Disclaimer: I don't own Until Dawn. Until Dawn and its characters are the property of SuperMassive Games and Sony Computer Entertainment, and are not my intellectual property. There is no financial gain made from this work nor will any be sought. This is for entertainment purposes only.

Well, after ten months this story is back up and running.

Thanks to holeybubushka for beta reading this chapter, serving as my sounding board and really, pretty much cajoling the heck out of me to start this story back up in the first place. :) Also, thanks InkheartFirebringer for letting me hash out ideas about this story during the long hiatus. And if I ever figure out how to code properly, I'll include links to your guys stuff. :)

Anyways, if you like my story, please favorite this story and/or leave a review. Thanks again. :)

Chapter 3

His lower torso still aching from Beth's strike, Michael Munroe grunted while attempting to fix himself in the snowy tundra. Resisting the urge to cry out, he paused while laboring for a quip which would belie his pain. His attempt failed miserably.

"FUCK! My Nuts! Jesus Christ!"

Mike winced while struggling to get on all fours, letting loose a pained groan while instinctually bracing for a follow-up strike. Only to see Beth standing motionless above him. A scowl etched across her face, although Mike swore he saw a brief twitch of a grin. A cynical smirk, as though she had mentally struck him a thousand times, but figured she would never actually lose her temper enough to hit him. Having done so, she wasn't sorry she had. As he was about to say something, a flash of blonde hair swiftly moved past him, before jostling Beth with a hard shove in the chest.

"What the hell, Beth?!" Jess growled as her sudden strike pushed the brunette onto her back heels, but failed to topple her over.

Beth snorted as she regained her balance. "After the shit, you pulled, you want to start something? Because I would love an excuse to break your homecoming queen nose."

As both girls eyeballed one another, Josh's tales of Beth learning jiu-jitsu in middle school spun through Mike's head. Not wanting to risk the eldest Washington having, for once, told the truth, he diffused the situation. "Jess, can you give me a hand?" He croaked out in a voice which he hoped didn't sound as high pitched as he feared.

Slowly turning away from Beth, Jess knelt down beside Mike. "Are you okay? She kicked a 50-yarder with your balls."

Despite his discomfort, Mike turned another cringe into a cocksure leer. "Did you think I would let a little rough foreplay ruin our weekend?"

Jess chuckled and then gazed intensely into his eyes. "Good. Because I was hoping to do more than catch up on my reading." She then leaned in and gave Mike a quick peck on the lips. As he moved to return the favor, he again groaned in pain, leaving Jess to shake her head. "Sorry. You just failed the reflex test."

"Well, you'll just have to kiss it and make everything all better."

Jess guffawed at his transparent lewdness. "Adding in calling me your snowball queen, I'm starting to think your intentions are less than honorable."

"Are you offended?" Mike flirtatiously inquired as his eyes regained some of their natural vividness.

"If anything, I'm relieved. Was beginning to worry about you a bit there, Mikey." As Jess playfully slapped her boyfriend on his arm, a loud throat clearing reminded them they were not alone.

"Are you two done?" Beth probed, her irritation bleeding through her cynicism.

As Jess prepared to resume her delayed confrontation, Mike grabbed her arm. "Let me handle her. Alone."

"Are you serious? After what she just did?"

Mike shrugged lightly, and while leaning while leaning towards Jess, whispered. "There's no reason why we both have to deal with her. Especially when she's in a shitty mood."

"Noble idiot," Jess groused under her breath. "Okay, I'll leave you two alone." She then pointed towards a clump of trees back up the main path, raising her voice to ensure Beth could also hear her. "But I'm staying right over there, and if I see her making a move towards you, I'm going to choke a bitch."

"So now you're into auto-erotic asphyxiation?" Beth snarked back. As Jess was about to rush towards the brunette yet again, Mike put out his left hand, gesturing her to hold back. Grunting with annoyance at giving Beth the last word, Jess turned and trudged towards her indicated vantage point.

Mike glanced up as Beth moved close to him. Realizing he had never noticed how imposing Beth's lanky 5'8" frame could seem until she was towering over his prostrated figure. Regaining his balance and slowly rising to his knees, he was surprised to see Beth extending her right hand in an offer of assistance.

"Sorry about losing my temper. Even if you totally deserved a nut-kicking."

