Enchanted

Chapter 30

Nicolette

"Girls, your friends are here!"

"We're coming," Sabrina replied on my behalf. "Colette, seriously, it's just 2 nights. Why do the clothes say a week?" Sabrina shifted her gaze towards me.

"I need to pack extra sweaters in case it gets colder there." I zipped up my pastel pink suitcase on the floor before pushing it up vertically.

I wanted to say 'You have someone to cuddle with under the blanket and someone to lend you a sweater to keep you warm but I don't' but I kept it inside my heart. I didn't want to upset Sabrina with my lame joke that came close to mockery. It was supposed to be a perfect getaway that will be filled with only joy.

Ever since she dated Cedric, I tend to say things like that not knowing I was doing it deliberately because I was jealous and wanted attention to feed my emptiness. She would apologise and soothe me with words. I didn't mean to hurt her because I knew she had had enough on her plate. But at the same time, I wanted to hear her voice that solaces me and tells me I am not alone. I wanted to steal her time because I missed the old days when we were the chess duos instead of trios now.

"Hello, Sabrina!" Cedric hugged her tightly before letting go. "Hi, Ced!"

"Hi, Nicolette." Cedric reached out his hand. I reciprocated. A handshake is the furthest physical touch we can go.

We greeted Ella, Ella's brother, Elijah and his girlfriend, Marina who were going on the trip with us. Then, we carried our bags into the trunk of the 7-seater car.

"Stay safe!" Mum waved at us. "We will! Don't worry, mum!" I gave her a thumbs up from the back row.

We left the windows rolled down and the cool breeze hit us. "Sabrina, play us the Christmas playlist!" Ella said beside me.

She connected the Bluetooth of her phone to the car stereo and 'Last Christmas' started to blast out of the speakers. "It's Christmas, baby!" Ella shouted over the music and everyone started to laugh and sing along.

'A face on a lover with a fire in his heart. A man undercover, but you tore him apart...' Our voices were off-key but who cared? The road was wide and it seemed like our Honda Odyssey was the only car passing by the vacant land. I watched Cedric take off his sunglasses and hand them to Sabrina because the Sun was shining in the passenger seat's window. Sabrina mouthed 'thank you' as her smile stayed on her face.

People would say road trips are for summertime only because it was always like that in films and books. And during winter, we are supposed to be at home by the fireplace with our family watching a marathon of Christmas movies.

But the thing about being a teenager was going against the rules. To have summer activities all throughout the year. After all, you still need the heat during winter to warm you up.

We stopped by a bakery because we had not eaten breakfast and everyone was ravenous. The baked goods smelled delicious and we must have picked one each of everything because there were still leftovers.

"We don't even have to travel to Denmark anymore because I can tell already you these Danish pastries are the best ones I've ever eaten in my entire life!" Elijah exclaimed dramatically.

"You're just saying this because your tummy was growling like a bear half an hour ago." Marina nudged him and we all broke into laughter.

Elijah went behind the wheel after he was fully recharged with carbohydrates and Marina rode shotgun. Because that is what couples do, right? Always beside each other. He the driver, her the navigator.

Cedric, Sabrina, Ella and I played games behind. When we were bored with 'The Movie Game', we switched to 'Heads Up' and then 'Truth Or Dare'.

"Nicolette, truth or dare?" asked Cedric.