Chapter 4: Mr. Munroe

Upon coming up to the lodge we were happily greeted by Josh. I haven't seen him this animated in a while. He really took the his sisters disappearing really hard..it was kind of weird that he wanted us all together on their anniversary. But I didn't think about it too much I was just happy to see him up and about.

"Josh!" I exclaimed and went to give him a hug.

"You guys made it!" He widely grinned.

"I swear this mountain gets bigger and bigger every time I climb it." Chris expressed.

"I thought this was all muscle?" I teased Chris and slapped him on the thigh making Josh laugh.

"Come on," He said and turned around for us to follow him, "Hey gang..you guys get up here okay?" Josh asked. I looked ahead at who he was talking to and saw Matt and Ashley sitting at the base of stairs that led up to the lodge.

"The door is frozen shut." I heard someone's voice as they descended the stairs and saw no one other than the macho man himself; Mike. "Oh hey guys!" He exclaimed and ran down to greet us. He gave Sam and Chris their respective handshake or hug and when he got to me he had his arms wide open and a big grin across his face.

"Hey guys how have you been?" I asked Matt and Ashley as I brush past Mike. While I talked to the pair, Chris and Josh went off to figure out how to get the door unlocked.

"Uh-Hey Andy." I heard Mike try to talk to me once again and turn around to see him nervously scratching his head.

"Hi Mike." I sighed. All of a sudden he quickly pulled me aside, away from the others, "Dude what the hell?" I quickly snap.

"Look, we're going to be stuck together all weekend don't you think we should talk about what happened?"

"Personally I'm a fan of avoiding something until I eventually forget about it." I sarcastically remarked. "Why do you even care? Shouldn't you be headed off to meet Jessica?"

"Good idea." Mike agreed and suddenly put his arm around my shoulders, "Hey you guys! We're going to get Jessica!" he shouted to the others.

"Th-that's not what I-" I began to protest before getting cut off my Matt, "Do you guys mind checking on Emily too? She forgot her bag or something." he asked us. Mike gave him a thumbs up and pulled me along back down the path to the cable car much to my dismay. When we were finally a good distance away I threw his arm off of me and threw my hands in the air and just looked at him like, "What the hell?"

"It was your idea." He shrugged.

I shook my head at him, "You're unbelieveable."

"Thanks." He grinned.

"I didn't mean that in a good way. Ass." I scoffed, "And as much as I love being third wheel, why in the hell did you say we were going to get Jessica?"

"So that we could finally talk..without the others hearing. Come on Andy, get with the program." Mike said and lightly nudged me.

"Obviously I don't want to talk to you." I blatantly replied.

All of sudden I quickly stopped in my tracks when I heard a weird noise come out of nowhere and grabbed Mike's arm so he would stop walking. "Do you hear that?"

It almost sounded like footsteps and they seemed to be getting closer and closer. "I don't-" Mike started before I cut him off with a "shh." I quickly turned around to see some type of animal charging right at me. I abruptly felt someone grab my arms and jerk me forward, "Watch it!" Mike exclaimed and I saw his face mere inches from mine. I could feel his hot breath on my face as he stared at me.

"Okay." I quickly said and pushed away. My face was getting hot but it must have been from almost getting mauled by whatever was running at us. "Thanks I guess.." I suddenly spoke after we had been walking in silence for a few minutes.

Mike just let out a laugh and nudged my shoulder with his, "You're welcome." he smirked, "And If you don't want to talk about what happened we don't have to."

"I thought we were, and I quote 'Never going to talk about it' " I replied.

"Well..I meant around other people." Mike shrugged his shoulders, "I'm still trying to figure this out.."

I crossed my arms, "Figure what out? You were drunk..I was drunk. We kissed and that's it. Come on Mike..it was just a kiss I'm not going to fall in love with you or anything." I laughed.

"I can't say the same.." He quickly replied, cutting my laughter short. I looked at him and expected to burst out laughing but he had the most serious expression on his face, like he was anticipating my reaction. But I just continued laughing out of nervousness.

"This better not be another prank," I muttered and let out a deep sigh. A small cloud of my hot breath swirled around in front of me in the cold mountain air.

"I'm not a complete ass." He huffed.

I nervously laughed again, "Had me fooled.."

Mike stared at me, "Can you be serious for a second?"

"I-I don't-How did you expect me to react!?" I gulped.

"I'm just being upfront you." Mike replied. "I can't control how you react..I'm just hoping you'll understand.."

"Mike. I-I clearly don't understand, what are you trying to get from this? You drag me out here in the freezing cold..to talk about your feelings? I don't-"

I began to nervously babble and stutter, I was going to say more until I was suddenly pulled forward. Naturally my eyes closed as I felt a surge of warmth that rushed through my body. I felt his hands on the sides of my arms and I felt like I was going to melt in them as he gently grasped them. The smell of his cologne got stronger and stronger the longer our lips connected.

"Wh-what the hell are you doing?!" I exclaimed when I broke away from him.

Mike just shook his head and looked around, "I thought it was pretty obvious.." He smirked and leaned his face in again.

"Dude no!" I stopped him, "This?" I pointed back and forth from him to me, "W-What is this? What is happening?!" I confusingly asked. I was completely thrown off and didn't know how or what I was supposed to be feeling. "You're supposed to be the "ladies man" a-are you a "man's man" now?" I asked.

"I-I don't know. I'm just rolling with the feelings." Mike shook his head, "That's what I'm trying to figure out on this trip. Didn't you ever think how strange it was how differently I act around you and not the other guys?"

"I-I just thought that was you being you!" I replied in disbelief, "I mean yeah at first it really messed with my head..but I just sort of got used to it."

"Well..yeah it messed with my head to when I realized how nice it felt when I hugged you..I liked having you in my arms.." He awkwardly admitted as he scratched his head.

"Wow." I sighed as I looked at the usual confident class president freaking out and stressfully pacing back and forth. I couldn't help but let out a small laugh. "This would have been the perfect timing if I still liked you.." I shook my head.

"This isn't funny." He panicked, but his expression quickly changed and he eyed me, "W-wait come again? You liked me?!"

"Past tense." I clarified, getting a little flustered. "We've been gone for a while the others are probably worried." I quickly tried to change the subject.

"They'll be fine." Mike replied and grinned at me with all of his teeth.

"Why is your face like that?" I stared at him.

"You liked me." He chuckled.

"How many times do I have to say it..liked." I emphasized, "Besides aren't you with Jessica?"

"..She's just a distraction." he replied, "Why? Are you you jealous?" He smirked.

"Oh please.." I sighed, "You wish. Let's just head back to the lodge." I laughed and started walking back.

"That wasn't a no!" Mike exclaimed as he caught up to me and put an arm around my shoulder. All of a sudden I heard a branch snap to the right of me and I quickly looked to see nothing but trees and beyond them was the pitch black darkness.

There was another rustling sound beyond the scrawny twisted branches.

And then another.

"Should I check it out?" Mike offered.

"No. Never." I strongly refused, "Let's just hurry back." I murmured and continued forward but not before hearing another sound come from behind us and I quickly whipped around to see a small cloud of snow settling onto the ground as if something had just run through it.