Meeting Jess and Running to the Lodge

Hearing her question, I didn't know how to answer. What could I answer with?

The truth? Or a half-lie? I couldn't possibly say the truth, that was way too...embarrassing. Maybe the truth but I keep it vague?

I joined the football team because of a condition I had with my uncle. Where did this condition come about? Because over the summer break between Junior High and High School...I asked him to help me train my body up a bit. I was always tall but I was also really skinny, so I guess a good descriptive word for me back then would be lanky, or maybe even gangly.

In my self-conscious young adolescence, I thought that my crush, Ashley would never like me if I looked like a walking stick man, so I wanted to beef up, I guess.

So I asked my Uncle, a football coach, to help train me up a little. He'd had more than enough practice telling College kids what to do that helping a 13-year-old put some meat on his bones was child's play to him. He was also happy to see me coming into what he saw as the 'family legacy'. He and my dad were both football players in high school and college, so it was always expected of me to follow in their footsteps. But my nerdy disposition kind of put that on hold.

Back then I'd have rather sat around doing a marathon of Sci-Fi movies from the '80s, than running around throwing a ball about.

Anyway, before he agreed, my Uncle made me agree to his condition: I'd try out for the football team when I got into high school. I agreed, obviously. I only had to try out, not get on the team, right?

So I trained and trained with my Uncle. I made the stupid decision to move in with my Uncle for the holiday, so I couldn't hang out with Ashley and the others, like at all, and over the months of practice, I discovered I actually did like running around a field, throwing a ball about. So I tried even harder in my practice.

And under the effects of rigorous physical exercise and the drastic changes puberty brought out in my body, my skinny figure was gone, replaced with a well-muscled and athletic body. I even gained an inch or two in height, making me even taller, and I was already above average for my age.

Now, even before I started working out, I wasn't that bad looking. I would even go as far as to say that I was pretty good-looking. It was just that my lanky figure was pretty weird to look at. Kind of like I'd break and that unsettled people.

But with my muscular figure, my good looks were put to use to their fullest.

And I when High School came around I was incredibly excited; I could finally gain Ashley's attention! The thought sent my heart aflutter at the time...

But when school came around and I joined the football team, Ash just didn't speak to me as much anymore. I didn't help either, as I was always hanging out with my new friends from the football team. I'd guess that Ash just didn't feel like I was the same person anymore. That I'd changed, and from what I was hearing, that seemed to be the case.

So I didn't know how to answer.

As the best choice of action in my head, I went quiet. Things went awkward and Ashley quickly shook her head back and forth.

"If you don't wanna answer, that's fine, Erik...It was just a stupid question...sorry--" I cut her off, not wanting her to feel like the one in the wrong when it was my stubbornness stopping me from answering an, otherwise, simple question.

"It's not a stupid question, Ash, and you don't need to be sorry for asking it," I sighed, "I should be the one saying sorry to you for not being able to answer it...I should be saying sorry to you for a lot of things, Ashley..." I trailed off, feeling a well of self-loathing slowly building up in me. Like, why did I never try and reach out to Ashley in the first year of High School? Maybe we wouldn't have grown apart if I'd done that...

"S-sorry? Sorry for what, Erik?" she asked with equal amounts of curiosity and worry in her voice, her emerald green eyes peering at me, the moon behind me making them glow.

Shaking my head and getting rid of those thoughts, I answered her question, "Sorry for not reaching out to you and explaining why I barely spoke to you during the break between Junior High and High School...Sorry for not trying to reach out to you during the first year of High School and asking you to hang out...Sorry for ditching you guys to hang out with the Team," I spat these out with a tone of self-loathing before looking toward Ashley with an apologetic face, "See? Those are three things off the top of my head, Ash...So, sorry for everything I did or didn't do," I tried smiling but I could feel that it was incredibly weak and forced.

But Ash disagreed with me, looking at me with an indignant face, her green eyes lighting up with a weird mixture of annoyance and worry.

