Whispers In The Snow

The next few days blurred together, a haze of snow and quiet that felt like the world holding its breath. December 15th through 17th, winter break stretched out, and I was still crashing at the Forresters’, trying to piece myself together. My parents’ absence was a constant ache, like a bruise I kept pressing, but Belle, Bella, and Luca—they were keeping me from falling apart. The town was all festive lights and holiday cheer, but under it, I felt something waiting, watching. Not the dolls, not yet—just a shadow at the edge of everything, too faint to name.

It started with a lazy morning, December 15th, when Belle dragged me out of bed to help decorate the Forresters’ Christmas tree. She was in full holiday mode, untangling lights and tossing tinsel like it was her job. “You can’t just mope in bed all break, Wise,” she said, shoving a box of ornaments at me. Her smile was soft but stubborn, the kind that made it hard to argue.

“Fine, but if I break something, it’s on you,” I said, grabbing a glittery star. Our hands brushed as we hung it, her fingers warm against mine, and she didn’t pull away. We worked side by side, her shoulder against mine, and when she leaned in to adjust an ornament, her hair grazed my cheek, smelling like vanilla and snow. My heart did that stupid flip again, and I caught her grinning, like she knew exactly what she was doing.

“You’re not bad at this,” she teased, stepping back to admire the tree. “Maybe you’ve got a future in holiday decor.”

“Pass,” I said, but I was smiling, her warmth pulling me out of the fog. She grabbed my hand, tugging me to the couch, and we collapsed together, her head resting on my chest. It was easy, natural, like she was the only thing keeping my world from cracking.

Luca and Bella showed up later, carrying bags of junk food for what Luca called “movie night, epic edition.” They were official now, a thing that happened sometime after the market, when Luca apparently asked her out over a late-night text. Belle filled me in, whispering like it was top-secret gossip. “He was so nervous,” she said, laughing. “Bella’s got him wrapped around her finger.”

I saw it the second they walked in. Luca had his arm around Bella’s waist, and she was leaning into him, her usual sharp edges softened. She caught me staring and smirked, but it wasn’t her old predatory grin—just playful, like she was finally comfortable. “What, Harrington? Never seen a power couple before?” she said, tossing a bag of chips at me.

Luca laughed, pulling her closer. “She’s just jealous of my charm,” he said, winking at me. Bella rolled her eyes, but she didn’t move away, her hand resting on his knee as they sat on the floor, sorting through DVDs.

Movie night was a mess of laughter and bad action flicks, with Luca and Bella cuddled under a blanket, her head on his shoulder. He kept stealing popcorn from her bowl, and she’d swat his hand, giggling in a way that didn’t sound like the old Bella at all. Belle and I were tangled on the couch, her legs across mine, her fingers tracing lazy circles on my arm. Every time she laughed at Luca’s dumb commentary, I felt her breath against my neck, and it was like the world shrank to just us. I kissed the top of her head, soft enough that no one noticed, and she squeezed my hand, like she was saying, I’m here.

The next day, December 16th, we ended up at the town’s old park, where Luca had the bright idea to visit the treehouse we used to mess around in as kids. It was tucked in a grove of pines, a rickety thing we’d built with stolen boards and too many nails. “C’mon,” Luca said, leading the way, his arm slung around Bella’s shoulders. “Gotta show Bella the legend of Wise’s hiding spot.”

Bella raised an eyebrow, smirking. “Hiding spot? What, were you playing hide-and-seek or something?”

I snorted, trudging through the snow with Belle’s hand in mine. “More like hiding from Dez Carter. Dude used to chase me after school, back when he thought he was king of the playground.”

Luca laughed, climbing the treehouse ladder, pulling Bella up behind him. “Wise was like a damn ninja. Dez and his goons never found him up here.”

The treehouse was smaller than I remembered, cramped and smelling of damp wood, but it was ours. Graffiti from years ago—our initials, dumb drawings—covered the walls. I pointed to a corner behind a stack of old crates. “That’s where I’d hide,” I said. “Crouched there for hours sometimes, listening to Dez cuss me out below.”

Bella climbed into the spot, folding her legs to fit. “Cozy,” she said, grinning. “You must’ve been a scrawny kid.”

“Still am,” I shot back, and she laughed, her eyes bright in the dim light.

