G.U.A.R.D. Book #1: Clandestine

-5-

    I stared uncertainly at the ceiling hours later, contemplating everything that had happened. My laptop whirred by my side on the bed, waking up from its long hibernation. When the screen flickered, I sighed and changed gears, switching my attention from the oh-so-interesting ceiling to the computer. The picture icon was of Winter and me, back when we were ten.

After I pressed enter, the laptop opened up to my desktop. Taking the pillow behind me and putting it against the headboard, I leaned back and set my computer on my lap. It didn't take long to open up Facebook messages and ask Cindy for the details of the ball excursion. She surprised me by replying immediately after.

Cindy: Dad said Jerry can pick you and the other guys up.

Jerry Stone was the Reds' personal butler and chauffeur. He took Cindy to school every day, and was the head of the servants that worked at the mansion.

Cindy: Uhh... it starts at six, but goes to eleven (which usually means the guests stay until one). Jer'll pick you up around... five-thirty? How long can you stay?

Me: So then Anthony confirmed? It depends on what Mom and Dad say. They still haven't answered yes or no.

Cindy: Yeah. His parents approved. Winter still hasn't answered, though.

Me: I haven't really asked her about it yet. But I'm pretty sure her parents will let her. But, then again, she might not want to come (dressing up isn't exactly her thing...)

Cindy: And you're saying that as if I DON'T know. :P

Me: Hehe. So what about clothes? You have dresses like last year?

Cindy: Yeeup. I already have some new dresses here you guys can wear—don't worry, they fit. And in these things, the guys will go CRAZY over you.

Me: Oh... yay. You do remember I'm a Christian, right?

Cindy: At least it isn't TOO showy. Besides, a lot of my guy friends have seen you at other parties, anyway. They think you're gorgeous.

Me: Oh... I... don't really know how to answer that.

Cindy: And I'm sure Max doesn't really think you're that bad looking, either... /: )

Me: Okay, good talk. We're done here.

Cindy: ... :(

Me: Bye, Cindy. :P

Closing Facebook, I turned my laptop off, they stood up. I dropped my computer on my desk and considered telling Mom the details now, but then remembered how tired she had looked when we spoke earlier. Besides, she still needed to talk about it with Dad, even without the details. Best leave it for tomorrow.

Instead, I reached in one of the drawers of my desk and snatched up the sketchpad, as well as the light blue pencil case. Shutting the drawer again, I went over and sat on the lounge chair with a long sigh, fixing myself in a position where moonlight shone on the pad. A small breeze shuddered my windows, and the curtains fluttered. It gave me an idea.

Flipping through the pages of the notebook, I found a blank page and held the pencil in position. My mind instantly went to work. The cold outside made me imagine snow floating around me, touching my head lightly and tickling my hands as I reached out, attempting to catch the falling dots. Clear clouds obscured the blue sky in a wondrous and mysterious way, and snow covered everything on the ground. It felt like... Narnia, right next to the lamppost that Lucy herself had stood beside when first arriving. I pictured gazing around and smiling as the snow gliding down and landed on my long eyelashes. It was like when Winter and I used to go up on her roof (before the parents caught us...).