sunrise [until dawn]

v: conflict

After a few moments of sitting in silence, I notice that Ashley has wandered up, and Chris and Sam have as well.

"Man, I feel like this mountain gets bigger every time I climb it," Chris chuckles, warming his hands.

"Oh yeah?" Josh fixes his beanie, "Feels the same to me."

"Oh come on, you grew up here. It probably feels like it's shrinking."

"I guess that's true," Josh and Chris turn around and start to head closer to us.

"When are you gonna install some cell towers up here? I'm getting withdrawals already."

"You got a spare million  and I'll fix you right up," Josh chuckles, his eyes shifting from Chris to me.

I ignore his cold look and scoot over closer to Ashley.

"Hey," I poke her shoulder.

She snaps from her thoughts, and grins widely when she's sees me.

"Hi, Maggie," she huddles next to me for warmth, "It's been quite a while, right?"

"Yeah," I nod, "Nice to see you again."

"You too, sorry for the lack of calls," She bumps my knee with hers, "Busy trying to get into this college program. It takes up all my time."

"I get it."

A moment of silence.

"Had Josh called you much after what happened?" I ask her.

"A bit," she shrugs, "Every so often, not much. Why?"

I explain to her the situation, and she scrunched her face in contemplation.

"Josh is an enigma," she shrugs, "I couldn't tell you, sorry."

I plaster a smile on my face, as Josh and Chris approach closer.

"Hey guys," Josh gives a mini-wave, "Get up here okay?"

Ashley interjects, "Yeah, uh, more or less. But it's so good to see you!"

I hop up, wiping off my butt as I follow the group up the oak stairs. Josh jiggles at the lock a bit, before groaning and slamming his fist on the glass window.

"Damn it, this freaking thing."

"It's iced?"

"What else."

Of fucking course the lock was iced up. Because it's not like it's twenty degrees outside in the middle of fucking February, right?

"Maybe there's another way in...?"

"There's a million ways in, they're just all locked."

"There's gotta be like a window round the corner we can, like, get open..." Chris stutters, watching as Josh screws with the handle some more.

I rub my hands against my legs, tuning the two boys out, attempting to keep warm.

"Lead the way, Cochise!" Josh points towards the right, and turns to me, "Hey Maggie, um, do you want to come?"

The question catches me off guard, but I keep Matt's advice in the back of my skull.

"Sure," I paste a grin to my face, following behind the two eager boys.

I try to channel out Chris and Josh's obnoxious bickering by listening to the snow crunch beneath my shoes, but a comment about Ashley makes my ears perk up.

"Ashley was looking pretty hot today, right?" Josh stops by a tree for a moment, "She's a sleeper hit kinda gal, you know? Now I just want to rip that parka right off of her...make some snow angels, right?"

"Hey, cut it out, man-"

"I mean, if you're not going to bang her, maybe Mike will take up the case."

"Will you back off?"

"Relax...I'm just checking to see if there's some blood flowin' down there."

A disgusted scoff leaves my lips as I roll my eyes. It's revolting, absolutely revolting. Like, hey asshole! I'm friends with Ashley! And I'm standing right here!

"Is there a problem?" Josh snaps.

"Yeah, actually there is!" I chuckle in a snarky tone, "I'm standing right here. I'm a women, and that's fucking offensive to me. Ashley is not a sexual object. She isn't just something you can use for sex. She's a human being, not an object. So don't treat her like one, asshole."

"Then don't fucking listen in on our conversation," Josh snarls, stepping closer to me, "And we won't have a problem."

"Whatever," I stick my headphones in my ears, turning my music up to one of the loudest volume settings.

We approach the side of the lodge, and I see a smashed-in axe holder. Someone obviously had needed that axe, but I attempt to convince myself that maybe it was for innocent purposes.

"Maggie, help us move the cabinet," Chris taps my shoulder.

I scoff, rolling up my headphones and head over to the side opposite Chris. My cold fingers fumble to get a proper grip, but I'm able to grip the edge and pull with all my might. I let go once it's underneath the open window, and shove my hands into my pockets.

"Wow, Chris," Josh shakes his head, "I could've helped you get it done faster."

"Oh fuck you, you dick," I throw my hands up at him.

"You wish," he wiggles his eyes brows, a smug smile playing on his lips.

"Twat," I spit at him, matching off down the path.

-

Josh: 6/10
Chris: 10/10
Ashley: 6/10
Sam: 9/10
Jess: 5/10
Mike: 5/10
Matt: 5/10
Emily: 1/10

Honest: 9/10
Charitable: 7/10
Funny: 6/10
Brave: 6/10
Romantic: 7/10
Curious: 7/10