"Well couldn't the same be said about me?" she asked harshly, but not harsh towards me, but toward herself, "I didn't try to reach out to you during the first year of High School, nor did I try to make plans with you while you were free, I didn't even try to speak to you during class!" she huffed before sighing and speaking with a little less energy, "I guess we're both at fault, huh?"

Chuckling, I nodded, "I guess you could say that, Ash," joining me, she started giggling, smiling enticingly with her full pink lips.

"I hope you don't mind me asking--" I gave her a look before interrupting her.

"I don't mind, Ash. I'd never mind. You can ask any question you want, you know? I won't judge," I gave a wink and saw the cute girl go red at the cheeks which filled me with both joy and pride at my looks.

Nodding stiffly, Ash carried on from where she left off, "Why...why did you join the football team, Erik? You weren't sporty during Junior High. In fact, you'd rather spend your time watching a movie or playing some kind of console game," she looked curiously up at me and I felt my heart warm when her thoughts of me aligned up so well with what I'd do. She really did know me. More than anyone else.

But knowing what my answer would be, I felt my cheeks heat up a little as I scratched the back of my head, "Well..."

. . .

POV Change - Ashley "Ash" Brown

"Well..." I watched as Erik stumbled over his words, obviously embarrassed, "I took up football because of a condition my Uncle asked of me when I asked him to help train up my body during the break between Junior High and High School..." he muttered and the volume of his voice got quieter as he continued speaking, so I knew he was embarrassed about the reason.

Smirking internally, I saw a chance to tease him, so I took it.

"You wanted to train up your body? I do remember you being stick and bones back then,"--though, you were still really cute--I added mentally, knowing I couldn't outright say that to him. Not yet at least.

His face reddened and his expression turned to indignation as he looked at me with slightly squinted eyes, "Yeah, yeah, I'm more than aware of my skeleton-like appearance back then, Ash," he said dismissively and I knew I may have touched a nerve.

That was stupid, Ashley. How could anyone like being reminded of their imperfections? Especially when they've left them behind? I remember when Erik was bullied because of his...gaunt appearance, I guess you could call it. Though he wasn't bullied for long after he hit one of the bullies so hard he dropped like a sack of bricks. He's always been strong. Even when his arms were stick thin.

But even if it wasn't for long, it must have left some kind of scar.

"I-I'm sorry, Erik, I was just joking around--" I stopped speaking as he looked at me with a tight smile and softer eyes than before.

"It's alright, Ash, I know you didn't mean anything malicious by it--Anyway, where was I? I wanted to sort out my skeleton-like appearance because I wanted a crush of mine to take notice in me..." he said with an embarrassed smile, though his words made me go completely frozen, but he didn't seem to see, so he carried on, "Pretty stupid and cliche, right? Get buff and get the girl or whatever. Well, it didn't work anyway," he sighed, but I was still shocked.

He had a crush? And from the sounds of it, it sounds like he still has a crush for them? But who? Emily? Sam?

...Me?

The very thought causing my heart to skip a beat before speeding up like it was trying to hammer its way out of my chest.

Keeping my turbulent emotions from appearing on my face, I smiled teasingly at Erik, "Oooo~ Who was your crush? Maybe it was Sam? We used to hang out a lot with her back then, didn't we?" I kept this facade up, knowing it could be the only chance I got to know who he liked.

God, I hope it's me. That would be like a dream come true...--Snap out of it, Ashley!

Oblivious to my thoughts, Erik answered my question, "Ahh, well, ah...It was a girl?" he asked, seemingly trying to be vague but I just gave him a look and he sighed, "Does it really matter, Ash? That was way back in Junior High," he gave me a look which asked 'Why are you so bothered?' but I just ignored it.

"Well, I only ask because it seems like you still like whoever you made the change for. I was just curious. Plus, you didn't deny that it was Sam~" I teased but only on the surface. Internally I was overly taut and very worried that he liked her and not me. It was common knowledge that Sam had a crush on Erik. She was much more open about it than I was about mine.

So if he did like her, it would only take one step tonight for them to become a couple and my hopes would be trashed.

That's why I'm going to go for it tonight. No matter what, I'm gonna get my feelings across to him.

