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Chapter Twenty-One: Be Gentle With Me
There was snow everywhere.
It blanketed the Block Estate and its surroundings in a think layer. Lights were on inside, and she could see a soft silhouette of a figure inside. Was it her mom? Dad? Claire, maybe?
It was as if she was floating; she glided up to the door. Her hand reached out for the doorknob, and after twisting it open and quickly crossing the front foyer she stood in the archway to the living room, facing its occupant.
But it wasn't her mom, dad, or Claire.
He stood in the corner, facing the window. But who was it? She couldn't make out exactly. He was tall, that she could tell, but every other feature was blurred to the point where she couldn't even make it out. Then he turned, once he'd realized she was in the room. She now was just seconds to finding out who he was, who was in her house, who-
"Hey, Massie."
The brunette felt three soft prods at her forearm. No, stop. Leave me alone. Her dream was slipping away, and she fought hard to hold onto it for as long as she could. Who was this stranger? She had to know…
But no, it was too late. She was awake. And staring at the ever so cheerful face of Claire Lyons.
"What?" Massie asked. It was a cross between a groan and mumble, a hybrid that Massie found herself using now more than before.
"Sorry to wake you, but we're landing shortly," Claire sat back in her seat next to Massie, adjusting her navy cardigan. "The captain just made the announcement."
Massie sat back up in her seat, blinking rapidly at the lightning. Across the narrow aisle Cam was seated with headphones in, next to a businessman and an elderly woman. He looked calm, which to be honest was quite the opposite then what Massie was feeling.
In a few short minutes, she'd be reunited with friends she hasn't seen in two months. The excitement alone was sending her stomach reeling, and for several moments she'd felt as if the bowl of Cheerios she'd munched upon a few hours ago was in danger of evacuating her system into the neatly folded barf bag in front of her. But so far, she's managing to hold it in.
With a lurch, the plane hit a small pocket of turbulence. Massie could feel Claire tense beside her, letting out a small curse, and it was then Massie remembered of her friend's fear of dying in a plane. "Do you think that could really happen?" A wide-eyed Claire had asked her after they'd watched the pilot of Lost together. "Oh my god. I'm not getting on a plane again." But here she is now.
After the plane had safely touched down onto the tarmac and Claire had released her monster grip on the armrest, they began the slow trek up the aisle and through the jet bridge connecting them to the terminal. And once out in the busy airport, Massie used the text Alicia had sent her the evening before with the full day's schedule as a reference:
Meet at the gate for the transfer plane to pitkin county airport.
Massie sighed, tucking her iPhone back into it's designated front pocket of her Marc by Marc Jacobs black cross-body hobo bag. Alicia had set up a smaller transfer plane to take them straight to the airport in Aspen from the Denver airport.
Relaying the information to her traveling counterparts, the three of them now stood in front of the Departures board. "There," Cam said, pointing up at one of the many listed flights. "Gate A2."
Massie lagged behind as Claire and Cam led the way through the crowded terminals. Each step was taking her closer and closer to the obvious confrontation she's been dreading since getting the invitation for this little getaway. She turned and took one last look at the way she had just came.
The temptation of turning around and running away was getting stronger and stronger.
[ ]
Alicia sighed, pushing back her raven hair with a manicured hand.
"Relax," Chris coaxed from her side. "They'll be here."
"The flight boards in twenty minutes," She gave a worried glance to the digital clock hanging over the doorway to the jet bridge to confirm her statement. "I don't want to miss this flight."
It was Chris' turn to sigh now. Alicia had been a bundle of nerves and excitement ever since they had woken up at five this morning to catch their flight to Denver. Though he could understand why- he himself was also excited to see his friends again.
"Cam! Claire!" Alicia suddenly yelled from his right, causing him to jerk his head up in excitement. He spotted the pair instantly in the crowds of people.
Claire beamed and wrapped her long-time friend in a hug, which was gladly returned. "Hey, Leesh!"
"Fisher," Chris smirked. "Still dark and brooding, I see?"
Cam snorted. "Hey, I don't brood. I ponder."
"Well, you're also still a pansy."
"Hey," Massie greeted as she finally caught up. "It's great to see you guys."
Alicia couldn't stop smiling as she hugged the brunette girl. Things were finally coming together.
"Flight 706 to Pitkin, now boarding at gate A2."
"That would be us, guys," Chris said, scooping up his carryon duffle from beside the seat he was previously occupying.
Alicia grinned, following the rest of her friends into the line to board. This was going to be the best Christmas of her life.
[ ]
The Rivera's Aspen cabin was almost completely separate from the other lodges and resorts. A half a mile outside of town but yet still close to the slopes, it was a towering two story log cabin- if you could call it that, anyway. There was a large porch wrapping around most of the first floor and great large windows directly in the front. It looked warm, cozy, and absolutely luxurious.
