Without Words

34- What If

"You'll never go back there again without Dan and me accompanying you." Matt declared as I snuggled closer in Dan's embrace, still shaking from the experience.

Dan drove me home immediately, ushering me to my bed then made me drink almost a gallon of water while yelling for Matt to come. As soon as Matt saw me and noticed my groggy and dizzy state, he went red and demanded names, muttering something about his baseball bat. I told them what happened in the Page's; the Den, Richard and his friends, their stares, the smell of alcohol, the way they cornered me and the dizzying smell of the drink. And then Dan's opportune moment of arrival, he said he felt off when I asked him to pick me up earlier and felt more uneasy when I didn't take his calls. He was about to go inside and get me when I barged out of the door hysterically.

"I know them." Dan mentioned, his arms still around me while Matt refilled my glass of water. "They're definitely shady people. Dad said they've got several complaints filed against them every year but somehow all gets dismissed. Last I've heard, they left Boston already."

"Which is why it confuses me why they're with Richard." Matt pondered then leaned closer to examine my eyes. When he was satisfied, he put the pitcher of water away.

"Jim was Richard's old boss and Violet always refers to the three of them as uncles." I explained, feeling better but still sleepy.

Matt nodded, probably wondering how to get back at them. "I'm just glad you weren't able to drink the coffee they gave you."

"Smelling it already made me dizzy. I wonder what would've happen if I actually drunk it." I shivered, afraid of what would've happened. "Come to think of it, Richard has insisted on making me a drink last time Diane wasn't at home."

Dan's arms tightened around me. I looked at both of them and I knew we were all thinking the same thing.

"Do you guys think.... those things they did...," I cleared my throat, not sure how to go on. After the first-hand experience, I'm mortified at the thought of what would happen if things went according to their plan tonight. "What if it was Violet?" I finished, knowing they understood me.

Dan stiffened then pulled me even closer to him. Matt's jaw clenched.

"I stand corrected." Matt announced grimly. "You will never go back there again, ever. We'll find other ways to reach out to Noah."

......................

"The weather is perfect." Katelyn beamed as she securely tied up her ski boots. "The snow is just right and it's not too cold."

"We should race each other." I challenged playfully and she stopped what she was doing, stood straight and extended out her hand to me.

"Accepted." She announced, shaking my hand firmly. "If I win, you stop pairing me up with your brother."

"And if I win?" I knew she would bring that up eventually. My push for them to just date already wasn't meant to be subtle.

"Pair your brother up with her." Tabi suggested and Katelyn threw her gloves at her head.

"I'm serious. It's really creepy and your brother is the moodiest person I have ever met." She turned to me. I know that tone; we would be regaled once again with Katelyn's ever famous rants. "One minute, he's all concerned and giving me his jacket on the plane and then the next minute, he's scowling and snapping at me in Stanford. It's a good thing I am my optimistic self so I didn't let his attitude bother me in the interview. Then when I waited for him outside, he was surprised and asked me to lunch before we head home. We even did some sight- seeing in California before our flight. When we arrived here, he was back to not speaking at me in school and now, he offered me to sit in the passenger seat while he drives. That's like the seat of power, right? You did sit at it when Dan was driving. But all that giddy feeling left my system when he saw me shoving my bags in our room and he didn't even bother to help me? What the hell, Elle? Does your brother not know manners, or even chivalry?"

All throughout her ramblings, I was able to pack up everything needed for skiing and zipped up my jacket.

"You sure you don't want to come?" I asked Tabi. Simon and her are going on a date and visit some stores in the area. They aren't very good skiers and prefer to stay indoors during the trip.

"I'm sure we'll find ways to occupy our time." She gave me a sneaky smile.

"I know there are some guys who don't show off their emotion but he's very protective of you so the least he can do is show some hint of emotion towards me as well." It seemed Katelyn wasn't finished with her rant. "I mean, Dan was like that too before you came into the picture but argh, you two are being the most perfect couple of the century. Listen to this, the future Mrs. Eliza Monroe, it even has a nice ring to it. I am happy for you and I hope that when you do take it a step further with him, you will regale your tea party buddies of information about the blessed pen*s."

My eyes widened at that.

"Length, width, girth, dimension, angle- everything." She continued as if I'm not having a mini stroke. "Obviously, we can't talk in detail about your brother's equipment because that would be weird. But I would bet my whole wardrobe and say that after weeks of checking him out, he is most definitely packing. Blessed pen*s is more than confirmed."

I winced in disgust and Tabi just laughed. "Good luck with the skiing."

.........................

"Everyone have their tickets?" Devon asked our group.

Nodding our yes', we attached our respective lift tickets on our jackets and checked our gears again. Our group would be divided; some would head to the beginner and intermediate runs while the others would be on the advanced ones. Our group managed to purchase 2- day passes in a promo so we want to take advantage of it.

Strapping ourselves on the lift, Matt, Katelyn, Dan and I were the only ones from our friends who would take the advance runs, along with our parents. As kids, our parents were avid skiers and it eventually passed on to us after various vacations they schedule on ski lodges.

"Not cold?" Dan whispered in my ear.

I shook my head. "After you forced me to wear more layers, I think I'm more than warm."

"Just wanted to make sure." He smirked, looking over the view under our feet. "If you get cold, I would be obligated to give you my jacket."

I rolled my eyes, at if I would let him freeze to death at my expense.

"Hey, you guys want to race us girls down the mountain?" Katelyn this time challenged the boys. After disagreeing on the terms of my challenge a while ago, we agreed to cancel it. Now, it seems she has a new idea.

That got me interested. "What are the stakes?"

"That depends." Swinging her feet absentmindedly, her eyebrows scrunched as she thought deeply. Knowing her, she has already planned this and was only prolonging the tension. "I haven't thought about it but I would like an all blanket authority. Winner makes the losers do everything she says."

"He or she says." Matt corrected beside her.

"Nope, 'she' says." Katelyn grinned arrogantly, puffing her chest confidently. "I saw you and Dan ski last year and boys, let's just say I'm disappointed that those muscles might make you look good but unfortunately, makes you slower. Besides, Elle told me the trails in London are more difficult so it would pretty much be a landslide victory for us."

"Then why did you offer to a race in the first place?" Dan asked before Matt can defend their muscles.

"Because..." She sang, nudging me in the shoulders conspiringly. "We wanted to go shopping for tomorrow and us girls need a-"

"Nope." Matt disagreed immediately, huffing in annoyance. "We will not be carrying your shopping bags."

"So you do agree you're going to lose?" Katelyn arched her eyebrows mockingly. I bit back a grin, knowing my brother would have his hands full trying to handle her. "You agree those muscles are weighing you down? That you have gotten so big you can't be fast enough to outrace two girls? Are you backing out, birthday boy?"

I chuckled as I rested my head on Dan's shoulders, savoring the view below us. "They're cute." I whispered to him and he snickered while the other two continued their arguing.