The chaperones walk around the table, handing the students info packets on the activities we can do here. Skiing, snowboarding, snowtubing, ice skating, sledding, a winter hike, and more. There are also activities students can do here inside the lodge, such as making hot chocolate, playing board games, doing puzzles, and there’s also educational stuff that has some of the kids groaning and moaning. There are also schedules for when the shuttles leave. One should be arriving in half an hour.
“So what are we doing first?” Sophie asks.
“Most of the activities are in the same area,” I say as I study the information. “The skiing, the snowboarding, snowtubing, and the ice skating. The shuttle to the winter hike is separate.”
Carly shivers. “Who wants to go on a hike in the cold?”
“You’ll be out in the cold on all the other activities, too,” Ryder points out.
“Yeah, but that’s different. I mean, I have no problem if you guys want to go on the hike, but I’d rather do the other stuff.”
“I don’t think we’ll have time to do everything,” Addie says. “So let’s choose what we want to do most. And we don’t all have to do the same things, either.”
All of us decide we want to ski first, including Kylen and his friends. The school is providing us with all the gear we need, so we go up to our rooms to change into the right gear. We’ll pick up our skis and poles at the location.
Then we meet in the foyer and wait for the shuttle to arrive. Most of the kids are here as well while a handful choose to remain at the lodge. Some of the kids go on these kinds oftrips with their families every year, so it’s not exciting for them. They’d rather lie down on the couches and busy themselves with their phones. I even notice that some kids aren’t even here. I guess they decided to skip out on this because they couldn’t care less about it?
“Oh my gosh, how exciting is this?” Carly bounces in her spot. “I haven’t gone skiing in a long time. And I’ve never been snowboarding before.”
“I’m looking forward to ice skating,” I tell them. “My elementary school took us there once and, according to my teachers, I flew across the ice like a pro. I haven’t ice skated since then. Will you guys go ice skating, too?”
“I tried it when my family took us to Rockefeller Center,” Sophie tells us. “I fell so many times that I was black and blue all over. It’s safe to say that ice skates and I are not a good combination.”
“I’ll go with you,” Addie tells me. “And it’ll be so romantic to skate with Caleb, if he wants to come.”
“Sure, but I doubt I’ll be graceful,” he says.
“I don’t care about that.” She snuggles in his arms. “I just want to have the best time in the world.”
The shuttle finally arrives and all the students load onto it. I look outside during the drive, taking in the beautiful snowy mountains. I can’t believe we’ll be skiing and snowtubing down them soon.
When we get to the location, everyone separates to the activity they want to do. My friends, their boyfriends, and Kylen and his friends head to skiing. We get our skis and poles and then embark on what I hope will be hours full of fun and entertainment.
***
I’m glad to report that I only crash twice. I can’t say the same for Sophie, though. No matter how much she holds onto Damianfor dear life, she can’t keep balance and wipes out. A lot. She eventually grows too frustrated and decides to try snowtubing instead.
Addie and Caleb grow a little tired after a while and decide to head back to the cabin to take a short break. Carly has the time of her life, but she and Ryder accidentally bump into each other, and Ryder has to go to the cabin for first aid.
That leaves me all alone.
Well, I technically am not alone because Kylen and the guys are here, too, but they’re kind of doing their own thing. So I guess I am alone.
I’m about to go down the slopes again, but Kylen is by my side. “I see you’re alone.”
“Oh, yeah. My friends had to leave.”
“Want to hang out with me? I can’t promise I’ll be as fun as your friends, but I think I’m good company.”
“You’re always good company,” I tell him.
His face shines like I gave him the best compliment in the world.
“I think I want to try the harder course,” I tell him. “I wiped out only two times on the easier course. I think I’m ready for the harder one.”
“Well, I’m happy to inform you that yours truly hasn’t wiped out once, not on the easy course or the harder one. So I’d be happy to join you.”
“You really didn’t crash once?”
