winter kisses

1

Aria

This is the last winter break before me and Mae are off to Europe and it feels a bit bittersweet heading off to Maine like we do every year for a whole month. It's honestly one of the few things I look foreword to. I count the days until the next time we all gather together for the holidays.

Of course me and Mae see each other every 3 weeks one or the other makes sure that every Friday after school we jump on the nearest train just to see each other for a weekend. We'll talk about Mae's newest conquest, bands, books. We never get bored we could talk forever if it wasn't that our bodies needed sleep.

"Estimated time of arrival is 2 hours now" I somehow managed to survive that 6 hour car drive. I mean don't get me wrong I love road trips but when it's you and your brother it feels a bit like war to see who gets the best seat, first dibs on the charger. It's a sport really.

I start journaling about the places me and Mae have planned to visit and how we'll be trying all sorts of new foods. I try to keep tabs of the hotels we've had in mind and see if there's any good places around to visit.

With that my dad lowers the volume, " We're here".

"That felt fairly quick" I replied. My brother snickers "Yea that was because you were probably daydreaming about Noah or Dean the whole way here" I shove him and he laughs.

Although he's 20 he's just so annoying he hasn't changed much since middle school and that's quite literally my worst headache. I get off with my shoulder bag shoving my notebook in my bag. And I see Mae already by the steps waiting for me.

We both squeal and run towards each other, I give her a bear hug and she spins me around. I let go, shooting her a lazy grin as we walk next to each other heading towards the door. At the window I see Noah, I offer him a smile which he noticed by closing the curtains. Weird.

As I walk in I'm greeted by Savannah's amazing blueberry mousse cake. I hug Savannah hello, "There's my girl" she smiles. I giggle as I reach out for a piece neatly sorted on her favorite little rose plates.

As I'm savoring this nostalgic taste, I go to look for Noah is there something wrong? Last time we had talked was about two months ago but everything seemed fine we were excited to camp out near the creak and sneak in some beers as we roasted something by the fire.

I see him sprawled on a couch reading, as well as Dean but he's so focused on typing that I'm afraid a tornado could happen and he'd still be unfazed.
Dean is older than Me, Mae and Noah he's a sophomore in college. He's Mae's favorite as he lets her sleep over at this apartment from time to time.

And his striking features make it hard for anyone not to notice. But Noah is my safe space, he's Mae's twin and my favorite for that matter. Noah started reading this new book series that he's been obsessed with, he has this secret blog where he writes about how the book's have impacted him and how in depth the characters are formed in books.

I think it's really interesting that he has so many hobbies including that he's captain of the soccer team at his school so him being a bookworm is a cherry on top.  I sit next to him pretending to be interested in his reading, "Hey" I throw out.

I feel a stare that's not coming from Noah. Noah is still reading when he replies, "Hey". I purse my lips. He didn't even budge. "Are we still heading out to the creak tonight tradition remember" I borderline plea.

Dean speaks up, "How can we forget, everyone's going well maybe not Noah" he teases. I look at Noah hoping that he'll see my puppy eyes as a deal breaker. "I'll go" he says.

"Perfect Me and Mae will head out together" I reply.

With that I walk over to Mae who's also hounding down a plate of cake. I sit down next to her, "Noah's moody"

"When is he not" Mae rolls her eyes. " I don't know how you can actually have a proper conversation with that brick wall" She offers.
But we both know that know Noah is as bubbly as can be. I shake whatever feelings I have towards it off.

"What time are you thinking about leaving tonight" I look at Mae for a response, I know she's into this boy up here. "9pm, Nate is coming at that time and I promised him we'd hang out" She smiled. I shoved her playfully.

"So that sounds like you're ditching me" I pout.

"Oh I definitely am but I love you" she hugs me, walking off to the balcony.

"I wonder what could have had Noah's panties in a twists don't you, aria" Dean says way too awfully close to my ear. I narrow my eyes forcing space between us. "You know something I don't" I ask.

"Maybe? Maybe not" he smirks. He's either lying his ass off or he does know, both thoughts make my stomach turn. "You know Aria, I like this new style you look nice" he says taunting me.

I recently dyed my brown hair this dark burgundy color so I'm guessing that's what he's referring to. I scoff, "Yea there's not enough flattery you can throw at me to make me believe anything that comes out of your mouth"

"That's quite a shame Aria I can do a lot of things with my mouth that can entice you" he snickers before walking off.

Before I can process what just happened Matthias the oldest comes out of his room, looking like he just got up from his nap. He's 24, an engineer and the pride of Mae's parents.

"Hey there sweets, you just got here where's your brother" Sweets is a nickname I've had since childhood I've always liked sweets, chocolate, sour candy, ice cream, cake you name it. I offer him a smile, "He's in the den with Wyatt I think they just plugged in Mario Kart".

"Perfect timing, see you at the creak no?" He says already heading downstairs. I nod, "Tell Noah that Gwen was looking for him earlier" I remain unfazed, but reply a weak yes to.

Who the fuck was Gwen? Noah's girlfriend I
didn't want to ask but I had a nasty feeling like I'd meet her tonight.

I really hope Noah isn't mad at me, last time we talked we ended in good terms, he was excited about this trip since he's going to study in Boston, which is a long shot from here. But Noah is so smart that he deserves all the praise these universities are giving him.

We had already decided on visiting weeks, it's just a bit strange that he's distant now. I mean by now we would've gone to the lake with Mae and skinny dipped. It seems Mae's noticed the tension but doesn't want to involve herself. I can't blame her.

I unpack my bags in Mae's and I room. I unpack everything from my novels to my socks, the process was tiresome. Mae was watching Gilmore Girls in her laptop by the time I was done.

I got ready for the creak, it was a tradition of us and the locals of Maine to head down make a bone fire, drink booze, socialize. It was when the locals felt the most comfortable and one could tell, the atmosphere was relaxing as it's always been.

"Ready" Mae calls out from outside. "Ready" I yell out. I walk out and see Mae with her older brother's keys in hand smiling head to toe. "Wyatt said we could borrow his car how sweet is it not sweets" teasing me.

Wyatt was 21, he was the quietest of the bunch. Wyatt was studying to be a marine biologist, and he was obsessed with wildlife like he was made for these nature settings. That's why for a day every year here he'd camp out alone in a cabin his parents have. Only Dean went with him he doesn't let anyone in.

I hop in the car seeing Dean in the passenger of the truck, "Hey there hot stuff, you're in my seat" I try to pull him off the passenger seat.

"Looks like you're just going to have to sit on me if you want the seat so bad". He opens his legs a bit wider showing his tone frame putting his arms over the old truck's seats.

"I'll sit in the middle thank you very much" I narrow my eyes.

Dean's never acted like this before, he's always ignored my presence. This change of character is likely to give whip lash. I sigh as I crawl to the seat next to him, and thankfully Mae hops in starting the car.

"Anyone seen Noah" I throw out.

I see Mae grimace and Dean stare out the window, " He left to the creak already"

"Oh."