After paying the shuttle bus that had brought them there, Alicia led the way up the two front stairs and to the front door. "Okay guys," She said, pulling out her keychain. "We need to leave this place as pristine as it is now. Let's not break anything."
"I think its Kemp you'll have to worry about when it comes to that," Chris said, a small smile on his face. "Remember back in junior year when he smashed a window at Kori Gedan's house after he had one too many Jack Daniel's?" Massie and Claire chuckled at the memory.
"And do you remember how he had to pay the damages from his own pocket? Because that will happen here, too," Alicia smirked at Chris, pressing down on the door latch and pushing it open.
The door opened up to a small, open foyer with stone flooring, which then led on to an open kitchen/dining/living room area, with a large masonry fireplace. The wood paneled floors, leather couches, and numerous throw rugs gave it a warm, cozy feeling.
"Wow, Leesh," Claire said, talking a look around. "I can't believe you've never brought us here before."
"It's because I hate you guys so much," She joked, closing the door after them. Tossing her keys into the bowl on the table by the door, Alicia turned back around to see them. "So, bedrooms are up stairs. Though, you'll have to share with somebody."
"You get floor!" Chris yelled out, pushing Cam out of his way and bolted up the wood-railed staircase.
"Dude," Cam turned slowly, looking up at the balcony overlooking the great room. "Who said I'm rooming with you?"
Chris sucked in a breath. "Ooh, Fisher, that was harsh. Excuse me while I pull the knife out of my heart." He climbed he remaining stairs before disappearing from sight.
Massie laughed at his antics, shaking her head. She looked over at Claire and Alicia. "We can fit three in a room, I'm sure."
"Nah, I think I'd better take my parent's room," Alicia said. "Who knows what the boys would do to it."
"That's an excellent point," Massie said, grabbing her suitcase and beckoning to Claire. "Come on, we can't let Chris get the best one."
[ ]
The room they ended up picking was at the very end of the long hallway upstairs. A large bay window over looked the snowy backyard, the trees, and the town beyond. The furnishings were similar to the living room in that they were cozy and almost all wooden. Claire sighed, flinging back on the queen sized bed and inhaling the fresh detergent scent of the white duvet. "Mmm," She moaned. "This is going to be fantastic."
"Mhm," Massie agreed half-heartedly, unzipping her suitcase.
"Oh, come on Massie," Claire sat up, shedding off her heavy white North Face coat and reveling the black tunic underneath. "It's not going to be that bad. Just awkward, that's for sure."
Massie didn't say anything. Instead she was trying to figure out why she even agreed to come out here, when she knew full on well he was going to be here too. Sure, it was nice to see Alicia and Chris, and it would be great to see Kris and Dylan when they get here too. Those nervous butterflies she had grown to hate so much in the past twenty-four hours were back and more annoying than ever.
[ ]
A few minutes later, another shuttle bus pulled up.
"Holy shit," Derrick mumbled, seeing the house for the first time. When he had read 'cabin' on the invitation, he had pictured a two-room structure with no source of heat save for the fireplace. But what he saw was a most definitely more than two rooms estate with most likely central heating throughout.
Rivera had been most certainly holding out on them.
"You can say that again," Josh agreed, stepping out of the tram next.
"Holy shit."
"Language, Derrick," Kristen tucked her book of word searches that was purchased at the airport into her oversized purse. "You could be a little less barbaric and say something like, 'holy cow' or, 'sweet southern potatoes'."
Derrick just looked at her. It had been an uncomfortable transfer flight and bus ride up here, to say the least. Kristen made a pretty obvious attempt at completely ignoring Josh, and to make up for it she had been saying completely out-of-character things for the past two hours.
"It's freezing," Dylan said, clumsily stepping off the shuttle and wrapping her arms around herself. Immediately she clambered through the snow to the front door.
"Dyl, you forgot your stuff!" Josh called after her. He sighed and picked up the redheads luggage along with his own. From his left, Kristen narrowed her eyes.
"Way to be a gentleman, Hotz," Kemp said quietly, venom present in his vocals.
Derrick's dark brows crinkled. "What's your deal?"
"Oh, nothing," His friend said, adjusting the strap of his backpack and following suit.
Exchanging a look with him, Kristen sighed. "I think this will be an interesting week."
[ ]
"They're here!"
Alicia opened the door the second the five of them stepped on the porch. She threw her arms open and engulfed the closest one to her, Dylan, in an enormous hug. "Ah! I'm so excited that everybody is all here!"
