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The world was dark both inside the hotel and out. It was the dead of night, and very few would be up right now. There'd be Golf Ball, of course, working herself to exhaustion with her inventions. There'd also be Black Hole up this late, as he didn't need to sleep, and very rarely did. Those were the only two consistently up as late as it was from the very start of TPOT. Yet lately, two others had also joined the fray of staying up late.
The two of them were sitting in the windowsill of Ice Cube's room, the only light around them being the dinky lamp Fanny always bothered to carry down. Neither of them liked having the overhead light on this late. There was something special about that lamp that always made an annoying buzzing sound when it was on. Something that made their nights a little more... personal.
But, really, these meetings were a lot less personal and a lot more business. There would be nothing spoken higher than a whisper these nights, but what was held in those whispers were more important. Where were Bomby and Bell? How's Basketball? What has One been up to? Have you spotted her lately? Any new ideas on what she wants? Questions, empty answers. These nights had grown the two very close, but business never went much of anywhere.
Ok, so maybe these visits had started to grow much more personal and much less business. Maybe they just found meeting in the dead of night where nothing could interrupt the world around them... special. And maybe the buzz of the lamp wasn't as annoying as they'd like to describe it. Maybe there was a little something more, something neither of them would ever, ever speak on, let alone let themselves think until they were pushed to think about it.
And maybe watching the snow flutter outside was that push to get them to think about those feelings. Alas, it was another normal night, until it was, in fact, no longer normal. Ice Cube noticed it first, mainly because she didn't hear Fanny finish her question, instead looking at each flake she could see in the barely illuminated night. The only thing that illuminated the night, letting her see the snowflakes, were the few stars out, and, of course, the lamp. Though the lamp made it easier to catch the two girls reflections instead.
"Icy? Did you hear what I said?" Fanny asked, her eyes still locked on her friend.
Ice Cube didn't look away from the window, "It's snowing..."
Fanny looked out the window, seeing the small flakes of snow fluttering down, "Woah..."
"What do you think of it?" Ice Cube asked, glancing over to Fanny.
"It's..." Fanny found herself breathless. She had never gotten to see the snow fall like this, "beautiful..."
Ice Cube nodded, "It really is."
Neither of them said anything, and really, they didn't have to. Fanny was entranced by the snow outside the window, and Ice Cube couldn't deny that it was pretty. But Ice Cube found something prettier. Fanny's eyes almost had this sparkle to them, amazed by what she was seeing. Ice Cube wouldn't be surprised if Fanny told her she had never seen snow fall before. Her mouth rested, barely open, and it looked like the world around her didn't matter in the moment.
Ice Cube focused a little too intently back on the snowflakes, counting each one she saw. Her eyes didn't want to focus on the snow, though. Instead, her eyes kept drifting back to the girl next to her. The way she sat. The way she stared. The way she just... existed, in the moment, really. Something drew Ice Cube in. The worst part was, well, Ice Cube wasn't sure what. It was something, but what?
Fanny eventually turned back to Ice Cube, and admitted, "I've never really gotten to see snow fall before. I'm glad I can share the experience with you."
"Me too," Ice Cube replied. Her cheeks were getting a little warm, and she intentionally looked back at the snow, "It can be really pretty."
"I can tell. It's beautiful, really..." Fanny smiled, looking back at the snow as well. Under her breath, she added on, "Like you..."
"Wha?" Ice Cube blinked, looking back.
Fanny had a deep blush on her face, "N- nothing."
The two sat in silence, but it was awkward at best. Fanny shifted around, trying to keep her eyes fixated on the snow outside. Ice Cube kept looking between the snow and Fanny. The buzz of the lamp was the only thing filling the otherwise silent room, but even that wasn't enough. It felt like something thick and muddled had fallen between them, like a cloud of fog. Ice Cube hadn't caught what Fanny said.
"I- I should get going. I hate sitting in awkward silence," Fanny got up, unplugging the lamp and plunging the two into darkness.
Ice Cube nodded, "Alright."
Ice Cube heard her door open and shut, not a word more spoken. Everything swarmed in her head. Sharing that soft, sincere moment with Fanny made Ice Cube feel all sorts of things. If only Ice Cube had caught what Fanny had said under her breath. Maybe then the two of them could continue sitting in the windowsill, watching snowflakes slowly glide down outside. But instead, Ice Cube could only think of how cute Fanny was, without her sitting next to Ice Cube.
Ice Cube didn't bother to try going to sleep until the sun was up. Next to her felt cold. It was a little ironic, considering she's frozen water, but it was true. The windowsill felt cold and empty. And once the sun had risen, she walked over to her bed, trying to go to sleep. Even after Book came in, all she could think about was Fanny.