Two

 

“So you’re the new girl everyone’s been briefed about,” Rosie said as I discreetly moved my desk closer to hers. Mrs. Tate had begun talking and I barely had time to pull out a sheet of paper and a pencil.

“Here.” Rosie reached over and handed me a paper from her notebook.

“Thanks,” I said, at least pulling out a pencil.

“Where’d ya move from?” She looked over my shoulder as I wrote my name. “Whoa. That’s a name for the record books. Greek?”

 I finally turned and took a good look at Rosie Regan. She was pretty, but in a wild sort of way. She was definitely a stick like me; frizzy red hair and tan skin that made her bright blue eyes show. I was startled for a second because her expression was so excited.

“Er… Russian, actually. I, uh, moved from Minnesota.” I was trying to focus on what Mrs. Tate was saying, but since I was sharing a book with Rosie, it was very hard. I tapped my pencil nervously, trying to remember what I had learned about the issues discussed upon reading Pride and Prejudice. Rosie was still rambling on about something, but I chose not to hear her.

“That’s cool. I’m going to call you Katy for short. Is that okay?” she asked eagerly.

“Yeah,” I replied, my eyes straight ahead. This girl was seriously annoying.

“So where in Minnesota?”

“St. Paul.”

“Wow! My mom was born there!” Her expression grew even more excited as the hour wore on, but she didn’t say anything else. She just sat there, jittery and excited, a little too hyper to completely focus on Mrs. Tate.

I was grateful when the bell rang. I picked my stuff up and flew out the door, grateful that I had lunch next. I had to double-check my map to make sure I knew where I was going. I finally got there and in line. I handed the lady my lunch money and continued down the line, taking only a few items as I went. I wasn’t really in the mood for eating; it was my first day at a new school and I was pretty nervous, still.

As I was just about to sit at an empty table, tripping over my feet as I went, I heard Rosie’s voice from across the cafeteria.

“Hey, Katy! Over here!”

I sighed and picked up my tray, walking stiffly over to her table. I felt curious eyes following my every move. They probably didn’t have very many new people, for the simple fact it was a small town in Iowa. When I glanced around, everyone’s—and I mean everyone’s—eyes were on me. Astonishment, curiosity. Some people were even glaring at me. Had I disrupted their way of life so much, only on my first day?

“Katy! Watch out!” Rosie yelled.

I ran right into another student, our trays colliding, sending food everywhere. It rained down on top of my head as I fell on my butt to the ground. Some pieces even hit my sore spot from last night’s encounter with my hole-door. Lovely, Katja. Way to make an impression.

Rosie ran over and helped me up, rushing me to the bathroom before the laughter had started. She helped me clean up as best as I could, ketchup still staining my favorite Muse Showbiz shirt and my favorite pair of blue jeans.

“Thank you, Rosie,” I said quietly. I was in the process of picking bits of bread out of my ponytail.

“No problem. Are you, like, a klutz or something?” I knew she didn’t mean it meanly, but it still stung a bit.

“I guess so.” Well, my day was officially ruined and I was pretty sure that I was the new klutz at Vera Hill High, which was just great because I didn’t have the beauty or the brains to completely make up for it.

“You really are a jewel, Katja. You should have heard the comments made at my table when some of the guys saw you. There’s no way you came from Minnesota, girl,” Rosie said, looking me up and down. “Such a small frame, too. How tall are you?”

Everyone towered over Katja Witte. It was a simple fact of nature and unless you were a dwarf, it was always true. “Uh, five-foot-three.” I was still concentrating on trying to look my best. If there were any guys that commented, I’m pretty sure Rosie heard wrong. I’m short, stick-y, and completely non-guy material.

“Wow, you really are the snow elf. Ha-ha, Mrs. Herman pulled your picture up during the seventh-hour briefing and I thought you looked like a snow elf. Pretty, white. You look like winter.” She gently touched a lock of my hair still in a ponytail and pulled out more food. “Well, see you around, Katy.” She strolled out of the bathroom like it was no big deal.

As soon as I was sure everyone had gone to sixth hour, I secretly snuck back into the cafeteria to grab my stuff and run to my next class with Mr. Bowers.

