Chapter Thirty-One
Raven
“How do I know if I packed everything?” Sophie exclaims in a frantic tone as she runs back to her bookshelf for the millionth time. She’s not worried she forgot a shirt or an extra pair of socks for the junior ski trip—no, she’s freaking out that she didn’t bring enough books.
I laugh as I review the list I made on my phone.
I’m also a little worried that I might have forgotten something.
It’s Friday morning and we should be leaving for the lodge in an hour.
Classes have been canceled today, since it takes about two hours to get there.
We’ll return to school on Sunday evening.
We’ll be staying two nights at the lodge, and the last thing I want is realizing I forgot to pack enough underwear.
Considering we pack every year for school, one would think we can do this in the blink of an eye.
But the school only lets us bring one suitcase, and Sophie’s biggest dilemma is that books take up a lot of room, not to mention they can be very heavy.
“Maybe just bring your e-reader and read your ebooks on the trip?” I suggest as I zip up my suitcase. “That way, you won’t run out of room.”
She twists her lips as she considers it. I know she’s more of a paperback kind of girl, since she loves to hold the physical books in her hands, but sacrifices must be made, right?
With a sigh, she removes some of her books from her suitcase and places her e-reader inside.
Then we review my list one more time to make sure we have everything we need before grabbing our suitcases and leaving our dorm room.
Carly and Addie should be waiting for us outside, since they’re all packed and ready to go.
“I’m so excited,” Sophie says with a groan as we lug our bags down the stairs to the first floor. “Having fun skiing and ice skating and all the other activities with my friends and my boyfriend! It’s going to be awesome.”
“I know, right? I’ve been looking forward to this ever since freshman year, when we became friends. We barely do any activities together outside of school, not counting when we hang out in the summer, of course. And the fact that the four of us are sharing a room will be loads of fun.”
“Do you think you’ll hang out with Kylen?”
I shrug. “He might want to hang out with his friends.”
“I’m sure he’ll want to hang out with you, too. Either way, the seven of us will have the time of our lives.”
“You bet your butt we will!” Carly says as she waves and motions for us to come over. She and Addie are bundled up really well, since it feels like it’s zero degrees out here. It’ll be even colder at the lodge, so we had to make sure we packed a lot of sweaters, too.
“I couldn’t sleep all night,” Addie tells us as we wheel our suitcases to the main school building. “I’ve never been to a ski lodge before. I hope I don’t crash and break all my bones.”
Sophie jabs her elbow into her arm. “As if Caleb will let you fall and break anything. He’ll probably ski right behind you and catch you in his arms before your body can make contact with the snow.”
That causes her to laugh. “He’s not as overprotective as he was months ago. I think he’s loosened the leash a little.”
I snort. “Yeah, right. It’s the total opposite. Now that he’s madly in love with you, he’s more worried about you. It’s no longer just a job for him—you’re his life.”
“You make it sound so romantic.”
“Because it is, duh,” Carly says. “Caleb knows when to give you space to do your own thing and be independent and make your own decisions, but he’s always there to catch you if you fall. That’s the perfect boyfriend.”
“Ryder and Damian are the same,” Addie points out. “They also know when to give you space and when to help fight your battles.”
Sophie skips again. “I know, right? Now we just need Raven to find her dream guy and we’ll all live happily ever after.”
“Unless her dream guy is closer than you think,” Addie says before humming and walking ahead of us.
I roll my eyes at my remaining friends. “Like that wasn’t subtle.”
“Remember what we talked about?” Carly says. “Anything is possible.”
“I just want to live my life without worrying about anything. I’m totally fine with just being friends with Kylen.”
“Uh huh,” they both say.
Okay, maybe I can admit to myself that my feelings for Kylen might be teetering toward more than just friends.
I love spending time with him and getting to know him again.
And yes, I do stay up at night thinking about kissing him.
But like I told myself and my friends a million times, I just want to enjoy my life without constantly analyzing every moment or conversation I share with Kylen.
Besides, I don’t even know if he feels more than friendship for me.
“Can we just have fun this weekend without you guys trying to play cupid?” I ask.
“We’ll try,” Carly says.
“But we’re not making any promises.”
I sigh dramatically. “I guess I’ll have to make do with that.”
When we reach the main building, we find that other students are already gathered there, including Caleb, who is currently hugging Addie. They look so warm and cozy together. It must make Addie feel so protected and loved.
“Where’s my guy?” Sophie asks with a frown. She gazes in the distance, to where the apartments of the faculty are located. “I don’t see him.”