Mike cautiously accepted her hand and gingerly used the additional leverage to pull himself to his feet before backing a couple of strides away from his attacker. Looking at her with a puzzled look on his face, he issued an apology of his own. "Fair enough. Sorry about nailing you with a snowball right in your ear." He smirked slightly as a smart-ass remark popped into his head. "Even though I didn't render you sterile. Somewhere my great grandson just faded from existence."

Beth chuckled with a sardonic tone as she shook her head. "Do you honestly think the snowball is why I kicked you?"

Mike sighed and muttered just loud enough for Beth to hear him "When you put it that way, I suppose not."

Both he and Beth looked towards each other, waiting for the other to speak. As they looked at each other, the chilled Arctic air seemed to freeze between them. Finally, Beth broke the silence with a single word "Why?"

Mike broke eye contact and looked away with the closest expression to shame Beth could recall him showing in the four years she had known him. Still, he didn't answer, much to her impatience. "Seriously? After a whole year, you still haven't thought of a decent answer?"

Mike still refusing to make eye contact, murmured almost under his breath. "I don't know, Beth, I don't know."

Beth took a deep breath, exhaling loudly through her nose in an attempt to stay calm. An attempt which did not entirely succeed. "Okay. I'll ask a different question. How could you do such a thing to her? You were supposed to be her friend." Mike still didn't answer, causing Beth to grow angrier.

"Or was your friendship all an act? Designed to manipulate Hannah into doing your bidding." She bitterly changed her voice into a mockery of Mike's confident tone. "Hi Han, you look beautiful today. By the way, can you get me and Emily tickets to your Dad's latest premiere?" "Hi, Hannah. Cute outfit. By the way, could I borrow your notes for the AP Biology exam because I'm too much of a lazy turd to take them myself?" "Hey Hannah, can you..."

"Enough!"

"After what you did, you have the balls to get snippy?!" Beth instinctually clenched her right hand into a tight fist before relaxing it. "The first day of freshman year, Hannah insisted she had met a great guy in her trig class. Smart, handsome and a real gentleman. But when I first met you, I thought you were a massive douche canoe. One who skated by on his good looks, and 'masculine charms.'"

"But, as I got to know you, even I had to concede there was a decent person buried underneath. One who would never deliberately do anything to hurt Hannah, even if he didn't reciprocate her stupid crush." Beth sharply shook her head, "Or so I thought. But with your prank, my first impression was confirmed. You're a real piece of shit, Mike."

Mike finally interjected. "For fuck's sake Beth. Do you think any of us wanted what happened to Hannah? Do you believe I'm cruel?"

"Enough to take part in the damn prank. What did you think Hannah was going to do? Laugh off having her heart ripped out by people she thought were her friends? Admit she was silly for having a crush before having some fucking pudding!?"

"I don't know." Mike conceded. "Honestly, I was drunk off my ass. And, no, that's not an excuse, at least not a good one. And you know what, you're right, going along with the prank was a real shit-head move." Mike paused and broke eye contact with Beth, looking up at the sky as though he was trying to find absolution, before slowly returning his view level. "I can't speak for anyone else, but I guess, I was hoping, by doing the prank, she would come to her senses and move on."

Beth snorted in disdain, before responding with sarcasm thick enough to paint a house. "How noble of you, Mike. Of course, your explanation does raise one minor question." Dropping the sarcasm, she verbally poked at him "Why record the whole thing? Were you planning to release the video of her taking her blouse off, ruining her reputation in the process? Or so you could relive the moment her heart breaks over and over, for your sick amusement?"

Mike reflexively put his hands up in a defensive pose. "I had nothing to do with the recording. Say 'hi' to Matt and see what he has to say. As for the blouse, it's not like I made Hannah strip. Believe me; I was as shocked as anyone that sweet, innocent Hannah Washington's reaction was to get her tits out."

"Oh, bullshit!" Beth snarled, finding herself edging closer to the former student body president, with menace flashing in her eyes. "I read you assholes' little love note, remember? Telling Han, you bet she would look even better without her shirt. Regardless, you sure as fuck didn't seem to mind! I saw the video during the inquest, and you looked like your eyes almost popped out of your damned head."

Mike shrugged nonchalantly. "What can I say? Hannah has a nice rack." Beth's eyes widened at his matter of fact admission. "And, before you hit me again. Yes, I would have been more ashamed of myself if I was sober, but, can you blame me for being excited when a cute girl starts taking her top off in front of me?"

