Forced Siblings

Truth or Drink

"Ok, don't let go."

"I won't let go."

"I'm serious." I said my hands in Dimitri's and he keeps me from falling off my board. I've never been snowboarding and I've never wanted to, given my aversion to the cold and slight fear of tumbling down a hill and breaking my neck. However, Dimitri has made it his mission to get me to do things out of my comfort zone, which typically involves cozy blankets and old movies. The others are doing similar activities like winter ziplining or ice skating, but I wasn't really listening.

"Ok shift to the left." Dimitri instructed as he looked down at my shoes that where strapped to my snowboard. I throw my head back growing at his instruction.

"Dimitrius, I'm ganna fall."

"You're not ganna fall, now move your ass and shift to the left." I looked up at him pouting a bit as I begrudgingly did as he said. "Seeee, did you fall?"

"Shut up." I mumbled under my breath as he snickered at me.

"Ok, I'm ganna let go." I felt myself panic, my eyes flying to his. 

"Dimitri. Don't let go."

"I'm ganna have to let go."

"If I die I will haunt you, don't let go."

"I'm letting go now!" Dimitri with the amount of delight to annoy me. I felt myself panic desperately trying to hold onto him.

"Stella, we've been practising and you can do it, I promise you wont fall." I looked down at the practice hill, kids and people just learning going down it, then I looked up at Dimitri my brows furrowed slowly letting go of his hands.

"Okay, now shift and let yourself slide until you reach there," Dimitri instructed, pointing to a spot just before the hill dips. "And since I showed you how to stop, you'll be just fine."

Determined and a bit nervous, I adjusted my stance on the snowboard bending my legs at an angle. I shifted my weight and started sliding down the hill, concentrating on keeping my legs in the right position. The wind rushed past me, and the snow crunched beneath my board. As I approached the designated stopping point, I remembered applied the necessary pressure to bring myself to a halt just before the dip.

"Oh my God, I did it" I put a hand on my chest letting out a breath, Instead of happiness, relief washed over me. I was just grateful her neck was still attached to her body. I head Dimitri approach slow clapping with his gloves still on. I look over at him trying not to roll my eyes.

"And you thought you would fall." He said slightly shaking his head. " I can't believe you didn't trust me." Dimitri continued pocking fun at me.

"Just help get these off my feet." I said straight faceing him.

"Since you did a good job I will. "He said walking toward me.  

I was already pretty wobbly, but as I got comfortable with my feet being strapped to my board, I forgot that I was even wearing it. I tried to balance myself by stepping forward, but instead, I ended up teetering. Dimitri wasn't close enough to stop me from falling, and I went face down into the snow.

I let out a sigh hearing Dimitri's running footsteps and laughter. I pushed myself up by my arms

"You okay?" he asked between chuckles, offering his hand to help me up.

"I told you I would fall," I muttered, taking his hand and pulling myself back up. I brushed the snow off my jacket, feeling a bit embarrassed, then I let out a sneeze. i glare up a Dimitri, making him laugh even more.

____

We went back to the cabin as I kept sneezing. After taking a warm shower, I sat on the couch in our room, wearing a robe. Dimitri gave me a hot cup of tea and then stepped out to do something. I scrolled on my phone until I heard the sound of Dimitri walking back into the room.