"Ready?" Kenny asked me as I closed out my morning shift before class.

"As I'll ever be," I responded.

I rung up my last customer and headed to the break room to gather my thoughts. I didn't have time to think about the way Nate stormed out. I didn't have time nor room for any negativity. For my last final of the semester, I only had space for one man in my life & I call him C.T. - Caffeine & Tests.

I even saw the Jacks near my class but had no time (nor interest) to stop and chat. After I downed the remainder of the latte I got in the student union, I was one of the first five people in the classroom. I'm sure one of the students was having a silent breakdown. Not me. I was ready. I was confident. And I ended up breezing through it. I just wanted to fucking finish and get it over with.

As soon as I walked out of that classroom, it was officially winter break for me. I couldn't wait to shred every school paper and begin packing for Big Wolf Lake.

Oh shit...the trip...Nate...

After the other night, I was unsure if Nate was still going to show up. I wanted him to come, I told him we could be friends still, just nothing more. When I got home, I messaged him.

'If you're still coming to Big Wolf Lake, we're meeting at my place. 8 AM Sunday morning.'

He never texted back. Andrea was about to be pissed if we don't reach 6 people and I knew I was going to draw this out until the last minute, just to see if he'd show. I was even considering asking Kenny to take his place but then I realized I was willing to risk it for Nate. I wanted him to come even though I was iffy about us.

+

The clock was winding down to 8 and everyone gradually showed up to our place. First Sydney, then the Jacks. Andrea was making sure to pack her entire fucking closet. I still wasn't sure why someone would need two flat irons and an entire suitcase just for shoes. All of us packed at least one duffle bag and Andrea had 2 suitcases PLUS a duffle bag, taking up the most trunk space. Luckily, Jack Johnson rented a large SUV.

"Okay," Andrea took a deep breath. "That should be everything. Is everyone here?"

"Well..." I began. "I'm not sure where Nate is."

"Wait, Nate's coming?" Gilinsky asked with a slight disgust.

"I hope so."

Gilinsky rolled his eyes and looked down at his phone.

"Yeah well, he has 10 minutes," Andrea hissed, still not pleased I invited him. "Let's load up the car."

+

As we packed up the car, I kept looking down at the end of the parking lot, waiting for him to show up. I was getting anxious as the minutes passed by.

"You should've stuck with Sammy, Liv," Andrea shook her head. "It's time to go."

I took a deep breath and climbed into the car, choosing to sit in the row all the way in the back.

"Who the hell is Sammy?" I heard Gilinsky ask Andrea.

She said nothing and sat in the second row with Sydney. Johnson was going to be driving and Gilinsky sat in the passenger seat. Once he started the car, I put my headphones on feeling annoyed and let down. After an abrupt stop while we backed up, I was certain that Johnson didn't know how to drive an SUV.

"The fuck is this," Johnson says quietly.

I turned around and saw Foosh's truck blocking the SUV. Nate hops out in a hurry, carrying his bag.

"Nate?" I said to myself.

Andrea huffs and opens the car door. "Hurry up, you're late."

Nate hops in and sits down next to me in his winter hat that has the yarn puff on top. I grin at him, not saying a word. But he knew what I wanted to say, nodding at me.

"Alright kiddos, it's gonna be a long ride," Johnson said. Foosh moved out of the way and we were finally on the road.

"Guess I better make myself busy," Nate said quietly as he looked at me.

He reached into his bag and took out his own copy of The Giver. Not once did he look over at me after that. He knew I noticed the book which is why I caught his smug grin as he read the first page. I'm not sure when, but I ended up passing out during the trip. I missed out on all the jam sessions from Johnson's iPhone via aux cord, the scenic views, and Nate's backseat bickering with Gilinsky's front seat fussing. I woke up briefly for each little event, quickly falling back to sleep.

I was shaken out of my sleep to a slap on my thigh. It was Andrea leaning over the back of her seat, smiling with excitement.

"Wake up sleepyhead, we're here!"

Everyone else was out the car and looking around at the exterior of our 2-story cabin home for the next week. I crawled out and got a whiff of the fresh air. I looked up at the towering pine trees and closed my eyes once the breeze blew, making the pine needles rustle against each other. Not to mention the lovely view across the nearly frozen lake of a snowy mountain. I was in complete awe like everyone else. Even Nate was speechless.

