JJ Returns To The Lodge

The black hockey player made his way back down the mountain heading back towards the lodge. He had genuinely wanted to get a little practice done today but with everything going on, JJ simply accepted that it wasn't going to happen. As he walked he thought for a few minutes about joining Rachel, Brian, and Nicole on the slopes but that idea rather quickly got booted to the side as well. Whether he wanted to admit it or not, hanging out with those three right now would be pretty awkward. Seeing as Mindy and Kailyn were also gone that only let Kenny and Anna, so JJ headed directly back towards the lodge itself.

JJ couldn't help but think over the last four days, it had been a rollercoaster ride for everyone here and one of the worst points was what happened between him and Kenny. He was ready to punch his friend right in the face the other night, knock him flat on his ass. JJ couldn't feel completely unjustified, even to this moment he knew Kenny was trying to egg him into fighting when he threw in the fact that he slept with Kailyn. Regardless of that though, JJ was still regretting letting things get so bad between the two of them, especially on his end, screwing Nicole was a shitty move that was for sure.

As the lodge started to come into view JJ let out a small smile, maybe he could try and continue to mend things with his buddy. They could hang out in the rec room, play some pool or some games and just be friends again. With college closing in quicker and quicker JJ wanted to make sure that he wasn't going to lose touch with his friends, especially Mindy and Kenny, they were basically family at this point. The teen reached the lodge door another twenty minutes later and quickly let himself inside.

Kicking off his boots and tossing his bag to the side he called out, "Yo, where you guys at!"

JJ unzipped his coat and reached out to hang it up when he heard the sound of footsteps scampering towards him. He glanced back and saw Anna rush into the room, "Are you alright?" The blonde girl asked with deep concern,

"Yeah, sorry, I decided to head back so I thought I would hang out with you and Kenny instead," JJ replied with an easy smile, "Where's he at?"

"Oh...um," Anna said with a slight blush, "He and Zoey are upstairs..."

"Right," JJ said playfully rolled his eyes, "I forgot Zoey said she was heading back here too, I'm assuming that they are...indisposed?"

"I think that'd be a safe bet," Anna nervously giggled back, "Sorry JJ,"

"It's all good, I'm happy for him," JJ said with a shrug, "What are you doing?"

"I was watching some movies by myself," Anna replied with a soft sigh, "Just trying to keep my mind occupied,"

"Mind if I join?" JJ asked with a friendly smile,

"Sure, that'd be nice, I could use the company," Anna nodded back leading the teen through the lodge back to the living room, "I hope you don't mind, I was kinda watching some stupid romantic comedy's...they usually help me when I'm feeling down,"

"Sure, no complaints from me," JJ nodded while plopping down onto the couch with Anna, "Who doesn't like a little rom-com, right?" He added with a chuckle that Anna giggled back with agreement.

Anna pressed resume on her movie and the pair kicked back, watching the movie, laughing at the cheesy jokes and even cheesier romantic moments. JJ added some colorful commentary throughout the film making Anna laugh loudly, helping all her worries wash away if not just for this short time. Anna couldn't help but think this was almost what it was like when she and Eric first broke up, but instead of watching these movies with JJ, it was Nicole. The blonde felt a ping of hurt in her heart as she thought of Nicole, out of the two of them, Nicole's betrayal hurt far more than Eric's.

When the girls were younger Anna remembered that Nicole liked to sometimes steal the attention from her little boyfriends, always wanting to be the center of attention. As they got older that clearly never changed but Anna thought she could trust the girl enough not to take her legitimate boyfriend away from her. Worse yet, Anna didn't know if she could even give Nicole the chance to explain herself, what was she really going to say? "I'm sorry I fucked Eric, my bad?" Anna knew Nicole well enough to know that the redhead rarely ever apologized when she was in the wrong and if she did it was usually half-assed. Still...Anna felt a pull trying to urge her into the direction of talking to Nicole, twelve years of friendship couldn't have been for nothing right?

The blonde shut her eyes for a moment, pushing the thoughts of Nicole and Eric away once more, trying to focus back on the movie and JJ's warm, comical personality. It was helping, after confiding in Kenny, getting through those moments where she was just acting out, going back to hanging out with a friend felt good. Anna looked over to JJ with a smile, "Thank you, by the way," The girl sweetly said to the man,

"For what? I haven't even started singing yet," JJ joked back, "Save it for then, along with any tips you'll be wanting to give me as it's rare to get such a thing for free,"

Anna let out a laugh, "I'll keep that in mind but I was thanking you for this," Anna said while motioning between him and the television, "This last night and most of today has been really fucking shitty, I kinda thought I was going to be miserable for the rest of this trip but I'm not. Kenny consoled me and you're making me feel like I don't have to be depressed and destroyed over what happened. I feel a little bit like a freak for being over this so much already but I'm glad I am," Anna explained, "And I think it's because you aren't treating me like I'm a delicate flower who needs to be coddled right now,"

"I could do that if you want, I've been told by my friends I am great at coddling," JJ replied before lightly bobbing his head left to right while looking away from the girl, "Of course that was from Kenny, so he may have just been fucking with me," Anna let out another loud laugh, "It's good to hear you laugh," He said in a semi-serious tone, "Hate to see anyone torn up,"

"Thanks, JJ," Anna warmly replied before looking back to the movie, though she peered back over to the teen for a moment, a new regret now forming in her mind, not hanging out with JJ more often before.