(40): Enjoyable and Peaceful

"Nicholas!" Winnie screams loudly standing paralyzed on her spot next to the fight. By now a crowd has formed and are watching the fight occur, no one invading.

Winnie looks to me, eyes wet.

"Make him stop! Chelsea!" She shouts desperately shaking "Oh god"

"Nick" I scream trying to get him to stop but he is too busy punching Liam who is attempting to fight back but is obviously failing. Nick has him on the ground atop the snow and is straddling his waist, assaulting him.

Do boys have to be such animals?

"Nicholas get off him!" Winnie cries.

Finally, after what feels like forever Kyle appears frantically, as if he's already heard about everything, and gets him away from the poor Australian boy whose face is now a mess.

"What happened?" Kat asks hastily next to me.

"Nick... he" I stutter helplessly.

I can't believe I've just witnessed that.

"Nicholas, are you fucking serious?" Nathan scolds loudly in front of us.

Him and Kyle are holding him to make sure he doesn't hit the boy again. The crowd disappears and the six of us, including an injured Liam are still shaken to the core as we stay rooted to our spots.

They let him go when they see he's calmer.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?" Winnie sobs looking at him with such disgust.

She tends to Liam to make sure that he is okay.

"Why'd you bring him here?" Nick screams.

"How was I supposed to know you guys would be here?" She shouts back moving closer to him "Fuck you. I fucking hate you and never speak to me ever again"

"Fuck you too" He spits bitterly.

Oh my gosh.

"I'm so confused" Liam murmurs in his accent with snow in his gloved hands as he presses it against his now black eye "Winnie, who is this guy?"

"You don't need to fucking know" Nick barks.

"Nicholas" Kat intervenes angrily "What the fuck is wrong with you?"

He just growls running a hand through his messy hair, his other fist still clenched.

"Dude, I will punch you myself if you don't stop your shit" Kyle also says, looking annoyed and angry.

"Yeah. Don't you see that the two of you are ruining this trip for everyone?" I finally find my voice as I stare them both down.

Winnie is standing next to Liam and still trying to tend to him but she looks back when we all add our two cent. Nick is just standing all by himself, still looking like a caveman.

"No. She is" He accuses pointing a finger.

"Me?" Winnie shouts exasperated "Am I the one who just punched a guy I don't even know?"

"Am I the one who went on a fucking date after my best friend told me that he's been in love with me for god knows how long?" He retorts sharply.

"He's in love with you?" Liam chimes.

Why is he still here?

"Yes" I snap at the guy, not being able to help myself "Don't you want to leave?"

"No offense but I was here before you guys and this is a public place" He defends.

"Fucking go back to Australia, you fucking koala bear" Nicholas snaps shooting daggers at the guy.

I can't help but snort softly.

"Nicholas, I swear to God!" Winnie grits.

"Dude, I think you really have to go" Kyle says in a much nicer way than us at the oblivious guys.

He sighs loudly as he says his last goodbye's, to Winnie who can't stop apologizing and crying, before he walks away.

He'll be fine.

"Safe to say that all of you are on Nicholas's side. Are you happy now?" Winnie accuses.

"We just think you could've been more sympathetic, Winona. The fucking guy just told you that he's in love with you and the first thing you do is meet up with him" Kyle says.

I think he's speaking for all of us.

"I didn't know he would be here. I didn't know you guys would either" She defends loudly.

Everyone walking past keeps looking weirdly at us but then walking away. Luckily there aren't a lot because this side is kind of secluded.

Thank goodness.

"I can't believe you" Nick snarls.

"Fuck you" Winnie huffs moving closer to him so that they're face-to-face. I would swear she looks like she wants to punch him so bad. "Do you know how many times I've seen you with your stupid hoes? With your tongue down their throats? You see me once, not even kissing the guy, and start acting like a fucking bitch"

Woah.

"Winona" Kyle bites warningly.

"No she's right" Nick says sharply, looking at nothing but Winnie in front of him "Guess what? You're not in love with me, now are you? So why the fuck would you care who's throat I have my tongue down?"

"You didn't know that!" She screams.

"Do you guys need a moment?" Nathan intervenes awkwardly.

"No" Winnie snaps looking back at us "You guys need to be here for this. I am not dealing with him on my own. And I have questions"

"Which are?" Kat asks.

"Did you all know he was in love with me?" She asks and we all nod "Wow. Let me guess, 'it wasn't your place to tell me'?" She mimics harshly at the last part using air quotes.