Luca leaned against the wall, pulling Bella against him when she climbed out. “See? Told you it’s legendary. Wise was untouchable up here.” His hand rested on her hip, casual but protective, and she smiled up at him, her usual sass replaced by something softer.

Belle squeezed my hand, her voice low. “You never told me about this place.”

“Didn’t think it mattered,” I said, but her closeness, the way she looked at me, made it feel like it did. I pulled her into the corner, sitting where I used to hide, and she settled next to me, her head on my shoulder. “This was my safe spot,” I said, my voice quieter. “Before you.”

She looked up, her eyes soft, and kissed me, quick but warm, her lips tasting like the peppermint chapstick she always used. “You don’t need to hide anymore,” she whispered.

Luca and Bella were too busy to notice, tangled in their own moment, his arms around her as she laughed at some joke. Their ease, the way they fit, was new but right, like they’d been circling each other forever.

That’s when I saw him—Dez, standing at the edge of the grove, half-hidden by the pines. His jacket was open, his hands in his pockets, but his eyes were locked on us. On Belle, pressed against me in the treehouse window. On Bella, laughing in Luca’s arms. His face was stone, but the jealousy was alive, burning in the way his jaw clenched, his shoulders rigid. He didn’t move, didn’t call out, just watched, like he was carving every moment into his brain. I didn’t tell the others. Didn’t want to ruin this.

By December 17th, we were back at the Forresters’, helping Mrs. Forrester wrap presents for a charity drive. Two kids from school showed up to help—Jaden, the loudmouth from Dez’s crew who’d thrown that snowball, and Sophie, a quiet girl with braids who was in our English class. Jaden was all jokes, wrapping gifts like he was racing, while Sophie was careful, folding paper with precision. “This is for the kids at the shelter,” she said, her voice soft. “My cousin’s there. Means a lot.”

I nodded, impressed. “You’re doing good, Sophie.”

Jaden grinned, tossing a bow at me. “Yeah, Harrington, keep up. Can’t let Sophie outshine us.”

Luca laughed, taping a box shut, his shoulder bumping Bella’s. She was focused, wrapping a teddy bear, but when Luca leaned over to “fix” her bow, she smirked and flicked tape at him. He caught her wrist, pulling her close, and she didn’t pull away, their foreheads touching for a second before she shoved him, laughing. “Focus, Morales,” she said, but her smile was all affection.

Belle caught my eye, smirking. “They’re gross,” she whispered, her hand slipping into mine under the table.

“Grosser than us?” I said, squeezing her hand.

She grinned, leaning in to kiss my cheek. “Never.”

Dez showed up later, dropping off a box of donations for the drive. He didn’t say much, just handed it to Mrs. Forrester, but his eyes found us—me and Belle holding hands, Luca and Bella sharing a quiet laugh. His gaze was cold, sharp, like he was swallowing something bitter. He lingered at the door, watching Bella tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, Luca’s hand brushing hers. Dez’s fists clenched, his knuckles white, but he left without a word, the door slamming a little too hard.

That night, we sprawled in the Forresters’ living room, the charity gifts stacked in a corner. Belle was curled against me on the couch, her legs across mine, her fingers tracing my palm. Luca and Bella were on the floor, sharing a blanket, her head on his chest as he played with her hair. Jaden and Sophie had left, but their presence lingered, like they’d become part of this weird, fragile family we were building.

“Think we’re ready for Christmas?” Luca asked, his voice lazy but his eyes on Bella.

She smirked, poking his side. “Ready to lose at gift-giving, maybe.”

He laughed, pulling her closer. “Challenge accepted.”

Belle yawned, her head heavy on my shoulder. “This is nice,” she murmured. “Us. Together.”

“Yeah,” I said, my voice rough. But as I looked out the window, I saw it—a flicker of red, tattered and fleeting, in the snow. Gone when I blinked. Holiday lights, I told myself, but the knot in my gut tightened. This peace, these moments—they were real, but they were temporary. Something was coming, and no amount of treehouses or presents could stop it.

Chapter 24: Whispers in the Snow

The days kept slipping by, each one piling on the illusion of normal. December 18th through 20th, winter break was a blur of snow-covered streets and holiday prep, but the hole in my chest—where Mom and Dad used to be—never let me forget. Living at the Forresters’ was starting to feel less like borrowing someone else’s life, but it wasn’t home. Not really. Belle, Luca, and Bella were my tether, keeping me from sinking, but there was something in the air now, a chill that wasn’t just the weather. Like the world was holding its breath, waiting for something to snap.

