Chapter 6 Keeping Up
six
Keeping Up
Somehow, I get stuck taking Michael down to the rental shop while everyone else heads to the lift. He walks up to the counter and asks if they have any demos available. When they bring them out, he spends a lot of time looking at a snowboard.
“Jess,” he says. “Would you like to try snowboarding? I could teach you how.”
“Not today.” I'm already annoyed that he's using up my ski time.
“Why not?” Michael asks. “I’m sure you’d be great at it.”
I sigh. “I have limited time and limited funds for skiing. I’m afraid I might actually like snowboarding, then I’d have to blow a bunch of money on new equipment.
Besides, I don’t want to waste today. The snow is great.
You’re welcome to get a board though. I’m used to skiing with knuckle-draggers. ”
“I’ll pay for your rental,” Michael says. Apparently, he likes to throw his money around.
“No, thanks.”
He puts the snowboard back and picks out a pair of racing skis.
“What skill level?” the man behind the counter asks. He looks like he’s trying to size up Michael.
“Expert.” I answer for Michael. He doesn’t contradict me. If he’s trying to impress me, it’s not working.
By the time we get to the hill, everyone is gone.
“Matt, where are you guys?” Michael says into the two-way radio we brought with us.
Matt’s voice crackles through the radio. “Already on our third run.”
“Should we wait for them to get down?” Michael asks me.
“I’m done waiting.” I don't even try to keep the irritation out of my voice.
“We’ll catch up,” Michael says to the radio.
“Good luck with that,” Matthew replies.
As we step onto the skis, I compare the skis I bought used four years ago to the demos that Michael is putting on. It’s going to be hard to keep up with him.
“Beautiful day,” Michael remarks on the lift. The sun is shining, and the sky is the deep blue that only shows up at this altitude.
“Perfect.” The view lightens my irritation. “But where are the feathery snowflakes you promised?”
“Give it time.” Michael lays his arm on the back of the chair, almost over my shoulders. “I just put in my request. Besides, we don’t really need them for a few hours, anyway.”
Saying Michael was a good skier would have been a colossal understatement.
It takes less than half a run for me to realize that I could never keep up with him.
As hard as I push myself, Michael is always waiting for me.
My only advantage is that I know the mountain.
I try taking him on the hardest run I know.
Two turns in, I catch an edge that sends me headfirst down the mountain.
Before I’m even sure what happened, Michael is beside me, holding my skis. “Are you okay?”
“Fine.” I’m covered in snow and bruises, but my pride is what's most damaged.
“You caught an edge,” Matthew helps me up and sets my skis in the snow next to me.
“Really?” I’m trying to get into a position on the side of the hill so I can get my skis back on.
“Let me help you.” Michael reaches to steady me.
“I’ve got it.” I ignore him and slam my feet into the bindings.
“Do you mind if I give you a few pointers?” Michael asks.
“Not at all.” He doesn’t catch the dripping sarcasm in my voice. He launches into a demonstration of how I should bend my knee in, keep my upper body still and shift my weight. All the stuff I learned at age six from a ski instructor.
“When you’re going down a steep hill like this, you really need to plant your pole and pop yourself up, like when you’re doing moguls.”
“Let me guess,” I say flatly. “You were a ski instructor.”
“Just for a couple of seasons.” He pretends to sound modest about it. I don’t buy it. “I mostly taught little kids and a few privates.”
“Great. Thanks for the lesson.” I start off without looking back.
“Anytime,” he follows me cheerfully. “Should we see if we can find everyone else?”
Our next run ends at one of the beginner hills.
Half-way down that hill we meet up with my brother Tyler and his date, Alex, sitting on the side of the hill.
The classic scenario—good-looking girl doesn’t tell gullible guy that she doesn’t know how to board.
Either that or Alex had been honest, and Tyler thought teaching her how to snowboard was a good way to get her to like him.
It isn’t working. She looks close to tears.
“You guys need help?” I ask.
“I'm trying to help Alex get the hang of this.” Tyler is trying to sound patient, but I catch the frustration in his voice.
It hits me that I can help Tyler and get rid of Michael at the same time. “You guys are in luck. Michael used to be a ski instructor. I’m sure he would be happy to give Alex some pointers.”
“Sure,” Michael says easily. “I’d love to help.” Michael and Tyler pull Alex to her feet.
I see my escape. “I’ll go take a run or two by myself. It’ll give me a chance to work on my technique.”
“Are you sure it’s a good idea to ski alone?” Michael asks.
“Alone?” I look around the crowded ski hill. “I’ll be fine. After all, it’s not like I’m heli-skiing in Alaska.” I'm referencing the experience Michael had thrown out when we were all swapping ski stories on the way up.
“Okay. We’re all meeting up for lunch in forty-five minutes, anyway. I’m sure we can have Alex riding down the mountain like a pro by then.” He smiles encouragingly at her.
Forty-five minutes go by too quickly. I’d like to keep skiing by myself, but I promised Matt I'd ski with Kendra while they set up, so I head to the lodge. It's packed, but eventually I spot Matt and Kendra saving a table. Michael, Tyler, and Alex sit down beside them. I head to the table.
“Hey Mike,” Matthew looks over the group. “Where’s Jess?”
Michael picks up a sandwich. “She went off by herself while I was helping Alex. I think I did something that ticked her off.”
“You weren’t telling her how to ski, were you?” Matthew asks, grinning.
“Maybe,” Michael says slowly.
Kendra laughs.
“Big mistake,” Tyler says, taking a drink of his soda.
“Why? What did I do?” Michael looks confused.
“She hates being told what to do,” Kendra says. “She likes doing things her own way.”
“You couldn’t have warned me about that?” Michael says.
I stop before they can see me. Am I really that bad? Bad enough that even Kendra noticed? I wait another minute before I join them. “Hi.” I try to sound nonchalant. I sit next to Kendra. “How did the board lesson go, Alex?”
“She’s doing great,” Michael grins at Alex, and she beams back. It looks like my plan backfired for Tyler with his date. She appears to be infatuated with Michael.
“Dude, Jess,” Tyler says. “You should see what Michael can do on skis.”
“I’ve seen him.” I take a bite of my sandwich.
“No, not on the hill,” Tyler says impatiently. “On the terrain park, you know, with all the jumps.”
“Freestyle too, huh?” I don’t feel guilty about ditching Michael anymore. He doesn’t need another admirers.
“Nah, it’s just something I’ve messed around with.” Michael’s voice drips with false modesty. "But if you're interested, I could show you later."
I open my mouth to tell him I'm not interested, but Matt cuts me off. "I'll do the terrain park with you after lunch. Jess and Kendra can have some girl time."
He stands. "Help me take the cooler out, Michael." He tosses me one of the walkie-talkies. "We can meet up later with this."