A Familiar Face

Lauren woke up with a gasp.She was breathing heavily,and some sweat was on her face,which she quickly wipped off.She'd awoken to the sound of her ringing phone.She answered."Hi,Jacqueline."

"Hey,Lauren.I've been trying to call you for awhile,y'know,"she informed."What have you been up to?"

"Sleeping,"Lauren grumbled.She immediately remembered the lodge."So,are we still going?"

"Ya,why do you think I've been trying to call you?"Jacqueline answered crossly."I got Maya and Sarah to come,but they still need to pack,so you've got one hour before I come over to pick you up."

"Okay,I'll be ready by then.Bye,"Lauren hung up and walked to her closet.Grabbing her suitcase,she packed as much warm clothes as possible,and went to tell her mother where she was going.She agreed,saying it was good for her to go and get outside.But when Lauren asked about her mother and father,she shook her head.

"I don't want what's happening between your father and I to ruin your vacation.Just go out and have fun,"she said.

Lauren didn't have much time to argue.In no time at all,Jacqueline came in her Honda Civic,still shiny and new as always.Next to her was Maya,a beautiful dark-skinned girl who was not only a great singer,but is great with scissors.Give her scissors and a head of hair and she'll make just about anyone look gorgeus,earning her a job at a hair salon.Her parents had divorced when she was ten years old(her father had a drinking problem but is currently recovering)and every Tuesdays and Thursdays was she allowed to see him.

Alison is rather quiet when she's not with her friends and loves to draw and read.Her dirty blond hair is usually in a ponytail or a beanie.Today she was wearing her favorite green beanie.Although she had a car,she usually liked to walk or ride her bike to places,something Lauren liked about her very much.She had a big blue merle,a dog she saved from the pound.Another thing about Sarah:She LOVES dogs.

Jacqueline,on the other hand,loved cats.She has two siamese cats named Bruno and Daisy.Her family lived in a large mansion not from the nearest mall and usually drove over there for their Saturday shopping trips.She had a little brother named Jack who was unusually quiet and liked to talk to Lauren whenever she came over.

"What are you doing?"he'd asked once.

"Homework,"Lauren had said."Don't you have any?"

"Yeah,"he perked up at the thought."We get to do a report about one animal.I'm doing mine on wolves."

"Ew,"Jacqueline said."Those things are creepy.They're not even cute.Well,except when they're babies.Choose something else."

Head down,Jack was about to turn away."Wolves are a good choice,"Lauren decided to stay."They work together to stay alive,as one big family."

Jack smiled and simply replied,"Okay,thanks."then trotted away.

"Pfft,"Jacqueline huffed."Why do you encourage that little freak?"

"He's not all that bad,"Lauren replied in his defence.You just need to realize that,she thought.

Thirty minutes into the trip,it started to snow as they headed up a mountain to the lodge,Jacqueline texting still.

"Seriously,Jacqueline,STOP TEXTING YOUR DAMN BOYFRIEND!You're making me nervous,driving up a mountain while texting,"Alison complained.

"Jeez,okay,Alice,"Jacqueline put the phone in her purse and focused."So,Lauren,"she said."Got your eye on that kid,Adam?"

"Huh?"Lauren snapped her head towards her.She'd been looking out the window.

"Adam,"she repeated."Charlie's friend.You know he was flirting with you the whole time at the mall,right?"

"Um..."Lauren shuffled her feet.She'd never had a boyfriend before.And she didn't wanna burst Jacqueline's bubble by telling her she didn't even want one.Besides,Adam didn't seem like her type.He didn't have her sense of humor,wasn't all that sensitive,and,most importantly,didn't have blond hair.Lauren had an obsession with buys who had blond hair,starting in sixth grade.There was other stuff Lauren could complain about Adam,but didn't feel like it.

"Oh my god,don't tell me you don't like him either?"Jacqueline growled."I've tried to set you up with all the boys I know,and you hate all of them!What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing!"Lauren hissed in annoyance."It's just...I'm not really looking for a guy right now,y'know?"

"Not looking?"Maya twisted her head towards Lauren."You've been saying that for god-knows-how long!You gotta settle down."

"I'm not getting married for god's sake,"she said."I just don't like anybody yet."

"She's right,"Alison patted Lauren's solder."Just let her be."

"Hmph,"Jacqueline made another turn on the mountain."Well,I guess you'll never experience the magic of young love any time soon.You're loss."