It started on the 18th, when Belle decided we needed to “get out of the house” and dragged us to the town’s ice rink—not the market one, but a bigger outdoor setup by the community center. She was in full boss mode, her aggressive streak showing as she shoved skates into my hands. “No excuses, Wise,” she said, her eyes flashing with that fire I loved. “You’re skating, or I’m dragging you onto the ice myself.”

I smirked, lacing up. “You’re scary when you’re like this, you know.”

“Good,” she shot back, grinning. “Keeps you in line.” She grabbed my arm, pulling me toward the rink, her grip firm but her touch warm. When we hit the ice, she didn’t let go, her hand sliding into mine, and we glided together, her laughter cutting through the cold. She was fast, fearless, weaving through the crowd, and I could barely keep up. At one point, she spun around, facing me, skating backward with a smirk. “You’re slowing me down, Harrington.”

“Keep talking, and I’ll trip you,” I said, but I was grinning, her energy pulling me out of my head. She leaned in, kissing me quick, her lips cold but soft, and my heart stumbled worse than my feet on the ice.

Luca and Bella were already there, and it was obvious they were deep in their new thing. They’d made it official after the market, and now they were that couple—hands all over each other, laughing too loud. Bella’s aggressive edge came out when some kid cut them off on the ice. “Watch it, asshole!” she snapped, her voice sharp enough to make the kid flinch. Luca laughed, pulling her close, his arm around her waist like it belonged there.

“Easy, killer,” he said, kissing her temple. She rolled her eyes but melted into him, her usual bite softened by the way he looked at her—like she was the only one on the rink.

We ran into more kids from school, faces I knew but hadn’t really talked to before. There was Ethan, a tall, lanky guy from our history class who was always doodling in his notebook. He was skating with Mia, the quiet girl from the market with the ornaments, her glasses fogging up as she wobbled on the ice. “Yo, Wise,” Ethan called, waving. “Didn’t know you were a skater.”

“I’m not,” I said, steadying myself against Belle. “She’s making me.”

Mia smiled, shy but warm. “You’re doing better than me. I’ve fallen, like, three times.”

Luca skated over, Bella in tow, and clapped Ethan on the shoulder. “Dude, your drawings in Mr. Kline’s class are wild. You ever think about selling those?”

Ethan shrugged, blushing. “Nah, just messin’ around. But… maybe.”

Bella smirked, leaning into Luca. “Stick with us, Ethan. We’ll make you famous.” Her tone was teasing, but there was a spark in her eyes, like she meant it.

Then I saw Dez, leaning against the rink’s railing, sipping hot chocolate like he owned the place. His eyes locked on us—me and Belle holding hands, Luca and Bella tangled up, Ethan and Mia laughing nearby. His jaw tightened, that familiar jealousy burning in his stare, but there was something else too. A flicker of something smug, like he knew something we didn’t. He raised his cup, a mock toast, and said, “Big party at my place on the 24th. Whole school’s invited. You guys coming?”

Belle stiffened, her grip on my hand tightening. “What’s the catch, Dez?” she asked, her voice sharp, aggressive.

“No catch,” he said, his smirk sharp enough to cut. “Just spreading holiday cheer.” But his eyes were on Bella and Luca, lingering too long, and I saw his knuckles whiten around his cup.

“We’ll think about it,” Luca said, his arm tightening around Bella, his tone cool but protective.

Dez just nodded, his gaze sliding back to me, heavy with that same venom from the market. He turned and walked off, but I caught him glancing back, like he was already counting heads for his party.

The 19th was quieter, just the four of us at the Forresters’, baking more cookies because Mrs. Forrester was on a holiday mission. Belle was all business, barking orders like a drill sergeant when Luca tried to sneak dough. “Hands off, Morales!” she snapped, swatting him with a spatula, her aggressive side in full swing. “You’re gonna ruin the batch.”

Luca grinned, unfazed, and Bella laughed, licking dough off her finger just to piss Belle off. “Relax, sis,” Bella said, her own edge showing. “It’s not like we’re feeding the queen.”

Belle glared, but there was a smile underneath, and I pulled her back against me, my arms around her waist. “Let ‘em have their fun,” I murmured, kissing the side of her neck. She softened, leaning into me, her hand covering mine.

