ICE (The Benders Series) Read online

  The pair made their way down a single flight of stairs, through a few unexciting hallways, and into a modest cafeteria. Even though Kenna was from a much larger school, she knew the significance of lunch hour in any high school.

  Lunch was when everyone was free to split off into their cliques. In Florida, there were several social circles. There were the jocks, the preps, the bullies, the druggies, the geeks, the farmers, the rich kids, and too many more to list. But here, there were only ten tables, and if you weren’t apart of one of the few groups, you were an obvious outcast.

  From what Kenna could make of it, there was a popular table for both boys and girls for each of the three grades having lunch. There was also a farmer’s table and a few others that she couldn’t quite define by their sitters’ appearances.

  As she and Britney grabbed their plates, Kenna couldn’t help but to ask, “So where do you usually sit?”

  The smiling lunch ladies proceeded to fill the girls’ plates as they chatted. “I used to sit at the end of Chelsea’s table. But I need a change of scenery. You in?”

  Kenna felt a smile set upon her face. “Let’s do it.”

  With that, the pair proceeded to sit on a half empty table whose other residents were a few kind-hearted outcasts.

  “I’d rather sit here then listen to Chelsea’s gossip any day,” Britney commented. “I can only imagine what the witch is talking about right now.”

  With that said, they turned to eye the plastic blond. As it just so happened, the popular girl was staring back at them and pointing. Her pointing quickly changed as she wrapped her hands around her throat to mock drown. Clearly, she was laughing about Kenna’s not-so-funny near death experience with the rest of the girls on the table.

  Kenna rolled her eyes and shrugged off the girl’s prodding.

  “Told you I can’t stand her,” Britney mentioned. “Like I said, I try to keep my distance.”

  Though Kenna longed to be confrontational, for the moment, she agreed that Chelsea wasn’t worth her effort. And she hoped it would stay that way. And it did at least of the rest of the day.

  Kenna felt a mixture of irritation and optimism when she thought about how her first day and first week of school had gone. No, it hadn’t been perfect, but it was much better than what she’d experienced in Florida. Britney had quickly become her best friend, and an actual friend.

  She hadn’t been fake or forced or any of that. Instead, she’d been helpful and kind. Sure, Britney was a bit pushy about some things, but everyone had to have some kind of flaw, Kenna figured.

  The girl rolled over again in her bed and began to ponder upon another of the recent happenings.

  Her first date with Jon Colewell.

  A smile came to her face at just the thought of his name.

  Sunday.

  Except not really a sun-day. Instead, clouds protected the winter from the sun’s shining rays. Though really it looked more like one cloud, one giant grayish white mass that seemed to stretch from horizon to horizon with no gaps, no holes, like a giant impenetrable shield.

  And then there was the ice.

  Ice.

  So much ice.

  Clearly an ice storm had passed through the night before and had coated every little thing with its clear, frozen expulsions. Kenna was quite pleased with the sight as she made her way to where she’d be meeting Jon.

  Every tree, every branch, every cherry that still clung to its crippling twig was covered in the solid water. To the girl, it was almost like time stood still as she marched on, doing her best not to slip on the way of course. Not a living thing moved. Not a living thing breathed like they were afraid that the tiniest of movement might shatter their enchanted, icy cover.

  Normally Kenna would be nervous for a meeting like this, but the wonder of the winter somehow had her very at ease.

  Probably too at ease. For as she neared the park, she found herself suddenly rear down on the street.

  “Shit,” she whispered under her breath as she hit the hard ground. But upon standing, she was grateful that such an event took place before she was with her date.

  Jon Colewell.

  Upon the days leading up to the date, Kenna decided that she’d do her best to leave her thoughts of the paranormal behind her…or at least inside her. Though the investigator within her longed to examine and interrogate the boy, she decided that for the time being she’d simply enjoy their outing. If she were honest with herself, enjoy would be an understatement as she was secretly thrilled to be meeting the handsome Colewell today.

