𝐈 𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮

Althea

The next morning we were awoken by the sound of someone falling down the stairs. The sound jolted me upright and I would've shot straight out of bed if not for Jonesy's arm wrapped around my waist.
  "What was that?" She mumbled, not opening her eyes. I glanced down at her, a small smile creeping across my face. Her cheeks were red and creased with lines from the sheets, her hair laid across the pillow like a brown cloud, and her long dark lashes kissed the tops of her cheeks.
  "That...that is somebody else's problem." I laughed, flopping back down beside her. Jonesy groaned in agreement before propping up on an elbow and kissing my temple.
  The feeling of her lips on my skin sent memories of last night racing through my mind. Butterflies came alive in my lower belly and I pressed my thighs together.
  "Do you always smell this good in the morning?" Jonesy's face hovered above mine, a coy smile on her lips. Her head was cocked in interest the same way a golden retriever does.
  "Why are you smelling me?" I asked, yelping as she pressed her nose to my skin again. She took a long dramatic inhale of breath several times across the length of my neck and chest.
  "I never want to forget what you smell like in the morning. Or what you look like when you sleep either." The butterflies in my stomach intensified as Jonesy moved towards the lower half of my body.
  "What do I look like when I sleep?" I questioned, trying to distract myself from the light feel of her fingertips on my thighs.
  Jonesy kissed my knee. "You flutter your lashes when you sleep, as if you're having the most intense dream of your life." She placed another kiss on my upper thigh. "You sleep on your side, facing me, and you breathe with your mouth open."
  I pushed myself up on the pillows and moved my leg from under her. "I'm a fucking mouth breather? Oh my God! That's so embarrassing."
  I'm never sleeping facing her again.
  Jonesy laughed, her fingers gently tracing circles on my skin. "I think it's cute; your lips part just a little bit and you let out these deep huffs of air."
  I laughed as she closed her eyes, mimicking my sleeping face. It wasn't as cute as she was making it seem but she was adorable.
  A loud pounding on the door foiled whatever plans she had in mind for us and Bela's voice sounded on the other side.
  "Stop gushing over each other and come downstairs; we want to get an early start to the slopes!" There was a pause before she added, "It reeks of sex up here."
  Before either of us could come up with a retort, we heard the sound of her laughter descending down the stairs. All I could do was stifle my own laughter and roll my eyes.

***

  When Jonesy said she had no idea how to ski, she really was not joking. After about an hour on the bunny slopes, she decided she was brave enough to try the larger ones. Her bravery quickly disappeared the closer we got.
  "I don't know how I feel about this," her voice shook as we rode the ski lift up the mountain. I reached over and took her gloved hand in mine.
  "It will be fine; I've been going down this slope since I was eight."
  She gave me a nervous, sheepish smile. "You've also been skiing since you were like six; you could probably do this in your sleep."
  I laughed. "Well, that wouldn't be very smart." My laughter must have eased her nerves and I gave her hand another light squeeze as her shoulders relaxed. "You'll be fine."
  She was not fine.
  After sending her down the hill, I followed her. I made sure to give her a couple second head start so we wouldn't, but that didn't stop her from somehow tumbling over her skis and landing face down into the snow.
  "I am so not cut out for this," Jonesy said with a laugh and pulled off her ski mask. She had snowflakes in her hair, the tip of her nose was bright red, but her eyes still sparkled. "That was fun, I won't be doing it again, but it was fun."
  "Maybe you should've stuck with the bunny slopes!" Bela yelled as she whipped past us, Stella close behind her.
  Jonesy gave her friend the finger before collapsing back into the snow. She stared up at the sky, her chest heaving. "I didn't know how much of a workout that would be; my arms have not been this sore in ages."
  I dropped into the snow beside her. "Yeah, it definitely takes a toll on your body."
  Jonesy nodded silently before rolling over and pushing herself onto her elbows. Her face hovered just inches above mine, so close I could count every individual snowflake that was stuck between her lashes.
  "I think this means it's my turn."
  Uh oh. I swallowed. I did not like the sly look on her face. I knew whatever idea she had in mind, I was not about to enjoy. Or be very good at.
  "Ooooh yeah." She leaned forward and kissed me. "It'll be fun, you'll be fine."
  I was not fine.
  The "fun idea" Jonesy had in mind was a "friendly" game of hockey. I had never played a game of hockey in my life. I'm not even sure how the rules work, but since I had convinced her to ski, it was only fair that I attempt hockey.
  We were divided into two teams: Jonesy, Gemma, Lucas, Sterling, and Stella named themselves the Pirates, while Bela, Jensen, Justice, Daria, and I decided on the Panthers.
  "Don't lose your cool now, Claypoole, just because you're playing against your girlfriend." Bela taunted, twisting her hockey stick in her hands.
  "Trust me, Althea is not stopping me from being aggressive." Jonesy narrowed her eyes at Bela through her helmet.
  "Oh yeah, I bet she probably likes that in the bedroom too." Her friend shot back and I was thankful that the helmet covered my burning face.
  Daria peeled herself away from the edge of the rink and joined us in the middle. "Why did you guys decide to play against your girlfriends again?" She sounded bored, as if she had a million other things she would rather be doing.
  I had tried earlier to spark up a conversation with her but she only gave me four two word answers. I couldn't help but take it personally and honestly, it stung a little.
  I had integrated myself into Jonesy's friend group but I also wanted them all to become my friends and not just see me as their friend's girlfriend. I wanted them to see me the way they did Sterling, just less mother hen.
  Gemma and Stella were both welcoming enough, since we skated together. Bela was happy as long as Jonesy was happy, which was a natural response; we also never had any real bonding time, which we were honestly both fine with.
  Daria was the only one who kept me at arm's length. It was almost as if she was mad at me and I had no idea what I could have possibly done to piss her off.
  "It's more fun this way," Jonesy laughed, skating around me. "How many games has your team won this season, Jensen?"
  Jensen rolled her eyes, gritting her teeth. Tufts of her orange hair was peeking out from under her helmet and from where I stood, I could see her face redden.
  "That's what I thought," Jonesy continued. She was still skating circles around us, trying to intimidate and anger the other girl. The grip on Jensen's hockey stick told me it was working.
  "Hey, stop taunting her, babe." I said, not entirely sure what exactly was taking place. All I knew was that whatever bet Jensen and Jonesy had with each other would definitely affect how the game played out.
  "Yeah, babe." Daria chimed in sarcastically, mimicking me. "Stop taunting her." She snickered in my direction before skating into position.
  I bit the inside of my cheek, frustration and anger building in my chest. What was her problem? What could I have possibly done to warrant this behavior?
  I started towards her, ready to ask her what her deal was but was pulled back by Bela. "Just leave it, Daria's harmless."
  "She sure doesn't seem harmless," I mumbled under my breath. I sent Daria a glare which she returned with one of her own.
  "I promise she is, she's just...difficult sometimes. It's just the way she is." Bela offered me a small smile before turning to the rest of the group. "Now, who's ready for some hockey!"