Snow falling; that’s all I can remember before passing out from the cold.

It was a cold December day and I’d wanted to go out and play in the snow before dinner; all the layers my mom covered me in didn’t seem to be enough, they just made me look like a plushy marshmallow. My parents had warned me not to go too far into the woods by my house, but my eight year old curiosity seemed to push those warnings aside. I should have listened. Before I knew it, I was lost; the falling snow obscured me vision and all the white on the ground and trees made everything look the same. I wandered around for what seemed like forever; it was starting to get dark and I was sure my parents were looking for me by now. I thought of calling out for them but I was too cold to yell, my body was growing stiff and before I knew it I was laying on my side in the snow; I could feel the cold envelope me as my breathing got slower. I couldn’t move. I just laid there, frozen in the snow, watching the snowflakes slowly fall only to disappear into the vast whiteness. My eyes grew blurry then everything went black.

Next thing I remember was hearing footsteps crunch in the snow and the sensation of being carried, but I was still too cold to open my eyes. I must’ve blacked out again because the next thing I remember was being set down on the ground. This time I managed to open my eyes and at first everything was blurry; then I saw him, a young boy not much older than me with hair as black as night and eyes to match. I looked around and noticed that I was laying on my front porch. I looked back at him. I could see his mouth moving but I couldn’t hear anything; my mouth reading skills hadn’t always been that great, but it looked like he was trying to say: “Everything’s going to be alright.” He then stood up; his clothes looked funny, like something from medieval times. He turned and ran off towards the trees, but just before he reached them he turned into a wolf, then disappeared into the night. After a few seconds of lying on the deck alone I was suddenly blinded by a bright light, I think it was a flashlight, and I could hear muffled voices as my hearing started to come back. The light made me dizzy and I passed out again.

“Natalie, earth to Natalie… Hello!”

My mind snaps back into focus and I remember I’m back in my classroom. I’d gotten lost in thought, again; something I did often. I look up, my friend Jill’s face is just a few inches away from mine. I jolt back, startled by how close she is.

“Sorry, I… I got distracted… what happened?”

“Yah, I can see that. The bell rang, class is over.”

I reach down and grab my bag from under my chair, unzip the first pocket and shove all my books and notes inside. After that I zip the pocket back up, stand and follow Jill outside. The halls are packed. People opening their lockers getting ready to go home for the weekend; others are trying to make their way through the sea of people, everyone shoving and yelling.

“Man, I cannot wait for graduation!” Jill says as she shoves a freshman out of the way. “No more loud, cram-packed hallways. No more annoying freshman who think they know everything. And best of all we never have to see any of these freaks ever again!” A huge smile appears on her face, but it quickly vanishes as she gets shoved into the wall by a tall sophomore wearing basketball shorts and a baseball cap. “Hey! Watch where you’re going idiot!”

I laugh and shake my head as we continue to fight our way towards our locker. The air is scented with all different types of cologne and perfume, and a combination of body odor. We finally make it to our locker and begin unloading all our unnecessary things inside. Just before I close the door I feel a hand on my back shove me into the locker next to mine. Stunned I look back to find Macie, the cheerleader captain. Surrounding her is a hoard of all her little minions giggling and smirking at what she’d just done.

“Watch where you’re going freak!” She says with a smile that would put the devil himself to shame.

“Sorry…” I say quietly, I didn’t want to start any fights or drama; I just wanted to get my things and go home. Besides, if I said anything else my anger would have gotten the best of me and I probably would’ve decked her in the face.

“Natalie don’t be so nice! Listen Macie, you and I both know very well she was nowhere near you and your minions!” Jill yells at her. Macie looks back at her, another menacing smile appears on her face.

“Well look what we have here, the Freak and her fat sidekick. Watch out girls she might eat you, if she’s hungry.”

The minions break out in a chorus of laughter. I look over at Jill, she’s never really been a skinny girl, but she still isn’t that big, and takes pleasure in her curves. Her face gives off a look that would make you think either she didn’t hear what Macie said, which I don’t know who wouldn’t since she was practically yelling it over the sea of people, or she just doesn’t care what Macie says about her. I’ve always been thankful to have a friend like Jill. She’s always been there for me and will stick up for me when I can’t find myself to do it.

“At least I’m not afraid to be who I am and eat whatever I want, because like I care what you think. Look at you, you’re practically skin and bone. And you clearly wear way too much makeup to hide those nasty, big pimples that protrude from your face.”

