The Secret - Camren

Part 13

When we got to the ski lodge Camila and I were both full from our poutines. It sounds and looks completely disgusting but to be honest it was the most delicious thing I have ever put in my mouth. I love poutine. Why don't we have this in the states? It's ridiculous! Fries, gravy and cheese curds, whoever thought of that was a genius. No wonder Canadians are so nice, they are always happy from the amazing food. Anyways.

Camila and I went to rent our skis at the lodge and headed for the ski lift. I had skied with my dad a while ago but I still remembered. He had been the one to teach me and Chris. Taylor was still to young when we learned but he made sure she joined us when she was a little older.

Camila was looking a little scared as we got higher up the mountain. Had she done this before? I had just assumed. The chair lift suddenly stopped short and our chair was swinging slightly. Camila let out this horrified scream of complete terror and I couldn't help but laugh. I had always loved hanging mid-air like this.

"Camzi are you okay?" I asked as I noticed she had a death grip on the opposite side of the lift.

"NO, NO, NO get me off NOW!!" She practically screamed.

"Baby what's wrong it will start moving in a few minutes and we're almost to the top" I tried to calm her down.

"I don't like this take me back down now!" She continued to say frantically. I was a little worried at her freak out but she was really cute in her terror. Her eyes were shining and she kept shaking her head or squeezing her eyes shut. I felt bad for her but I couldn't stop giggling at her reaction.

"THIS IS SO NOT FUNNY LOLO, I HATE HIGHTS" she screamed at me.

"Camz you are safe. I would never let anything hurt you, ever. Not even this big scary chairlift" I managed to say before bursting out laughing at her horrified expression.

"You are so mean!" she said slapping my arm as she began to laugh at her ridiculous reaction. At that moment the chair started to move again and she gripped onto my hand. Once she regained her composure she tried to take it away but I wouldn't let her. She looked at me and smiled as we held hands.

When we were almost to the top I realized maybe Camz really had never done this before and would have no idea how to get off.

"Babe, have you done this before? Do you know how to get off?" I asked worried, seeing our stop ahead.

"No why? Doesn't it stop for us to get off?" She asked starting to panic again.

"No that would take forever... okay..." I said before explaining how she would have to position her feet so that she doesn't fall off and get hit in the head by our chair. We both managed to get off without too much trouble, though I had to drag Camila down with me.

I went to the edge of the mountain as she wobbled after me, having no control of her skis. My heart was racing from the sight of her. She was so clumsy and awkward. It was the most adorable thing I had ever seen. I thought she was going to make it to my side without a problem but when she was about to reach for my hand she lost her balance and her right ski flew off from underneath her and she landed on her ass.

I bent down next to her to make sure she was okay and I found that she was laughing hysterically as she laid there on her back. I decided to join her so I took off my skis and laid down in the middle on the path and laughed with her. I grabbed her hand and absentmindedly rubbed my thumb over the top of hers as we laid there giggling.

After a few not so polite comments about being in the way I got up and tried to pull Camila to her feet just to find ourselves on our asses again. This girl had no balance or coordination in her whole body. I took off her skis and she stood up.

"I don't think this was a good idea" She said as I helped her put them back on.

"You should have told me you don't know how to ski, I would have showed you on the bunny slop Camz" I answered.

"Aww you are so sweet" She replied a big smile on her face "but it's okay, just show me here then I'll go sit in the lodge until it's time to go" she continued. I nodded and started to show here the "pizza" technique my dad showed us. It was the only way I could think of getting her down the mountain without any broken bones. This method was slow but it was safe.

After about an hour and ten face plants I finally got Camila back into her boots and safely sat by the fireplace. There was no one else in there except for the cleaning lady. I went to get us some hot coco at the small overpriced café. She was watching the fire when I came back. I handed it to her and sat down taking her hand into mine. I would never get sick of the way her hand felt when it was in mine. I never wanted to let go.

"Aren't you going back out there? You didn't even get to do a real run, having to take care of my clumsy self" she asked when I didn't get back up.

"No I would prefer to stay with you if that's alright?" I said still looking at the fire. She didn't say anything but I could feel her looking at me. I turned and gave her a small smile before turning back to the fire.

"Lauren?" she said. I turned my head to look at the beautiful creature that I now got to call mine and crooked my head questioningly. She didn't say a word but slowly leaned in closer to me. She was looking into my eyes the whole time and I couldn't seem to look away. Her eyes were hypnotising they were so stunning. I was only able to close them in time to feel her soft lips press against mine. It was gentle and sweet. My favourite kind of kiss. We kissed like that for a few minutes and then she rested her head on my shoulder and we watched the fire in silence. It wasn't an awkward silence but a comfortable one. We didn't have to speak to know what the other was thinking. We were just completely happy in that moment.

We stayed like that until the teacher came to get us. We had been there for hours and it only felt like an instant. Every time I was alone with Camila it felt like that. I could spend an eternity in complete silence with her in my arms and it would never be long enough. Just the feeling of my arms around her and the small pressure she caused on my body felt like nothing other. It was perfection. It was my home. I never wanted to let her go. I never wanted to see her leave. I wanted to stay in that small piece of forever with her, our little piece of forever. I didn't want to have to go back to reality, our roommates. I wanted to stay in that lodge alone with the girl I was quickly falling in love with and never leave.

As we walked to the bus I was thinking about how much I liked her, loved her really and all those secrets she was keeping from me, from everyone and it killed me. I wanted to protect her from everything even herself. I wanted to be her safe place that kept everything bad in this world out. I wanted to take the pain she felt from those damn secrets and her past away and make her happy again. I could tell that she was happy when we were together, that I made her happy, but I wanted her to not be scared, to not feel so sad and alone when I wasn't there to hold her hand and make her smile. I wanted to keep her safe. And I knew in that moment that I was going to be the one to keep her safe until the say I died. I would never let anything or anyone hurt her again. I would be there to take the pain away and make it all better. I was going to be the one that she could trust and always come to, the one she could tell all her fears and worries, the one she would come to when she needed somewhere safe to cry. I was going to be her home. And that I promised to myself would be true for the rest of both our lives.

***

When we got to the hotel Camila was sleeping in my lap. She had passed out about five minutes into the ride. I couldn't bring myself to wake her up so I lifted her into my arms and carried her out of the bus. In her sleep she wrapped her arms around my neck and nuzzled into my chest. The other students were looking at me like I was crazy but I didn't care. We were almost to my room when she started mumbling in her sleep. I couldn't understand at first but it started to become clearer as she went on. Right before we got to the door I thought she had woken up her speech was so distinct and clear.

"Lolo?" she said. I didn't have time to answer; I was trying to figure out if she was awake. "I love you" she continued before falling silent and letting out a small snore.

I stopped in my tracks. Had I heard her right? My heart started racing and the butterflies in my stomach were going crazy. A huge smile comes onto my face as I started walking again. I got to our room, unlocked the door and gently placed her onto the bed. I kissed her forehead and cheek.

"I love you too Camz" I said before going to take my shower.