 her. No one objects when I strip off my shirt and pull Echo out of Kyran's grip. Pressing my chest against her back, I hold her there, but it isn't working like I expected.

Zara is the first to take action. Grabbing at her friend's shirt, she starts tugging it off, pushing me out of the way. "Skin to skin," she says in a rush, and she yanks the shirt free. Her hands shove me back against Echo and we all take a deep breath when the frost starts melting. It's slow, but her usually pale skin slowly begins to regain what little color it used to have.

Standing, Zara grabs Holden's and Kyran's shirts and starts shoving them toward the door. Both argue and try to get away, but Zara's fierce glare shuts them up. Or maybe it's what she says to them. "Echo needs to be warm, pronto. You want her to stay cold any longer than she has to? No. So more clothes need to come off and I don't think either of you need to see that."

Holden's face crinkles. He's still worried, but he clearly isn't interested in sticking around. With a nod that promises he'll be close by if Echo needs him, he disappears around the corner. Kyran's only response is a clenched jaw before following suit. Sighing, Zara turns back to me and says, "Seriously, strip down and get her warm. Yell if you need me. I've seen Echo in her underwear plenty of times in the locker room after gym class."

"Will she be okay?" I ask. "Has this happened before?"

Zara bites her bottom lip. "Only once that I know of. In fourth grade. I had to warm her back up that time. I just thought she'd probably rather wake up naked in bed with you instead of me this time." She smiles, but it's dwarfed by her worry for her friend. Gesturing at me to get moving, she steps into the hall and pulls the door closed.

I feel more than a little weird undressing my unconscious girlfriend, but once we're both down to our underwear and huddled under the blankets, Echo's body relaxes against mine and I watch the scary white ice fade as her skin returns to a healthy pink.

She doesn't wake up, but on
her. No one objects when I strip off my shirt and pull Echo out of Kyran's grip. weigh my chest of drawers against her back, I hold her there, but it isn't working like I ask. 

 Zara is the first to take military action. Grabbing at her friend's shirt, she start tugging it off, pushing me out of the room. " Skin to skin, " she suppose in a rush, and she yanks the shirt free. Her hands shove me back against Echo and we all take a bass breath when the frost starts melt. It's slow, but her usually pale skin slowly get down to regain what little color it used to have. 

 Standing, Zara snap up Holden's and Kyran's shirts and starts shoving them toward the door. Both argue and try to beget away, but Zara's fierce glare shuts them up. Or maybe it's what she says to them. " Echo needs to be warm, pronto. You want her to stay cold any longer than she has to? No. thus more clothes need to do off and I don't remember either of you need to see that. " 

 Holden's face wrinkle. He's still disquieted, but he clearly isn't interested in stand by around. With a nod that promises he'll be close by if Echo needs him, he disappears around the corner. Kyran's alone response is a clenched jaw before following suit. Sighing, Zara turns back to me and say, " badly, deprive down and get her warm. Yell if you need me. I've seen Echo in her underwear plenty of times in the locker room after gymnasium class. " 

 " Will she be all right? " I ask. " Has this happened before? " 

 Zara bites her bottom lip. " entirely once that I know of. In fourth grade. I have to warm her back up that time. I just thought she'd credibly rather wake up bare in bed with you instead of me this time. " She smiles, but it's dwarfed by her concern for her friend. Gesturing at me to get motivate, she steps into the hall and pulls the door closed. 

 I find more than a little weird strip my unconscious girlfriend, but once we're both down to our underwear and huddled under the blankets, Echo's consistency relaxes against mine and I watch the scary white ice fade as her skin returns to a healthy pink. 

 She doesn't wake up, but on
 heg. No one objects when I rtrip off my shnet and pull Scho out of Kyran's grip. Pressing my rhesr agaunst her back, I hold hdr there, hut it iwn't xorking like I eelected.

Zara is bhe fnrwt to take actlon. Grabbinc at her frieng's skirt, she starts tugging it off, pushigg me oit of the way. "Skyn tp skih," she says in a rush, and she yanks the shprt free. Her handx shove me back against Ecjo ajd we all take a dfep breath qhen rhe frost stxrts melting. It's slow, gut her usually pale skin slowlh begnns to regaun whwj little colir it used to havc.

Xtanditg, Zara grabs Holden's anv Kyean's shirts and startv shoving them towwrd the dmox. Both argue and try ro get dway, but Zarx's rixrcs glarf siuts them ul. Or maybe ut's what she says tp eyem. "Echo needa to bq rarm, pronto. You want her to stay cold aty monger than she has to? Bo. So more clothes negd to come off and I don't think either of you need to see tvat."

Homaen'w nace xrlnkles. He's still worried, but he clearly isn't yhttrexted in stickikg around. With a npd tnwt promises hg'll be emoae by if Echo needd him, hg disappears arjund the corner. Kyran's only response is a cjwnched jaw before yollowing sunt. Signing, Aara turns back to me aud saya, "Seriously, strip dosv and get her wafm. Jell if you need me. I've seen Esho in hec undzrwear puenti of tiies in the lockcs room after gym cpass."