  Quite frankly, he was one of the best-looking people she’d ever seen. His tousled dark hair, his glowing blue eyes, his ridiculously masculine build…her mouth was watering at the thought of him!

  Despite her crush, Kenna knew better than to let any boy get a big head. So for now, she’d let him play chase a little. But as she looked upon the ice rink to where the boy was waiting for her, she couldn’t help but think that hiding her feelings would be quite a difficult task, more difficult that teaching an overgrown elephant how to climb a tree.

  Nevertheless, she approached Jon with a beautiful easiness with her hair and her posture very relaxed and at ease. There was silence for a moment, but Kenna interrupted the awkwardness as soon as she realized that it existed. “So, what’s on the agenda for our date?” she asked.

  “Do you like hockey?” he asked. “Or skating?”

  “You do know that I’m from Florida, right?” she questioned with a hint of cynicism.

  He immediately smiled at her wit and seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. “So you’ve never skated before?”

  “Not once,” she admitted. “I suppose you want to see me fall on my butt all day then? Is that the plan?”

  “Yep, that’s the plan!” he laughed. “Though judging by how you caught that football, I’d say you have more athletic ability than you let on.”

  Kenna shrugged her shoulders at the compliment. “Well, I’m no superstar, but if there were a bear chasing us in the woods, I’d say there’s a fifty-fifty shot that I outrun you.”

  “Really? Outrun me?” he begged, as he retrieved a pair of white skates and tossed them next to her feet.

  “Well I’d have to trip you first obviously,” she clarified as she took a seat in the cold snow. “Perfect, my butt will be frozen before I fall on it. Brilliant. All numbed up first. But I should be used to that anyway.”

  Jon raised an eyebrow at her mumbling. He then skated to the center of the ice and rested his weight on his hockey stick as he waited for her to lace up her skates.

  “So are you gonna help me or what?” she asked as she completed her tying and felt the snow begin to bite at her heinie.

  “No, you can figure it out,” he replied as he skated in a few perfect figure eights.

  Kenna lifted herself and pushed her way onto the ice. As she tried to stand, she felt herself losing balance and bent to catch herself with her hands.

  “For real, are you going to help me or what?” Kenna fired, feeling both a little embarrassed and slightly irritated.

  “But I’m enjoying my view,” he laughed as he rather roughly grabbed her jacket and pulled her to a stand.

  The pair didn’t hold hands. He more or less dragged her around by her jacket until she’d gained enough confidence to skate on her own.

  Kenna could hardly look up at the Colewell as it required almost all of her concentration to stay upright on her skates. “I hope you don’t consider this romantic,” she blurted as she began to find the skating become a little easier.

  “You’re a natural,” he argued. “This is fun.”

  “Fun for you,” she mumbled. “Well anyway,” she changed the subject, “as long as we are here on this date type thing, we should probably take care of some big questions.” Kenna made eye contact with him as he took on a countenance of confusion. “You know, what do you like to do? What’s your family like? What are your life goals? Your job? Religion? That sort of thing.”r />
  He nodded his head upon understanding her point. “Well, I like sports obviously and just the basic stuff I suppose. How about you?”

  Kenna was pleased that he actually took an interest in what she had to say, unlike during their previous encounters. “I don’t know. I like to walk and to go to the beach. Well, I used to like to go to the beach anyway. Not sure what I’ll like to do up here yet. Skating is alright I suppose,” she said, seeing a smile curl around Jon’s lip at her answer. “So what about your family? Your mother seems like quite a nice lady,” she added with the usual sarcasm.

  “Well, it’s my mom and my three brothers as you’ve seen. Bryce and I are close I would say, and my mom is protective,” he replied. He could see the question on her face and quickly clarified, “My dad died in a car accident like ten years ago. But don’t worry about it, nothing I can do about it now. So how about you? Bryce says you moved up with your dad?”

