A long shadow crept over the parking aisle, snow crunching underfoot as Chestnut trotted closer. I bit my lip and grabbed a hunk of snow from under the car. This time, I’d get him right as he rounded the corner. And there he came.
“Gotcha,” I shouted, slinging snow at a tall figure in an olive cap.
Oh no. That wasnotChestnut.
I gasped, my eyes widening as the stranger’s narrowed in alarm.
He twisted just in time to take the brunt of the icy explosion on his arm. Cursing, the guy stepped back, his facial piercings glinting brighter than the winter wonderland. “What the hell?”
I scrambled to my feet. “Oops, sorry. I thought you were my friend. Are you okay?”
"Yes.” He smacked the powder off his black zip-up and brown jeans. “Stop goofing off. This is a parking lot, not a playground.”
“I know. We were just having some fun.” I scraped my boots against the snow and hung my head. Drifting snowflakes and extra-volume mascara shielded me from the stranger’s stare.
“What are you looking at?” he snapped at Chestnut, who ducked behind the car.
I gathered a bit of snow and packed it together. “Here, you can toss this at me if it’ll make you feel better. But be nice. Not the face, please.” I winced, turning away and sticking my arm out for him to take the snowball.
“What?”
Wiggling my fingers to ease the iciness seeping in, I smiled. “Consider it a peace offering.”
“I-I’m not going to hit you. Stop messing around. Geez.” Face flushed, he shook his head and marched off in a misty storm, his combat boots rattling with every step.
“I wasn’t asking you tohitme,” I called after him, holding up the snowball, “It’s supposed to be fun and fluffy.”
“I don’t have time for this.” He tugged his olive hat further over his ears and muttered something else, but the only word I picked up was, “Immature.”
My nose tingled and quivered, passages blocking up from the temperature and shame. Maybe Ididhave to grow up. If only it was that easy.Sniffling, I dropped the snow and wiped my face. Big girls didn’t cry. They apologized.Which I did, even if that guy didn’t accept it. That grinch.
Chestnut sighed and looked around. “That was awkward. Can we use the brush now?”
“Sorry. We’re almost done. You can get in.” I fully unlocked the car.
He hurried into the passenger’s seat, but I took an extra second to brush off the windshield and de-snow my long, reddish-brown hair in the side mirror. Sparkles glistened from every fiber as I whipped my hair back and forth. Ilovedsnow when it was fresh like this. Much better than the glitter glue at our Santa station. I glanced at the mall, hesitant to leave like this.
Olive-hat-man was looking over his shoulder at me. He shook his head and strode through the employee entrance.Great. I’d probably have to see him again. But it was a big mall, even if some of the stores remained vacant. So what if one guy thought I was ridiculous? My youthful spirit suited a mall elf. Some even found it charming. I just had to be more careful.
I got into the car and started it up. Chestnut balled his fists in his pockets and chattered his teeth.
“Here, let me turn up the heat.” I pushed the vents towards him.
“Ugh, it’s freezing.” He stared out the rear window as if he could force the car to move with his focus. At least he was too distracted to investigate my blankie in the backseat. “I know a place that has good tacos that fit my dietary needs.”
“Great.” I rubbed my hands together in anticipation. “Warm food hits differently when you’ve been out in the cold.”
Chestnut faced the windshield. “True, but next week we’re going to be so busy we can’t leave, especially not at the same time, which means bagged lunch or food court. That stuff gets old after a week. The lines, the depressing cold sandwiches…”
“Boxed lunches aren’t that bad. You just have to hope no one’s using the microwave. Cold cuts or PBJ are always a goodbackup.” I shifted the car shaft, mentally rummaging through the fridge at home. “Ooh, you could do LunchaFulls.”
Chestnut recoiled. “Those are for kids.”
“Right, yeah.” I licked my chapped lips. “They sure are tasty though.”
He stuffed his hands under his armpits. “Weirdo.”
I scrunched down in my seat. “Yeah, I know.”
