Can't a boy have a love story?

7

I get out of the shower and notice a faint blue glow from under my bed.

She's probably watching tv trying to sleep.

Ever since I was a kid I have had a hard time trying to sleep in places that aren't home. If it's not my bed I have to passout in order to fall asleep. I think I have attachment issues but that's neither here nor there.

I open my laptop and put the volume on silent. I sit on the couch in my underwear with a blanket draped across my lap. I start typing trying to figure out what to do in San Loza. We could always go to the other cities around here, but it's up to her and what she feels comfortable doing. You know what. I'll make three different Itinteries and let the three of them choose which one we'll do for the day. Or they can pick and choose, who cares I'll just do the research. I lean back against the couch and stretch my back. I hear a door creek open, I snap my head to the left to see who it is. My door is still closed and the blue light is gone. Steff walks to the fridge and grabs the carton of apple juice and starts drinking straight from it. Jace walks towards me in his underwear scratching his head. He has a scar on his chest that he got from the year we first learned to snowboard.

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He thought it would make him the bravest if he had the least amount of protective gear on because he knew how to skateboard. As we were lacing out boots up a group of girls our age walked by with nothing but goggles, hoodies and helmets. He instantly stood up and asked them what run they were going on. The girl that had all black on lifted her goggles and looked back at him.

"We're going on Big Trees."

My heart sank to my ass. Jace is one of the most competeive motherfuckers in the world. He has always been. Don't get me wrong, I love to win too. But I'd rather keep the peace between the competition than start a fight. So most of my life growing up has been just that. Me keeping the peace when Jace needs to win.

The girls keep walking to the lift so they can start their trek up to Big Trees. I stand up and put my hand on Jace's shoulder.

"Jace, it's our first day out here. We can not go on that run. My mom will be so pissed."

Jace knocks my hand off his shoulder and laces his last string, "They aren't going to find out. Plus the only way for us to get good is if we do the harder runs."

"C'mon man, we'll see them at the bottom. They're not going to think any less of you if we don't do the black diamond."

"They might not. But I will.. I'm not a bitch, we're doing it."

Jace grabs his board, rips his hoodie off and grabs Steff by the bib. Steff is brought to a stand and drops his hot chocolate on the floor.

"Aww man my hot chocolate. I was almost done."

I grab my board and pat Steff's back.

"We'll get more when we come back, bud."

He shrugs and grabs his board and we follow Jace to the lift.

Once we get to the top the guy at the entrance asks if we've done a black diamond before. Steff and I look at Jace as we strap in. Jace makes his way to the front and says, "Of course we have."

He starts going down the mountain, "See yall at the bottom."

"Fuck, guess we're doing this Steffy."

Steff starts heading down on his skis after Jace, "As long as we eat when we get down there I don't care."

"My guy, you need to care!"

I start heading down the mountain saying a prayer to myself. I get a quarter of the way down the mountain and it gets steep. When I say steep, it was a straight shot down to the next section. I come to a stop and try slowly inching down the drop. As I get to the bottom of the drop I catch a glimpse of Jace's red pants. He's bombing it down the mountain to catch up with the girls a little way ahead of him. From here I can see them around the bend that he is approaching. He isn't slowing down, he's still bombing it. I scream out in case he can hear me.