anna morgan is a world-class snowboarder who happens to be enjoying her time off in the quiet ski town of summit valley. when she reconnects with an old friend, will cloud, she isn't expecting much out of it.
with the annual 'fire and ice' competit...
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anna
after completing the entire second checklist will had sent me, i had curled up on the floor with buford. buford was a big bloodhound and he was making an extremely comfortable pillow. i barely lifted my head as the door to the kennel swung open and will and kayla walked in.
"did it ever occur to you that the dogs might be less depressed if this place was, like, less depressing?" i rolled my eyes at kayla's perky voice.
"what do you mean?" will noticed me on the floor and sat next to me. instantly, i sat up and slightly moved away from him. he gave me a weird look but he turned his attention back to kayla when she spoke.
"you seriously haven't noticed it's a little blah in here?"
"we don't really have the money to make it less blah."
"it doesn't take a lot of money to have a whole lot of style. i found this pair of vintage tortoise shell sunglasses in a thrift store last week for 15 bucks. i mean, they can retail upwards of 500."
"sorry, i think i actually fell asleep in the middle of your story." will rolled his eyes and looked back at me. i brushed it off and stood up. i felt his eyes follow me as i walked over to the counter and started packing my school things up.
"i'm just saying you guys would probably have a whole lot more customers if this place were a little classier." kayla didn't seem to notice me as she ranted on.
"appearances aren't everything." will shot back at her.
"says the boy covered in dog hair." i inwardly groaned at having to sit through kayla flirting with will.
"hasn't this been your whole problem? that you've been appearing to win all these trophies without actually deserving them? what's under the surface is more important. i take substance over style any day." will replied lazily. at least he didn't seem to be flirting back with her. but what did i know.
"okay. so let's make a deal." my ears perked up. kayla seemed to have been conversing with will with an agenda and i was curious as to what it would be. i felt she was finally going to reveal it so i checked my email on my laptop to appear as if i wasn't actually listening.
"i'll help you make this place look better on the outside if you help me show people that there's more to me than what they see on the surface." kayla said, a proud tone to her voice. she was smiling to herself.
"and how would I do that?" will took her bait. he was still sitting in the floor, but he seemed much more interested in what kayla was saying than paying attention to me.
"train me to compete in fire and ice." will laughed deeply and glanced at me. i pretended not to notice and kept scanning through emails.
"anna, did you hear her? you're joking, right?" i just shrugged my shoulders without even glancing up from my computer.
"will, it's all about potential. i mean, i know that i'm not the champion snowboarder that i thought i was, but with some coaching and some really hard work, i think i can win a medal that i actually deserve. and i know this place may look really shabby now, but i think i can turn it into something really special. we both win." kayla pleaded with will.
"i'm not a coach." i couldn't believe will was actually considering it. in his mind, he was thinking about the possibilities. he was running scenarios but he was actually considering it.
i felt torn. i felt betrayed by kayla but at the same time, i told myself it wasn't entirely her fault. i had never told her about my crush on will or about our blossoming friendship. in her mind, she was going to use will as a means to an end. she was going to use will to make nick jealous and get her back on the swift team.
i couldn't be mad at will. he had no idea about my feelings towards him and i intended to keep it that way. kayla was a beautiful girl. she was appealing to him. even though i wanted to be angry with will, i just couldn't let myself.
i sighed and closed my laptop, shoving it into my backpack. i had interrupted their conversation. kayla looked at me as though she hadn't even known i was in the room. figures. too focused on herself like always.
"your mom said i could go home when you two came from school. i'll see you tomorrow." mentally, i was exhausted.
after jake had cheated on me and i had make a huge scene about the whole thing, i had told myself i was simply never going to catch feelings again. it was just easier that way. but now, i had allowed myself to start to feel something for will. i couldn't figure out exactly what it was. it could have been the way his playful smirk warmed my chest or the way his eyes sparkled when he looked at me. stop it.
"anna, wait-" will had shot up from his seated position on the floor but i didn't stop. i walked right out the door and slammed it shut behind me. as i rounded the corner, i almost ran right into dink.
"oh my god! i'm so sor-" i started but dink pulled me into a quick hug. "anna!" i smiled into his shoulder and hugged him back. finally, he pulled away. "what's up? you get off early?" i nodded my head. "yeah, will's mom let me off because i have a pretty bad headache. i'm headed home to go lay in bed and watch a movie." dink nodded his head. "i gotcha. i'm sorry your head hurts. why don't i get you a cherry sprite? those always make my headaches go away." i smiled at him and lightly shook my head. "better idea. why don't you come with me and i'll make hot chocolate? you can even pick the movie." his eyes lit up and his smile widened. "much better idea. i'm so there." i smiled at looped my arm through his as we started towards my house.
