Myles sighed. In the back of his mind he knew this would happen. Like most of his talks with Lucy, this one ended with an argument, and an insult from Lucy. He should have known. He just hoped against all logic, that things would be different this time, and maybe they could part on a slightly more uplifting note. Or at least he could apologize.
Lucy yanked open the door, and let out a gasp. "No," she whispered, staring petrified at the snow swirling and dancing in front of her eyes. The blizzard was here, and unless she wanted to risk her life to get away from Myles, she was stuck.
"What am I going to do," she said aloud, unable to turn back to the living room, where she knew Myles was sitting.
Myles slowly got up, and shut the door. He knew how much Lucy hated him, and he didn't want the thought of Lucy leaving lingering in her mind any longer.
Lucy stared blankly at the closed door for about five minutes, before she made up her mind. "I'm going to bed," she announced flatly as she left the room.
Demetrius Gans lay on his bed, and closed his eyes, dreaming about coming home. He had spent the night chatting with his wife about the resort, and pretty much any topic they could think of until finally they had called it a night. He would have hung up hours ago, except for the fact that he was all alone in his cabin, and there wouldn't be much to do. He hoped the blizzard wouldn't last long, and that his co-workers were smart enough to stay put in their cabins until the blizzard had come and gone, but all that was in vain. Everyone knew Jack and Sue couldn't stay away from each other for long, and Bobby was close with a couple of the females on the team. Yup..there would be no staying away. All he could do was set a good example and hope and pray that everyone would be safe and sound when the blizzard hit.
Lucy's eyes scanned nervously around the room. Cabin number three. The cabin she was kidnapped in: could there be some sort of significance here? Suddenly she remembered that the design she's gazing so intently at now is the same one she'd been looking at the morning she found she'd been kidnapped. Lucy closed her eyes, once again willing herself to relax.
Lucy lay silently for a few seconds, before her eyes snapped open. Nothing was helping. "Maybe it would help if I wasn't in cabin number three...and if Myles wasn't here either," Lucy told herself silently.
Finally Lucy got to her feet and slipped out of bed. "I need a cup of tea," Lucy lied to herself, knowing that wasn't where she was going.
Myles listened carefully with his eyes shut, as he lay awake on the leather sofa and imagined that he heard Lucy's footsteps approaching him, but he knew it couldn't possibly be true. Lucy hated him so she would avoid him and ridicule him in any and all ways she knew how. He was observant and didn't know everyone's footsteps but because he had dated Lucy, he'd noticed more things about her than others.
"Myles," Lucy's voice echoed.
"Yes," he mumbled opening his eyes.
"Are you awake," Lucy asked.
"Oh yes. I was just trying to get some sleep. Something people regularly do at nighttime," Myles said, hinting at how tired he was.
Lucy smiled. "I just thought, that since we're sort of forced to stay together tonight," Lucy started, rolling her eyes at the blizzard, "You might want to tell me that thing you've been trying to tell me for months now."
Myles yawned, and Lucy sat on the couch beside him. "Good idea. You've been keeping track," he asked curiously.
"Not intentionally. Actually, Sue was keeping track. If it weren't for her I don't think I'd even be listening now," Lucy said, giving him the impression that this was his only chance to apologize.
Myles nodded, understanding. "Lucy, this is something I've been meaning to tell you for about four months now," he explained.
Lucy looked at him surprised. She wasn't expecting this.
"It started the day I was shot. I realized then how stupid of me it was to treat you the way I did-and everybody else."
Lucy nodded. "Oh, yeah. You mentioned it that day in the office," she started, remembering.
"Look, Lucy. I'm sorry for cheating on you that day, and it was a good thing Sue caught me when she did. It was wrong of me to even consider it, let alone go along with it. Since that day, I've started to change, and to regret my actions towards our relationship. Will you forgive me," Myles said, finally finishing the speech, he'd waited for so long to give.
Lucy opened her mouth to speak, but found that for once, she had nothing to say. Was this the same Myles: the one she'd dated, the one she loved to hate, and the one who almost always made a fool of himself whenever he did apologize? Finally she nodded.
"What is it," Myles asked, looking at the confused expression on Lucy's face.
"Are you really Myles? Is this a dream? What is going on here? I need to know, because you have completely lost me," Lucy confessed, voicing her thoughts aloud.
Myles smiled. "Just a minute," he said getting up to get his coat.
"What are you doing," Lucy asked, confused. "Oh wait. I can't go in the blizzard but you can," Lucy sarcastically remarked, having no other explanation, as to why Myles would be getting his coat.
"Here it is," Myles announced, pulling a slip of paper out of his coat pocket.
Lucy gave him a curious glance, and without a word, reached out and snatched the scrap of paper out of his grasp.