  Kenna swallowed the bulge that built in her throat at his response. “Sorry about your dad,” she said. It was quiet for a few seconds. And for a brief moment, Kenna thanked God that she still had her dad. “Yes, I moved up with my father. I used to live in Jacksonville and would go back and forth between his house and my mom’s. But my mom got remarried and has three other kids now. So when my dad moved up, I decided I would go too.”

  “Why? Didn’t you have a life in Florida?” he questioned upon her response.

  “Yea, but my mom and I just didn’t see eye to eye, and I thought a change of scenery might be nice. So, here I am,” she said with a smile. “So you are nineteen? Are you still in school then?”

  “Graduate with my AA this winter. I’ve been working in the family business for a few years now though, which is why I still live with my mom,” he explained as he grabbed a hockey stick for the girl and placed a crushed pop can on the ice. “My older brothers are in the family business as well. Pays too good to leave I guess. So what are your college plans?”

  She shrugged her shoulders as she took the stick. “I don’t even know yet. I just want to get through this semester,” Kenna said with an eye roll.

  “And you’re only seventeen?” he asked as took a stand several feet away from her and passed the puck with a quick move of his stick.

  “Yup,” she said. “I know, this date is scandalous.” Kenna stopped the pop can with her skate as it glided towards her. “So how about religion?”

  He paused as he watched her rather effortlessly pass the puck back to him. “Well I believe in God if that’s what you’re asking,” he said though his sentence was a bit scattered as he was too impressed with her pass.

  “Same here,” Kenna smiled, noting how fascinated he was. “It wasn’t that great of a pass.”

  “I know,” he shot quickly to hide his amazement. “Decent for a beginner though I guess.”

  They smiled at each other, and the world truly did stop. No wind, no snow, no breath, no movement. Just perfection.

  Jon was the first to divert his gaze. “So that covers the big questions I suppose. Well, except one,” he pointed out. “What’s your idea of dating? You know like dating me?”

  Kenna laughed. “I think dating you would be…fun. But the thing is, when I date someone, it means that I’m not dating anyone else.”

  “Deal,” Jon replied with enthusiasm.

  The smile never left her face as she skated towards the Colewell. “So how about we blow this popsicle stand and get something to eat.”

  Jon smirked. “But I like popsicles.”

  Kenna shook her head. “Well, I’ll be waiting in your truck, popsicle boy.” They both proceeded to take off their skates and hop into the run-down truck. “So how about pizza? I love pizza. Haven’t had it since moving up here.”

  “I’m actually not a fan of pizza,” he winced. “I actually prefer cold food myself.” Kenna gave him a look as if to say ‘are you serious?’ as he shifted into drive. “How about a sub? You can get yours toasted.”

  She rolled her eyes. “I guess that’ll be fine, but you should really crank the heat in here. My toes are going numb.”

  Then Jon made a sound as if to sigh. “Ooo actually the heat doesn’t really function. But there’s a blanket in the backseat. You can warm up with that.”

  The shivering girl reached behind her and pulled the tattered blanket over herself. “Well next time we take my vehicle,” she murmured as she curled into a ball in the passenger seat. “So do I get to hold your hand while you’re driving or what?”

  He reached his hand out to take hers but upon their touch, he recoiled immediately. “Sorry, germaphobe. If you have gloves, that’ll work though,” he suggested as he put his hand back on the wheel.

  “Well no hand-holding I guess then,” she replied angrily. “I don’t usually wear gloves.”

  “Well you’ll have to start,” Jon interrupted her complaining. “After all, I want to make sure every guy out there knows who’s holding your hand. You’ll attract a lot of attention from the guys around here. You’re beautiful.”

  Kenna felt her face begin to blush. For someone who was so cold, he was awfully sweet when he wanted to be. “I suppose so,” she said to brush off the praise. “But I warn you, I’m about to get a foot long steak and cheese with double the cheese and a ton of southwest sauce. We’ll see if you still think I’m beautiful after you see me down all twelve inches.”

  “I know I will,” he smiled as he turned to her.

  And he did. He even reminded her as they parted late that day, though he also reminded her that he finished his foot long first.

