Snow crunched below my feet as I walked along the sidewalk, the street lamps appearing every so often to give flickering light. I breathed out, my breath clouding in front of me before coming back a moment later. The sky above was dark, the moon the only noticeable thing peeking out from behind a large house.
I gripped the envelope in my pocket for the fifth time, making sure it was really there. I bit my lip the sharp tang of blood reassuring me this was really happening. Yet the thudding in my chest and the nearly magical look of the midnight snow around me, covering rooftops and sidewalks in one thick layer, dared to disagree.
I pulled my beanie lower to cover my ears, making sure my scarf covered my lips and nose just in case I got caught. I squinted through the slight sting of the cold, looking through the falling tufts of snow to pin down the large house at the end of the street. I felt my heart skip a few beats as I neared, my face flushing with warmth.
I slowed down until I was facing the house directly, the cement path leading up towards the balcony covered in a slick patch of ice. Should I put this in the mailbox or on the front steps?
I glanced at the bright red mailbox beside me and frowned. The mailbox would certainly be easier..but what fun was that? I let out a nervous giggle and moved slowly over the patches of ice, gradually making my way over to the front door. All the lights in the house were off, guaranteeing me a safe reassurance that I wouldn't get caught.
I took the last step over the final ice patch, my heart beating faster as I slowly pulled out the mint green envelope. I glanced at the anonymous in my loopy cursive, and then Jason Maxwell's name on the front. This was it.
I took in a deep breath, my gaze flicking up the stairs as I debated leaving it right where I was. The snow had already covered my boots in a thick dusty layer, making me abandon my idea. The front door it is.
"Hey!" I jumped, my boot sending me tripping over the ice patch behind me. A tiny yelp escaped my chapped lips as my butt smacked against the ground.
"Whoa-hey!" Pain shot up my leg, making tears brime my eyes as I looked up. A blurry figure stood above me, shining a flashlight pointed directly in my face.
"Can you please turn that off!" I threw up my arm in front of my eyes, tears barely noticeable as they dripped down my chin. The flash light clicked off.
"Yeah sorry. Wait..whoa. Who the hell are you? Why are you at my house?" Blinking rapidly I looked up, Jason Maxwell stood over me, his lean built torso clearly noticeable in his tight tee. I couldn't help but stare at him as he loomed over me, blonde hair dishelved atop his head, and a flashlight dangling at his side. I stuttered as his sharp green gaze seemed to cut into me.
"I-I was..I.." I swallowed my mouth going completely dry. I shoved my hand in my pocket, searching with numb fingers. My heart sped up as my fingertips met nothing. Where was the note?
Luckily, Jason didn't seem to be looking at me anymore, but at my leg. His brow furrowed and he opened his mouth.
"Uh..hey are you alright?" Jason's gaze still didn't meet mine as he spoke, his gaze fixed at my leg. I swallowed and glanced down, my eyes nearly bugging out of my head. My leg throbbed my foot bent at a slightly odd angle, shooting spikes of pain up my leg.
I felt my mouth drop open, my mouth filing with bile as a scream lodged in my throat.
"My..my leg.." My head swam and the world seemed to tilt, bringing a dark fuzzy edge at the sides of my vision. The last thing I saw was the rest of the lights flick on one by one, Jason's figure no longer in front of me. Screaming filled my thoughts as I passed out.
~~~~~~~~~
"What were you thinking Mazie? No actually-" Dad pressed his hands against his head. "-what were you doing? Outside in the middle of the night-"
"Past curfew!" Mom piped in and glared at me from the top of her coffee mug. Dad nodded pointing at her, before turning his gaze back to me.
"Past curfew and in the Maxwell's yard? Do you know how much of a heart attack you put us in when they called us and told us that our daughter was passed out in their yard?" I kept my gaze on my hands, a lump forming in my throat.
"You scared us Mia." Mom shook her head, gripping her coffee mug in her lap. "Your ankle is spranged-"
"Thank God." Dad cut In and mumbled in his hands, rubbing his eyes.
"-which probably isn't worth whatever you were doing.."
"Shouldn't of been." Dad sighed and glared at the floor.
"No it shouldn't of." Mom looked up at me, her eyes puffed and red. "What were you doing Mia? What was worth going over to a boys house for goodness sake?" I kept silent, not trusting myself to speak for fear of crying. I wasn't one of those people that could hold it together. Especially in front of my parents.
"You need rest." Dad stood up from his chair and walked over towards the door, putting on his coat. "But don't think that school isn't an option Mia. Or a punishment."
I nodded, my face burning. Just the thought of what punishment they would come up with was terrifying. I remember they told Blake that he wasn't aloud to use electricity for a month. I thought it was funny at the time, but the thought of that punishment being mine sent shudders up my spine. I prayed they would go easy on me.
"You need to tell that boy thank you." Mom slid into her own coat, coming over to give me a small kiss. "Write him a note or something." I tensed my eyes going wide as mom turned and walked out the door with dad. Note. My note.
Where was it?
I sat up, my heart racing against my chest. Fuzzy images of walking up the side walk came to mind, then the shout and fall and then..nothing. I sucked in a breath, dreading the sickly feeling that nagged at my insides. Did I drop it?
I groaned pressing a pillow against my face. Oh God..what if he found it? Suddenly the whole Anonymous on the back of the envelope seemed cringey. He most likely knew who I was now. I backtracked clinging to the small hope that maybe he would forget, or maybe he would just save me the embarrassment and leave me alone.
Maybe. I sank back into the hospital bed, knowing that tomorrow I would have to leave for school.
I closed my eyes, willing sleep to come.
