perfecting the cloud nine

eleven

anna

"i'm taking this snowboard and i'm going to go snowboard with dink today. i'll be back later. you can't stop me so don't even try. in light of all that's happened, i'm not the child you need to worry about." i spoke confidently to my dad. inside, i was nervous. he could just tell me no and send me back to my room. that would force me to sneak out with a snowboard and i wasn't totally confident in my ability to do that. i would certainty try if i was forced.

my dad looked at me sternly before his gaze softened. he sighed and nodded his head.
"okay. be careful." with that, he left the room. i internally applauded myself for my bravery and slung my board over my shoulder.

i inwardly groaned as i saw dink standing next to will and kayla. i resigned myself to the fact that i was just going to pretend will and kayla didn't exist for the day.
"dink! hey!" i waved to him and he instantly smiled as he noticed me. he stepped away from whatever conversation he and will had been having, dragging his board behind him.
"ready to go?" i nodded enthusiastically, sending him a thumbs up too. i made an effort to not even look at will, only focusing all my attention on dink.
"anna! i thought-" dink had already started to walk away from will and kayla, his head bent down towards the nearest ski lift. i slightly turned towards the sound of will's voice but kept walking.
"gotta run but maybe i'll catch you later." will looked very unhappy as i turned away and i momentarily felt bad. i wanted to turn around and let him sling his arm over my shoulder and walk me to the lift like he normally did.

but i didn't. 

i turned away from him and ran to catch up to dink. dink threw his arm over my shoulder and struck up a conversation with me almost immediately. dink was much shorter than will so the action felt different but not uncomfortable. i leaned into it and followed along as he led us closer to the lift.

after four runs down the mountain, i was ready to come down and grab lunch. dink however, wasn't getting enough of watching me ride. he had dragged me up the lift for a fifth time and was currently sitting next to me on top of the slope.
"last time. then, lunch." he nodded his head.
"yep. you know will and kayla are at the bottom, right? he's helping her work on her technique." i sighed and nodded my head.
"i saw them last run. do you think i can get away with just pretending will doesn't exist?" dink laughed and shook his head.
"that was pretty cold. the look on his face was horrible. you gotta remember that we don't know for sure he's got a thing for kayla." i groaned and leaned back against the hard-packed snow.
"maybe i'll just stay up here forever." dink stood up and strapped his outside foot into his snowboard.
"last one down the hill buys lunch." with that, he jumped up in the air and straightened himself out. he flew fast down the hill, barely turning his head to see if i was following him. i smiled at the competition and took off after him, determined to beat him to the bottom of the hill. will and kayla were far from my mind as i took each turn sharply, slinging snow left and right.

i swiftly passed dink as he slowed for a turn i took effortlessly. as i neared the bottom of the mountain, i noticed all the heads sitting at the lodge were turned to face me. i glanced behind me and saw a girl with thick, black hair riding almost right beside me. i rolled my eyes and continued down the slope, eager to beat dink and win a free lunch.

after removing the straps from my feet, i walk over to will and kayla to wait for dink. skye sailor walked over to the gathering group.

"thank you, everyone, for the warm welcome. as exhausting as it is being a celebrity, fans like you make it all worthwhile." i rolled my eyes heavily and glanced at will to see that he was already staring at me. i quickly looked away and focused my attention back on skye. the crowd gathered around her cheered for her and i watched kayla approach her.
"oh no." i muttered to myself.

"hi. i'm skye."
"so i've heard." kayla shot back with a mean sneer.
"oh. would you like an autograph?"
"no. i'm fine, thanks."
"come on, don't be silly. anything for my fans. who should i make it out to?"
"kayla. as in kayla morgan. maybe you've heard of me."
"of course i have. hmm. to kayla. everybody's favorite daddy's girl."
oh god.

even in my head, i saw that going better than what it did. i heard will suck in a breath beside me and i felt my blood boil.
who does she think she is? that's so rude.

"actually, why don't you make it out to 'kayla, future winner of fire and ice'?"
good one kayla.

skye laughed and glanced around her.

"and how are you gonna do that now that the competition isn't rigged?"

"i don't know. how are you gonna deal with those split ends that i could see from all the way across the mountain?"
i can't watch this anymore.

"it's a good thing nick's dad replaced you with me. now team swift has a chance of winning."

"we'll see about that." kayla turned back towards will and i and rejoined our group. i groaned as i noticed the autograph still in her hand.