Chapter Twenty Five

      “Elle! Let me in!” Cameron complained, knocking on the door.

      “No! I’m getting dressed!” I yelled.

      “Even more of a reason for me to come in!”

      I didn’t answer to him; instead, I shuffled through my closet, when I saw it. The dress Nick had supposedly picked out for me. I scrutinized it more carefully. Yup, Danni definitely contributed to the decision making process part of picking it out. It was a muted purple dress that shone in the light. It was nice, I guess. Thanks, Nick. I tried it on, and, sure enough, it fit perfectly. I looked in the mirror, and the proportions-- I think that’s what Kara calls it; but, to be honest, I don’t think they have anything to do with the type of proportions I’m used to, like in math-- were perfect. The dress stopped right above my knees, wasn’t too revealing, and felt perfect. The material was soft and flexiable, so I’d be able to tolerate it for the next few hours.

      Going over to my shoe closet, I found a pair of silver heels that would guarantee me getting blisters by the end of the night, but also looked nice with the purple. I slipped the heels on, and then took them right back off remembering why I hated them in the first place. I’d put them on later.

      I took my hair out of my ponytail, and let the natural waves brush over my shoulders. I looked fine. Danni would approve, and Nick would be happy that I was wearing his dress. I still couldn’t believe that I had finally admitted something to myself… and Cameron… that I always subconsciously knew, but was avoiding. I loved Nick, I just didn’t know what I’d ever do if he said he didn’t love me back.

      “Ms. Paterson, are you done?” Cam asked, knocking hard on my door.

      “Yes,” I said, opening it, as his fist was about to pound on it once again.

      “Wow. You look-- lovely; truly radiant.”

      “Who the hell says that anymore?” I rolled my eyes.

      “I do.”

      “Okay, Cam, just because you’re British doesn’t mean you can get away with saying old people words like ‘radiant’,” I said, brushing past him in the hallway. He stopped me from advancing forward by placing his hands around my waist. He was shirtless, yet again. Did he honestly think his perfectly toned abs would draw me in, and cause me to forget that Nick and I ever were? Sometimes I didn’t get Cameron.

      “Really? Because most people love my accent, and the way I speak,” he whispered into my ear.

      “Let. Go.”

      “Elle, don’t be stubborn. I’m fully aware that you want me.”

      “But you see, Cam, I don’t. I want Nick. I love Nick, and I’m happy. Let go, and move the fuck on!” I tried to move, but his grasp was too tight.

      “Elle! Let’s go! I’m already changed! Come on! We’re going to be late!” Nick said, running down the hall. He halted when he saw us. Cameron still didn’t let go.

      “He won’t let go!” I complained.

      “Cameron, please let go of my amazingly gorgeous goddess of girlfriend who happens to be wearing the dress I got her that looks amazing on her, but she should probably put on some shoes, before I kill you,” Nick said, staring darkly at the Brit.

      “Nicholas,” Cameron began.

      “It’s Nick,” he corrected venomously.

      “Oh, I apologize. Nick,” before I could hear what he had in store next, I squirmed my way away from him, and hugged Nick tightly. I looked up, and kissed him. He pulled away quickly, with a remorseful look in his eyes. Then, I noticed for the first time that he wasn’t adorned in his ski swag, but rather in a very nice plaid and blue vest, and a light blue polo; making him look extra preppy.

      “We have to go. Put shoes on. Please.” I went back to my room, complying, and put on the killer silver ones I had on earlier. Literally, they would kill me by the end of the night. I threw on a jacket, and walked down the hall, expecting Nick to follow, but instead I heard, “Don’t you ever touch Elle again! Just stay away from her dude!” I could’ve handled him myself, but I guess Nick was a little bit more intimidating. I then shuffled down to the front area, when Phillip popped up.

      “Hey,” he greeted.

      “Hi,” I said.

      “You look nice.”

      “Thanks?”

      “Yup.”

      “How was skiing?” I asked casually.

      “Great! John completely wiped out when we were going down a double black diamond! It was priceless!” he laughed.

      “Cool,” I smiled, “Oh, and by the way, please don’t burn the house down when we’re gone.”

      “No promises,” he winked.

      “Let’s go,” Nick said in a huff. I followed him out of the house, and to Kara’s car. Why we only brought one car up was clearly a short sight on our parts. We drove away from the house in a calm silence. As we went, I watched the snowflakes land on the hood of the car, and become part of the other flakes that had already clung to the black of the car.

      “I don’t like him either,” Nick broke the silence.

      “Good,” I said slowly.

      “Did he… try anything with you?” he gulped.

      “No. Besides, I would never have let him.”

      “I know, and neither would I.”

      “I know,” I said, as he pulled up to a large gray building after a relatively concise drive. The building had grand glass windows, and looked very… nice, I guess. It looked like the type of place one went where if a fork is dropped, they look at you like you’re inferior.

      “So, who are we meeting again?” I asked, as we stepped up the neatly carved stone steps, making imprints in the snow with ours shoes along the way.

      “My parents... and Evan,” he answered, sliding a hand to the small of my back.

      “Evan’s going to be here?”

      “Yeah.”

      “No!” I cried, not wanting to deal with the boy genetically labled as my boyfriend’s brother.

