CONSUME

[37] if not never

***

kameron springfield

"Thanks again for getting this place for the weekend, Jake!" Noah said from beside me. I turned to face her, and the dark haired boy whom she was speaking to. 

"Duh!" Jake said gleefully, hauling in a duffel bag as we walked through the doors. "It's my boys' birthdays," He stuck his tongue out devilishly and smacked Austin in the back of the head. "You know we had to go big."

"Fuck off," Austin laughed, wiping the back of his head with his hand. 

I clutched onto my backpack straps, tossing the bag off from the weight. I'm not sure how much I packed for one single weekend, but I needed to make sure that I'll look cute. Since... I'm spending a weekend with Axel. 

Though I'm not alone with him, of course... It's myself, Noah, The Conynghim boys, Jake Hunter, Bradley Scott, Erica Sabini, and Jade McCarter. Jake's parents are members of the Ski Club up in Philadelphia, so we decided to take the trip for the triplets' birthday. It's right in the peak of winter, their birthdays tomorrow on February 28th. I can't believe they'll be turning nineteen years old already. I've known them for nine years and I wonder if they're people I'll know for the rest of my life. 

As far as our families go, I know that Anna and my mother have a lifetime of friendship ahead of them. 

However I want to move away for college. I'm still waiting to hear back from my top schools but none of them are within this state, and I'd ideally like to go across the country. I know Aidan wants to stay local, and I'd assume his brothers will as well. So I wonder how much we'll really be in contact. 

As we looked around the private lodge that Jake's family owns, everybody started to settle in. It's almost evening now and the sun will set in a few hours. This place is huge, and Jake already established that everybody will have their own bedroom. This is a three story house, with a basement that's transformed into a theatre and game room. There's a fire place right here in the living room that's large enough for all of us to gather here later tonight. 

The walls are wooden, and the floor is too, the entire log cabin vibe being taken down to the very last detail. It's cozy and warm, and the perfect aesthetic to shield us from the cold. However we won't be shielded from the unforgivable snow for long due to Brad's suggestion. 

"I say we hit the slopes," He attested, hopping down the stairs after throwing his luggage in his bedroom. "It'll get dark soon, so we'd better get out and ski before it does."

"Totally," Jake agreed. 

I'm nervous because I haven't skied before in my life. Noah walked up to me, nudging my shoulder, "You don't ski, do you?" She asked. 

I shook my head, biting my lower lip. "Not at all. You?"

"Nope," She shrugged. "My parents were too lazy to ever join the Ski Club. So I never came here as a kid like everybody else. But wait, isn't your dad a part of the club?"

I rolled my eyes and fought the urge to get sick at the mention of my father. I nodded, "Yeah he is. But we never even came skiing. He'd always come here with his friends or something."

"Shit, that's weird. Isn't skiing supposed to be a family thing? Why would he--"

"Kammy," Axel muttered, and it was only now that I realized he's standing right behind Noah and me. I nearly jumped at his voice, turning around startled. Noah was also caught off guard, but rather than fearful, she smirked.