  And their first date was one of many that followed. Somehow, Jon never ceased to surprise her. As cocky and rugged as he seemed, the boy had an obvious soft spot for the girl, and an obvious attraction to her as well.

  Kenna hugged her pillow as she recalled another of their quite unique engagements.

  Snow week.

  Apparently in the northern states, schools found extra special ways to celebrate the bitter winters, and it was another great illustration of the exceptionality of their relationship.

  “Please, will you come? You can totally see me embarrass myself with my killer dance moves?!” Kenna recalled begging, her mouth curving into a pathetic pout as Jon parked his truck across the street from her house. “And you should know that I haven’t decided if you are really an arrogant asshole or actually kind of a sweetheart. Bear that in mind with your answer.”

  He shook his head. “I’m nineteen. I’ve served my time. High school is the last place I want to be,” Jon argued despite her convincing disappointment.

  “Perfect then,” she said spitefully. “I’m already a loser. Now I’ll be a loser with no date to the Snow Week dance. First ever snow week and first dance at this school and it’ll be a total bust.” Kenna sighed seeing that he remained unmoved by her anger. She crossed her arms over her chest and turned away from him. “I guess I just won’t go.”

  Jon laughed a little as he was altogether amused with her charade. “You know you can’t manipulate me that easily, Kenna. You can go have a fun time with Brit.”

  She turned and glared at him, his pleasure making her fury become almost sincere. “Fine. But I’ll remember this,” she warned as she stepped out of the truck.

  “I’m sure you will,” he replied with a shake of his head. “I’ll see you later.”

  “Yea, yea,” she sighed as she closed the door. “Later.”

  Kenna never really knew what later meant. Her dates with Jon were generally off-the-cuff with no real planning or prearrangement. But she liked that. For some reason, she never really worried about their relationship, even though it was only a month or so old. It was just…easy.

  But what wasn’t easy was getting prepared for a snow week dance. Despite her previous words, she had decided to attend the festivities with Britney, who of course wouldn’t have taken no for answer anyways. So on this particular evening, Kenna was quite busy. Her hair had been straightened, her make-up appli
ed perfectly, and her outfit picked to perfection. According to her friend, the dance would be casual, and Kenna had a knack for making casual into something quite extraordinary.

  Kenna gave her reflection a brief study in the mirror. She was clad in a long sleeve, light pink, flannel shirt. The girl had observed several girls wearing flannel in school and thought this would be the perfect opportunity to try it herself. Although her predisposition was one of skepticism, she found that she quite liked the look. The light pink brought out her blushed cheeks against her pretty pale skin. And the pattern of the loose flannel had an oddly slimming effect- though she hardly needed one. The jeggings, of course, clung tightly to her toned legs while the boots hugged firmly to her calves.

  She really was flawless, even if she didn’t think she was.

  Flawless.

  And dateless.

  Kenna’s smile turned into a disappointed frown as she recalled her conversation with Jon.

  “’I’ve served my time,’” she mocked out loud to herself.

  But before she could continue on her self-ensuing rant, a loud honking came from the street below.

  “Is that Brit or what?” her dad called from the floor below. Kenna made her way quickly down the stairs and into the porch where she threw on her jacket.

  “Must be,” she replied. “I thought she wouldn’t be here for another fifteen minutes though. Oh well,” she said out of breath from her sprint. “I’ll be home by midnight!”

  “Yes you will,” her father nodded slipping some money into his daughter’s purse as he handed it to her. “Have fun.”

  When Kenna stepped out into the blackness that was a Minnesota evening, the girl realized that it was not Britney waiting for her, but a white and rusty truck. She practically ran to the vehicle when she recognized who was waiting for her.

  “I thought you weren’t coming?!” The girl practically flew into the truck and beamed as she grabbed Jon’s hand with excitement.

  He quickly jerked it away from her and placed it on the steering wheel. “Eh, I guess I wanted to see you embarrass yourself on the dancefloor after all,” he joked.