      “Elle, deal with it.”

      “Because it’s for you, I will,” I gave him a light kiss on the cheek.

      “Good girl,” he said, opening the door for me.

      “What a gentleman!” I teased.

      “I know, I really am.”

      “Hello, do you two have a reservation?” the hostess asked, giving us a snooty look as if we didn’t belong. I hated when people looked down on me just because of my age; it was so discriminating!

      “Yes, actually. We’re with the Ross party,” Nick said, sliding his arm tighter around my waist, pulling me close.

      “Oh, of course, one moment,” she looked down at something. “Right this way.” We followed her into the back of the restaurant, until we saw a table with Danni, Dean, and Evan seated at it.

      “Thank you,” Nick said, as she walked away, leaving us to deal with the Ross family.

      “Elle!” Danni cried, getting up to hug me.

      “Hi, Danni,” I said, accepting the tight display of affection.

      “Son,” I heard Dean say.

      “Dean,” Nick said.

      “Dad to you.”

      “Right, of course, Dean,” I heard a playful tone in Nick’s voice.

      “Do you like that car of yours? Just remember that your dad bought it for you, and that your dad will take it away from you in a second,” Dean threatened, though everyone in the party knew it was a false threat. Dean would never do something like that to Nick. Nick was a good kid, and taking away his mode of transportation over something as minor as calling his father by his first name would never actually happen.

      “Why, father, why would you do that?” Nick questioned mockingly.

      “Evan, come say hello,” Dean commanded in an authoratative tone.

      “Hello,” Evan said expressionlessly.

      “Evan! Come here and give Elle a hug!” Danni scolded.

      “Ew! No way!” he protested.

      “Evan, I’ll try the same approach as your father; do you like that car of yours?” Danni challenged.

      “Yes, I do,” the older Ross child said.

      “Be polite, and you won’t loose it,” she shook her head.

      “Hello, Elle,” he said, squeezing all the possible air out of me as his arms encircled around me.

      “Hi,” I wheezed.

      “I hate you,” he whispered, through gritted teeth.

      “I hate you too,” I lashed right back, inaudible to the other three standing close to us.

      “Okay, that’s enough,” Nick said. Evan quickly liberated me from his hold, and Nick took my jacket off for me.

      “Oh my! Elle you look fabulous! Nick wonderful job with the dress!” Danni gasped, winking at me.

      “Thank you, Danni,” I grinned.

      “Do you like it?” she asked eagerly.

      “I love it!” I said sincerely.

      “Good! I’m so glad! When I-- I mean Nick, saw it, he knew it would be perfect for you!”

      “Well, it is!”

      “Sit down, sit down!” Dean urged. I sat next to Nick, opposite Danni and Dean, while Evan was just awkwardly placed at the head of the table. Loser.

      “So, bro, how were the slopes?” Evan asked.

      “Awesome!” Nick said.

      “How long were you out there for?”

      “Eight hours, maybe? I don’t know. Last night we went, though.”

      “Cool,” his older brother deemed.

      “Hey, where’s Jake?” I asked, realizing that Jake had said he was staying with Evan, but he was nowhere in sight.

      “I think he went over your house to hang with his brother,” Evan said, not turning to look at me.

      “Oh,” I said simply.

      The rest of the evening went smoothly. Danni made conversation with me about girly things I had little to no knowledge on, because she was deprived of girl in her family. The boys talked more about skiing. Dean brought up the topic of college, and Evan tried to steer the discussion away from it. We ate, conversed some more, and then ordered dessert.

      “Can I talk to Elle outside for a minute?” Nick asked.

      “Be back in no later than fifteen minutes,” Dean said.

      “Fine,” Nick said, getting up, grabbing my coat, and tossing to me, as I stood up unsure of what exactly was occurring.

      “Where are we going?” I asked, as he put his jacket on.

      “Just outside,” he answered, slipping my hand into his. We walked out of the restaurant, and to the frigid outdoors.

      “It’s cold,” I complained, looking at the falling snow around us.

      “Elle, would you say that a fantasy most girls have is kissing that one guy in the pouring rain?” Nick questioned abruptly.

      “Yeah, I guess,” I shrugged easily.

      “Okay, well we’re never going to do that,” he stated.

      “We’re not?” confusion exited my mouth.

      “No. I don’t like rain-- it’s too wet; instead, you get to kiss that one special guy in the falling snow.” He leaned into me, and our lips crashed together, just like that. Our mouthes molded together so naturely, and everything inside was screaming “Love!” I couldn’t get that stupid feeling out of my head. I was kissing Nick Ross in the snow, and loving him.

      My lips parted once we had both pulled away and I looked into his deep eyes of brown, knowing there was only one thing to say. “Nick--” 

      “Elle, just let me say something to you first,” he interjected.

      “Okay,” I breathed.

      “Elle Paterson, I--I love you,” he said. I froze, unsure if I had heard him correctly. Did Nick Ross, the same boy who finger painted a dinosaur with me in kindergarten, legimately just say that he loved me? I have to be dreaming, or imagining things.

      “Elle?” he tapped my shoulder delicately.

      “Nick, I love you too,” I said, finding it the only thing I was able to get out. He smiled, and crashed his moist lips right back on my own.