Winter's Mate: Fated on Ice

o

trying to reverse the expulsion, searching online for an

n? But all the lawyers I've been seeing couldn't help me and I

ed off. I sat on the couch, scrolling through some feeds if I could find something, anythin

s apartment, sleeping on her couch and mooching off her food. That was why I tried to do the h

myself a glass of water when a distressed v

but I couldn't stop listeni

rough her hair. "Rosie just needs time." And I gulped. Th

ered. Who was she

pause, as worry etched her face and I bit my lower lip,

yed my welcome. I was uncomfortable in her own

ated sigh, her voice sounding defensive. "It's not like that... She's my frie

f me. Was it her boyfriend or parent? Maybe roommate, but the last time I asked, Kira respo

in. When won't Kira be tired of me also? It was just a matter of

water again because if I did, I was very sure I would puke it out. After some minutes, Kira came out of the room act

beside me. "Whatcha doing?" sh

hat I'd eavesdropped on her call. "Just surfing

the strain in her body language and exhaustion under her eyes. Since I had bee

uldn't burden Kira w

re coul

d in absolute silence except the noises

Shit! I'm late for my work," she cursed, ru

l bring dinner," she said an

anyone could pray for. If Kira hadn't come along when the

t and baggage of problems. When I was done packing inside th

ing. I'm sorry. Don't

as I left the note on the coffee table. I took one last look

ow. I paid for the night and entered the room. I nearly recoiled from disgust-dingy room, stained carpet, even cobwebs-but it was mine for the night and w

m Kira but didn't answer. Wh

ere are you?? Your note

owed after s

Just let me kn

ed my phone off before curling into a

oises from other rooms didn't let me sleep-moans, grunts, arguments, things breaking. The walls were so thin that I had to stay up at night sometimes, l

d hunger were eating me alive.

on and references which I didn't have. And the coffee cafe that would take me in was ar

day, read the comments. Yo

was the p

point of me being here? No one wants me. I don't even want myself.

hould jus

pain deep in my heart,

parents would want my dead body. Sophia would finall

en I'd f

r looked at me like I was high but I didn't wait for him before getting down and passed him the bill. I trailed to

quick. It would be over before I knew it. I gripped the edge t

be ove

s' proud look, Sophia's cruel laughter, the students' crude comments, Josh's betrayal, my mother's words.

one who pulled me away. If he was a minute late, I would have died. The realization made my chest

s I thi

My gut feeling never proves me wrong." The driver sh

got in the driver's seat. He turned up the hea

was warm and kind. "It might be hard to live through it now but I know it will be be

etting the warmth seep

that they achieved what they want." He turned to look at me. "Prove them wrong even if it means moving away for some