Beth subconsciously draped her right arm over her chest, as though she feared Mike was thinking lasciviously about her own, identical breasts despite the four layers of clothing which were currently covering them. "Yes. Yes, I can." Turning away, she coldly remarked under her breath. "Scumbag."

Mike snapped back with an increasingly defensive tone in his tenor."If I were a scumbag, I wouldn't have done the prank! I would have fucked her, as she wanted mind you, and then cast her aside like a used tissue. What was I supposed to do, break up with Em and run off with Hannah just because Han had a fifth grader's definition of love?"

Beth felt the urge to repeat her earlier strike as it had, apparently, failed to knock the smug bastard out of Mike. "Well, breaking up with Emily wasn't the deal breaker, now was it? At least, judging by your 'interaction' with the double digit IQ bimbo. Tell me, are you already screwing around behind her back?"

"Fuck off Beth," Mike interjected in a state of tired irritation more than genuine anger.

Beth smirked slightly at her striking a nerve."To answer your question, how about acting like a man instead of a horny little boy and tell Hannah how you felt, or, more to the point, didn't feel, about her. And let her decide if she wanted to stay your friend. Rather than stringing her along for four years."

"Considering the Washington family's penchant for rational discourse, maybe I was afraid she would take the news badly and do something rash, like, I don't know, run out into the woods in the middle of a fucking blizzard! After all, it's not like events exactly proved me wrong. Now did they? Bethany!"

"OH FUCK YOU ASSHOLE!" The strain of the conversation having finally completely worn down Beth's patience, she turned on her heels and looked away, daring Michael to continue the conversation.

Mike turned himself to see Jess looking at him and starting to come down the path to back him up. To his surprise, he gestured for her to stay back, while he could start to hear soft sniffles coming from the other side of Beth's cardinal red parka.

"Look, I'm sorry. I know I've said it a thousand times before tonight, and my apologies don't mean anything to you, but I never wanted Hannah to experience anything like what happened. I truly didn't. But, I would hate me if I were you. So, I'm just going to do my best to stay out of your way the rest of the time we're here." Mike paused as Beth didn't respond to his latest apology. "If it makes you feel any better, she was wearing a bra."

His obtuse comment made Beth chuckle, despite herself, at Mike's dense attempt at consolation. Still brimming with emotion, she walked a few strides away from Mike before turning around and responding. "You know, Han always said I was a bad liar." Mike looked at her confused, trying to figure out Beth's point as she continued. "But when I found her in the snow and told her you did care about her, even if it wasn't the way she wanted you to care, she believed me."

As Beth continued walking away from Mike, he responded: "You weren't lying, Beth." The brunette gave a dismissive side wave gesture while trudging away from Mike, Jess, and the cabin. Mike slowly turned and started making his way back toward his current girlfriend while muttering one choice word under his breath. "Fuck."

After hiking from the cable car station, filling their time with friendly, if banal, conversation, Sam, and Chris crossed the threshold into the Washington family lodge, which despite Josh's earlier efforts still oozed with an eerie and foreboding presence.

"At least Josh left the door unlocked. Still, never thought we would be back here." Sam shivered, before turning back to Chris. "Looks like nothing has changed. Outside of an extra year's worth of grime."

"Yeah. I guess Josh had other things on his mind."

Sam shivered again despite the extruding heat from the nearby fireplace. "Heating and lighting weren't on his mind either."

Chris snickered while looking back towards his cohort. "Well if you had worn a halfway decent jacket, maybe you wouldn't be quite so cold. Or if you had worn pants."

Sam looked down at her outfit and then glanced back at Chris with mild indignation in her eyes. "Not like we're used to this type of weather in California."

"Dude, I live in LA which is like twice as warm as San Fran, and even I own a decent winter coat. Plus I remember you having a nice wool overcoat last year. And pants. Maybe you traded them for the dead muskrat on your head."

Sam took on a self-conscious posture while trying to warm her arms. "First, didn't I already tell you to stop making fun of my hat?" Sam arched her eyebrow as Chris affably shrugged "Secondly, I'm wearing tights underneath my skirt which is just as warm as wearing a pair of jeans. Finally, I have both a pair of yoga pants and jeans in my bag. I just...chose...not to wear them today."

Chris grinned at Sam's chagrin. "Fashion before practicality? What has gotten into you, Ms. Giddings?" He started laughing as she extended the middle digit of her right hand. "Man, if Beth could see how flustered you are right now."

