Ski Lodge

14// The Slopes

//im debating switching the tense of the book from past to present, in case you were wondering why I can't make up my mind...//

The van pulls up and the next set of skiers climbs on. Emmett and I get the seats in the long row in the back, next to an older woman whose party is sitting right in front of her. Phoebe is in the row in front of us.

Emmett leans over to me, and whispers in my ear, "wanna play a game?"

I turn my head so that our eyes are only a few inches away then glance my eyes at Phoebe who is looking at us very obviously in the reflection of the driver's mirror at the front of the van.

I smile at Emmett as to say yes. He understands and moves to put his head behind mine as he whispers in my ear, "is this ok?" Then he places his hand on my knee. I nod, watching Phoebe out of the corner of my eye.

As Emmett pulls his head back, I lean in behind his head and whisper into his ear, "I don't think she can see your hand in the mirror." Emmett seems unbothered by this but after a second of thought, he moves his hand around my shoulders. "Is this ok?" I nod and he turns to face the front of the van. I nuzzle my head into the crook of his arm and immediately feel him tense up. I pull back, but he looks down at me and flicks his head to his arm to signal me to put my head back. I blush but slowly sink into the warmth of his body heat which is hot even through two or three layers of clothing plus a ski suit. It's very comfortable sitting here with his arm around me, and I like watching Phoebe squirm just a little.

The older woman beside us leans forward and says to her friend, "don't they make a cute couple." It's an innocuous statement, but it makes me squirm under Emmett's arm. He didn't seem to hear her. So I continue to lean into the comfort, and eventually, maybe since it's only 8 am and I didn't sleep last night, I fall asleep for the rest of the drive.

Emmett wakes me up when we arrive at the ski area. I groggily sit up from being propped in his arm. Everyone else has left the van, so I shoot up and scurry out the open door. Emmett is laughing at me as he follows. Out in the cold air without Emmett's warmth to blanket me, I shiver and it makes me yawn.

Emmett says, "sleepy head." As he puts both of this hands on my upper arms and rubs to create some warmth. It works a little bit. "Just start moving and you'll warm up," he says as he steers me towards the hut where the ski supplies are.

We sign out our supplies; Phoebe takes the purple skis I had yesterday so I'm left with a shiny, black pair that reflect the light into my eyes when I walk, or I guess shuffle.

Phoebe walks up to us and says, "you like my skis? Purple is my favorite color."

Purple is my favorite color! I don't like that we have that in common.

"Trisha had that pair yesterday," he says to Phoebe. Then he turns to me and pinches my ski suit, "they match your suit perfectly."

"Whatever," Phoebe says, "c'mon let's go hit the slopes! The harder runs are fresh today, Emmett."

"Mm," Emmett says while steering me towards the bunny hill, "look, Trisha, I see Laura and Weston."

"Oh really? Let's go say hi," I reply as Emmett and I shuffle as fast as we can towards the bunny hill. Phoebe splits off and goes to the J-lift.

"Emmett, look!" Weston tells as he tensely skis down the small bunny hill.

"Very good!" Emmett gives him a double high five as he reaches us at the bottom.

"I can do it too!" Laura says as she pushes off from the top of the hill.

"Careful!" Dr Greene says as Laura starts picking up speed right towards me.

I try to back away, but I still haven't figure out the mechanics. Emmett notices me flailing, and gives me a soft push which sends me backwards. I lose my balance and fall in the soft snow. Emmett instinctively moves forward to help me, when Laura runs straight into him, knocking him over and Laura lands on top of him in a giggle-fit.

"Yay!" She says, "Again!" She stands back up and shuffles over to the conveyer belt that brings the kids up to the top of the bunny hill.

Emmett and I start laughing on the ground. "I think we can say that we officially both fell on the bunny hill," I giggle as I sit up.

Emmett sits up to face me and says, "I will not accept defeat at the hands of a seven year old. Take my hands." He holds his hands out. I place my two gloved hands in his and on the count of three we both stand up. My skis are in between his, and since I can't back up, I'm standing quite close to him. He's not pushing me back, though. He keeps holding onto my hands. He's looking at me. At my eyes. Then my mouth. Then my eyes again. I feel my face turn red.

"Watch me again!" Weston yells from the top of the hill, and Emmett and I shake out of our stupor and scramble away from the foot of the bunny hill.

"Do you want to ski on the less daunting hills," Emmett points to the J-lift.

"Ha! Yes, let's do it," I shuffle in front of him and towards the lift, my face still very warm.