I can’t believe we were out here in this blizzard fighting like two idiots. All because of the stupidity and selfishness of both of our parents, and because of the hate we both have for each other. Heat prickles in the corner of my eyes, and a tear spills over my lashes and turns to frost. I can’t let my emotions get the best of me, I just need to get him up and back inside. Then when this storm is over, I can get off this tainted mountain and purge my mind of anything Montgomery. A complete brain-bleach.
It doesn’t take too long to get him fully uncovered, thank God. I slap lightly at his cheeks and shake his shoulders. “V-V-Vaughn, get up.” I still have no control over my convulsing teeth.
He stirs a little.
“V-V-Vaughn, wake up. If we stay out here, we’re going to die.”
“I’m already dead,” he mumbles, “and Hell smells like vanilla and roses.”
What’s going to happen if I can’t get him up? Am I strong enough to carry him through the snowdrifts all the way back to the house?
That’s a hard no.
“You’re not dead, Vaughn. Not yet.”
His eyes open wide, then narrow back down to slits. “But I’m still in Hell it seems.”
“If that’s a knock on me and not the weather, you can just stay here and harden into a Montgomery-favored popsicle. I really don’t care.”
His jaw clenches as he slowly sits up. He must be in pain.
“Funny, I remember you caring. I remember you really liking me hardening into your very own Montgomery-flavored popsicle.” He tries to chuckle, but his eyes squeeze shut tight. Yeah, he’s definitely in a lot of pain. Good, he deserves it after what he just said.
“How about you just forget that ever happened?” I grumble.
“Can’t,” he grunts, making his way slowly to his feet. “It’s etched right into my brain matter.”
“Then let’spretendwe’re total strangers,” I sigh. Doesn’t he realize I hate him just as much as he hates me? I may even hate him more.
“Then, I wish we were better strangers,” he mutters.
Oh, forget it. He’s not worth fighting with right now, it’s too damn cold. I spin my back on him and start trudging my way toward the only huge snowy lump that has a glowing window and hope it’s the house. Behind me, Vaughn drops back to the ground.
“Really?” I growl, glancing back at him over my shoulder. “You have enough energy to snicker back and forth with me, but not enough to move, huh?”
He sits in the snow, his hand touching the side of his forehead. His fingers fall away covered in blood. Confusion pulls his brows together.
A violent shiver rips through me.
I’m at his side in a flash, faster than I could have ever thought possible.
“W-w-why am I bleeding?” he asks.
“I don’t know—I don’t know,” my words are panicked, frenzied. I lean down and steel myself against his heavy body, flinging his limp arm over my shoulder. “Try and climb back up to your feet. Come on, Vaughn, help me. I can’t carry you.” I want to stop the world from spinning and look at his head, but what good would it do, we’re still out here in the storm. We have to get back inside and warm up. I can’t even feel my fingers, how can I possibly help him with frozen fingers?
His face pales, his lips turn a sick purplish-blue. Pulling him up to his feet, I see the gash just behind his hairline. I remember from taking a first-aid class in school, no matter how small, head wounds always bleed a lot. More than any other wounds, so most of the time it’s not as bad as it looks. I hope that’s true. What could he have possibly hit his head on?
I try to walk him forward, but his legs buckle. Vaughn Montgomery is a heavy son-of-a—let me not even go there. I need to just concentrate on getting us back to the house, even if I have to drag him all the way there.
“R-r-really dizzy,” he mumbles.
The pressure of his weight on my shoulders is making me a bit dizzy too. This man is like nine feet tall and made of solid muscle.
“Just keep walking, Goliath.”
We climb through the snow, slowly. It’s so raw and bitter out here tears and snot have frozen on my face. I catch him looking down at me, side-eyeing what an icy-cold mess I am. He’s probably having a good hearty laugh in his head right now at my expense.
“H-h-how much did he leave you when he d-d-died?” he sputters and swears at me.