Concern swiftly replaced annoyance as Sam's primary emotion. "Speaking of, where is she? I thought we were the last ones here, not the first?" As Chris remained silent, Sam started calling out while they moved throughout the lodge "Beth?" "Josh?!" "Anyone?!""

"Sam?" a girl's voice called out, one with a higher and vaguely frantic tone compared to Beth's. The sound of an unexpected torrent of books hitting the floor, cut off her communication.

"You okay?" Sam queried as she and Chris followed the voice up the lodge's grand staircase and into the library. Where they found a young woman with long, vibrant natural red hair flowing out from the bottom of her striped knit cap. She made a haphazard attempt to re-shelve the healthy portion of the Washington family library scattered around her.

"Oh man. I knew I should have gotten a stool. Just how the heck am I going to put all these books back?" the woman muttered to herself before noticing Sam and Chris had come up behind her. After giving a startled yelp, she composed herself. "Sorry, was trying to grab a book off the shelf and, well..." she gestured towards the many piles strewn about her.

"You okay, Ashley?" Sam inquired again.

"I'm fine. Somehow managed to get books everywhere except where I was standing" Ashley winced in recollection. "Figuring out how to get everything rearranged before Josh gets back is another story."

Chris looked at the redhead teasingly. "Remind me not to hire you as my interior decorator. Anyways, we can help you put them back, right Sam?"

"Thanks, you guys." While taking a couple of books from Sam, Ashley hesitated. "By the way, did you get my text from earlier?"

Chris smiled and nodded. "Indeed I did. You didn't get my response?" Ashley shook her head, causing Chris to shrug. "Been hounding Josh for years about his dad needing to spring for a cell tower. Although considering what happened..."

Sam interjected as Chris trailed off. "Speaking of Josh, where is he?"

"Right here," Josh replied while heading up the stairs. As he reached the top of the staircase, he noticed the scattered books. "If you guys wanted to play fifty-two card pickup, you could have just asked me to bring a deck of cards up here."

"Sorry. I was just trying to reach the top shelf, knocked everything over, and, well, made a mess like a big klutz." Ashley berated herself as a form of apology.

Josh shrugged. "Don't worry about it. Not like I have any idea where anything goes anyways." He turned from the redhead towards the shorter of her two current companions. "Good to see you again, Sammie. Been a while since the last time, hasn't it?"

Sam nodded and smiled with a hint of anxiety. "About six months now." She forced the unease from her face. "Good to see you too, Josh."

Josh grinned "Well, looks like the Bay Area is treating you well. Beth will be a lucky lady if she ever comes to her senses. I've already tried to nudge her once today."

"And how did that go?"

"About as well as you would expect." Both Josh and Sam smiled at the recollection of many discussions where Beth had thrown up a metaphorical brick wall. "Seriously, though, I think she's coming around. Might even stop stalling before the heat death of the universe."

Sam rocked back on the soles of her boots impatiently, "I'm surprised she hasn't come down here yet. She up in her room?"

Josh shrugged with relaxed indifference. "Beats me. Haven't seen her since she decided to go for a walk an hour ago."

Sam tightened her lips as she felt her facial and neck muscles tense. "She went hiking? By herself in the pitch black? After what happened last year?!"

"You know, you both get the same expression when you're annoyed," Josh smirked. "Anyways, something pissed her off, so she decided to cool her heels before everyone else showed up."

Sam's felt her voice cracking in frustration with Josh's lack of concern, "And you just let her? With no idea where she is? Are you fucking high?!"

Josh loosened a short, blasé laugh. "Come on, Sammie. You know as well as I do, stopping Beth once she's made her mind up is nearly impossible. Especially when she goes all AngryBeth." Josh changed his tone into a reasonable approximation of a Neanderthal. "Beth angry. Beth smash. Beth blast nuclear fire from her mouth."

Turning from helping Ashley with cleaning up the scattered books, Chris cut in. "Aren't you conflating the Incredible Hulk and Godzilla?"

"You know what I mean, bro. My sister gets big, green, and destroys metropolitan areas." Josh turned back to Sam. "To answer your final question, I've been completely drug-free since I've come up here. Not even a drop of alcohol."

"Seriously?" Sam pushed for confirmation Josh wasn't making another of his typical off-color statements.

"Seriously," Josh stated with an unusually straight demeanor. "If there were an AA group on the mountain, I would be on my six-week chip. Although finding a non-caribou sponsor..."

