Seeing You - Boys of Tommen

Ski Trip

December 17th, 2004

Patrick:

It was five in the morning and I was boarding a bloody bus, to go on a ski trip I didn't even want to go on. It was early Friday morning, and I would be trapped with these people with no reprieve until late Sunday night.

I had never even skied either, like my friends, so this trip was guaranteed to be hell for me. Johnny had gotten out of it, but Gibsie and Hughie all but forced me. 

They were shuffling around the grades or something, so Katie was coming with us too, which wasn't great for me. I had been doing a great job of completely ignoring her, and I had even gotten to the point of being able to hold a conversation with her, without losing my absolute shit. 

It had been over a year, since the cinema incident and everything had been better, well not better Katie wasn't eating enough and Hugh just didn't notice. 

Hugh had returned back to his habits of ignoring Katie, and giving all of his attention to Lizzie, after she started talking to Pierce, who was on our team. I think Hugh, even considered him a friend before it all. It was obvious she was too good for him, but I didn't think it was Hugh's place to control who she spent her time with. 

What was worse is that Katie, didn't really seem to mind and that drove me crazy. The fact she didn't know what she deserved, sometimes it felt like she was just grateful Hugh still paid attention to her. When they were together, he was still present but it wasn't enough.

"Do you mind if I sleep on your shoulder?" Gibsie asks as we walk onto the bus.

"Yes, I absolutely mind, do not go anywhere near me." I reply.

"Why?"

"I'm not having this conversation again, Gibs." I say as we settle into our seats across from Hugh and Katie. 

Katie pulls her book out almost right away, and I watch as her eyes scan across the pages. After a few hours, Gibs, Hugh, and Katie are all asleep. And like the creeper I am, I watched her sleep, her slow breaths. Just the sight of her overwhelms me and I will myself to close my eyes.

I wake up to Gibsie drooling on my shoulder, and immediately shove him off, he looks shook up at first by my touch and I'm not sure what I've done. But then a minute later, it's like he reapplies a mask and returns to the normal Gibsie.

"You alright lad?"

"I'm always okay." I just nod at his weird behaviour. 

"Are we almost there?" Katie asks, rubbing her eyes and yawning. 

"I think so, I saw the sign a few minutes ago." Hugh answers.

When we arrive at the ski cabin, I'm assaulted by the cold, and already want to go home. The only thing that brings a smile to my face, is Gibsie's childlike joy playing in the snow.

"What is wrong with him?" Hugh asks.

"He's just having fun." Katie says, and I nod.

We enter the lodge, and get our room assignments. Gibsie and I's names were beside each other, so we have to share. 

I notice Katie's looking downright distraught at the name sheet, "Katie, you all good?" I ask.

She just nods, and walks away. I look at the room assignment sheet and see that Wilmot has been matched with Wilkinson.

Thanks for reading! - H <3