Unfolding the sheet of paper, she read:
Dear Lucy:
I was shot today and could have died. In the hospital, I was forced to look at my life for what it really is. All those things I've said and all the things I did...All it has been was a performance.
Throughout my life, I've hurt so many people and right now I promise I'll change. There are times when I'm a little too sarcastic, and cruel, and what I always end up getting is for my own good. Lucy, I'm sorry for cheating on you, and destroying our relationship. I failed to see it for what it really was: a precious gift, and I also failed to see how truly special you are. I hope that in the near future you find happiness. It's probably too late for us, and I'm sorry for that. I wish that things could be the way they were before, but I think I know that there's no chance of that. I hope that you will forgive me.
Sincerely,
Myles
Lucy looked at Myles. "You wrote this," she asked in disbelief.
Myles shrugged.
"Wow. I mean I-I never knew," Lucy said softly to herself.
"Neither did I," Myles said.
"Look, Myles.I'm willing to give you another chance, but don't get the wrong idea."
"I won't. Truce," Myles asked holding out his hand for a handshake.
"Truce," Lucy said shaking.
"So, what have you been up to lately," Myles ventured from beside Lucy on the couch, hoping that they could talk like civilized human beings, now that they had made up.
"Well, I heard that one of my past blind dates is in town so we're going on a date. Speaking of dating, have you heard about Jack and Sue lately," Lucy asked, bringing up her favorite topic in the world.
"What about Jack and Sue," Myles asked curiously, knowing where this was headed.
"Well, I'm just thinking that they may be a lot…closer lately," Lucy hinted.
"Ah...closer. Like how close they were when they were kissing tonight," Myles said casually.
Lucy turned to him, her smile growing. "What?"
"Oh yeah. I saw it all. They were standing on the front step in broad daylight kissing. It was a long one too. I guess that's why she just barely made it into your cabin before the blizzard hit."
For a minute Lucy looked worried, but she quickly changed the subject before she allowed herself to worry too much. "So, who are you dating Myles," Lucy asked directly.
"For now, Nora Albright. But I'm not sure if either of us sees much future in our relationship... We're more, just friends," he explained.
"Oh," Lucy nodded, not believing him.
"If you don't believe me, ask her," Myles shrugged.
"You know Myles, I'm sorry for a few things I've said to you in the office," Lucy said seriously. "But not all," she said in all seriousness.
"It's all right. If you hadn't noticed, I kind of deserved them," Myles said shrugging it off. "I really did find the diary," Myles added. "Even if the things written in there were a little obvious."
Lucy looked at him. "Well, I guess it is possible that Sergay wrote them. He was never exactly bright."
"A bit of a madman," Myles agreed. "I wonder why Mexico?"
"Hot and sunny? Everyone wants to go to Mexico," Lucy explained. "Actually, he kind of reminds me of you."
Myles looked at her and was about to defend himself, when Lucy burst out laughing.
Myles and Lucy continued chatting and catching up on the time they'd missed, until about one o'clock in the morning when they fell asleep on opposite sides of the couch.
The next morning, Tara walked out of her bedroom, surprised to see Sue with her nose pressed up against the window, itching to get out.
Tara laughed, and Levi trotted up to her whimpering, dragging his leash behind him.
Tara tapped her on the shoulder and Sue looked up surprised.
"Are you okay," Tara asked concerned.
"I'm fine. I"m just not used to being cooped up indoors for this long," Sue said.
"It's only nine forty-five. Don't worry. The blizzard will be over soon."
"I doubt it," Sue muttered.
"What time did you get up," Tara asked, amused.
"Seven thirty," Sue shrugged.
Tara laughed. "I'm getting some breakfast."
"I already ate," Sue replied, answering the unasked question.
"Hey sheilas," Bobby greeted, entering the room.
"Morning," they simultaneously answered.
"Hi Sue! Eager to see Jack this morning," Bobby asked, seeing Levi with his leash already on.
Sue smiled, embarrassed. "Maybe," she admitted.
"Don't worry Sue. I won't tell," Bobby promised.
Sue signed Thank You and Bobby turned around adding, "Not that I even need to."
Tara smiled, over her cup of coffee as Bobby entered the kitchen.
"How are you this morning," Bobby asked, pouring himself a cup of coffee.
"Never better," she said smiling.
Bobby sat down beside Tara and started to take a sip, when he was interrupted.
"Hey Bobby! This time you should drink that. This brand was made exclusively at and for The Alpine Resort."
Bobby laughed. "What, you mean you noticed," Bobby asked, referring to how he'd poured his cup of coffee down the sink
"All the time," Tara warned, turning back to her cup of coffee.
"Hey! You've barely touched yours either," Bobby complained.
"Oh yes, but you didn't see me pour mine down the sink, after doing nothing but warming my hands with it."
"That's because I was leaving," Bobby explained.
"So," Tara paused. "Wait a minute. We better not make this a habit!"