Macie’s smile disappears and is replaced with an look that could murder anyone who looks at it. Some of the minions cover their mouths in shock, while others look at Macie with wide eyes and gaping mouths.

“Better watch you say Cellulite, someone could get hurt.” Macie’s face is now burning red, and if life was a cartoon she’d have steam coming out of her ears.

“What like you? Better take some of your own advice sugar plum. Wouldn’t want me to sit on you, I might break your fragile bones. Let’s go Natalie, she’s not worth more of our time or breath. I’ve already wasted precious brain cells just by looking at her.” Jill grabs my arm and shoves her way through the crowd. I can hear some of the minions ask Macie if she’s okay, followed by some snappy remark from Macie.

“Thanks Jill.”

“Don’t mention it. But seriously Nat, you really need to stand up for yourself. It’s been ten years; people need to just grow up and let things go. But that’s never going to happen if you keep letting them walk all over you.” She looks at me with the face my mom gives when she’s lecturing me. But that’s what I love so much about Jill, she’s not afraid to be honest and tell you exactly what is on her mind. Although at times it can get her into trouble. I can always rely on her to be by my side; but she is right, it’s been ten years since I was saved from almost freezing to death in the forest. When I woke up in the hospital my mom was hysterical, she wouldn’t stop crying and hugging me. And when I’d told them my savior was a boy who could change into a wolf they exchanged a confused look and told me it was just my imagination. At school my story about the wolf boy spread like wildfire and I’ve been bullied for it ever since. I guess some people just aren’t that original, and look for whatever excuse they can use to put people under them, even after ten years.

“Hey looks its Natalie, the liar!”

“What a freak.”

“I bet she made that story up to get attention.”

“Yah, I bet that’s what she did.”

“What a freak.”

“Yah, freak!”

“Hey! Idiots, don’t call my friend a freak!”

She was in my class, although I’d never talked to her before. She was a little chubby and always wore her hair in pigtails. Often times she would wave “Hi” to me, but I would turn away. I was always too scared to make friends after the story of what had happened to me got around to the other kids. And here she was, someone I didn’t even know standing up for me and calling me her friend when I had never said a word to her before.

“Well she is a freak, there’s no such thing as a ‘wolf boy’. And if she’s your friend then that must make you a freak as well. Run away from the freaks!! They’re contagious!” One of the little boys yells pointing at her. All the other kids giggled and began running away, some of them screaming followed by more laughs. She turned towards me and gave me a big smile.

“Hi, my name is Jill. Don’t listen to those losers; they’re the freaks. What’s your name?”

I wiped away a tear that was running down my cheek from crying and tried to give the same big smile she’d given me.

“I’m Natalie.”

“Natalie, we’re going to be best friends from now on.” She laughed and gave me a big hug.

‘Friends? We’re going to be best friends.’

And that was the day Jill became my very first best friend.

Jill and I push our way through the doors of the high school taking in the fresh air and wonderful moment of freedom from the stinky, cramped hallways inside. We welcome a nice fall breeze as it whistles through the colorful trees, causing them to look as if they are on fire. I adjust my backpack on my shoulder. Jill rummages through her bag for her keys.

“Hey you should come over, its been a while since we had a girl’s night! And after that encounter with Macie just now I need a night of fun. I feel like I lost five years of my life.” Jill says with a big smile across her face.

“I can’t tonight I have dance practice. And I still have to create my routine for the upcoming competition. Not to mention the truck load of homework I just got today.”

“Yah, but you’re already smart and can get your homework done real fast, that and we can do it together. Plus, I can drive you to practice and then you can sleepover tonight.”

“As tempting as that sounds I still shouldn’t go.”

“You’re going hiking too, aren’t you?” she asks, the tone in her voice sends a chill down my spine. Hiking was the term we used when I go out to the forest near my house looking to see if I can find the boy who’d saved my life. I knew deep down Jill didn’t fully believe in what I saw ten years ago, but she was still supportive and the only person who didn’t criticize me for it.

“Maybe.” I say looking anywhere but at her.

She sighs and shakes her head. “Girl you know I love you, and support you, but don’t you think that ten years of finding nothing is a clear indication that there’s nothing to find?” Jill’s honesty makes my blood boil sometimes, but I know she’s just saying that because she cares and is worried about me.

“I have to know for certain if what I saw was real. And until then I’m going to keep looking. You could join me if you want. It’s still nice and fun being out in nature, regardless of whether I find something or not.”

“Hah! Yah hiking and I don’t exactly fit in the same category. But I’ll give you a ride home.”