Lauren sighed,looking at an eagle or hawk fly up above the mountains.Soon enough,it started to snow,tiny snowflakes gently flowing down from the sky.

"Wow,"Alison whispered in awe.She turned to Jacqueline again."You better be careful now."

Jacqueline rolled her eyes.Maya snickered,staring outside.

Lauren,on the other hand,was thinking of a dream she'd had once when she was little.She remembered it vividly,like a distant memory.A wolf with a gray pelt had been staring down at her.

"What is it,father?"a small,black wolf had asked."It's so cold!"

"It's snow,"another black she-wolf answered."It comes when it is cold and the sky is dark in the winter.Isn't it beautiful,sweety?"

"Hm,"the little wolf pawed at a flake,trying to catch it.When she looked at her paw,the snowflake was gone.Instead,she stuck her tongue out at a falling flake.She blinked in surprise as it melted quickly.

"Where did it go?"she asked."Is it magic?Did it disappear?"

The gray wolf chuckled.He turned to the pup and huffed."Magic?There is no such thing as magic,silly goose.Your tongue is warmer than the snowflake,so it melts.Nothing more."

"No,"she growled."Ray said there IS magic.Called the Dark."

The two adult wolves exchanged a glance.The black wolf leaned down and spoke gently."Sweety,there is-"

"The Dark?"the other gray wolf cocked his head."That's an elder's tale.It's not real,Lightning."

"Yes it is!"she insisted."I've seen it."

"Oh ya?"the gray wolf questioned.Nose to nose,he asked,"Where?"

"Children,that's enough.Let's go back-"the mother started to walk,stopping as her daughter continued.

"You,Cloud,"Lightning whispered excitedly."You have the Dark."

"We're here!"Jacqueline parked her car in front of the lodge.Taking off her seat belt,she added,"My parents rented us a room for three days and two nights."

"You tell me that NOW,"Lauren muttered."Great,lemme call my mom."

"Do that AFTER we unload our luggage,"Maya instructed."Jacqueline,could you go check in while we unload?"

"Sure,"she agreed.She threw the car keys to Maya"Lock the car when you're done.I'll see you in the room."

"'K,"Maya and the rest of them unloaded all of their luggage(mostly Jacqueline's)then met Jacqueline in their room.It was on the first floor,with a perfect view of the forest and where they would be skiing and snowboarding.

"Isn't it perfect?"Alison jumped onto her bed."A mini fridge,good view,comfty beds-Oh,I'm gonna order those oh-so-good waffles like I did last time."

"Actually,I made my parents pay a little extra for a better room,"Jacqueline admitted.

"How much is a LITTLE?"Alison asked."Well,what shall we do?"

"I think we should go skiing-"

"OH MY GOD,YOU GOT US A HOT TUB?!"Maya screamed from the deck."You're parents are the BEST!"

"I know,right?"Jacqueline flipped her hair.

"A hot tub?"Lauren was amazed."I wanna see!"

"Knock yourself out,"Jacqueline started to unload her makeup and clothes.

Walking outside,Lauren saw Maya dipping her toes into the tub,heat radiating from it like the sun.

"Aaahhh...."Maya sighed.I cant wait until we get to take a dip.And look,"she added,pointing to the rows of rooms next to them."There's gotta be some hot guys to see me in my new bathing suit."

"Maybe,"Lauren secretly hoped she was wrong."But families vacation here,too."

Maya nodded."Maya,Lauren,help unpack!"Alison called.

"Coming!"Maya said."Come on."

"Wait,"Lauren responded."I just wanna look at the view for a minute or two."

"Well,don't take too long.No one's gonna unpack for you,"Maya walked back inside.

Lauren sat on the edge of the hot tub,the snow slowly coming to a halt,only to be replaced by a cold wind.The wind,unfortunately,blew the scarf Lauren had been wearing(she hadn't tied it on too tight)onto the deck of the room to the right of their's.

"Crap,"she muttered.She thought of running over and grabbing it quick,or maybe the people there would ask if it was their's.

Too late,a teenager with spiky,dirty blond hair opened the screen door and walked onto their porch.He grabbed the scarf curiously and,just as he looked over at Lauren,a sensation overcame her body.She shook uncontrollably.Goosebumps spread like a blanket on her skin,and then,out of nowhere,she fainted.