SNOWBOUND, original

02| MAKE OR BREAK

THE DOOR TO THE SNOWY BALCONY SLID OPEN with a sudden, brutal force, sending a gust of icy wind through the room that made heads turn.

"I call hot tub!" Elara exclaimed joyfully, her eyes gleaming as she caught sight of it nestled next to a hammock chair. The tub was covered in a tarp dusted with snow, as if waiting for her. She practically vibrated with excitement, her gaze lingering on the steam she could already imagine rising from the water.

"Literally nobody wants to go into the tub but you," Ryker's nasal voice echoed behind her, laced with his usual sarcasm.

Elara rolled her eyes, turning sharply to face him, arms crossed in defiance. "Okay, well, when you get frostbite, don't even think about coming near my hot tub," she retorted, her voice firm with mock authority.

Ryker smirked. "I pray for frostbite. Maybe then my ears fall off, and I won't have to listen to you anymore."

Sawyer, who had been leaning against the door frame, sighed loudly, rubbing her temples as if already exhausted. "Can we please move past the hot tub debate?"

"Forget the tub, just look at that view," a velvet yet firm voice cut through the chatter. Maisie stepped out onto the balcony, clutching her jacket tighter around her small frame. Her earmuffs slightly askew, she took a moment to adjust them before letting out a soft breath of awe.

Joshua followed closely behind her, stopping at the railing and glancing down at the town far below. The snow-covered mountains stretched endlessly, their white peaks shimmering in the late morning sun. Down the slope, the quaint town they had driven through earlier sat nestled in the valley like a storybook scene.

The group stood there in silence, the sheer beauty of the landscape stealing the words from their mouths. The cold air bit at their skin, but it was worth it. The view was breathtaking, a perfect mix of serenity and untamed wilderness. They could see skiers gliding down the slopes in the distance, tiny figures against the vast expanse of snow, and the sound of laughter and distant cheers echoed faintly from the town below.

"This... is perfect," Joshua finally said, his voice filled with quiet admiration.

Elara, who had been distracted by the hot tub, turned her gaze to the horizon, the glow of excitement still in her eyes. "Alright, alright," she conceded, the beauty of the moment stealing her thunder. "Maybe the view's worth it, too."

"Only maybe?" Ruka teased as she joined them, shaking her head with a smile. "Look at this place. You'd have to be blind not to appreciate it."

Maisie leaned against the wooden railing, her fingers tracing the frost-crusted surface. Beside her, Elara wrapped her scarf tighter, eyes wide with wonder, as though the world itself had become a snow globe, shaken just for them.

"I'm changing into my bikini," Maisie grinned, nodding at Elara. They exchanged a look of gleeful conspiracy before giggling and strutting off toward what was now deemed their shared bedroom. Somehow, without even needing a formal agreement, they had decided that these two weeks would solidify their bond as best friends. As they reached the room, they threw their suitcases onto the queen-sized bed and began unpacking with fervor, as if this act of organizing marked the start of an unforgettable adventure.

Finn, still on the balcony, overheard their plans and chuckled to himself. Who packs a bikini for a ski trip? he mused, shaking his head. But then again, Elara always had her quirks. He shrugged it off and took in a deep breath of the crisp mountain air.

Ryker, lounging back with his usual nonchalance, smirked and offered a cigarette to both Finn and Sawyer. "Need this?" he asked, gesturing with the pack. Without hesitation, they both accepted, and soon enough, the trio was standing on the balcony, the cold air and the distant sound of wind in the trees their only company. Ryker, now nestled into the hammock chair, lit his cigarette, the ember flaring bright against the pale winter backdrop.