Part 8 (1/2)

The snow around me loosens.

I am yanked backward. My lungs grab air. My eyes find color. I'm free.

My Rescuer Rolls me onto my back. Are you okay? d.a.m.n, girl, it's a good thing I happened to come this way. You're crazy to shoot trees solo. She looks down at me with black walnut eyes, and in them I find equal parts disgust, amus.e.m.e.nt, and awe. She offers her hand, pulls me up on my feet. ”Thanks.”

I should say more, but it hits me that this stranger might have saved my life. All repartee deserts me. She is close to my age. Tall.

Exotic. I don't know her, but I want to. Our eyes lock, and I feel something stir. Something restless.

Disquieting. A rustle of leaves.

A rattle of gla.s.s. A snarl, before the witch wind awakens, screeching, impossible to ignore.

And this person is to blame.

She smiles, and I like how warm that makes me feel. I am melting.

Maybe we should buddy up?

Why not? ”S-sure.” The voice is throaty, not mine at all. Oh my G.o.d. What's wrong with me?

My face flares, dry-ice hot.

She can't help but notice. You sure you're okay? You look...

never mind. She lowers her goggles.

I'm Danielle, by the way. Uh, Dani.

”Cara.” G.o.d, could I manage multiword sentences, maybe?

”And thanks again.” There.

Three words. Blood whooshes in my ears and I barely hear her say, No problem. She turns, pushes off, and I follow her down through snow-draped trees.

This Part Of The Hill Is steep. Unforgiving. A lot of work. But Dani surfs it like she was born on a board. To keep up, I have to forget about face- plants and possible outcomes.

Finally we exit the trees, and our trail merges with a beginner run.

Newbies and posers fan out across the gentle slope, some upright, some on their b.u.t.ts, some flat on their backs like sea lions sunning.

Dani cuts through them. I follow.

I hate crowds, and would call it quits, except... I'm not sure.

I feel scared. Hopeful. Borderline sick, sort of like it's my first day at a new school. I watch Dani hold a tight line down the side of the run. Confident. Lithe.

Bold. Oh yes, I have to know her.

It Isn't Until We are both seated safely on the (slow-hurray!) chair that it hits me. ”You said I was crazy to shoot trees solo. So what about you?”

What about me, what? She scoots sideways, her knee touches mine.

And for some crazy reason, I want her to kiss me. Wait. What?

She hasn't come on to me at all.

Oh. She's waiting for my answer.

”Why did you take that way down?

You were riding all by yourself.”

She shrugs. Maybe I'm psychic.

I saw you go that way. Figured I'd better keep an eye on you.

Why are you alone, anyway?

Keep an eye on me? How long was she watching me? My turn to shrug.

”I asked my boyfriend to come, but he had baseball practice.”

Oh. She makes a point of moving her knee away from mine. For some reason, I had a different idea about you. I thought you might be...

I slide my leg back against hers.

”I might be.” Then I admit, ”But I'm not sure.” I don't say that falling in love with a girl doesn't fit well in my master plan. Love?

What dark little recess of my brain did that word creep out of?

This isn't fire. It's only a spark.

Well, I definitely am. I've known since I was, like, five and wanted my Barbies to get married. To each other. My friends were disgusted.

Her Laugh Is So Freaking s.e.xy Husky. Deep. And totally real.

Somehow I doubt she's fake about much. ”What about your friends now?” But there's no time for her to answer.

The chair swings wide at the top of the hill. Together we stand, move to one side to discuss the best way down.

Let's take that long beginner run around the back of the mountain.

A no-brainer will be fun. She doesn't wait for me to say okay, so I trail her along a wide track, dodging snow-plowers.

She seems to take a wrong turn into a thick stand of trees.