"Samantha"
Lunch, finally lunchtime, and time for me and Chris. I can't help smiling as I walk down the corridor toward the parking lot. I stop at my locker, put in my code, which only Chris and I know it, and set my books into the large, sky blue locker. I put my backpack into the locker, looking at the only two pictures, me and Chris in the forest, and one of my mom and dad.
I miss her, my mom, but I really don't remember her at all. I was only two when she passed away. From the videos that dad showed me three years ago, he changed a lot. He's more careful of what he says around everyone like there's a giant wall around him and if he says one wrong thing the wall will crumble and… I don't know what if that happens. I push my locker closed tightly and walk a few paces and open the glass doors to the freezing cold, snowy air and shiver involuntarily. I wrap myself with my slender, pale arms around my torso to keep warm and look through the snow trying to find Chris. He's about 3-4 inches taller than me, he's got black hair and darker skin, he's just someone who I can find in any crowd. I see him leaning against his Silverado pickup truck, which shines brightly in any sunlight that peeks through the clouds. He's talking to one of his friends, I think his name is Koby or something. I have a horrible memory, and I have no problem admitting it. I shuffle to his car as I hear Chris's laugh, my teeth chatter and I try to smile but I can't feel my face!
His eyes gaze over his friend's shoulder meeting mine, his smile brightens when he does, he looks back at his friend, says something that looks like a goodbye, and starts to walk to me, meeting me in the middle of the parking lot. He embraces me,
"Hey, Are you ready to go?" He says a smile in his voice since I can't say anything because of my chattering teeth, I nod quickly. He lightly rubs my arms, trying to get me warm,
"Let's get into the car before you get a cold," he says slightly shivering himself. I let him guide me to his car, he opens the door for me, his eyes excited, I wonder what my "surprise" is. I hope it's a good one, I'm feeling kinda anxious to find out. Most of all, I hate being clueless, maybe… I can reel it out of him.
" So…" I say tentatively when my teeth have stopped chattering, sneaking a glance towards Chris,
"So…" He says with a smirk, the smirk that makes me jittery and even more excited. I put part of my hair behind my ear,
"Um… So, what's the surprise?" I say smiling. He sneaks a glance my way before going back to the road,
"If you want to know, you'll see when we get there." He says with an excited glint in his eyes, I slump with failure, he knows I don't like being clueless.
"You should tell me, Chris. You know how I don't like being clueless," He smiles mischievously at this,
"And you're making me anxious with that smile, is it a good surprise, at least tell me that," I say, hoping he takes the bait.
"To my perspective, it is. But I don't know about you. Also, I hope you're warm enough because you're gonna get pretty chilly." I stop smiling, trying to understand,
"What do you mean? That I'm going to be chilly?" I gasp loudly at the idea,
"Are we going outside?! Why not stay in the car, where it's warm?" I stare outside at all the smooth snow in the fields, the meadows, the trees. I realize that we're nearing Tonto Park, the park near Strawberry where most people go to walk on the national trails and see the natural bridge the elements have created.
"What are we doing here? Please tell me we're not going on the trails, we're going to miss school!" I gasp quietly and look frantically at Chris who's grinning with amusement.
"Calm down, Sam, We're not going to get hurt while we are here. Also, remember, it's a half-day, school ended when lunch was done," he says coolly, I didn't think of that... I try to make another excuse why we can't go,
"What about dad? Did you talk to him about this?" I say in an expectant tone. He turns to the side of the street, and puts his blue gloves on and opens the door, letting a burst of frigid air into the warm truck,
"All covered, Sam. Don't worry about anything, I'm all prepared," he says then slams the door shut and walks around the front of the truck to open my door. I get out, breathe in ice-cold air and let it go, a cloud rises from my mouth.