Mr Brightside [Charade]

Frost Jackson

Gawping wasn’t an attractive look for anybody, but that didn’t deter me from standing open mouthed once the laughter had ceased and watching the theatric display of what looked like an attempted murder. Well maybe I was being a little dramatic, but I did tend to do that a lot so no harm no foul. I couldn’t quite decide what bit was my favourite part, the wail that someone coming under attack in the games would be proud of, or the dramatic descent into the snow. It made it more funny, though I had to admit for a whole second I was almost convinced I’d hit her with something harder than snow, but then I recalled the soft powder turning to the cold-grenade in my palms and everything seemed a-ok again.

After a few seconds of gathering my bearing, for I’d stood in a partial daze half-captivated by her reaction and half-impressed by my aim, I’d wander over as casually as a casual person possibly could with a spring in my step and a lopsided smile hot upon my lips. “Woah” The exclamation came out even more emphasized than I’d planned as I stood staring down at her with a sudden look of traumatic horror scolding my features and a wide-eyed glance fixating around her perfectly intact head, “That looks bad.. I--I don’t think you’re going to make it.” Throwing both knees down onto the dusted earth with a crucial sigh for dramatic effect and lifting both arms up in a ‘woe is me’ sort of fashion, I’d cry out as terrifically as I could ]“What have I done?!”

Usually I wasn’t one for winding people up. Wait. Wait. That’s a lie, that is me. Winding people up was part of my daily routine, it was like a morning cup of coffee for a workaholic or finger-sandwiches for Hannibal the cannibal. I just couldn’t function without it. Too many people just took life far too seriously and I myself couldn’t cope with that kind of commitment to being miserable. Besides, the girl would figure out sooner or later that her brains weren’t pouring out into the snow and she hadn’t been boinged on the head with an oversized brick or falling piano. Not that many people where fancy enough to have one of those, never mind be throwing them out of windows for a good laugh. Hot cocoa though, that sounded good. I’d had that at Nick’s one time, his mother made it for the whole lot of us as a treat after we’d come in bluer than a blue thing on a blue day. I’d asked my da’ for it once, but he said we couldn’t have it, we had more important things to buy than that. He wasn’t one for the sweet things so we didn’t get them. Was pretty simple really. Shaking my head to split the thought of the warm liquid from the reality of the chilling air I’d turn the fixation of my eyes downwards on the ‘wounded’ victim with a feigned look of complete seriousness. ]“I’m going to have to hide the body.”

Frost Jackson


Mesmerizing, that’s all she was, it was like watching a puppy, a crazy little puppy. Well maybe it wasn’t exactly like that, but the feeling was the same. You know what I mean? The sorta’ feeling that no matter what else was happening you wouldn’t look away because you don’t think anything else on the planet could interest you as much. My da’ often called people like that quirky, I’m not entirely sure what that means, I think it’s a polite way of saying they’re a little bit mental, but I like it. She’s definitely quirky and that’s pretty much another word for fun, or at least I think it is. They’re definitely not dull and serious like the people who label them and cast petty glances over their shoulders at the people they so openly scorn and mock.

Realizing it’s a bit stupid to stare I turn my eyes away for a moment or so, glancing across the slope of my shoulder to absorb the potential of the winter wasteland growing brighter with each passing day, the colour solidifying with every new layer of frosted glow piling upon the glimmering surface already in existence. Her voice catches me a little off guard and I quickly return my attention, the look upon her face stirring a soft somewhat pleasant smile to wash impulsively across my mouth and reflect in the brightened core of both moss-toned gems sheltering beneath dark, annoyingly feminine lashes. That was it, she’d caught me. It had to happen eventually, even I wasn’t good enough to convince someone their brains were pouring out when there wasn’t actually any blood or brainy bits as evidence. Plus the lack of head trauma and nausea was a bit of a deal breaker.

