Underneath the Tree (gg)

Chapter 9 - Snow is Glistening

Summary:
Could this trip become any more unpredictable? Everyone tries to savor their last days of this wild vacation.
(There's so many time cuts in this chapter, but it was necessary)

---

Rio hands the key back to the receptionist, Beth still staring towards the people in the lobby.
"Oh my god!" Beth clutches her chest, "It's a hockey game!" Looking up at the television before grabbing Rio's wrist leading him out of the spa as quickly as possible.
"What you thought it was?" Rio still being led out instantly realizing, "Oh, you thought? Nah, the insulation in those rooms are almost soundproof."
Beth let's go of his wrist, continuing out the door making her way back to the lodge entrance, Rio casually following.

---

"Okay, either this bitch is getting a bomb ass massage, or she's just ignoring us." Ruby stares at her phone waiting for responses to her numerous texts.
"OR... they're dead, or th-" Annie stops talking, watching the door as Beth comes storming in, Rio still behind her.
"Yeah, I think they're dead Annie..." Ruby gives her a look before focusing her attention towards Beth, "What the hell B! We've called you like 50 times, not combined."
"Sorry we... there was a... hockey game on TV in the spa. We actually got really invested." Beth lies quickly on the spot.
Annie pushes forwards towards Beth, "Yeah? Who was playing? I'm just curious."
"Uh... the Rangers and Penguins? I-" Beth stutters.
"Yeah, it actually was ma. Chill out. I know you were all worked up in there. She was real nervous for y'all." Rio trying to back her up.
"...nervous, but you couldn't check your phone." Annie still waiting for the answer she's expecting.
"It died Annie, can you stop being so insinuating for one damn minute." Beth shoves past Annie to head over to the lady with hot chocolate.
As soon as she knows Beth won't hear, Ruby begins, "Was it good?"
Rio nods walking towards Beth, as a gesture of support. Annie and Ruby pointing fingers towards each other, mouthing words and laughing.
"I literally told you!" Annie shoves Ruby in her arm, "You owe me this time!"
"Knock it off Annie, you're gonna make it obvious." Ruby lowering her voice still giddy, "Sauna sex is like a whole new level!"
Beth walks back over with a mug of hot chocolate, as does Rio. Him seemingly decent, giving a small smile, Beth not so much. Sipping from her hot chocolate avoiding eye contact with everyone, staring down at her boots.
Ruby breaking the silence by clearing her throat, "Um... it's already 3:37 pm we were going to have dinner at 5:00 pm."
"Let's just go now, we can always have late night snacks if we get hungry." Annie making the final decision leading everyone towards a different restaurant than the nights before.

---

Beth rolls over forgetting that Rio is right next to her, accidentally bumping into him, she twists her body back into its original position to make it seem as if nothing happened.
"Ma it's still late, why you moving?" Rio whispers into the back of her neck, "You better get some sleep, we gotta long ass drive in the morning."
"I didn't mean to wake you. I'm just... thinking too much. Confused maybe?" Beth also keeping her voice down, not elaborating.
"Bout what?" Rio pulls her shoulder so she can turn and face him.
"Us? I guess... I- I guess I'm not used to this." Beth stammers a bit, trying to find the right words to say.
"We're good Elizabeth, don't overthink it." Rio scoops a piece of hair from Beth's face to behind her ear.
"What are we?" She continues as if she didn't hear what he just said.
"Whatever you want us to be." Rio finishes, he closes his eyes and places his arm over Beth's chest. This action ending the conversation. Both fading off into sleep to be ready for the long drive in the morning.

---

A knock at the door shakes Rio from his light sleep. He pulls himself out of bed carefully, not waking Beth.
Opening the door, "Hello! We have to leave in like... 10 minutes or they're going to start charging my card." Annie invites herself in grabbing clothes off of the ground and shoving them into the nearest suitcase.
"Uh, okay. We got 10 minutes?" Rio stares as she's still trying to clean.
"Didn't I just say that?" Annie looks up at Rio, giving him an aggressive stare.
"Chill then... we got 10 minutes." Rio says as he hears the mattress creak.
"10 minutes for what?" Beth pulls herself out of the duvet to sit on the edge of the bed.
"Probably 8 now! Get up we gotta go!" Annie stands to grab Beth from where she's sitting, "They're going to start overcharging my card, I don't need more bills.
Rio starts packing his own stuff as Beth begins, "Where's Ruby?" Still sitting at the edge of the bed, no intentions of helping.
"In the car! Where we should all be right now!" Annie shoving the last pieces of clothing in the suitcase, "Now come on, let's go!"

---

"See, we had 2 minutes to spare Annie. Since when are you so time oriented?" Beth stands between the two cars before opening the passenger door.
"Since now! Ruby's gonna lead this time, you guys follow." Annie hops into the passenger seat swiftly. Ruby begins pulling out of the parking space and Rio follows.
"How you feeling ma?" Rio turns the wheel meeting the exit of the parking lot to the main road.
"Tired..." Beth yawns as she sets back her seat to make it reclined.
"If you sleep now Elizabeth... you better stay asleep for 2 hours. Cause we gotta trade later." Rio keeping his eyes on the road.
Beth is already falling asleep before he can say anything else. Rio glances over to her and let's out a little smile, then continuing his focus on driving.

---

"Ma get up, it's been three hours. We're at the gas station, you need anything?" Rio pops his head into the passenger side door, shaking Beth lightly. She shivers from her sleep, opening her eyes to stare directly into his.
"Hi..." Beth smiles warmly up towards Rio.
"Hey mama." He reaches in the car to grab her arm to pull her out, their faces close. Beth notices and closes the gap in between them. The kiss is brief, but it's also sweet and meaningful. Pulling apart she gives him another warm smile before being led out by Rio towards the drivers side. Before getting in, he smacks Beth's ass making her let out a short scream which leads into laughter.
"You need to stop doing that," Beth falls into the driver's seat and gets comfortable.
Walking back towards the passenger seat and buckling up, "Nah, I'm good." He laughs before shifting his body to get ready for the next hour of the drive. Beth turns on the radio and relaxes as she pulls out of the gas station parking lot, Rio still sleeping next to her, she glances in her mirror to see Annie following behind as Ruby slept. Continuing the drive, she makes her way onto the freeway that takes them all the way home.

---
(I hate this chapter so much, but whatever)