Snowed in

The wind clawed at my face, ripping the tarp from my hands. Three days of this frozen hell—I was done. Tessa’s big plan—spring break at her Uncle’s cabin, one last hurrah before college ripped us apart.

She’d burst into my room a week ago, red hair wild, chubby cheeks flushed with that loudmouth grin, waving her phone. “Uncle Jake says it’s ours, Mara, let’s go!” I jumped on it—Hell yeah!—Now, the generator was dead. The bedroom was a slab of ice. I tugged the tarp harder as I fought the damn thing, snow stinging my eyes like needles. Should’ve stayed home! Stupid me, stupid Tessa, stupid Jake.

She said her uncle swore he had fixed it—“He said it’s good as new, trust me!”—her cocky voice still ringing in my skull. I bought it, picturing us laughing by a fire, not this.

Idiot.

“Mara, get your ass inside!” Eli yelled from the porch, voice slicing through the gale like a knife. I glared back—there he was, lanky as hell, leaning against the frame, dark jacket flapping. Mr. Fix-It, college boy, always so damn calm with that smirk I can’t stand. He’d rolled in two days ago, just as the snow started, first semester under his belt, all steady hands and quiet jabs—fixing things while I yelled at the world.

Maybe he’s not the worst. But I hate everything right now.

“I’m fine!” I snapped. Total lie. My fingers were numb, stiff in my gloves—but that firewood was all we got, and I wasn’t letting it soak. “I’ve survived my parents’ split,”—I grumbled, my dark hair flailing around, a tangled mess whipping my cheeks as I fought the damn thing—”I’ll survive a busted trip!” The tarp flapped like a rabid beast; I pinned it down over the woodpile, knotted it tight—Screw this storm, screw me for saying yes. Tessa dragged us into this—her idea, her uncle’s dump, her fault we were stuck. I’d hyped it, sure, but she sold it—“One last fling!”—and now we were snowed in, no signal, no power, just a fireplace and regrets. Her brother Jaden tagged along, and Lila too—quiet, weird Lila—but Tessa owned this disaster.

I stomped the snow from my boots, breath fogging thick. The peaks loomed—white, jagged teeth grinning down. Spring break, my ass—snowed in, freezing. My hands shaked, cold chewing through my gloves, creeping up my arms. Mom said stay home—should’ve listened. Tessa’s laugh drowned that—“Come on, Mara, live a little!”—her freckled face shoving me into this. I pushed too—“It’ll be epic!”—and landed us here. Eli yelled again—“Mara, damn it, NOW!”—sharper, like he gave a damn. He’s right, it’s brutal out here. I trudged back, wind slamming my back, head spinning as I held my wool beanie down—Generator’s toast, Tessa’s fault, my fault—why did I buy her crap?

The door glowed ahead, warm light bleeding through frosted glass—I reached it, and Eli was there, holding it open, looming over me, tall and solid. Too close, always too close. I kicked snow off my boots, hard, picturing Uncle Jake’s smug face—Take that, you liar—and shoved past him, his nag fading into the storm’s roar. Tessa’s mess, my mess. The wind laughed, burying us deeper.

I sprawled across the couch, beanie yanked low over my head, fingers curled around a chipped mug of hot chocolate Tessa’d thrust at me—“Drink it, Mara, quit moping!”—and yeah, the steam tickled my nose, thawing the grump I’d dragged in from the storm. The fireplace crackled, spitting sparks, the only thing keeping us from the bedroom’s icy clutch. I sank into the lumpy cushions, watching Tessa bustle by the fireplace—red hair swinging wild, chubby frame swaying as she sorted three bedrolls, kicking them into a crooked line. “That’s it, three—deal with it!” she barked, her loud laugh slicing through, same as when she’d shoved me into mud puddles back in grade school and dared me to laugh. Same Tessa, same chaos—still stuck with her.

Jaden kicked off his boots nearby, wiry legs sprawling as he flopped onto the rug, red hair bouncing like Tessa’s, that goofy grin flashing. _Little J, pest since he was snagging my crayons. _Day two, he’d sidled up by the woodpile, hand brushing Lila’s leg with a flirty—“Hey, nice stack!”—and she’d flicked him off, a crisp “No,” cool as ever. He’d shrugged, laughing. Horny goof takes a hint, at least.