“You’re too nice,” she muttered, but she was smiling, her body warm against mine.

Luca and Bella were at the counter, decorating cookies with icing, their heads close. He smeared a streak of red frosting on her cheek, and she gasped, smacking his arm. “You’re dead, Morales!” she said, but she was laughing, grabbing a piping bag and squeezing blue icing onto his nose. They were a mess, giggling like idiots, and when Luca pulled her into a quick kiss, frosting and all, she didn’t pull away, her hands resting on his chest.

I caught Belle’s eye, and we both smirked. “They’re gross,” she whispered.

“Totally,” I said, but I was grinning, my arms tightening around her.

That night, we decided to hit up the old treehouse again, this time with a couple more kids from school—Sophie, the quiet girl from the charity drive, and Ryan, a soccer teammate of Luca’s with a loud laugh and zero filter. The treehouse was cramped with six of us, but it felt right, like we were reclaiming something from before everything went to hell. Sophie sat cross-legged, braiding a friendship bracelet, while Ryan was telling a story about sneaking into a haunted house last Halloween, his hands waving like he was auditioning for a movie.

“You’re so full of it,” Bella said, her aggressive streak flaring as she rolled her eyes. “No way you lasted five minutes in there.”

Ryan grinned, unfazed. “Bet I’d outlast you, Bella. You’d scream at a shadow.”

She leaned forward, smirking, her arm around Luca’s. “Try me, Ryan. I’d have you crying in two.”

Luca laughed, pulling her closer. “She’s not wrong, man. Bella’s tougher than she looks.”

Sophie giggled, tying off her bracelet and handing it to Belle. “For you,” she said softly. “For being so nice at the charity thing.”

Belle’s eyes softened, and she slipped it on. “Thanks, Sophie. This is sweet.”

I showed them the hiding spot again, the corner behind the crates where I used to dodge Dez. “This was my fortress,” I said, half-joking. “Dez never found me here.”

Ryan laughed, climbing into it. “Dude, you were a legend. Dez was so pissed back then.”

Bella smirked, leaning against Luca. “Still is, from what I saw at the rink.”

I nodded, my gut twisting. Dez’s party invite was stuck in my head, his smug look too calculated for just a holiday bash. Belle caught my expression, her hand finding mine. “You’re thinking about him,” she said, her voice low, a hint of her aggressive edge. “Don’t. He’s not worth it.”

“I know,” I said, but I wasn’t sure. Something about Dez felt off, like he was playing a game we didn’t know the rules to.

On the 20th, we were back at the community center for a holiday craft fair, helping Mrs. Forrester with her charity table. Ethan and Mia were there again, selling more of Mia’s ornaments, and Jaden showed up, cracking jokes and stealing cookies. The place was packed, kids and families everywhere, but I felt that prickle again, like eyes on my back. I turned, and there was Dez, helping set up a booth across the room. He wasn’t looking at us, but I knew he was aware—every laugh from Bella, every time Belle touched my arm, every grin Luca flashed. When he finally met my eyes, his smirk was back, but there was something darker in it, like he was counting down to something.

“He’s planning that party like it’s the event of the century,” Jaden said, noticing my stare. “Keeps talking it up at practice. Says it’s gonna be epic.”

“Yeah,” I muttered, unease curling in my chest. “Epic.”

Belle leaned against me, her voice sharp. “He’s up to something, Wise. I don’t trust him.”

“Me neither,” I said, watching Dez hand out flyers, his smile too wide, too perfect. Luca and Bella were nearby, their hands linked, her head tilted against his shoulder as they laughed at Ethan’s latest doodle. Dez’s eyes flicked to them, and his smile faltered, just for a second, jealousy flashing like a blade.

That night, back at the Forresters’, we crashed in the living room, the four of us sprawled on couches. Belle was curled against me, her legs over mine, her fingers tracing my wrist. Luca and Bella were tangled under a blanket, her head on his chest, his arm around her. The room was warm, the Christmas lights glowing, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were being watched. Not just by Dez, but by something else—something waiting. A shadow moved outside the window, red and tattered, gone when I blinked. I told myself it was nothing, just the holiday decorations. But the knot in my gut said otherwise. Dez’s party was coming, and with it, something bigger. Something we weren’t ready for.