"Wait a minute, so this whole shindig is dry?" Chris bemoaned

"Nah, I'm just staying away, myself. You guys can drink as much as you want." Josh grinned slightly at the short blonde woman. "Even you, Sammie. No having to be Miss Responsible Designated Driver when there aren't any roads for miles around."

Sam sharply sucked in a deep breath. "Which reminds me. One of you doofuses left your weed shoved in between the Prius' backseat cushions. So thanks for causing me to commit a felony for the last thirteen months."

Chris again inserted himself into the conversation. "Thank God you drive like an old lady. Anyways, did you bring it with you? Because, I mean, it is supposed to be a party."

Sam shook her head, as though Chris' inquiry was reaffirming why she tended to hang out with Beth. "Sure, because I've been looking to add international drug trafficker to my resume. And I would just love to get thrown in prison for 20 years just so you and Josh, who apparently wouldn't even partake himself, could smoke up."

Josh laughed as he amiably patted Sam on the shoulder. "Always need to have a diversity of work experience on the old grad school application. Plus, I'm reasonably sure Ashley and Jess smoke as well, so technically you would be providing weed for three people, not just the bespectacled bro. And it would be 20 years in a Canadian prison. Which I'm sure is nicer than your average Bay Area studio apartment." Before Sam could counterattack, Josh turned towards Chris. "You guys okay? Or do you need some help?"

"Think we're just about done." Chris looked towards Ashley who nodded in affirmation. He then turned back towards Josh, slowly closing the distance between the two of them. "Been a long time, bro."

"Indeed it has. Still driving all the CalTech professors nuts?"

Chris silently nodded before asking a follow-up. "So how have you been doing? You know..."

"I'm alright."

"Good...Good to hear. But I'm guessing it has to be hard being back here after Hannah..."

"I said I'm fine!" Josh curtly ended Chris' line of inquiry before heavily exhaling "Look, I didn't invite you guys up here to wallow, but to remember Han while having a damn good time. So while I appreciate your concern, I'd rather not dwell on what happened last year."

"Alright, bro. Sorry to pry." Chris mumbled almost imperceptively

"No worries, dude. I know you meant well." Josh smoothly transitioned back into gracious, if snarky, host mode. "Anyways, I've found some cool stuff while cleaning out the basement. Old movie props and such. If you want to kill some time before the others get here."

Chris looked back towards Ashley, not wanting to blow either her or Josh off. Ashley hesitated before letting him off the hook. "You guys go ahead, I can hang out with Sam."

Josh barely smirked at her capitulation before gesturing towards the stairs. "If you wouldn't mind leading the way, Cochise." As Chris started down the stairs, Josh slightly tilted his head downwards and allowed himself to take in the view.

Irritated by this turn of events as well as her tacit approval of them, Ashley flopped down in the nearest cushy leather reading chair. Sam followed her over before sitting backward in a more utilitarian wooden chair. She looked at the redhead with empathy. "Somethings never change, do they?"

"Yeah, I guess not. Another stint as the third wheel." Ashley grumbled

"I'm sure you and Chris will get to catch up eventually, well as much as two people who text as much as you guys do need to catch up." Sam commiserated. "Plus Josh and Chris have known each other since the third grade, I mean, Chris is basically his brother."

Ashley looked up at Sam and warily commented. "Somehow, I doubt anyone ever caught Josh trying to gawk at Beth's rear end." An awkward thought crossed her mind. "At least, I hope not, as doing so would be super creepy, and probably illegal in most states and when I say caught, I don't mean, it would be okay if he was doing it and just never got caught..."

Sam gently held up her right hand to stop the stream of consciousness. "I know what you meant Ash. And I know firsthand how Josh's feelings towards people can be...complex. But I also can never recall Chris saying anything which indicates he considers Josh to be anything other than his bro." Smirking a bit, Sam continued. "Although, I will say, on the record, Beth does have a nice ass."

"Jesus, Sam!" Ashley started tittering at the surprising bit of lewdness. She then stopped suddenly. "Oh man, I forgot Beth is here. And probably still super pissed at me. I mean I understand why. But still, I would rather not get punched in the nose."

Sam attempted to assuage Ashley's fears. Attempted being the operative word. "I'm not going to lie and claim Beth isn't angry. But I suspect one of the reasons why she came back is to work on the healing process and make progress on how she feels. So, while you might get told off, I don't think she'll slug you."