We followed Andrea into the house and I was blown away. See, outside, it looked traditional but inside, it was luxurious. She switched on all the lights and even the switch to turn on the fireplace.

"So there's three bedrooms and they all have two beds except for one...which is only a Queen-sized bed. So I guess that's for Liv and Nate," she smirked.

"Wait, what?" My eyes grew wide and she shrugged.

"You serious?" Nate added.

"Why don't you give Johnson & Sydney the one bed?" I asked.

"Well, we're not an item & I don't believe in sleeping in the same bed with a guy unless it's like that, so..." Sydney had a dumb smirk on her face that gave me reason to believe they were in on this together. My first clue was her stating her so-called morals. These are lies. She's been in plenty beds.

"I don't mind the one bed, though," Johnson chimed in.

"Cool it," Sydney chuckled.

+

After Andrea and Sydney went on a beer and liquor run, the rest of the night was pretty festive. I didn't talk much to Nate all day. He was too busy bonding with Sydney as they talked about everything he was into like tattoos, rap, & sports. I mean...I like tattoos and rap, too. Sports? Not so much. And I wasn't about to fake it either. I hate when girls act like they're huge sports fanatics and they aren't.

While Johnson and Andrea played Mario Kart, I sat at the breakfast bar by my lonesome, staring at my rum & coke and forgetting which number I was on. Probably my 3rd cup...or 5th. Suddenly, Gilinsky leans against the breakfast bar beside me and smirks at me.

"Hey you," he slurred.

"Hi."

"Why have you been so distant all night? I'm like...yo...where's Liv? I mean- I mean I saw you but you weren't here, like...your soul wasn't...here."

My head falls forward and lands onto my arms. "What soul?" I mumbled.

I admit, I was jealous of all the attention Sydney was getting. Nate was fucking with my mind. Did I want him or did I want the idea of him? I was angry with his logic but I thought maybe I misunderstood. I was battling myself all day about it and I was a couple cups away from not caring.

"Liv." Gilinsky tapped me on the shoulder and I slowly rolled back up. "I think we should give us a try."

"Jack, listen, you're super cute and trust me, I wonder what it would be like to sit on your face all the time." That caused his eyebrows to raise. "But your ship has sailed. I've seen you and Andrea together too much and now you're coming on to me because she won't make it official with you. Like...no."

He was silent for a while and the grinned. "Okay...but about the face-sitting-"

"Jack! Really?"

+

I wasn't sure how many hours had passed but the night finally came to a slow. I was in and out of sleep on the couch. Soon I was joined by Johnson who threw himself on the couch next to me and seemingly upset.

"What's goin' on, Jo Bro?"

"Don't ever call me that," he quickly replied.

"You got it."

"I don't like your friend," he told me, sipping on his 7th beer.

"Why?"

"Because he's hitting it off with Sydney more than I ever could."

It felt like a thousand needles just stabbed my chest. "W-What do you mean?"

"I saw them makin' out, dude. I went into the room to go get my toothbrush and boom, he's in her bed."

Johnson continued his story but I zoned out into a drunken tunnel of despair. As much as I didn't want to check for myself, I didn't even want to envision them...but I did. My thoughts were hurting me more than the actual thing.

I sunk more into the couch and downed the rest of my drink, demanding another but no one but Johnson was around. If my knowledge was sober & correct; Nate was clearly with Sydney in an undisclosed part of the house and Jack and Andrea were out back in the hot tub. I secretly hoped they got sick from the rapid temperature transition once they got out of it.

"Like, why do people mess with other people's heads? Do they get a kick out of it?" Johnson went on.

"Probably," I sighed. "And like...why don't we fuck with 'em right back? Why do we just take it?"

"Exactly. You understand. You know what, Liv?" He asked, turning to me and resting his left arm on the back of the couch. "I'm sorry Jack is such an asshole to you. I mean, he likes you, but he wants to fuck you more. And I think that's so uncool. Because you're cool."

I laughed. "I could tell that about him. And thanks Jo Bro."

"Still can't call me that."

"Aw."

We both sat in silence, staring at the ceiling. The room was vibrating, not exactly spinning. Drunk Liv was starting to take over. She was fighting beneath the surface. Drunk Liv is a totally different person, a diva sometimes that could go head to head with Andrea and not falter. Drunk Liv is bold and daring. She...has arrived.

"I should give you a hickie," I suggested.

"Wait, what?" Johnson's eyes went wide.

"Make her jealous. Then you give me one in return."

