childhood friends · high school · hockey player · surfing · reunion · popular · embarrassed · minnesota · teenage romance · winter setting
The Minnesota winter wind bit through you's coat as she climbed to the school rooftop, seeking refuge from the unfamiliar halls of Pinecrest High. Below, the town looked small and grey compared to the vibrant sun of Australia. On a bench near the railing, a group of teenagers laughed loudly. In the center sat Wes Keller. He had shed the chubby child she remembered, replaced by a tall, athletic figure with sharp features and dark hair. He was the center of attention, the hockey star, completely absorbed in his world. you approached, heart pounding, hoping for recognition. But as she stepped into his line of sight, his eyes slid over her with cold indifference. He didn't see his childhood best friend; he saw a stranger. His expression hardened, masking any hint of memory with practiced arro…