"Thanks, Sam..."Ashley cut herself off and reflectively squealed as she heard the lodge's front door forcibly open.

"It's a celebration, bitches!" Jess' loud and exuberant voice echoed throughout the lodge's dank and musty foyer. Mike trailed behind her with a pained expression as well as a slight limp. Turning back to her boyfriend, Jess chided him. "Come on, Sponge Bob Sullen Pants, act like you're happy to be here."

Mike strained a grin to his lips. "Sorry, still a little sore. Not as sore as we'll both be later, though."

"Is that a promise, Michael? After all, I should be the only one causing swelling in your loins." Jess retorted with ribaldry.

Having heard the couple entering the lodge, Josh interrupted their flirtation by sticking his head around the corner of the stairs. "Will you two get a room already? Or at least give me a couple of minutes to make popcorn."

"We have every intention of getting a room, just lead the way," Jess responded while Mike settled himself into the old blue couch, which served as the foyer's focal point.

"Well, I have a couple of ideas. But before settling in for the night, we're still waiting on Emily, Matt, and Beth." Josh noticed Mike flinching slightly at the utterance of his little sister's name. "You all right dude? Seem a bit on the quiet side. Or did Jess already wear you out?"

As Josh chuckled at his insinuation, Mike turned and looked back at his host. "Slipped on the ice heading up here and managed to land crotch first on a jagged rock."

"Owww! I'm sorry."

"Thanks, man."

"I was apologizing to Jess. She's the one who's going to be bored with you this weekend. Instead of being bored by you." Both Josh and Jess proceeded to snicker at his lewd comment, while Mike furrowed his brow.

"Ha-Ha, wordplay. Anyway, would you happen to have some ice? So I can work on being able to do the latter instead of the former." Mike inquired with the irritation in his voice starting to rise.

"Dude, have you looked outside? We're in fricking Canada. It's a Winter Wonderland out there." Josh unhelpfully replied before starting to hum the Christmas Carol of the same name. Noticing the surly glare Mike was shooting toward him, Josh stopped and cleared his throat. "Seriously, though, I'm pretty sure we've got some in the big freezer."

Before Mike could answer, Jess offered. "I'll go and get some. After all, wouldn't want to tire Mikey out before he can fully heal up." With a flounce in her step, Jess headed off to the lodge's kitchen while Josh turned and headed back down towards the basement. Leaving Mike alone with his thoughts, much to his chagrin.

While it was true that Beth had wounded him with her strike on his nether regions, her words had damaged him far more than the physical trauma. He had always cared about Hannah. Not in the way she wanted, of course, but she was a sweet girl who deserved to be happy. And the relationship was not as one way as Beth had claimed. He had helped Hannah in subjects he understood better than her, both scholastically and otherwise. Not to mention the time he convinced his mom to bottle up a regulatory bill targeting splatter house flicks, Bob Washington's foremost amongst their number.

Still, when Hannah had gotten the butterfly tattoo on her right arm, he should have taken it as a sign she was not going get over him and move on without help. He decided more than once that a painful conversation with her, was necessary, only to chicken out at the last minute. Until the three of them set the prank in motion, leading to her death.

Why hadn't he ignored Sam and gone out after her and Beth? If he had, Hannah might still be here. Then again, maybe she wouldn't, and he might not be here either.

Exasperated at the thoughts running through his head. Mike muttered. "And this is why I drink."

"Good to see you too, asshole." Mike looked up to see a raven-haired woman scowling at him with a shy looking man standing behind her. His football letter jacket was serving as an indicator of his athletic prowess.

"Sorry. I was thinking aloud. Long time, no see, Emily. Matt." Mike taciturnly responded.

"Yeah, what has it been, a whole hour, since you jumped out of nowhere and scared the shit out of me."

"Fair enough, that was jerky, albeit hilarious, of me. Still, I thought we were cool. Even if you seemed awfully disappointed, you weren't able to drag Matt and me into a fight." Mike countered.

"We were until you had the balls to say that I'm the reason why you drink. You know, you're a real piece of work, Munroe." Emily's facial muscles contorted themselves into an epic expression of irritableness.

"Again, Davis. I wasn't talking about you, although you are sure as fuck making me wish I had a drink with me right now" Mike slowly enunciated his response to highlight his point.