 

“Are you Miss Witte?” Mr. Bowers was a heavy-set man with a beard and a polka-dot tie that I was sure he had stolen from Bill Nye. He looked a little bit crazy with white hair sticking up in all directions. This was my World History teacher. A few whispers sounded from different corners of the room. I looked back down at my schedule, hoping I was not in the right class. But I was.

“Yes,” I said in my most quiet voice. I knew my eyes were wider than teacups, but I couldn’t help it—I was scared, no, terrified of this. I hated being new and shiny.

“Well, I think the only seat left by Nathan.” Mr. Bowers went back to instructing the class on something I had already learned. I took my seat quietly, setting my books down below my seat and aimlessly doodling on a piece of paper.

“So you are the snow elf Rosie wouldn’t shut up about. What’s your name?”

I looked towards the voice. Typical high school nerd. Nathan had glasses as round as Harry Potter’s and he was wearing a button-up plaid shirt with skinny jeans. He had on converse, so I couldn’t completely ignore him. “Katja Witte,” I whispered quietly, wanting to leave the room. Nathan seemed almost as annoying as Rosie.

“I’m Nathan Ferdinand. You don’t talk much do you?” He pushed his glasses farther up on his nose.

I forced a smile towards him.

His eyes popped out of his glasses. “Wow! There’s no way you’re from Minnesota!”

Was that going to be my new catch phrase? “I guess not…” I tried to focus on my doodles again, trying to tune Nathan out, but failing.

“Jeez, how much do you weigh?”

I knew it was a legit question and I didn’t want to hurt his feelings, so I answered. “Ninety-three pounds.” I sighed, waiting for the gasp and the anorexic look. People thought that I was Bulimic, which I was certainly not. I loved to eat food, but I never got any skinnier or taller. I stayed the same Katja I was the day I turned thirteen, not growing an inch since then.

“Hm. Must be a recessive gene. Was your grandmother short?”

I was startled. She was, in fact. “Uh, yeah, actually.” She had died a few months before I was born, but she had given me a locket and a jewelry box with my name etched in the glass. She also left me a picture of her and she was short, like me. Her husband lived here with his new wife, Kalvinia, (of whom he brought back from Russia).

“Interesting…” Nathan went on about something science-related and I had almost had enough of him when the bell rang.

“See you around, Snow Elf!” he called after me.

Good God, Rosie had taken over the school. I heard whispers in the hallways referring to “snow elf” or “that Russian chick”. I hadn’t told anyone that I was Russian except for Rosie.

“Did you hear about the Russian Snow Angel Elf?” I even heard one girl say in awe. I glanced at her and she gasped, whispering even more to her friend.

“She’s so short!” I heard another person say. Wonderful.

“Wow! Is that her? What was her name? Kaka?” I heard another girl ask. No, it was Katja. As in Katy-ah. Ugh, my first day was turning out to be the worst day ever. It even tops the day my parents brought home Kassia. Way worse.

“Katy!” I saw Rosie standing against a locker, clad in her black hoodie with the…Muse logo?

I almost ran towards her, grateful for some kind of cover. “Oh my gosh…” I said, exasperated. I was out of breath.

“Jeez. Are you okay? Oh, there was someone that wanted to meet you. I don’t think it’s a good idea, but he’s one of my best friends.” She seemed to have calmed down since fifth hour. She took my hand and led me through the crowd, swerving and turning until we got to my seventh hour class, which she just happened to have with me.

“Uh, thanks for the escort,” I muttered, starting to turn away.

“Wait a sec, Katy. Someone wanted to meet you.”

I grunted silently and stayed, tapping my foot and knowing we didn’t have much passing period time left.

“Calm down, we still have like five minutes.”

That’s when I saw him. He was tall, probably a foot taller than me, with slick motorcycle boots and washed-out jeans. He had on a black turtle neck that defined his muscular figure. He had short blond hair that was tousled and a little darker in some areas. In fact, it looked like the blond was a little darker up close. He wasn’t tan, but he was white, just like me. His hair was overall a brownish-blond and his eyes were gray and soft like snow. He looked sweet and definitely cute. I expected him to walk right passed me, but he didn’t. He stopped by Rosie’s side and I guessed they were going out. My heart sunk.

“Katja, this is Charles Kempt—Chris for short.”

“Nice to meet you,” he said softly, as if I might scream if he spoke in a normal voice. We shook hands briefly and in those few moments, I swear my hand was on fire. I wonder if he felt it, too.