"Off course it wasn't" Kyle says.

"I can't deal with all these fucking secrets in this group. Do you guys honestly call each other friends?" She screeches angrily.

"Yes, okay?!" Kat challenges sternly "Some things are just better left unsaid"

Winnie moves closer to her "We were all fine until you two came along. Ask them"

I scoff offended "Are you saying we're to blame for all this drama? That we're clearly not even involved in. Are you kidding?"

"I'm just saying" She bites moving back.

"That was out of line" Nathan says unamused.

She sighs loudly, mist escaping her mouth "You're right, I'm sorry"

"It's okay" Kat says.

Winnie looks to Nick "Can we take a walk? I really think we have to speak. Alone"

"I don't want to speak to you" He bites.

"Nick, come on" I intervene sternly, narrowing my eyes at him. He has no right to be more mad than she is. They're both wrong.

He huffs defeated "Fine"

He follows her to the exit of the show grounds as we watch them disappear from our view.

"Jesus, is this much drama really necessary" Nathan sighs loudly.

"It was both of your idea to invite girls" Kyle retorts shaking his head.

"Excuse you but we haven't caused any drama" Kat defends shooting daggers at Kyle as she gestures between the two of us.

Their mini arguments are always so funny. They seriously don't get along though, that's been very evident in the past month. They don't speak much but when they do it's always some stupid argument. I think the problem is that they're both hot-headed and can't tolerate shit, especially from each other.

Maybe a one-on-one conversation will solve things, kind of how it did with Nathan and I. Although, I doubt they want that.

"Especially me" I chime.

"You're the only one" Kyle says.

"Off course you'll take her side" Kat bites lowly but we all hear her.

"You two really don't like each other, huh?" Nathan snorts looking between his best friend and his girlfriend.

I just laugh amused.

I remember the days Kat used to think Kyle was some flawless god. Good times.

Kat rolls her eyes "Whatever. Only god knows how the two of you deal with him"

"Likewise" Kyle retorts sharply.

Nathan and I just laugh loudly.

"What are you two laughing at? You used to be like this" Kat scowls unamused.

I snort "Well we aren't now"

"Yeah, you two should take lessons" Nathan laughs provocatively and I join him. Kat just shows us the bird with a grim face.

Kyle shakes his head "Idiots"

"Can we go to Candy World now?" I ask after I've sobered up.

"No" Kat and Nathan say simultaneously.

"Oh come on, why not?" I protest.

Kat shoots me a look "I told you that I was on a diet now and I seriously don't need temptations"

I hum before looking at Nathan "And you?"

"She forced me to join her" He tells me.

Off course she did.

I sigh annoyed "Okay so what do you guys want to do then?"

"More rides" Kat exclaims excited.

"No" Kyle and I object simultaneously.

Okay this is getting weird. We look at each and laugh softly.

"Here's a solution" Nathan says after looking at us weirdly "Kyle can go with you to your Candy World and I'll stay here with Kathrine. I doubt any of us will have a problem with that"

"There won't be any problems at all" Kat smirks mischievously, moving her eyebrows up and down.

I actually don't know if she's speaking about Kyle and I or her and Nathan. Both would make sense as to why she's making that face.

I look to Kyle to confirm "Chambers?"

"Fine" He shrugs uninterested.

I grin pulling him with me by his navy jacket "Cool. Bye losers"

The couple waves at us.

"Are you gonna go candy crazy like you did at the ice cream shop?" He asks as we walk on the snow with our gloved hands tucked in our pockets.

"I'll try not to"

"I wonder how you still stay so tiny. You don't even work out" He says thoughtfully.

I scoff acting offended "I'm not that tiny"

He raises a brow when I look at him "You forget I've seen you in your underwear"

We normally don't mention that day.

"Once" I murmur sheepishly, a blush threatening to break out "And it was dark"

"I still remember everything" He informs cooly, as if he's suggesting something without exactly saying it.

I smile, not being able to help it "Whatever"

We both stay silent for a while as we listen to the sound our feet make when they connect with the soft snow. We just keep glancing at each other and grinning like idiots. I'm pretty sure my grin is more of a blush though, but he doesn't have to know that.

Also, I'm glad things aren't awkward after the whole almost-kiss thing.

"How's your trip been?" He finally asks.

I look to him confused "Like how?"

"I don't know. Have you been having fun and shit?" He lamely elaborates.