Before we left, Tessa’s mom had cornered her—“No way you’re staying in that cabin with a boy unless your brother goes too!”—like her horndog little brother was some saint. Please. I smirked into my mug, cocoa sliding warm down my throat.

Lila sat cross-legged by the fire, sketchpad in her lap, black hair glinting in the glow—pencil scratching steady, like she’d done in school halls when I’d rant and she’d doodle my messes. Same Lila, steady as ever—Jaden didn’t stand a chance. Eli crouched near the flames, poking the logs, lanky frame bent, dark jacket off, sleeves rolled up, hands steady on the poker. School crew Eli, always around—college now, same old smirk. His gray eyes flicked up, caught mine a heartbeat too long—What’s he looking at?—and I jerked my gaze back to the mug, cocoa sloshing. The space between us felt smaller now, the fire’s glow sharpening the angles of his face. I focused on my cocoa, but my grip was too tight, my pulse a little too quick.

The room buzzed—Jaden hummed some off-key tune; Tessa kicked a bedroll straight, muttering about Jaden’s boots stinking up the place; Lila’s pencil scratched on, firelight flickering on her smirk; Eli tossed another log, flames flaring with a pop. Tessa clapped her hands once. “Okay, listen up!” grinning like a camp counselor, that frizzy red halo bouncing in the glow. She stood by the hearth, pointing at the bedrolls. “Jaden, you’re solo—Mom thought you’d keep us pure, but you’re a perv, you little creep!” Jaden stretched.

“More room for me, sis—you snore like a bear!” and she chucked a sock at him,

“Shut it, perv!” He dodged—I snorted. Same old brats, still at it.

“Lila, you’re with me,” Tessa said, tossing a bedroll her way. Lila caught it and nodded—Sketching Jaden’s dumb grin, probably. My gut sank. Three bedrolls—Jaden’s out, Lila’s with her. Wait. I shot a panicked glance at Eli. He froze mid-poke, gray eyes widening a split second before that smirk eased back, smooth as hell. He didn’t see that coming either. Damn it. “And Mara, you’re with Eli—smallest fits, right?” Tessa smirked, freckles dancing—She knows, she’s loving this.

“Why me?” I snapped, mug clattering on my knee—Too loud, too quick—stupid! Tessa laughed, “‘Cause you’re tiny, Mara, deal with it!”

Jaden piped up. “Yeah, shorty, snug up!”

I glared. “Zip it, perv!” as Lila snorted, pencil pausing.

4’11” and stuck with him? My skin prickled—Sleepovers at Tessa’s, him crashing, legs tangled once sprawled on her floor—didn’t think twice then, just Eli horsing around. Now his frame loomed, elbows brushing the hearth—Too close, too… something—ugh. I muttered, “Great,” hands fisting in my pockets—Her mess, my yes—now this?

Tessa flopped onto her bedroll, stretching with a groan, “Cozy, right?”

and I scowled “Cozy, my ass” but the cocoa’s warmth seeped in, dulling the bite. Eli’s eyes flicked my way again, gray and steady, memories of him chasing us among the School swings, laughing—why’s he staring? My grip tightened on the mug, a weird jolt in my chest I shoved down—Quit it, idiot.

The fire popped, Lila’s pencil paused, a rare grin tugging her lips—She’s in on it too. Eli chuckled low, tossing another log like it was nothing, sleeves creeping higher—hands steady, too steady. I squeezed the mug harder, knuckles whitening—Three bedrolls, five of us—damn her, damn this. The room hummed—Jaden’s tune droned on, Tessa kicked her boots off with a muttered “Ugh, finally,” Lila’s pencil picked up, the fire’s glow tugging us closer.

I sank deeper into the couch, cocoa sloshing a touch—Him right there, me stuck. My scowl hung on, but the warmth crept up, softening it—Her fault, my fault—now what? Eli’s gaze brushed mine again, barely there—Same old Eli—mostly. The fire crackled, steady, and my chest gave a stupid twitch I ignored.