My Ice Prince

The English morning even smelt different: something unfamiliar, it was different from home, and I felt acutely pleased with myself.

I ran down the street, smiling and listening to my favourite tunes playing in my headphones.

Soon I came across the first person of the morning, an elderly man walking his dachshund in one of the parks: the dog followed him lazily and sleepily, lolling from one paw to the other. Following the man, I met two girls ru

«How cool it must be to run and chat with a friend!» – I thought to myself as I followed them with my gaze.

Slowly the city came alive: people were coming out of their houses, saying hello, waving, nodding, going somewhere. Cafes were opening (I knew that shops in Oxford didn't open before ten o'clock), and more and more cars and cyclists were appearing on the roads.

The morning was in full swing.

Looking at my watch, I realised I'd been ru

I got home by nine o'clock, ran up the stairs to the door, took the key out of my shorts pocket and started to open the door, but the key stubbornly refused to go through the lock.

«What is this nonsense? I guess I'll have to change the lock!» – I thought grudgingly, trying hopelessly to defeat it, and trying so hard that I bent the key. – Well, wonderful! And the morning was so pleasant!»

I sat down pensively on the step, and suddenly I heard the creak of the lock turning: it sounded so loud that it could be heard even through the music.

It made me jump to my feet, hurriedly removing my headphones and staring at the door.

Someone there in the house was opening the door from the other side!

Suddenly the door swung wide open, almost hitting me, and a thin black-haired girl with a short guyish haircut and a nose piercing appeared in front of me.

– Hi, and you must be Marsha? – she asked me in English, in a pleasant, slightly high voice.

I was taken aback.

«What the hell is that?» – went through my head.

– Misha » I corrected. – And who are you, I beg your pardon?

– I'm Mary Smith, the lady of the house, but don't worry, I won't take too much space.

CHAPTER 3

«What is she talking about? Is she going to live here? With me?» – I frowned.

– 'But I rented your house on the condition that I would live completely alone,' I said slyly: in fact, the house was rented by Maria, and I didn't know on what terms. But I knew for a fact that my sister would never let me live in the same house with a man!

– Yes, I know, but I hope you'll get into my position» Mary said in an apologetic tone. – Oh, come in, please!

I walked into the house and took off my sneakers. My morning was ruined.

We walked into the living room.

– Where have you been? – The girl asked me.

– Ru

– Really? You're not sweating at all.

«It's Harry's sister. Just as tedious as he is!» – I thought grudgingly.

– It's just that I'm a professional ru

– Marsha, I want to apologise…» she began, sitting down next to me.

– Misha » I reminded her again in a grim tone, feeling a

– Yes, I'm sorry, Misha. Are you thinking about what I'm doing here right now? I just don't have anywhere else to go. I have nowhere else to go. – Bitterness showed on her face.

– What happened to you? – I asked politely: I didn't really care, and the last thing I wanted to hear about was her problems.

The girl moved closer to me and sighed heavily.

– The thing is… I'm supposed to be in Scotland right now, but it's boring as hell… Well, I didn't really come because I had this crazy idea to go back to Oxford, to have some fun. The thing is…» She hesitated. – Anyway, I got mixed up with some bad company there, almost became a drug addict… No, don't think! I don't do drugs and I never have. I smoke weed sometimes, but it's not harmful.

I listened to her and marvelled at my fatal failure: how did I end up in Oxford? To live next to a girl who smokes pot! It was the worst thing ever!

– Also, I borrowed a lot of money there. I can't pay it back, so it's quite possible that there will be mafia people here…» Suddenly Mary stopped talking and laughed out loud.

«'Oh, she's a psychopath! That's terrible, what bad luck!» – went through my head.

– Come on, don't worry about it! I was joking! – she said through her laughter. – You should have seen your face!

I had a terrible antipathy for that girl.

– Misha, I was joking! – Finally, the girl calmed down and looked at me seriously, but with a smile. – Don't frown, it was a joke!

– And about the pot? – I clarified.

– Yes. And about the mafia guys, too. Actually, I was just offered a job here at the orphanage, so I came here.

– I'm speechless! – I said unhappily. – I'm sorry, but I don't think we can live in the same house together. It's not really convenient!

– Why not convenient? I'm a girl, you're a girl, we'll be friends! We'll talk, we'll watch films and shows. Run in the morning!

«Ru

– 'I'll take the second bedroom and I won't bother you at all,' said Mary.

«Well, I don't think so!» – I gri

Even living in Warsaw, with my family, I was always uncomfortable because I could hear everything going on for dozens of metres around me. And to live with her and hear everything she would do? No. I can't!

– Mary, let me get you a flat somewhere, okay? I think that would be better» I said, trying to avoid her intrusive company.

– But you don't know me at all! I'm not as daft as I look. Well, about the joke, I agree it was stupid. But please, just give me one chance to prove that I'm not what you think I am. Please! – She begged me, folding her arms in a pleading tone.

I looked at her: short hair dyed nuclear black, a silver flower-shaped piercing in her nose, but rather nice, discreet make-up, a pretty face, kind eyes. And her clothes were decent: a long yellow woollen jumper and tight black jeans, with soft house slippers on her feet.

«What if Mary has to hide her self too? What if she's just a victim of circumstance and I'm so adamant about getting rid of her? Could she really be something else entirely? After all, Cedric gave me a chance, and my parents gave me a chance to be myself. Cedric gave me amazing advice that set me on the right path. Maybe I should give her a chance too!» – I thought.

– Also, I'm a very good cook and I can clean the house» Mary added. – And about the piercing, I've been thinking about getting it off for a long time, so I'm going to get it off today. New life, new habits.

– Like ru

– Yes, that would be great!

I smiled even wider: Mary's smile was so sincere that I felt ashamed of my words and thoughts that denigrated her.

And then I realised that Mary was almost my age: she was seventeen! She could have been the friend I dreamed of! But she was human, and Mary said…