfectly fit her warm brown eyes.
A few weeks had passed and Alex and Winter went to school together every day. They became quite close, to the point where Alex actually sat together with Winter and her friends at lunch. Alex started developing some feelings for Winter, but she knew Winter was from a Christian family and that it was impossible she would like her back. One day Emily, Juju and Alex were sitting at the table waiting for Winter. When they finally saw her, Alex exclaimed: “WINTER IS COMING!” The rest of the girls laughed while Winter rolled her eyes at that Game of Thrones reference. Winter asked Alex:
“Hey, do you want to go ice skating with me after school? Just the two of us.”
Alex looked at the other girls uncomfortably and said:
“Well, what about Emily and Juju?”
The girls said that they had a ton of homework to do and that they couldn’t come.
Alex then agreed to go with Winter. They met up in front of the school at 2 PM, sat on the bus and talked about their day.
“You know, after becoming friends with you I don’t think the world is that dark and cold anymore. You made it warmer.”
“Oh, Alex, I don’t even know what to say to that. I’m really glad that we met. You’re a really good person. It’s sad that those jerks at school can’t see through your illness.”
“Yeah… I know. But I mean screw them, they’re probably more f***ed up then I am with all their insecurities.”
Winter laughed and said: “I’m really glad I met you Alex.”
While they were ice skating there was a lot of Alex falling to the ground and Winter trying to pick her up but ending up falling too.
After Alex came home, she sat on her bed just thinking about how much her life had changed in the past month. She went from struggling with her depression and anxiety attacks practically every day, to learning and coping with them better. Winter was a huge part of that. That was one of the reasons why she liked her, not just as a friend but more. Because she was different. She cared about people and wanted to help, not like all the others at school. She was amazing. The problem was that she was straight. The next day at school Winter took Alex aside.
“Come to my place at 5. Okay?”
“Why? I mean yeah I’ll be there!”, said Alex confused.
“Okay, gotta go. Bye!” said Winter and gave Alex a quick hug.
It was 6 PM and Alex was watching a movie with Winter in her room. The whole time Alex was thinking about how perfect, sweet and warm Winter was. ‘Why does she have to be straight, damn it!’, Alex kept asking herself. The thing that brought her out of her thoughts was Winter calling out her name.
“Hey.”
“Hey yourself”, said Alex jokingly.
They both laughed still looking at each other. Winter looked into Alex’s eyes, then she glanced at her lips. She looked back at Alex and kissed her. Alex thought she was dreaming.
