“What are we doing?” I ask, and she huffs.
“Stop looking so depressed about it. We are going sledding. Then having loads of hot chocolate and a snow ball fight. Apparently, it’s Lockridge tradition when we get snow, which clearly is alot. Why classes are cancelled is beyond me. We live in Vermont for fuck’s sake. We will be buried in snow in no time.” She laughs, and she’s not wrong.
“Alright, move that ass. Let’s go,” she orders, making me laugh.What am I going to do with this girl?
Hours later and three hot chocolates deep, we run up the hill with our sleds and wait in line for our turn.
“Oh god, they’re here,” she warns, but I don’t turn and look. Even if everything in me is screaming to just take a small glance. I should hate them more than I do but—
“Hey, Petal,” Elliot whispers in my ear, causing me to jump.
“Shit,” I mutter, and he chuckles.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you,” he states, and I half smile, trying not to make eye contact with him. Something suddenly hits my back, spraying snow into my hair. I whip around and see Grayson smirking as he walks up to us. Kade is on his heels, and I want to laugh so bad but I don’t. I know if I do, there will be consequences.
“Chunkers, you’re with me today,” Grayson states, and my eyes widen.
“Absolutely the fuck not!” Misti states, and my head snaps towards her and I shake my head. I do not want her standing up for me. I don’t need them punishing her because of me.
“Shh, don’t!” I warn, and she huffs, setting down her sled and gliding down the hill. Great. Now I’m left here with all three of them.
“Looks like we are up next,” Grayson states, placing his huge tube on the snow and sits, patting his lap. “Come on, Chunkers.” But I shake my head.Is he nuts?He tilts his head then goes to open his mouth, but I put my hand up.
“Fine, fine! Just this once,” I tell him, sitting down between his legs.
“Kade, give us a push. I got a lot of weight here,” he states, and I cringe. He just couldn’t help himself could he. Fucking asshole. Kade grumbles something then sends us down the hill. I scream as the wind whips my face while Grayson whoopsand hollers in excitement. His laughter is something I’ve never heard before. Yeah, he’s chuckled, but a genuine laugh like he’s a child playing in the snow is what plays in my mind, and I can’t help but smile. His hands graze my shoulders as he grips the handles, steering us down the hill. Then I hear Elliot’s laughter and look up to see him not far behind us. Oh fuck!
“Oh my god. He’s going to collide with us!” I scream, and Grayson laughs again.
“If he does, we will get him back later,” he says, and I have no idea what the hell that means, but I’m terrified. We finally make it to the bottom and Grayson hops out first then puts his hand out for me to take. I just stare at him because I don’t fucking trust him, and he huffs.
“Chunkers, I don’t have all day, and there's a snow ball fight to be had. Come on,” he states, and I take his hand as he pulls me to my feet, causing me to stumble into him. He grips my hips to steady me, and I look up at him. His eyes snake down to my lips then back up before I’m whipped behind him as Elliot comes so close to slamming into us. His face is filled with pure malice, almost like he was purposely trying to hit us. Then Kade comes down, except he’s on a snow board, smoking a prerolled.What the fuck?He cuts through the snow, spraying Grayson which only makes him growl. I must be imaginingthings because it seems to me Kade and Elliot don’t like me with their friend. No, I can't be reading that correctly. So I go to walk away and find Misti, but Grayson grabs my wrist.
“Where are you going?” he asks, and I freeze. “I just told you we have a snow ball fight to attend. Stay put,” he commands, and I’m frozen in place. “Don’t act so scared. Today is a free day. Let’s have some fun,” he states, and I look at him like he has ten heads.
“You do realize that I don’t trust you. Like at all, right?” I say, and he laughs. God, I think I love his laugh. Hate him but his laugh is—
“You don’t need to trust me to have fun. What happens during a snowday, stays in a snowday,” he says, and I nod.
“That was a terrible “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” statement,” Kade says, and I just stand there. I want to laugh but doing anything other than what they tell me is all I know. If I laugh, there will be consequences, and I’m trying really hard to just steer clear from their wrath, but they are like moths to a flame and I’m the fucking flame.
“Do you want hot chocolate?” Elliot asks, but I shake my head. “Are you sure?” And I nod. “Use your words, Rowyn. Jesus,” he complains, and I take a deepbreath.
“No, thanks, I’ve had three already," I answer, and he smiles.
“Good girl,” he whispers, but Grayson pulls my wrist and I stumble back and away from Elliot.
“Would you stop manhandling me?” I spit, but he narrows his eyes at me. See, this is why I know the whole ‘free day’ shit he is spewing is all bullshit.
“You know you like it. Chunkers loves the attention,” he announces, making me want to crawl into myself, because I do not love any attention. At least not like this. My eyes collide with Kade’s, and he licks his lips, making me blush, then I follow his eyes as he looks to Elliot, who is looking at me.Jesus.If they are thinking about that one night, I’m a goner. I rub my thighs together and Elliot winks.Sweet Mary, mother of God.“Come on. Let’s go to the clearing. We gotta pick teams,” Grayson orders as he pulls me along through the snow. His fucking legs carry him much faster then my short ones and I keep stumbling into the snow.Can he just fucking slow down? No.The more I stumble, the faster he moves.Fucking asshole.
We finally make it to the clearing, and I zone out while he picks teams with the others. Why does this spot seem so familiar? Like I’ve been here before. The river moving fast over the cliff echoes over the clearing and I shiver, looking towards the edge, butsomeone pulling my face towards them has my eyes widening.
“Open,” Kade orders as he blows smoke into my mouth. I suck in the woodsy smoke, inhaling it, then blow it back into his face. He smirks, then a girl with short brown hair pulls him away, making him growl. I clear my throat as she flirts with him right in front of me. However, he pays her no mind. His eyes are still on me until Grayson starts barking orders at Elliot. Grayson eyes the girl, but then looks at me, putting his hand out.
“Why do you keep touching me?” I ask, and he rolls his eyes.
“Shut up. You’re on my team. Can you throw?” he asks, and now it’s my turn to roll my eyes.