“See, Chris? I told you,” someone sneered. Another girl appeared to the right of Chris, nearly a carbon copy of him. She had light blond hair that was wavy down to the middle of her back. She was tall and I guessed that Chris was her brother. She had cat-green eyes that seemed incredulous of me. She looked like a movie-star. Pure Hollywood.

“Go away, Anna,” Chris said, his pale eyes focusing on me.

Rosie stuck her tongue out at Anna in a childish way. Anna rolled her eyes and brushed passed me. I got chills from when she just barely grazed my Hollister jacket, the one that had lime-green writing and a longer length to it.

“You are like a little snow princess, aren’t you?”

I couldn’t help but to reply. “I have no idea why Rosie compares me to snow. I mean, I’m from Minnesota for goodness sakes…” I looked down at my snow boots. They were still covered in ketchup from lunch. I couldn’t be considered a princess. Not by a million miles. Katja Stephanie Marie Witte, princess of snow? No way.

“Well, Katy, your skin is as white as a wedding dress and your eyes are as warm as a polished piece of amber. Your hair is as dark as ebony and it stands out perfectly against your beautiful skin. You’re a modern day snow fairy.” Rosie fluffed a lock of my hair.

“Well it was nice meeting you both. See you around.” I hurried into my next class and found a seat in the far back, where I was sure no one could see my ketchup-stained misery. Rosie must be kidding. I was no princess, fairy, or elf and I certainly hated winter and/or snow. I’m just Katja.

 

I was grateful when the dismissal bell rang. I had been assigned a locker by Mr. Goggler, and I rushed out to the parking lot. Then I remembered my mother had dropped me off. I pulled out my cell phone to call her, then I remembered she had lost it back in Minnesota.

“Oh good God… Really mature, Mom, really mature…” I muttered, wondering what to do next. Of course, Vera Hill High School didn’t have any buses, probably because it was such a small town. Vera Hill was a boring town… So what was I going to do? I didn’t even remember my own address. I started walking back to the office, completely pissed off, but I ran right into Chris on my way there.

“Hey there, snow princess.” The remark wasn’t sarcastic or meanly put. He looked at me admiringly and I simply smiled back.

“Hi. Um… Where’s the office?”

He pointed straight ahead. “Right up there, beautiful. See you around, princess.” Again, the remark had not been sarcastic or meanly put. It sounded like he really meant it.

I blushed as he walked away. He was definitely charming and handsome. But way too tall. He towered over the normal-sized Rosie and completely shadowed me. He was definitely handsome. I think I was starting to like him, too. I mean, who wouldn’t?

The office notified my mom and she came and picked me up.

“Sorry, Kat, sweetie. I was actually at the local phone store getting a home phone set up. I decorated the living room today. I started on Kassia’s room and the boys’ but I couldn’t find the key to your room.” She looked sideways at me, accusing me of taking it or hiding it.

“I didn’t want Kassia in my room.”

“Now, Katja, was that necessary? Oh! Have you seen the back of the house yet?”

“No?” What was so important about the back of the house? It was on a hill in the middle of a field with woods surrounding it. Stupid Iowa. Stupid Vera Hill, Iowa.

“Oh, it’s beautiful! Your father doesn’t have to go to work until tomorrow and we were exploring the woods and there’s a trail! There’s even a lake. Didn’t I tell you our property was twenty-acres? Well, it is and we have a whole property in the back of the house! It’s amazing, Kat!”

Why did I care if there were bug-ridden woods in the back of our stupid house?

“Oh! Sorry, sweetie. How was your day?” She looked at my ketchup-stained apparel and pulled what must’ve been a piece of bread out of my hair. She was waiting for an explanation. I didn’t have a very good one.

“Uh… Not the best?” I murmured, picking at a piece of stray thread off of my shirt.

“Mhm.” She eyed me suspiciously.

 

That night, as I pulled the covers over my head, creating my childhood sanctuary I always used to resort to on stormy nights like this, I thought of Chris Kempt and Rosie Regan. I still didn’t know why she had thought of snow when she saw me, other than my pale white skin and contrasting black hair. My eyes were amber—not some weird color that would make everyone think of snow. Everyone’s names had bothered me and I planned to inform them about it.

Except for one.