Black Ice

Jean sat at one of the picnic lunch tables outside of the school building. Even though it was December and snow littered the ground, it was just too nice of a day to be inside.

"What up, girl?" asked a voice coming from Jean's left. She smiled to herself and looked up from her sandwich.

"Hey, Ana...I could ask you the same thing. I've never heard of a blonde Goth before." Jean laughed at her friend's scowl. It was true that anyone would mistake Ana for a blonde Goth. Who wouldn't, with the baggy black jeans, pink top, and a black sweater to going over top of the shirt? It was amusing.

Ana scowled again at her friend's delight and took a seat down in front of her. "I'm not Goth, just punk. Besides the pink and black brings out my blondness," said Ana twirling her pure blonde hair with her fingers. Both girls burst out laughing.

"What's so funny?" asked a red-haired girl with yellow highlights and glittering forest green eyes. She was a few inches taller then Jean and Ana, but her smile was one of open kindness and friendship.

Ana smiled an innocent smile at her older sister, while Jean just smirked at the two of them.

"Hey Tori, make yourself comfortable." Offered Jean; earning a death glare from Ana and a laughing smile from Tori; who was watching her younger sister's antics.

"You two weren't talking about me, by any chance, were you?" asked Tori; sitting down and pulling out a Pepsi.

Ana glared at Jean before saying, "No, Jean was calling me a Blonde Goth. It wasn't very nice." Ana snuffled a little for extra measure. Jean couldn't help, she burst out laughing.

The sisters gave her confused looks. "I'm lost." Said Ana; Tori nodded her head, silently agreeing with her.

"You two are just so hilarious!" Jean nearly shouted. Both sisters gave big grins that sent them all into laughter. Unbeknown to them, a pair of eyes were watching them from across the fence. Actually, it was watching...Jean.

****************Later that evening, 6:04 PM*****************************

Jean walked out of the gym with the other cheerleaders; taking a deep breath of fresh air. The exercise and routine had been a long and tough one. Almost half of the squad didn't get it right away, and they had to keep practicing the same piece over and over again. Finally, Coach Rayne called it quits and the girls had hit the showers.

"I can't believe Coach made us practice that?! I mean who does she think she is, anyway?" ranted Kelly Parkinson to her fellow people. Jean shook her head and made her way over to the parking lot. The only cars there were Kelly's and the Coach's. Where were Ana and Tori?

"That's a horrible idea, Sara! If Jason comes to see me at practice or a game he might let his beautiful eyes wonder to another girl! All guys do it even if they say they don't." Kelly's voice was coming closer and closer.

Jean had been looking around for their car for the past few seconds, when the name Jason penetrated her brain. An image rose in her mind.

A boy, no a guy, no not a guy, a guy becoming a man next weekend, was leaning against the white metal fence, that surrounded the perimeter of the schoolyard. White-black striped shoes lay flat in the grass. Tight, dark blue jeans hugged long legs. A black t-shirt showed off his solid muscles, while matching his short, spiked hair. Black bangs flew across white eyelids, before settling back into place. His eyes had been closed, as if committing to memory the feel of the wind across his face. The guy becoming a man, must have sensed being watched, because his bangs sifted, reveling this time, deep, piercing, open, cobalt-blue eyes. Those perfect eyes captured Jean's; locking them together. Never breaking contact, the guy becoming a man walked closer and closer, until he was able to lean into a kiss...Jean shook her head wildly; trying to erase all parts of her little daydream about her and Jason. What was she thinking? She and Jason...not even in another lifetime. God, where was Ana and Tori? Didn't they know where her mind would take her if they were late?

Then it hit Jean. Ana and Tori had to visit their dad at the hospital and couldn't pick her up. They had told her that last period and only left after she had assured them that she had another way home. 'Damn it. I forgot to call Grandma Teal. She'll kill me if I walk home by myself! Oh, she's probably sleeping. She'll never know...I hope.' Thought Jean, before heading down the hill; towards home.

Half an hour later, Jean was barely half way home. 'How far is my house? Damn...if only~' A sound cut off Jean's train of thought. Snow, crunching snow, the sound it makes when someone steps on it. Jean turned around, but saw no one. 'Weird,' She thought.

She continued walking, idly starring at her surroundings. Soon, Jean saw Ellwood's Park just up ahead. 'Perfect,' she thought. 'Grandma Teal's house comes right after the park ends.' By this time, the sun had well set. Only the streetlamps along the path would be her guide.

Slowly and cautiously, Jean entered the park. It was dark and creepy; the memory of footsteps walking on the snow behind her came back, making Jean glance over her shoulder. Thick blackness surrounded the circles of the glow of the streetlights. 'Now or never.' She thought, before running inside. The sound of hurried footsteps behind her caused her to quicken her pace. It was the same as before, only the feet were moving faster this time.

Scared out of her mind, Jean broke into a dead run. Her pursuer wasn't easily lost though. He too, broke into a run. Jean was too terrified to look back. She had heard all kinds of stories of sixteen-year old girls getting chased, raped, beaten, and killed by crazy maniacs; such as the one behind her.

Jean was running so fast she didn't see the black ice, until she was right on top of it. With a scream, Jean slid off the brick pathway, which led through the park, down over the snowy hill, hit a fallen tree with such force that she was flipped over it, and continued tumbling through the snow, until finally, Jean felt the welcomed darkness of unconsciousness.