Ushering them inside, she made sure to give everybody the same strangling experience as she gave to Dylan. They didn't have time to stand in awe of everything, because Chris and Cam came barreling down the stairs.
"Guys!" Chris said, coming up and giving hugs to everyone.
"Hey Plovert," Kemp said, popping the first smile Derrick has seen on his face today. "How've you been, buddy?"
"I've been, I've been," Chris responded with a smile.
"Cammie!" Kristen yelled out, causing Cam to give a flustered smirk.
"Hey, Kris." He said, giving her a one-armed hug.
"Massie!" Dylan yelled, looking upwards at the stairs. Derrick turned.
She was leaning forward on the railing incasing the balcony. Her face expressionless, Massie surveyed the activities in the living room. She gave a small smile when Dylan called out, but as far as acknowledgments that was it. But then her gave shifted to Derrick's.
It was kind of funny how much it hurt to see her again. Sure, Derrick never thought that it would be a cake walk, but this? It was excruciating. Those eyes would be the death of him, especially to see them with look at his with this indifference- like she didn't care about him anymore. And then it was like she just figured out it was him she was looking at, because she turned away and stared at the railing.
"So the bedrooms are up stairs," Alicia said, forcing Derrick's gaze from Massie and onto her. "You can take any that are available except for the master bedroom, and you're going to have to share with someone."
"Dyl, you're with me," Kristen grabbed the red-head's forearm and pulled her up the stairs, completely missing the look of guilt and dread that was on her friend's features.
"Derrick, I've saved you a place," Cam said.
"Aw, how touching Fisher," Derrick teased. He picked up his bags and began to follow him up the stairs.
Massie, he noticed, had already disappeared from her perch.
[ ]
Claire sighed, pushing her hair out of her face. They had been in Aspen for about three hours, and things were still extremely awkward. Massie (who was laying next to her on one of the two living room sofas sleeping, the book she had been reading open on her chest) was being uncharacteristically quiet, while Derrick (who was in the den checking out the entertainment system) was making too obvious attempts at avoiding her. And then there was the weird behavior with Dylan she had also been noticing. One moment, she'd be eyeing Kristen wearily and the next, it was Josh. Kemp even was acting unusual- he grumbled around the cabin with what seemed a permanent crease in his brows.
Sighing, the blonde changed tracks on her iPods. She figured the soothing sounds of The Gaslight Anthem would distract her from all of the nonsense that usually seemed come with her close group of friends.
Don't write me no more letters
My mailbox is full of bombs
Between you and the kooks on my block
I don't remember the good times
I wasn't there and you were kind
And my wife has some dogs in our yard
And I cannot hold a candle for every pretty girl
We were strangers many hours
And I missed you for so long
When we were lions, lovers in combat
Faded like your name on those jeans that I burned
But I am older now
And we did it when we were young
I am older now
And we did it when we were young
"Hey, we're thinking about going out to dinner," Chris said suddenly, blocking out the lyrics the second he stepped into the room. "What are you interested in eating?"
"Chris, shut up," Claire grumbled, turned her head and glaring at him. "You're talking over my favorite part."
"Okay, then I'll just tell them you prefer to eat your stolen babies by yourself," Smirking like the immature eighth grader everyone knew he still was.
"You're so stupid," She groaned, though she made sure it was loud enough to hear him. In response, she got a chuckle. "Tell them I'll eat where ever everyone else wants to go."
"Alright," He said, turning and taking his leave from the room. "Though I think we all want Chinese."
From beside her, Massie shifted. Claire sighed before shaking her shoulder lightly. "Mass?" She said softly. "We're going to eat soon, so you should get ready."
"I don't want to go," She groaned; as she had obviously been awake the entire time.
"Massie, come on."
Amber was revealed to the world in short flutters. Sitting up, Massie's book fell to the floor, the embossed Pride & Prejudice shining in the light before it hit the ground with a clatter.
"I thought you wrote your paper on that months ago," Claire commented, motioning to it.
"I did," The brunette said groggily. "But I actually like this book. And, not to mention I can understand it."
Laughing, Claire plucked her headphones out of her ears. "I'm glad. It is a fantastic book."
Stretching, Massie stood. "That it is. Now come help me get ready for whatever the hell I'm being dragged to."
[ ]
Sighing, Massie pushed her mandarin orange chicken back and forth on her plate. Though it was no doubt delicious, stuffing her face with fried foods did not seem all that appealing to it. Her stomach twisted just at the though of one hitting her mouth.
The restaurant they had found was a family owned Chinese restaurant on the corner of the main street. It had Christmas decorations set up over the traditional Chinese décor, and although it looked a little cute and seasonal, Massie so desperately wanted to crawl into her bed and sleep until noon the next day. Or maybe the day after.
