The One

The One (36)

"Are you done packing?" hollered Maxine across my room.

"Almost done! Geez..." I muttered under my breath.

Maxine burst into my room, face radiant.

"We're going to Austria!" she sang.

"We're going to Austria!" I squealed.

"The land of dreamy Austrian boys!" we chorused before we collapsed into a fit of laughter.

"A month of snow..." started Maxine.

"A month of romantic Austrian boys is what you're really thinking, Maxine," I said impishly.

She frowned at me. It lasted for about three seconds before she started laughing. "Damn right I am!"

I joined in the laughter as I stuffed another pair of jeans in my suitcase.

After a few moments, Maxine asked, "It's going to be winter there, right?"

"Yeah."

"Do you know how to ski?" asked Maxine.

"No."

"Crap."

"Crap."

~*~*~*~

"I could get used to this," I said as I lounged on the bed, watching telly.

"Yeah, that plane ride was torture," she said as she went over to plug in her charger since her phone had died over the plane.

"I mean, look at the scenery!" I said, ignoring her. "It's even snowing now!"

"You don't even know how to ski!" said Maxine.

"Yeah, but I'll be able to, tomorrow morning. Dad signed us up for courses."

Maxine eyes widened as she grinned. "Is it just me or are ski instructors always hot?"

"It's just you."

She threw a pillow at me. "Killjoy."

I rolled my eyes at her. "You've been so desperate these days, it's not even funny."

"Hey!" She threw a pillow at me. "One can dream, right?"

~*~*~*~

We woke up bright and early the next day and after a breakfast of waffles, we trudged down to the lobby where the beginner class were held.

"Is that our ski instructor?" I gasped.

Golden hair that shone in the sun and a warm, friendly smile.

"He can't be older than twenty," said Maxine dubiously.

Eyes like blue irises and tall, broad shoulders.

"Good morning class, my name is Mr Walker and I'll be your ski instructor for these eight lessons," he said. "But you can just call me James."

We went through a round of introductions before we started the lesson.

"That's the advanced slope," he said, pointing to a steep slope where a lot of skiers were sliding down the snow at lightning speed. "Don't go there unless you want to be killed."

Suddenly I caught a flash of golden hair and green eyes.

My eyes widened.

He wasn't wearing any ski goggles. He skid down the advanced slope expertly and did a toss in the air. As he did, I caught a flash of his face and gasped.

Steve Collins.

~*~*~*~

"My butt hurts," Maxine groaned the moment class was over.

I said nothing, only kept looking around for him.

"The ski instructor was hot though. The ice was brutal. Never going skiing again," declared Maxine. Then she paused. "On second thoughts, I would rather fall on my ass and let the hot ski instructor help me up."

She continued rambling on, happily oblivious to the fact that I wasn't paying attention.

Then she finally noticed that I was searching for someone.

"Hey, Felicia, who're you looking for?"

"Him," I whispered. "I saw him."

"Who?"

I looked at Maxine in the eye. "Steve. He's here."

Maxine's eyes widened. "When did you see him?"

"Just now, during the lesson. I saw him on the advanced slope."

"Are you sure it's him?"

"Positive -" My voice died in my throat as I spotted a mop of familiar blonde hair.

He turned around, carrying two cups of coffee. His eyes met mine and his gaze intensified, as though trying to see if it was really me.

Then his eyes widened.

He set down the two cups on a nearby table and ran off.

What could I do?

I ran after him.

~*~*~*~

"Stop!" I panted.

Did he listen? No.

"Steve Collins, stop right now!" I ordered.

He continued running.

I was getting seriously tired and it was a miracle that I hadn't slipped on all these slippery snow -

THUD!!

Well, I spoke too early.

My butt came crashing down on the ice for the bazillionth time that day since ski lesson and I cried out in pain. Hot angry tears involuntarily came to my eyes as the pain suddenly shot through my ass.

I bit my lip, trying not to curse out loud.

"Shit!"

Well, I tried.

Wait, that wasn't me cursing.

I opened my eyes and saw him rushing to my side.

"Felicia!" he said worriedly, and I savored hearing my name from his voice.

If this is a dream, then nobody pinch me.

"It really is you," I croaked, my voice breaking. Then I started crying even more.

"Felicia - don't-don't cry," he said awkwardly, rubbing my back soothingly.

"Why didn't you tell me that you were fine?" I said, pushing him away. "Why didn't you return?"

"Felicia, I - I..."

The tears continued to fall. "Why did you run?" I sobbed.

"I'm sorry Felicia, just please don't cry," he pleaded.

"You know how hard was it for me this past year? Every single day I worry about you, whether you're alive or not. Why didn't you contact me at all?" I continued firing questions at him.

"I..."

"Why didn't you wait for me?" I finally whispered.

Steve blinked. Then he said finally, "Felicia, I have a girlfriend."

~*~*~*~

A/N: He just dropped the bomb.

Short chapter, sorry. Wanted to get this out of the way so I could finally move on to more Stelicia action.

STEVE DIDN'T DIE! AREN'T YOU GUYS HAPPY?