"I actually have. Except for all the drama obviously. I feel like it's all starting to overshadow the trip and I don't like that. I guess I'd just appreciate more peace but other than that it's been a good experience"

"Except the skiing, I'm guessing" He laughs and I scowl at him "How many times did you fall on your butt?"

"Shut it" I grumble "How's yours been?"

He shrugs "Fine"

I roll my eyes, not happy with his answer "Use your words, Chambers"

"It's been okay. I mean I found out that my sister is very much alive so I guess that made everything better. If it wasn't for that, I think I'd just downright say it's been mostly bad. I hate all the drama, it's nauseating"

I hum thoughtfully "So if it wasn't for Riley, there wouldn't have been any perks? Any?"

Not even me?

"Maybe the skiing" He says "I like that. Also Daisy's food. I guess also just being away from campus and the apartment"

I nod interested, but still not satisfied though "Cool. What about your friends, huh? Don't we have perks?"

Mostly me??!!!

"No" He snorts "Just unnecessary drama"

I raise a brow "Mm okay"

He smirks as he looks at me suspiciously "I feel like you're expecting me to say more"

I am, genius.

"Maybe" I shrug acting indifferent.

"What? Do you want me to say something about you, Chelsea-Anne?"

I try not to smile "Maybe"

"Wow" He rolls his eyes amused "What do you want me to say? You know I literally see you like every day? All the time?"

"Yeah but not outside of college life"

He sighs "Fine. You've been very tolerable, you have been for the past month to be honest"

"Tolerable?" I scoff offended.

Couldn't he use a nicer word.

"Okay, you've been... cool. Nice to hang around with and speak to. It's like I've helped you mature from that annoying little thing you were"

Aww! (kind of)

I laugh loudly "Or maybe I'm still the same and I've just fully grown on you"

"Doubt it" He dismisses amused.

"Whatever, Chambers" I sigh happily.

Being around him and speaking to him does this to me. I just can't help but be happy. Is that a bad thing?

We get to the candy store a few minutes later and my eyes widen in excitement. Kyle just shakes his head at me but looks amused the whole time. He makes me promise not to buy too much because he doesn't want me getting candy sick (aww). The lady helps me pick all the candy I want and put it in a plastic bag. I'm about to pay but she sees Kyle and says we don't have to. I'm guessing it has something to do with his friends parents owning the place. We then just walk around after with me taking a sweet out of my plastic every second, he does too occasionally.

"So..." I murmur thoughtfully as I come to a standstill.

He raises a curious brow "Yes?"

"I have a picture of Theo. Do you want to see him?" I ask slowly. I still don't know how he feels with talking about everything but I guess I couldn't help myself.

I see him visibly swallow a lump but he eventually nods "Sure"

I smile softly as I take out my phone and scroll through the many pictures I have of the cutie. Sometimes I save them from Jean's stories and sometimes I screenshot from the FaceTimes. I hand him my phone when I've decided on the cutest and most visible one. It's one of him on in his walking ring and happily grinning, his cute teeth on show.

"Wow" Kyle breathes after a while of staring.

I also look at the picture in his hand standing on my tippy toes slightly "Cute one, huh?"

He smiles starstruck. Aww!! "He looks like my grandfather."

"Oh wow" I say interested "Can you see the eyes? The ones that gave everything away?"

"Mom's. Zach's. RJ's" He smiles.

So precious. He's just looking at the picture in front of him. He looks so... proud and captivated at the sight. It's beautiful.

He then laughs after a while "The black hair. No one in our whole family has that. It looks weird"

"It's Monty's" I inform amused.

"They're good people, right?" He finally looks to me, his face unreadable "RJ's new family?"

I nod instantly "Off course. I've known them my whole life. I couldn't have picked a better family for her and Theo"

He nods satisfied "Good"

"You and Zorro are uncles now"

"Yeah" He breathes slowly eyes wide, as if only realizing now "He'd be thrilled if he knew"

"Were they close?" I ask.

He nods, eyes soft "Thick as thieves. I always felt like the odd one out with them, not just appearance wise. They were older obviously so they'd prefer to do things with each other"

I laugh, picturing a tiny Kyle tryin to fit in with his older twin siblings "That's so cute"

"It wasn't" He scowls.

"Is that why he hates you?" I ask slowly.

"Yeah. He thinks mom and I got his best friend killed so obviously he's not very fond of me. Dad also played a part in manipulating him against me though. Zach's always wanted to please him"

I sigh sadly "Were you two close growing up?"