At the other end of the table, Josh and Cam let out a laugh. She looked up briefly to see what it was, but then she was quick to put it down at the intense flash of chocolate brown she saw instead. God, why was he still looking at her?
"So, if you guys can believe it, I got a job," Alicia said, starting up a conversation with the girls and popping a chopstick full of chow mien into her mouth.
"Doing what? Pole dancing?" Joked Kristen. Massie snorted into her plate, not able to help herself.
Glaring, Alicia continued. "At a café down in SoHo. It's actually going great."
"How'd you manage to find one?" Claire asked, pulling away from her brief conversation with Cam. "You don't have much job experience."
"I know I don't, and the girl who hired me told our boss that I did. Isn't that weird?" Alicia looked around at everyone for agreement.
"Yeah, that's bizarre," Dylan said, giving a forced smile. From across the table, Josh smiled at her. Dylan looked down at her lap.
"Can someone pass the rice?" Derrick asked, leaning forward to see whom it was nearest to.
Massie held up the red bowl, but her face turned the slightest pink when she realized who had asked for it. "Uh, can you pass this down to Derrick?" She said to Claire, giving her the bowl, who in turn gave it to Cam. Cam handed it over to Derrick without looking up.
"Uh, thank you," Derricks said quietly.
[ ]
"That was certainly awkward," Cam said to Claire, shrugging off his wool coat and hanging it up on one of the hooks by the door.
Claire scoffed. "No kidding. Poor Massie, she can barely be in the same room with Derrick." After they had got home, Massie had been the first up the stairs.
"I know. Derrick feels terrible."
"As he should. I mean, they broke up because of him," Kicking her shoes off, Claire took a seat on the couch with her legs folded underneath her.
Lowering himself next to her, Cam exhaled. "And Josh and Kristen? Man, I can feel it getting colder in the room every time they're both in it."
"Maybe this trip wasn't such a good idea," Claire turned herself to face him. "There's just too much tension with us."
"But how else are we supposed to fix it?" Cam asked.
"What if we locked them in a room together?" Suggested the blonder of the two, grinning.
Laughing, Cam said, "That's a little too middle-school, don't you think?"
They were both silent for a while. Around them, the house creaked as it adjusted to having people sleeping in it after so long.
"So how many more Christmas gifts do you have left to get?" He asked her.
Claire grinned again. "Just a couple. I brought most of them with me."
"Oh yeah?" It was his turn to grin now. "Got anything for me yet?"
"I do, and you're going to be blown away."
"Really? Are you gonna give me any hints?"
"Nope, you're just going to have to wait for another two days." Claire teased. "What did you get me, huh?"
"I can guarantee it's going to be the best present you've ever received in your lifetime," Cam said back.
Claire smiled, "Good." They sat in silence again, with her now realizing how tired she actually was. She leaned her head over on the back of the couch, resting centimeters away from Cam's arm.
"You tired?" He asked her.
"Mhm."
A pause. "Are you going to sleep on the couch then?"
"No, I'll go up in a bit," Claire closed her eyes, grabbing a hold of his arm and pulling it closer to her face to rest it upon.
Cam couldn't help but stiffen slightly at the sudden close contact. Why must she do these things to him? Doesn't she see how it pains him that they can never get as close as they used to?
"Uh, Claire," He said. "What are you doing?"
"Leaning against your arm," Claire responded. "It's actually pretty comfortable. Why? Does it bother you?"
"Yes actually, it does," Cam surprised even himself when he heard those words exit his mouth. He sat up suddenly, pulling away and getting to his feet.
"Cam," Claire said, looking at him with a puzzled expression. "What is your deal?"
"My deal?" He was getting frustrated now- almost angry, even. "You, actually. One day you're all over me, and then next you're crying or freaking out about something that happened years ago." He watched her eyes furrow and her mouth open to retort, but her cut her off. "Yes, I get it, I hurt you, but I thought we've moved on from that! And not to mention, you have a boyfriend. Colter, you remember him?" Again she tried to intervene, but he wouldn't let her talk. Not yet, anyway. "Claire, I am sick of playing games with you. I'm sick of standing by and waiting for you. So give me a straight up answer; do you want to be with me?"
Stunned, Claire's mouth opened but no sound came out. He waited, waited for her to say something, anything, but it never came.
"Fine," He said, not looking her in the eyes. "Great. Now I can move on. Goodnight."
Cam took the stairs two at a time, leaving the blonde alone in the dark.
ehh, it's something, right?
the song claire is listening to is we did it when we were young by the gaslight anthem.
and chapter title from a song by the boy least likely to.
review? that would make me happy, i know that :D