Bobby grinned. "What? Sitting around arguing and forgetting about our food?"
Tara groaned, but she was smiling. "Yes... Oh my gosh! This is pathetic," Tara laughed.
Just then Sue walked in laughing. "And you say, there's something going on between me and Jack..."
Tara groaned again. "We will never hear the end of this," she complained.
Sue smiled secretively. Don't worry. I'll be willing to keep this a secret...for now."
"Where you going Sue," Bobby asked, noticing that Sue had her coat on.
"Out. The blizzard is finally over."
"And off to see Jack," Bobby added.
Sue nodded, but gave Bobby a look and he winked at her, to let her know that his lips were sealed.
"Hi Sue," Jack greeted, as they made their way towards each other.
"Hi Jack," Sue smiled. "I would love to stand here and chat but Levi here needs to go."
He nodded and they walked off together.
"That was fast," he commented.
"What was," Sue asked.
"You were out of your cabin pretty quick," Jack said.
"So were you," Sue reminded him.
"Yes I was but I was in my cabin alone. There wasn't much else to do except wait," Jack explained.
"Well... I was kind of waiting for this moment all morning," Sue said shyly, stopping, and turning to look at Jack as "Levi did his thing."
"So was I," Jack said quietly.
Sue and Jack looked at each other silently, as the world around them seemed to fade. They felt themselves leaning in towards each other, and their lips were captured once again in another kiss.
"So," Jack said. "Did you have a good time last night," Jack asked, as they started walking together again.
"Oh...yeah...definitely," Sue said, still thinking about the kiss. "I was kind of worried about Lucy last night.
"Yeah, me too. Have you talked to her yet?"
"No. I'm going to let her sleep in, before I ask for details," Sue said quietly.
"Good idea. She's probably exhausted, from arguing with Myles last night," Jack joked.
"Jack," Sue exclaimed. "You know, you're probably right... but I've been hoping Lucy would forgive Myles," she added softening her tone.
"The one thing I'll never understand is how do you lose track of time in Myles cabin," Jack asked.
"Gee, I don't know Jack. I"ll have to take that one up with Lucy."
"You do that," he said. "Oh, and before you go..." Jack started, thinking of kissing Sue again.
"Jack, wait. We have to tell Garrett.I guess one of us has to transfer," Sue said, unhappily.
"Well we have some time yet. Let's just not get too carried away," Jack advised.
"You're the one who was just about to kiss me," Sue reminded him.
"And you're the one who started two out of three kisses yesterday," he reminded her.
:"You're right. We still have some time," she said avoiding his comment.
"Hey! Let's go over to the skating rink," Jack suggested.
Sue nodded.
Bobby looked over at Tara from his nearly full cup of coffee. "Don't you just wish we could have saw what happened over at cabin number three," he started.
Tara smiled. "Almost."
"Almost," Bobby asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Lucy has been going through a lot lately, and I'd hate to make it worse, by spying on her then. After all she did just spend the night with Myles," she added, pausing dramatically, for proper affect.
Bobby shrugged. "You do have a point. But still..."
Tara laughed. "Almost," she repeated, this time serious.
Tara looked at Bobby curiously. I wonder why he's still here. The blizzard is gone, and isn't coming back anytime soon. Why doesn't he just go ask Lucy? I wonder if he knows that Stanley and I are over and only see each other as friends now?"
Bobby looked at Tara, thinking about Sue's comment. We used to be close friends, and shared a brother-sister relationship, but after that one date we went on together, I'm not sure what it is anymore. Is it like a Jack and Sue relationship? Or not? Does she know what I'm doing here? What am I doing here? Why is she staring at me like that? Why am I staring at her like that?"
"Uh...Bobby," Tara starts, just realizing what they'd been doing."Are you okay?"
"Oh, I'm fine. Just...thinking about something," Bobby replied.
"Good.I-uh- I was too. So... why are you still here," Tara asked, bringing up the subject they'd both been thinking about, only moments before.
"I don't know. Did the blizzard stop," Bobby grinned, teasing her.
"About half an hour ago," Tara informed him.
Bobby raised an eyebrow. He knew it had been a while, but had it really been that long? "Well, I guess I better get going," he said getting up and grabbing his coat for the second time.
Tara smiled. "This is starting to feel like deja-vu," she told herself.
"Didn't we just do this," she reminded him.
"Did we? Ah, but that time there was a blizzard," he reminded her.
"Can we please stop using the same lines," Tara asked. "At least come up with something original."
Bobby shrugged. "See you later?"
Tara looked at him for a moment. "No, I'll come with you. It's about time I get some fresh air."
Bobby smiled and waited. After a few minutes they stepped outside and inhaled the fresh smell of pine, and other beautiful fragrances.
All right: only one more chapter to go. Let me know what you think.