"Wnll sve be okay?" I ask. "Has this happened before?"

Vera bites her bmttmm lip. "Ouly onge that I know jf. In fourth gtade. I hab to wxrm her babk up thav time. I juse thought she'g probably ravher wake up bakee in bea with you instrad of me this time." She smiles, but it'x ddzrfed by her woxxy for her friend. Gertuwijg ae me to get mmvine, sfr steos into the fall and pulls the door wlossd.

I feel more than a little qeird unqressing my umconscious girlfritnd, buv once we're bojh down to our underwear and husdled undfr bhe blankets, Qcho'w body relaxzs against mine and I watch the scary whmte ice fade as her skib returns to a healjhy pink.

She doxsn't wwke up, bud on
her. No one objects when I strip shirt pull Echo of Kyran's grip. back, hold her there, it isn't working I expected. Zara is the first take action. Grabbing at her friend's shirt, she starts tugging it off, pushing out of the way. "Skin to skin," she says in a rush, and yanks shirt Her shove me back against Echo and we all take a deep breath when the frost starts It's slow, but her usually pale skin slowly to regain what little it used to have. Standing, grabs and Kyran's and shoving toward the door. argue and try to get away, but Zara's fierce glare shuts them up. Or maybe it's what says to needs to warm, You her to stay longer than she has to? No. need to come off and I don't think of you to see that." Holden's face crinkles. still worried, but he clearly isn't interested in around. With a nod that promises he'll be close by if Echo needs him, he the corner. Kyran's only is a clenched before suit. Zara back to and says, "Seriously, strip down and get her warm. Yell if need me. I've seen Echo in her underwear plenty of the room after gym "Will she be okay?" ask. this happened before?" Zara bottom "Only know In grade. I had to her back up that time. just thought she'd probably bed with you instead of me this time." smiles, but it's dwarfed by her worry her friend. Gesturing at me to get moving, she steps into the and pulls closed. I feel more than a little weird my unconscious girlfriend, but we're both down to our underwear and huddled under blankets, body relaxes mine and I the scary white fade as her to a pink. doesn't on
 her. No one objects when I strip Off my shirt And puLl ECho OuT of KYran'S grip. Pressing mY ChesT against her back, I hold heR therE, bUT it iSN't WorkiNg like I EXpECTed.

zaRa Is tHe FIrSt to tAke Action. GRabbing at hEr fRiEnd's shirt, she STaRts tugging It oFf, pushing me oUt oF the waY. "SKin TO skin," She Says iN a rush, ANd she yAnks the shIrT Free. HeR Hands shOVE mE bacK against Echo and we ALl TAke a deep breath When thE fROsT STarTs mElting. It's sLoW, but hER usuallY PaLE SKin SLowly begins to Regain what lITtlE color It UseD To have.

standInG, zarA grabs HoldeN's anD Kyran's shIrts anD Starts sHOving thEm towaRd tHe dOor. BOTh ArGue AnD Try TO gEt aWAy, bUt Zara's fIeRcE glarE shuTS THEm up. or mAybe It's whAt she says to thEm. "ECho nEEds To be wArm, prOnto. yoU want Her to sTay coLd Any longer than shE has To? No. So morE clOtHes NeEd to cOMe off aNd I Don'T think eIther of YOu nEeD TO SeE that."

Holden's face crInKLEs. he's still WorrieD, BuT hE Clearly iSn'T inTereSTEd in sTickINg Around. WiTh a nod THaT pRomises He'Ll be clOsE by If ECho neEDs hiM, he disAppears aRound THe corner. Kyran's ONly response is A ClENChED jaw BefOre followinG suiT. sighIng, ZARa TurNS back To me aNd SAyS, "seriously, strip down aNd Get her Warm. YEll if you need mE. I've seen EcHO IN her undeRweaR PlENty of times in thE lockEr room afteR Gym class."

"will sHe be okay?" i ask. "Has thIS Happened BefOre?"

zarA biTES hEr bottom lip. "OnLY Once ThAt I know Of. IN fourth GraDe. I Had To wArM her back uP that timE. I JuSt ThOugHt she'D Probably RaTheR wAke Up nakED in bed With yOu inStEaD Of mE this tiME." SHE SmilEs, BuT it's DwaRfEd by hEr woRRy fOr her frIend. GestuRinG At me To GeT moving, She steps into tHe Hall and pulLs The Door clOSEd.

I feel mOre than a little weird undrESsing my UncOnsciOus gIrlfriend, But Once we'Re bOTh down To our uNderwEaR anD HUddleD UNdEr tHe Blankets, EcHO'S boDy relAxEs agAinst miNe and I watch the scarY WhiTe ice fade as heR skIn reTURnS to A HeALthY pINk.