Johnson studied me for a bit but I guess his drunkeness made the decision for him. He shrugged and I curled my index finger to come closer. I know this was to only be done as a favor but you have to play the part. I really got into it as I kissed and sucked the side of his neck. It didn't take long for him to reach full redness and then it was my turn to receive.

Sydney doesn't know what she's missing. Regardless of everything, I was feeling some kind of way with his lips on my neck. He found a sensitive spot and it caused me to moan softly. This got a reaction out of him because now he brought his hands into it, grabbing & caressing the back of my neck. He sucked harder and I bit my lip. I guess I've just been begging to be touched. I have so much sexual frustration pent up inside of me.

We moved around until I was on my back and he was between my legs. He even began to moan against my neck. Before I knew it, his lips traveled up my chin and to my lips. We kissed aggressively and it tasted like sweet revenge for both of us. I realized I needed another drink because this...was crazy and Drunk Liv was losing to Sober Liv, swimming back to the surface.

"Mmm, okay, okay," I spoke quietly. "This went too far."

Johnson slowly but surely paced his breath, still between my legs. He bursted into laughter and it was contagious enough to make me laugh too. He got off me and sat normally on the couch.

"Guess I kinda lost it," he admitted.

"Me too," I said. "How's my neck tattoo looking?"

"I did a number on you," he winked. "How's mine?"

"Looking nice and cherry red."

+

I had taken a shower and changed into a long-sleeve shirt & sweatpants. By the time I got back into the room, Nate was already in there. He was sitting up in bed, reading with no shirt on.

"Aren't you gonna be cold?" I broke the silence.

"You see how thick this blanket is? Plus it's called body heat," he grinned.

"Hmm." I flipped my hair to one side and noticed his little smile fade.

"The fuck is that on your neck?"

"Huh? Oh this? You don't know what a hickie looks like?" I scoffed and climbed into bed.

"I know what they look like, I fuckin' invented hickies."

"Fraud is illegal, you know."

"...Who gave you that?"

"Not you. Your lips were pretty busy, I heard."

He chuckled. "Is that what this is? A revenge hickie?"

"Kiss my ass, Nate. It's not always about you." Sadly it was.

"I don't understand you, Liv."

"That makes two of us. Goodnight!" I lay down facing away from him and turned off the lamp by my side of the bed.

"No, we're gonna talk," he went on.

"I don't wanna fucking talk Nate. I don't even wanna be in the same bed with a mindfuck like you."

"Are you bipolar or somethin'?" I hear him shut the book and sit back up to look at him.

"Unless you're a doctor, I suggest you don't throw medical terms around."

"Wow...wow," he scoffed. "You're a fuckin' piece of work."

"Likewise! I'm sick of always arguing with you. God..."

"We only argue because you're fucked up in the head."

"Oh it's all me, huh? None of the arguing is because of you?" I held my hands up in a choking pose. "I could just choke the shit out of you right now but congratulations! I'm too tired and liquored up! Good. Night."

Nate sucks his teeth. "Such a bitch, yo," he whispered.

"That's Queen Bitch, to you." I snapped back.

+

I slept in and woke up to more disappointment. They closed the slopes for the day because of weather & Sydney found a bunch of people to invite over for a party. Great...another party...I'm so surprised.

To make matters worse, her and Andrea appointed Nate and I to go pick up the keg from a place 30 minutes away and over the bridge. They trusted me more than Nate to drive the rental car and the whole ride there he complained about being on a trip with my snooty friends. I'm guessing he was excluding Sydney since he was practically tasting her thoughts yesterday.

It seemed like we were waiting forever for the keg and I noticed the storm clouds rolling in & rolling in fast. By the time we had gotten the keg in the trunk and closed it, the freezing rain mixed with snow came pouring down. I had turned on the radio and apparently it was part of a huge storm system moving in. By the time we got back to the bridge, it was closed off with cops ordering us to turn around and seek shelter. They were unsure of how long it was going to be like this but they said expect more severe conditions within the next couple of hours. We turned around and parked in an empty lot.

"Unbelievable, now what?" I huffed.

Nate was on his phone, barely paying me any attention. "Looks like we're stuck here overnight with each other."

This was becoming an even bigger nightmare. Or will it be a sweet dream?

_________

Author's Note: Something big I feel it happening...

or not...

you never know with me. Icy weather has proven to be quite...dangerous.

Vote & comment!! xx