The girl was named Monica. She was the same age and height as me. She looked somewhat like me. Nope. She being my sister is not the plot twist. She smiled and sat next to me. Her brown hair went past her shoulders. It was free of sparkling snow. So were her clothes. Except her red boots. Monica's head was covered by a red hat. She was wearing a matching jacket over a blue sweater with jeans.

"How are you not caked with snow?" I asked.

She yanked off her red mittens and placed them on the table. "You may not believe this...but all my clothes are snow proof. Not only are they comfortable and keep ya warm, but they also keep the snow off ya. They are like force fields. And you can customize them. They are the coolest stuff since indoor plumbing."

"I have never heard of them."

"Indoor plumbing?"

"No. The clothes. I have neither heard nor seen them."

She squinted at me. "You are not from here - are you?"

I tapped my fingers on said table. I could not hold back a smile. "How did you know?"

Monica played with a hair strand and tilted her head to the side. "I do not want to boast, but...my memory is as sharp as cheese. I have lived in these snowy mountains for years. I know these parts and the townsfolk like the back of my hand. I have never seen you before. What is your name by the way?"

"Lucia."

"Lucia. I adore that name. Not as much as Monica. But yours suits you perfectly."

"Thanks. It is my first time up here. I love it so far. I do not think that I want to leave. I love the snow."

"Me too. Besides shoveling and driving through it. But you cannot drive anyway because of the woods."

I moved the book so it was between us. "And because I am too young to drive."

She giggled. "That too."

I decided to not tell her about my allergy. We just met. I wanted to get to know her. If she turned out to not be a respectful person, I would leave. She would not know my embarrassing secret. I should never be ashamed of my condition. Not my fault that my body has a terrible reaction to the cold. Jeez. Sounds stupid now that I say it out loud. I do not blame my parents or my brother or the doctors or anybody else. Bodies are different. Mine just got sick of the cold and decided to go against it. If I could, I would make it stop being sick of the cold. Wish that someone would take it. My allergy, not my body.

I want to be normal again. I want to enjoy the cold and the snow again. I am tired of having time limits staying outside. I want the full experience - even if it kills me. I cannot live in fear for the rest of my life.

Monica and I shifted our attentions to said book. More precisely, the snowwolves. I told her of my family up in the mansion. I explained Rufus and Luigi's story. How they explored the woods at night to find a snowwolf. A snowwolf pup showed and led my cousins home. Rufus wanted to keep the pup.

Monica counted on her fingers. "So your family resides in that creepy mansion. Your uncle and aunt and three cousins. I always wondered who lived there."

"The mansion is not creepy. But it is easy to get lost in. My uncle and aunt made signs so guests are not lost."

She slapped a hand on the table. "Hey. I know that you just met me, but...can I visit their mansion sometime?" She flipped her hair. "I have always wanted to view the inside."

I tapped my chin. "I do not know. I should ask my aunt and uncle. My uncle and cousins are coming back here. I will ask my uncle then."

"Maybe...we could have a sleepover. Just the two of us. A sleepover at the mansion. It will be fun!"

We froze when we heard snarling.