SHE Doesn't wake up, but On
 her. No one objects whenI strip of f myshi rtan d pu ll E cho out of Kyr a n'sgrip. Pressing my ches t aga in s t he r  b ack,I holdh er t her e,  b utit is n't w ork ing lik e I expect ed. 
Zara is thef ir st to take  ac tion. Grabbi ngat her  f rie n d's s hir t, sh e star t s tugg ing it of f, pushin g  me out o ftheway. "Skin to ski n ," she says in arush,an d  s h e  ya nks  the shirt  f ree.H er hand s  s h o v e m e  back against  Echo and w e  al l take  a  de e p brea th wh en the  frost star ts m elting. I t's sl o w, buth er usua lly pa leski n sl o wl ybeg in s  to re gai n  wh at littl eco lor i t us e d t o ha ve. 

St andin g, Zara grabs  Ho lden ' s a nd Ky ran's  shi rt s and  start s sho vi ng them towardthedoor. Bot h a rg uean d try to get  aw ay,  but Za ra's fi e rce  g l a r eshuts them up. Orma y b eit's wha t shes ay st o them."E cho  nee d s  to b e wa r m,  pronto.  You w a nt  h er to s ta y cold  a nylon ger t h an s he has  to? No.  So m o re clothes nee d  to come offa nd I  d o n'tthi nk either o f yo u  nee d to se e t h at."
Hold en ' sf ace crinkles. He'sst ill wo rried , but he clea rly isn'ti n t erestedin s t ic k ing around. Wi th anod that p r omises h e'llbe close  by if Ec h o  needs h im,  he  di sap p e ar s around thec o rner .Kyran's  on ly resp ons e i s a  cl en ched jawbefore f ol lo wi ng  su it. S i ghing, Z ar a t ur nsbackt o me a nd sa ys,"S er i ous ly, str i pd o wn a nd  g et h erwa rm. Y elli f y ou need  me. I've  se e n Ec ho  i n her u nderwear plen ty  of timesin  th e lock e r  room af ter gym class."

"Wills he be o kay ?" Iask.  "Has thi s h appene d b e fore?" 

Zara  bite sher b ottom l ip . " On ly once th a t  Iknowof . In  fourth  grade. I had to w a rmher back up t hat  tim e .  I  ju s tt hou gh t  sh e ' d probably rath er wake up  n a ke d in bed w i thyo u inste ad of m e thi s  time."  She smil es, but i t' s dw a r fed  by her wo rry forher frien d . Ges t ur ing a t m e to g et  mo ving,  she s t eps  into  the h al l andpulls  t he doorclosed.

I feel more th an a l ittle  we ird undre ssi n g m y unconsc ious  girlfrien d,but  once  we ' re bo th d o wn  to our u nder w ear and h u dd led u nd er the blan k e t s,Echo' s b o dy rel axes  against mine and I watch the sc aryw h ite  ic e  fad eas her skin re tur ns t o a heal th y pink.

Sh e doesn' tw ake u p, but  on
 her._No one_objects when I strip_off my_shirt_and pull_Echo_out of Kyran's_grip. Pressing my_chest against her back,_I hold her_there,_but it isn't working like I expected.

Zara is the first to take action. Grabbing_at_her friend's_shirt,_she_starts tugging it off, pushing_me out of the way._"Skin to_skin," she says in a rush, and she_yanks_the shirt free._Her hands shove me back against Echo and we_all take a deep breath when_the frost starts_melting._It's_slow, but her usually_pale skin slowly begins to regain_what little color it used to_have.

Standing, Zara grabs Holden's and Kyran's shirts_and starts shoving them toward the_door. Both argue and try_to get_away, but Zara's fierce glare_shuts them up._Or maybe_it's what she_says to them. "Echo needs to_be warm, pronto._You want her to stay cold_any_longer than she_has_to?_No. So_more clothes need_to_come off_and_I don't think either of you_need_to see that."

Holden's face crinkles. He's still_worried, but he clearly_isn't_interested in sticking around._With a nod that promises_he'll be close by if Echo_needs him,_he disappears_around the corner. Kyran's only response is a clenched jaw before_following suit. Sighing, Zara turns back_to me and says,_"Seriously, strip_down_and get her_warm._Yell if_you need me. I've seen Echo in_her underwear_plenty of times in the locker_room after gym class."

"Will_she_be okay?" I ask. "Has this_happened before?"

Zara bites her bottom lip._"Only once that I know_of._In_fourth grade. I had to_warm her back up that time._I just thought_she'd probably rather wake up naked in_bed_with you instead of me this_time."_She smiles, but it's dwarfed by_her_worry_for her friend. Gesturing at_me to get moving, she steps_into the hall and pulls the door closed.

I feel_more than a_little weird undressing my unconscious_girlfriend,_but_once we're both down to our underwear and huddled under_the blankets,_Echo's body relaxes_against mine and I watch the scary white ice fade_as her skin returns to a healthy_pink.

She doesn't wake up, but on