“I miss Ryder like crazy,” Carly complains.
I giggle. “Can’t you guys be apart for more than a few hours?” I tease.
“It’s torture being apart for more than a few minutes,” Carly says.
“More than a few seconds,” Sophie corrects.
“More than half a second!”
“More than a millisecond!”
As they continue, I notice a group of guys heading toward us. It’s Kylen and his friends. Unlike us girls, they aren’t lugging suitcases. Apparently, they managed to stuff all the things they need into their backpacks.
“Why do guys pack so light?” I complain.
“Ryder thought I was crazy when I told him I was bringing my suitcase,” Carly informs us. “He was like, ‘You know it’s just the weekend and not a whole week, right?’” She playfully rolls her eyes. “Boys.”
“I stashed some of my things in Caleb’s backpack,” Addie tells us as she and her boyfriend join us. “I’ll grab them before we separate to our rooms.”
Sophie slaps her forehead. “Why didn’t I think of that? Be right back! I’m going to grab some books.” She dashes away.
“I told her to just bring her e-reader,” I mutter.
“Poor guy,” Carly says. “Damian will have to carry her heavy books on his back.”
“The things we do for love,” Ryder says with a sigh as he joins us. “But we’re more than glad to do it.”
Kylen and his friends finally catch up with us, Kylen’s whole face lighting up when he notices me. I smile as I play with my suitcase handle, butterflies flapping around in my stomach. Just his smile alone warms my insides.
“Man, this trip will be sick,” Beck says. “Can’t wait to hit the slopes and show all the kids here how it’s done.”
Kylen gives him a look. “The last time we went skiing, you nearly broke your arm.”
“Because Leo tripped me with his ski poles.”
“What the heck? No I didn’t.”
“You skied too close to me.”
“You’re out of your freakin’ mind.”
As they continue arguing, Kylen playfully rolls his eyes at me. “How am I going to live in the same room as them for two nights?”
“I’d offer you a place with us, but I don’t want to risk expulsion. No boys are allowed in the girls’ rooms.”
He laughs softly. “No, that’s definitely not worth getting expelled. Unless I dress up like a girl. Where would I sleep, though?”
“On the floor, of course,” I say.
“But there might be bugs on the floor.”
“I’m sure you can handle it.”
“No offense, dude, but you’d make an ugly girl,” Jasper says with a chuckle. “Wouldn’t he, Rave?”
“I don’t know.” I study him closely. “He does have pretty, long lashes.”
“One of my best features,” Kylen says with a proud smile.
“You’d still make an ugly girl,” Jasper insists.
“Well you make an ugly guy,” Kylen shoots back, obviously joking.
He and Jasper burst out laughing.
“I guess I did trip you,” Leo surrenders. “Sorry, man.”
“It’s cool. Just don’t do it again.”
“It is tempting, though,” he jokes.
Beck glares at him.
Leo holds up his hands. “Just kidding. Not really.”
“When are we leaving already, man?” Beck grumbles. “It’s freezing out here.”
Damian joins us with a backpack as well.
After exchanging a hug with him, Sophie asks if she can stash her books in his backpack.
Of course Damian says that she can, though Sophie is disappointed to learn that there isn’t a lot of room for them.
They manage to move things around to make everything fit.
Something I’ve always loved about their relationship is that while Damian doesn’t really understand her obsession with books, he’s so supportive of it.
That’s why he’s willing to heave her books around for her.
“Thanks, Non Bad Boy.” She presses a sweet kiss on his cheek. “I love you so much.”
He glances at the teachers and faculty, and when he sees they’re preoccupied with talking to one another, he draws her in for a proper kiss. Sophie stares at him like she just flew up to heaven.
Kylen smiles at me. “Your friends and their boyfriends are adorable.”
“They’re lucky to have found the guys of their dreams.” I don’t know why my voice is a little shaky.
Kylen nods slowly as he watches Carly and Ryder perform a dance in perfect sync to warm themselves up. “Yeah, they really are lucky.”
We both grow quiet.
Our eyes meet for a second before we look away. Then they meet again and we both laugh.
“What?” I ask.
“What?” he asks back.
“You were looking at me.”
“Only because you were looking at me.”
We laugh again.
Kylen is about to say something, but then one of the teachers announces that it’s time for us to load onto the buses. At once, every kid grabs their suitcase and makes their way to the gates that are opening up. The coach buses are parked right outside.