Lovely (one)

I have to go on a ski trip now, it's just lovely. I hate the snow just everything about it bothered me. It was cold and messy and I didn’t like it. My parents knew about my pure hatred for the snow and still I have to go. I tried to complain but I was silenced by my brother, Ryan. He was the one that came up with the idea so I’ll go thank him for that later.

My mother said that it would be a great opportunity and I should be grateful. She never specified how this was an opportunity I should take and I didn’t question it. It was no use my father had made the decision for me to go and once he made his mind it was set and nothing could change that.

I had to walk across the long hallway to my brother’s room. I was looking for my phone and I assumed he took it because it loved being a nuisance.

“Give me my phone.” I spoke as soon as I entered the room. Thankfully he was in there or else that would have been awkward. 

“I don’t have it.” He looked annoyed which was weird because he had been the annoying one.

“What do you mean you don’t have it?”

“I don’t have it, Claire, go check the kitchen.”

“Why would my phone be in the kitchen?” He looked confused.

“I don’t know man, it's not my phone.”

“Thank you so much for your help. It is truly appreciated.”

“You’re welcome.” I made sure to slam his door on the way out. He yelled at me for doing it but I laughed it out and headed to the kitchen. I hated but also loved my brother which is what siblings are for. He always got on my nerves but he was right most of the time. Was I going to give him credit for that? No, I couldn’t let him have that. 

“Wow, he was right.” My phone was in the kitchen and so was my mother.

“Ryan was right about what?”

“Oh, nothing just that my phone was in the kitchen.”

“Did you finish packing?”

“Please don’t make me go.” I was basically on my knees begging.

“Claritha we already talked about this now go upstairs and start packing.” She never called me by my full name unless she was mad so I didn’t bother arguing. 

I was about to leave when she spoke again, “Just so you know your brother left your phone in here.”

“I knew it.” I was headed towards my Ryan’s room to yell at him.

“Ryan Miller, why is it that you must bother me?”

“What do you mean sis.” He was trying to be funny.

“Why must you exist solely to constantly get on my nerves?”

“That’s what older brother’s are for.” I stormed out the room with my arms crossed. No words could describe how much that little boy annoyed me. I know he’s older than me but he acts like an infant.

***

“Well here we are.” My dad said finally stopping the car after what felt like 10 years of driving. Ryan was the first out of the car he seemed too excited. He had talked about taking me sledding the entire drive over. He knew I hated snow but still he wanted me to go. I also hated going down on rollercoasters and sledding was basically the same thing.

“Hurry Claire.” He was rushing me out of the car. I guess he really wanted me to go sledding. I never knew he liked it this much but apparently he had.

“I’m going, stop touching me.”

“My bad. I just need you to see this.”

“See what Ryan?”

“The place where you sled.”

“I’m not sledding. I’m staying in our room the entire trip.”

“So two weeks.”

“If that’s how long we stay that’s how long I’m gonna be in the room.”

“Whatever, now hurry.” I was out of the car by now but he still wanted me to see the snow. He acted like a 5 year old whenever he got excited about something.

“Wow it’s so pretty.” I was sort of being sincere, I liked looking at snow but not being near it.

He responded by throwing a snowball at me. I knew he would do that so I braced myself for the cold when I dug my hand into a pile of snow to throw one back. This continued until our mother told us to stop.

He had gone sledding before but that was a long time ago so I hoped it didn’t kill us in the process. I did it too once when I was young before I realized I despised the snow.

***

“I’m going to die and it’s going to be your fault.” I yelled at Ryan.

“You’re gonna be fine.” We were at the top of the hill. Our father said if I did this with Ryan I wouldn’t have to do anything else in the snow so that’s why I’m here. 

“How do you know that?”

“Because I’m a genius.”

“Who is lying to you?”

“You.”

“That makes sense.” We laughed and that distracted me until I felt a snowflake hit my face.

“Please don’t make me.”

“Too late.” And just like that we were sliding down a snow covered hill. I didn’t have time to prepare or scream. As we went down all I could feel was icy wind piercing my skin and Ryan grabbing me to scare me. 

“What the- Ryan.”

“What?”

“Why must you scare me whilst I’m in the midst of dying?”

“You aren’t gonna die just enjoy this.”

“And exactly what do you want me to enjoy?”

“The snow. The wind. The fact that you might die.”

“Ryan Oliver Miller I truly do hate you.”

“Thanks.” My knuckles were turning white from how hard I was holding the sides of the sled and still I wanted to punch him. I swear his life purpose was to aggravate me. 

I forgot about my urge to yell at Ryan any further after our sled jumped after hitting a small rock. After that I started to enjoy being on the sled. I like feeling the wind hitting my face even if it irritated my skin. I was even slightly disappointed when we finally came to the bottom of the hill. I still hated the snow and I don’t think anything could change that.