]“Course’ If your brains where really coming out I’d have had to scoop them back in wouldn’t I?” Giving an absent minded head tilt I’d offer a soft supple shrug, as if my declaration was a matter-of fact, a bold statement sincere and true. Besides I’d never been in a position where somebody’s brains were falling out in front of me so I didn’t exactly know what I’d actually do in the situation, but because I didn’t know I wasn’t lying either. It was nice when things worked out like that. Shaking off the indecisiveness pooling in the recess of my childish mind, I’d place my easily lost concentration back upon her just in time to capture the nose wrinkle within the corner of my eye. It was cute, like a fuzzy animal trying to look mad when it’s actually impossible for them to do so. The soft chime of her distinguishing voice however carried with it words even I hadn’t expected, some extravagant tale of eyeballs falling out, was that even possible? I mean it probably was, they’re only two balls sitting in two holes at the end of the day. Definitely not something I’d like to test on myself, the thought alone was enough to send a shiver reverberating through each hidden bone.

]“Digging for eye-balls, who wouldn’t want to do that? Sounds like an extreme version of hide and seek.” Grinning faintly I automatically outstretch my hand to melt the white fluff covering my own shielded palms with the surface of her mitten whilst simultaneously giving a little tug, silently offering the support if she decided she wanted to get up at the same time. ]“The names Frost, course’ I’d help. It’d be the highlight of my week.” That depressingly was probably a true statement, there wasn’t much excitement lurking around lately and there didn’t seem to be as much trouble to cause or mischief to fall into. Things just weren’t as uppity lately. ]“What’cha doing out here anyhow?”

Frost Jackson



Partially turning my head to angle it on a slight tilt I’d watch her contently, there was something funny about her, not funny looking though, but funny like bright? No that didn’t seem right either. But I know what I mean. Something unusually amazing, like a drop of snow in the midst of summer. Jumping home? Obviously walking was too mainstream for some people. But I hadn’t expected anything less, something told me that anything this girl ever said was going to be completely different to anything I’d ever heard. That just made things interesting though. Like it was new and shiny and fun. ]“Cause’ walking just isn’t good enough for ya, right?” Offering a mischievous smile, flashing eyes of minty green casually wandered into the snow-drifts, glancing temporarily at the ivory stained houses before fixing firmly back onto my blonde counterpart. Blondies unite.

For a minute she seems distracted and I can’t help but wonder if that’s what I look like sometimes, cause I think a lot, not out loud and not that anyone would believe it, though I don’t think about important things, just things that nobody else bothers to think about, because after all someone has to think about those things. It’s like a vacant look, like the lights are all on upstairs but nobody is actually home, a distant emptiness that still sparkles, still glistens like ten thousands flames on the darkest day. The revival of her voice brings me crashing back to reality, free falling from my thoughts and blinking absently to refocus on the surface of her face with a quizzical, questioning look. ]“Kelly begins with a K and that’s the same as Kold and Kold is wintery.” Well I’d never been fantastic with words, they all got jumbled and muddled up in my head until it hurt and made me want to rip the worn sheets of yellowed paper from their broken spines. It was frustrating because nobody ever listened, they just said I was lazy and I wasn’t. But I was pretty convinced I’d got Kold right because Kold, Kelly, Kup, it’s all the same thing at the end of the day.

Obvious pride filled the space upon my lips, as I’d give one of my infamous bright, warming smiles, somewhat thrilled that I’d given her, her own personal link to winter. It was heroic really. However the momentary glee quickly vanished once my attention fell elsewhere, distracted so easily that every thought that had been swirling in the depths of my mind vanished altogether to be replaced with an entirely new selection of thoughts and contemplations. Instinctively I turned to eye the fence with a strategic sense of thoughtfulness, only to shudder instantly as the cold slush crashed fiercely into the side of my cheek with an audible crunch. ] “Aw, come-on that was a cheap shot!” There really wasn’t any commitment to the protest as it was said through a Cheshire grin and announced with a hint of laughter woven into each shouted word. The challenge however was taken up with complete seriousness, for a competitive streak ran amuck with its playful companion and within the moment I found myself chasing aimlessly after her boot-prints, trudging through the snow at a good pace with a look of sheer determination that was amplified by the tip of my tongue sticking out between clenched teeth in a look of complete concentration. Once I got close enough I’d take the risk, waiting until I was right on her heel to throw myself in a complete body tackle at her fleeing form, attempting to tackle her straight into the snow and blindly hoping I didn’t end up tumbling into the slush alone in defeat, ] "Got'cha!"