Avalanche

Pillows

ONE YEAR AGO

I didn't want to go on this stupid trip anyway. But Chris said it would be fun and then Beth practically begged me to go because she didn't want to be stuck alone. Sam would be with Hannah majority of the time since they're best friends, it was only fair that Beth got her's to tag along too. Why do I give in on things I don't want to do? Oh, I have no backbone, that's right.

So, I'm packing all the winter clothing that was necessary and two pairs of boots I had to dig deep in my closet for. After hardly filling a duffle bag, I grab my Nikon Df my grandparents got me a couple weeks ago for my birthday, my mini bag full of replacement memory cards, and head downstairs. Chris had promised Josh we'd all ride up there together since he got his car privileges taken away for taking apart the new laptop dad bought him so he could put in 'upgrades.' Dad wasn't too happy about that and bye-bye car. Now, I still had mine, but anyone who knows me knows I'm just about the worst driver. I'm too frigid and my zoning out gets pretty bad at red lights. So bad in fact I sat through a whole green light and didn't even notice. Even with all the horns honking and cursing.

What sucks though is Chris and Josh were in the car. Chris had me pull over so he could drive and Josh just held my shoulders when I switched to the passenger's side. The whole way home Chris looked at me like I had lost my mind. Honestly, he should be used to it by now. I understand it was the worst time to space out, but it's not like I can control it. At least Josh didn't make me feel like a freak.

I finally make it down the stairs. Our house was moderate. We weren't rich, especially compared to the Washingtons. But, Dad does programming and Mom use to be heavily into real estate. That was before she got a substantial pay cut and the market plummeted. That left dad to pick up a lot of the slack. Queue the fighting. That was kind of the icing on the cake.

Bella, our white, fluffy cat was standing at the bottom of the stairs. The bell on her collar alerted me to her before I could trip over her. I smile lovingly down at her. Technically, she was my cat. Chris didn't really like her, the feeling was mutual what with her hissing whenever he comes around. He does accidently step on her a lot. She blends in with the carpet pretty well. Anyways, I'm the one that feeds her and generally keeps her alive. I hated leaving her with my parents. It was actually a valid excuse-that I tried-to get out of this weekend trip to the Washington Lodge. Of course, no one took it seriously. But, then again, no one knows how forgetful my parents can be about the cat when their main preoccupation was fighting.

"Poor girl. Sorry, I have to leave you to the crazies this weekend." I pat her on top of her fluffy little head. She purrs instantly. I then travel my hand down her spine, down to her bushy tail. "Don't hate me too much, okay pretty girl." I give her one last pat and begin heading to the doors where Chris was waiting for me.

"You really baby that cat, you know that. That's why it's basically useless on its own." He mocks as he looks at the cat with a sneer. He really doesn't like Bella.

"You mean I take care of her because of something called responsibility and love, then yeah, I baby her," I say sardonically. Chris just makes a scrunched up face and mimics my words back at me.

"Yeah, real mature Christopher," I mock. "Which one of us is the oldest here?"

He just cackles and picks up my duffle bag. I can't stop the smile that spreads on my face. For all his flaws, chivalry wasn't one of them. Even towards his own sister. I clap a hand on his back as we make it out to the large SUV parked out front.

"Hey, Cheech." Beth yells out the half rolled down window. I wave and jog over to the side of the door.

"What up, Chong," I call back when I get to the window. The Cheech and Chong thing was all Beth's idea. It's kind of stupid, really, seeing as neither of us smoke. Well, I mean, Beth has tried it, at least that's what she told me. As for me, I'm too much of a coward to break the law.