Matt interjected in an attempt to relieve the tension. "So Mike, what do you think about the rumors of an NFL team moving back to LA? ESPN mentioned the Rams..."

"Don't try to change the subject." Emily chastened him before returning to her primary target. "I wasted four years of my life with you before I realized what an immature horn doggish little boy you are. And I can't tell you how glad I am that I discovered a real man, practically right under my nose."

Mike mirthlessly laughed at this display "Good one, Emily, considering I was the one who broke up with you." He then looked directly at Matt. "Good luck, man. Catch you on the rebound."

A questioning expression fell across Matt's face while Emily flared her nostrils in disdain. At this point, Jess walked into the foyer. "Found you some ice for your..." cutting herself off as she noticed Emily and Matt. Determined to make her mark, Jess put down the ice and sat down next to Mike. After staring deeply into his eyes, she proceeded to insert her tongue lustfully in Mike's mouth. As she could hear Emily over dramatically gagging, she released her kiss and shot her a taunting grin.

"Gross, are you part python? Trying to swallow your prey whole?" Emily scoffed in disgust.

"Whatever, like I give a crap what you think." Jess dismissed her former best friend while returning her gaze back to Mike.

"At least, I can think, 4.0, bitch, honor roll. Suck on that when you're trying to sleep your way into a job." At this jab from Emily, Jess got up and proceeded to get nose to nose with the dark haired girl.

"You know, maybe both of you should just calm down before..."

"Shut up, Matt!" Both girls shouted nearly in unison. Throwing up his hands, Matt turned away and then pantomimed shooting himself in the temple while Mike continued watching the girls fight, however indirectly, over him. With the beginnings of a shit-eating grin on his face.

"You couldn't buy a moldy loaf of bread with your skanky ass." Jess taunted with a sneer, daring Emily to hit her.

"What the fuck? That doesn't make any god damn sense! Is it an insult?" Exasperated, Emily practically rolled her eyes back into her head "You know what, I take back what I said earlier. The only job for which you might be qualified involves truck stops."

"What the fuck is that supposed to mean?!"

"It means you're going to suck..." Emily's taunt was cut short by a hard shove from Jess. A shove which she then returned. Both girls were about to descend into a mess of hair pulling and slapping akin to an episode of a fourth-rate reality show series. Hearing the commotion, Josh and Chris made their way back up from the basement while Sam and Ashley came in from the library. Sam noticed that Josh had the angriest look in his eyes she had ever seen, except for the day he found out what had happened to his sisters.

"STOP IT! RIGHT NOW!" Josh bellowed in a voice whose demonic tenor seemed to startle even him. Taking a breath to calm himself down, he started in a lower, if no less angry tone. "What is wrong with you people? It's been less than ten minutes, and you're already about to murder each other. Do you think this is why I invited you here? Do you believe this is what I want? What Hannah would have wanted?"

Her dander raised by the interrupted confrontation with Jess, Emily glared right back at Josh. "Fuck Hannah!"

"Excuse me," Josh asked in a flat voice, his tone masking the growing intensity of his rage as his skin started to turn white and clammy.

"I'm sick and tired of this Saint Hannah bullshit! She spent three and a half years making goo-goo eyes at my boyfriend, like a love sick six-year-old. She regularly made little passive-aggressive attempts to break Michael and me apart. And the second she thought he might be responding, after resisting her advances for years, she was more than willing to screw me metaphorically and him literally!" Emily huffed after finishing her short diatribe.

At this point, Sam interjected as Josh was too stunned to respond himself. "So you think she deserved what happened to her? Then, why did you even come, the free vacation?"

Coming down from her adrenaline rush, Emily sighed and shook her head sadly. "No. No one deserves what happened to Hannah. Despite what I just said, she was my friend too, and I miss her. But there is a difference between being sad she's gone and preparing her for beautification." A tint of anger reentered Emily's tone at this point. "Especially because if she had just taken her medicine and not run out in a blizzard like a little bitch, she would still be alive."

After this assertion, Emily grew nervous as she noticed an uneasy silence. "Why are you all staring at me? It's not like..."

"They aren't staring at you."

Recognizing Beth's voice, Emily felt a sharp twinge in her gut. Turning around, she saw Hannah's twin sister with rage dancing in her eyes. As Emily started to open her mouth to either backpedal or double down, Beth reared back her right arm and slapped Emily with all the force she could muster. A split second after Beth hit her, Emily Davis hit the lodge's wooden floor.