"We were okay. Or maybe we were just doing it for RJ because she hated conflict. He's just always been envious of me and I don't know why. He'd always take any chance he could to belittle me."

Oh shame.

"You were probably your dad's favorite and he wanted to be that" I murmur.

"I hope he's happy cause he is now" Kyle says.

"Do you think he'll change when he finds out that Jea- Riley is alive?"

He shrugs "I hope so but you never know with him. He's always been unpredictable"

"You'll tell me if you want to see Riley, right? I have a picture of her too" I ask after a while of comfortable silence.

He shakes his head "Not yet"

"Off course" I smile assuringly.

We are enveloped in another silence before he looks to me with a beautiful smile "Thanks, Chelsea-Anne, you're surprisingly a really good friend"

Friend.

"Off course" I repeat, swallowing a lump.

I hate that the only thing I picked up from that sentence was the fact that he called me a friend, and not his genuine gratitude or his sarcasm that I would normally call out.

I think he notices that I'm acting very uncharacteristically but doesn't say anything about it "Should we go back to the cabin?"

I nod meekly "Sure"

***

"Well, uh, Winona and I want to apologize for ruining the trip for all you guys. We were being very selfish and we hope you guys forgive us" Nick starts off looking at all of us "We spoke and decided that we needed some distance but we promise that no more drama involving us is going to happen. Once again, very sorry"

"Yeah" Winnie nods agreeing.

They both called some 'family/friend meeting' in the living room after we had some of Daisy's food for dinner. We were all anyways already here and sitting in front of the fire place speaking about nothing in particular. Mostly Kat, Nathan and I though, the others were lost in their own world.

"We forgive you guys" I smile at them.

"Yep" Kat says.

"Whatever" Kyle mutters.

"Yeah, I guess we can't be mad forever" Nathan says.

"Don't act like you've been completely innocent, Nathaniel" I narrow my eyes at him jokingly.

He's caused some drama too.

"Yeah but I didn't punch anyone" He retorts.

Nick scoffs loudly "Ouch dude"

"I'm kidding" Nathan laughs amused.

"Chelsea-Anne and I are the only innocent ones here" Kyle says matter-of-factly.

All the others scoff incredulously and give us 'are you kidding?' looks.

"It's true" I chime grinning.

Kat scoffs again "Don't you guys remember you used to cause more drama than any of us with your stupid arguments. We actually learned drama from the two of you"

I think she's exaggerating a tad bit.

"That was a long time ago" I retort.

"But you're not innocent" Winnie says "It was your guyses turn to deal with other people's shit. How does it feel?"

"Okay, why are we getting attacked?" I protest exasperated.

"They're stating facts" Nick shrugs smirking.

Devil.

"So is it a problem that we get along now?" Kyle asks confused and I nod agreeing with his question.

"It's very much not" Nathan grins "I like this little friendship"

"Same" Winnie chimes agreeing.

"I don't" Nick grumbles.

I knew that.

"Same" Kat says.

I snap my eyes to her confused "What? Kathrine, since when? And why not?"

"It's weird" She mumbles.

"How?" I ask.

She shrugs "I don't know. It's just weird. I'll tell you when we're alone"

"Wow" Kyle drags watching her.

"What?" She bites.

He just laughs unhumored "Oh nothing. Just why don't you tell all of us what your problem with our friendship is?"

Oh my gosh.

"That's between me and my best friend"

"Okay!" I intervene waving my hands.

Nathan laughs "No let them continue. This is very funny"

"Yeah" Nick snorts "Hey Kyle, did you know that Kathrine doesn't like you? She told me"

Trust Nicholas to start shit.

"Do I care?" He replies.

I narrow my eyes at Nathan and Nicholas "Will you two stop egging them on? I thought we agreed to no more drama"

"This isn't drama, it's comedy" Nick laughs.

"I swear to god I will strangle you" I grit shooting daggers at the annoying ass.

He just laughs "Whatever"

"Okay anyways" Winnie intervenes getting all of our attention "Can we all agree to an enjoyable and peaceful remaining two days?"

"Amen sister" Kat says.

I grin "That would be amazing"

"Yeah sure" Nick says.

"Whatever" Kyle replies.

"We'll see" Nathan smirks causing me to pinch his thigh since he's sitting next to me.

IDIOT!

****

Hey ❤️

I seriously think I'm done with all the drama now. I'll try to keep it peaceful from here 🤗❤️.

Anyways I hope you guys are still enjoying the book ❤️.

Don't forget to comment and vote.

xoxoxoxoxo 😘