So Cold

There was a crisp hint of winter in the air that morning. Air so cold it was tangible and left a minty taste on the tongue. You could see it in Nancy's breath, puffing out more visibly in the sun's infantile rays. She shut her mouth and kept quiet. Stealth was a virtue.
Then Stacy spoke. "I'm having fun," she said in a quiet undertone that couldn't be muffled by her sheer excitement. Nancy turned her head around and smiled. On returning a forward gaze she dropped the hint of contentment and lowered her eyebrows to her new frown. Bringing Stacy along suddenly seemed regrettable. Nancy was not so excited anymore.
"I've never held a gun before," Stacy remarked, feeling as if Nancy's smile was some indication to keep talking. So Nancy dropped the facade.
"That's great, kid, but try to stay focused here. We have to remain unnoticed."
"Sorry, Nance." Stacy's apology was ineffectual, almost immature, and seemed to stay in that spot as the girls moved on. All that was heard for a while was the crunching of the dead October leaves, which carpeted the ground. And the sound traveled a short distance in this more open part of the woods where the trees distanced themselves from others like an awkward, adolescent dance hall.
Further on it seemed the trees knew how to mingle and the forest became more dense. Nancy spoke again. "Okay, I need for you to make a clucking noise - don't ask." Stacy didn't ask and performed as if out of habit. And there was a clucking noise no man could have distinguished from a real hen. There was a pause, allowing the clucks to travel, and then: "That was good," said Nancy.
Stacy regained a sense of happiness in her pride for having done right for Nancy, but she stood slumped with a curved spine that threw her shoulders past her hips with her arms crossed and rifle arbitrary on her back. She looked much too coy next to the composed Nancy, who stood up straight with shoulders parallel to the ground, allowing her breasts to protrude furthest, by proxy.
In her pride, Stacy began, "I remember back in high school how you were always so cold. So cold all the time."

Hey Anna,

Marry Me?