The Price of Falling

Chapter 24

We arrived at our hotel in Seattle at 4:30 in the afternoon. Macy had called her dad before we left Cle Elum to have him reserve hotel rooms for all of us. Me and Molly were supposed to be sharing one, Jason and Conner were to share one, and the rest of the guys and rest of the girls were to pair up. Ashley had become really good friends with Taylor and Angela while we were at the lake, so they all would share a room.

"You ready to party, bitch?" Molly said as she flopped her narrow body onto the mattress closest to the door. I had run ahead of her to get the bed closest to the window. I hopped onto the bed, belly first, placing my chin on my overlapped hands.

"Saying no to you will prove to be futile, so I might as well just say what you want," I replied to her, sticking my tongue out.

"Good! I brought the perfect dress for you!" she squealed. Molly pulled herself up and bounced up and down on the mattress from her knees.

"Again, with the dresses, Moll?" I groaned, rolling over onto my back and staring up at the ceiling. This was a nicer hotel than I'd ever been in, thanks to Macy. She and Jack had basically funded the whole trip. THey only asked for a hundred dollars from each of us, plus money for food and drinks.

"Yes, Ruthie, again with the dresses! We are in Seattle! You gotta dress the part, hot stuff!" Molly wasn't even trying to conceal her excitement, and it was bleeding over to me, if I was being honest. I had to admit that being in the city I would call home in less than three months was as life-giving as Molly's mood. So, I gave in to her.

"Fine, a dress. But I'm not wearing heels! I hope you brought some flat sandals." I said. I would concede to her begging me to wear a dress, but I would not torture and embarrass myself in heeled shoes. Ever.

"Oh, yay!" she screamed and sprawled herself across the bed like a tween girl.

"But first, naps," I said, kicking my duffle bag off the bed and scooting up to the pillows, where I laid my head.

***

I woke up to my alarm going off at 7:30 P.M. Molly was already in the shower, and I could hear her humming some pop song ridiculously out of tune. The text tone sounded on my phone as soon as I turned off the blaring noise of the alarm. It was Conner, asking: WYD? Jase wants to know when you and Molly will be ready.

I responded to his message with: Just woke up. Molly is in shower. We'll meet you in lobby when we're ready. I'll have Molly text Jase.

I heard the water turn off in the bathroom, and a few moments later, Molly stepped out with a towel around her body. Her hair was still dry, so I knew she was planning on getting ready quickly. She skipped over to her suitcase, and smiled at me. "You ready for a fun-filled evening, Miss Smithey?"

I pulled myself to the side of the bed and stood up, still groggy. I "umphed," at Molly, and walked into the bathroom to take my own shower. When I climbed out and dried off, I heard male voices in the room. It was Jason and Conner. Had he not understood the text message I sent him saying that we would meet them in the lobby? I poked my head out of the bathroom door and said, "Um, could you guys go so I can come out and get ready?"

"Come on out Ruthie, it's just Con and Jase!" Molly said lightly. I peeked out of the door, but couldn't see anything around the corner without coming fully out of the little bathroom, which was not happening.

Suddenly, Conner's head poked around to the door, and he said, "Need any help, Griff? I would be glad to assist." His smile was the perfect mixture of pure happiness and mischief.

"I think I'm good. It would help me if you guys left the room so I could get ready, though," I tried to give a genuine smile to him in return, but it felt more sarcastic, so I'm sure it looked that way too.

"What do I get in return?" Conner tapped his index finger to his chin as he taunted me.

"Come on, Conner. I have to get ready," I whispered to him.

"I'll trade you," he replied.

"What do you want?" I asked.

Conner raised his eyebrows, and acted like he was thinking, even though I knew he already had in mind what he was going to say. He tapped his finger against his chin a couple more times, and then a menacing smile came to his lips, and said, "A dance."