Shards Of Ice PART ONE Prologue I pulled my coat tighter around me and and faced the stinging wind coming off the frozen lake. Ice fishing shacks stood in random places on the 18 inch ice,crating the oh-so familiar winter village. The snow where I stood rose well above my boots,and more snow fell,gathering in my long brown hair. But I still stood there. Lights glowed from the small town I knew so well,I could name the business where each light belongs to. But I did nothing. The Big Dipper, North Star, and full#moonglowed so bright I could see like it was day, and every tree, fish, bird, and man seemed to enjoy the night to it's fullest. But this scene just painted a picture I saw through my bedroom window every night, winter, spring, summer, fall.it was always there.of course it changed for better or worse,but it was there,and I swear no one knows it better than me.every place has a name,turtle pond,red forest,misty trees,the vines.its all there,in my mental map of the woods,the lake,the north swamp,and the south swamp.i've explored every where,but the only place I know by heart,is the main woods.i've still got places to see,but I guess I'm not that brave to go and do that.Especially since that would be trespassing.i've confirmed 18 acres can't hold me in.But there is a reason I am standing hear.Last summer I stood bear foot in mud and muck,but not wacthing the scenery,waching a speed boat ram head first into the small paddle boat containing my mother and father. Seeing police boats and ambulances rush in. Watching my dad being helped to shore,waiting for my mom to do the same.The reason I'm still standing hear,is that I'm still waiting for her to come out. CHPTER ONE "Camille!"I sat up as soon as my name was called."Wake up,you have to walk the dog!"I rubbed my eyes and looked out the window at the fresh summer leaves.It was going to be a nice walk."Just let me get dressed!" I called back down.I quick put on a pair of shorts and an old tank top,then rushed downstairs and slid on my favorite flip-flops.I stood there for a while,savoring there feel,remembering the summers they've seen,then called my dog, Penny. Penny was a lab-shelty mix,with chocolate brown fur almost the same color as mine.That reminds me!I pull one of my manny hair binders off my wrist and put my hair in a pony tail."Alright,let's go!" I opened the door and Penny and I rushed out, Enjoying the summer air.Penny ran full speed to the lake,and I chased after her,tennis ball in hand ready to toss in the water for Penny to chase."water." I thought.then was reminded of my mother."No,it's a nice day!I should have fun,that's what she would tell me!"I dashed after Penny and started to plan out my day."I'll ask dad if Kelsey can hang out,then I'll ask him if he can bring us tubing,Then have lunch at the lake shore restaurant the we can walk back to Kelsey's place and dad can pick me up!perfect plan!"finally we got to our lake access,just down my dead end dirt road."Dose Penny want to play ball?"I waved the ball in the air and Penny ran to words the lake before I could through it. Penny bounded after it,then returned with exactly the same ball, witch was surprising after all the balls we've lost."Good Girl!"I scathed under her chin and tossed the ball back in the water. CHAPTER TWO "Hi,this is Camille. Is Kelsey home?" I was on the phone with Kelsey's Mom. "Hold on, KELSEY!" The voice on the other end bellowed. "Your friend is on the phone!" "who is it?" A slightly blurry voice called back. "CAMILLE!" There was some rustling around. "Hello?" My friend's voice was formal compared to her mothers'. "Hi,"I chuckled a little."Can you come over?" "I don't know...my cuz might be coming today...are you free tomorrow?" "Yeah." I said. "Alright, see ya then!" "Alright bye!" "Bye!" Well that ruined my plans. " Ok, Cam. You need to go to town." My Dad slapped a 20 dollar bill in my hand. " I forgot to buy a gift for Aunt Shell, I trust you to get something good, and if you have change, you can buy your self some thing." He dropped me off at the sidewalk in front of the gift shop and drove away. I walked into the gift shop and almost smashed into a familiar face. He was wearing a pair of shorts and one of his familiar tee-shirts. "Jake! I haven't seen you sence the last day of school!" "I missed you too!" He said in his familiar too-deep puberty voice. "We have a lot to cach up on. How about some coffee? My treat." I waved my dad's money in the air. " I'd like that, thanks!" Jake smiled and we walked to the coffee shop. Jake and I had been friends seince fourth grade, and he was one of my best friends. We used to sit by each other in close to every class. When we sat down with our coffee, Jake almost imedeatly asked; " Have you ever loved some one but felt like it was wrong?" "Yes! I've dated, it usually feels wrong, but if you really think you love them, It should be right." "Thanks, how do I ask her out?" Jake took a sip of his coffee. I drank some of my mocca and continued. "It depends on the girl. Every girl plans how she wants her crush to ask her out. For example, I want him to take it slow. I mean, get to know me well, first." Jake nodded "How would I do that?" " Ok,get your group to kind of hang out near her's, then eventually get close enugh so some one starts to talk to you, then talk as much as you can, at every oppertunity, then when you feel comfortibile, ask her out." I don't want anybody to know this, but I just explained exactly what He had been doing for 4 years. Jake smiled. "Than Camille, will you go out with me?" CHAPTER THREE " Jake, I'm not Shore you know what your asking." "But I do. I have secretly had a crush on you all these years. Remember In sixth grade, when Kelsey told me you had a crush on me, but you kept denying it?" He explained. I nodded a little. But, the truth was I did have a crush on him. "Well, I wanted to ask you out then, but you changed the subject so fast..." "Jake you loved me all those years and honesty, so did I. I don't know if you really know what your doing, but yes. I'm sorry but I have to go." I had bught a charm bracelet and a card, then called dad and rode back in our old crest liner speed boat. But I did not dare tell him about Jake. At a time like this I would talk to mom. So I just did what I usually did when I wanted to talk to her, put on her wedding ring (witch was given to me, along with a majority of her things.) then jump in the lake and whisper to her. I always wore the ring, and my swim suit was under my cloths, so I told my dad just to drop me off at the dock. Once he left I splashed into the water and twisted her ring around my finger, and told her every thing. "It's a shame you've fallen in love with a human, it always ends in tragedy for us." I opened my eyes and saw my mother, plain as day, but she had a few changes. Part two coming soon!