To my immediate relief, Erik just rolled his eyes, "No, it's not Sam, okay? She's like a sister to me," he said with fondness but it was platonic fondness, you know? So it immediately helped calm down my worries. But the internal anxiety that Sam would swoop in and take my crush from me was still there.

Goddammit, these feelings can be annoying sometimes.

After he said this both of us went quiet, with Erik leaning his head back against the glass behind us and closing his eyes while I just opened up my phone and read through some short stories. Though most of my attention was actually on just glancing at Erik while acting like I was enthralled in my book.

His blond hair was styled perfectly and his masculine, good-looking face made my cheeks heat up. His piercing, ice-blue eyes were shudder-inducing as well, the good kind, anyway. But I couldn't see them, his eyes still being shut. Shame. But at least his eyes being closed allowed me to look at him more directly...Mainly at his well-built body that couldn't be hidden even by his black overcoat or the grey jumper underneath.

I thought back to when he was holding me earlier...feeling those solid abs and his strong chest was just...Stop it, Ashley!

Despite forcing myself to look away, the memories of the sensation flowed through my head and practically made me drool.

Like this, the rest of the trip on the Cable Cart carried on; with me daydreaming about being held by Erik, and Erik innocently relaxing next to me, unaware of my...well, let's just say, perverted thoughts.

. . .

POV Change - Erik Riley

Stretching my legs as the cable cart got to the top of the mountain the Lodge was on, I took a more serious look at Ashley.

As I'd mentioned before (countless times) she has red hair which is around medium length, with green eyes, which contrasts well with one another. Right now she's wearing dark, smokey eye shadow which only makes her eyes pop out more, and like always she's wearing some natural pink lip gloss.

Her facial features are soft and cute but also have an undeniable beauty to them. Honestly, with her current make-up on, she looks hot as hell.

Currently, her outfit consists of a striped red and pink beanie, a light bluish-grey hoodie worn over a long-sleeved red shirt, blue jean shorts and dark leggings. The last two of which show off her wide hips, tight ass, and thick thighs.

Thinking about it, I quickly took a glance down at her ass before quickly chastising myself and keep my eyes looking forward as the door to the cart opens.

...But it does look good in those shorts. Just like it looks good in just about anything.

Stop!

Biting the inside of my cheek, I walked past Ashley before getting to the door. Looking through the glass window of the door, I saw my sister, Jessica, standing walking over to the door with a letter in her hand. Guess that's for Mike, huh? Figuring I could ask her when she opens the door, I banged my fist against the glass three times leading to three loud, and sudden, bangs.

"Ahh!" "Hiii!" Both Ashley and Jess jumped up, one of them let out a startled shout, Ashley, and the other letting out a stereotypical 'girly' scream.

"What the hell?!" Jess screamed when she saw me grinning stupidly through the glass at her, and I felt Ashley smack my arm, obviously annoyed at the jump scare. Smiling impishly, back and forth between the two girls, I finally lost the look before seriously looking at Jess.

"How you doing, sis?" I grinned, "Any spooky monsters out there, or are you free to open the door?" I joked, hoping to ease her annoyance because if what I saw on her face wasn't annoyance, it was 100% anger.

"You dick, Erik!" she huffed, storming over to the door before her annoyed face vanished, replaced by a fiendish face ever so similar to the one I had earlier; Twins, huh, when some expressions come upon her face, it's like looking at a genderbent version of me...Weird. But other than this thought going through my head, I felt a bit of dread knowing that this signified Jess wanted revenge. "What's the magic word, Erik~?" she teased in an overly sweet voice.

Rolling my eyes, I answered her, "Please, Jess, can you open the door?" I said sounding slightly tired because I knew what was coming.

"Hmm? Well, I coooould open the door...but I won't! Well, not unless you add something more to your pleading~" she said, evidently enjoying herself and making things difficult for me.

"Come on Jess! If it were just me you were holding up, I'd play along, but I'm with Ashley and I'm sure she wants to get to the lodge and in front of a fire - it's fucking freezing!" I exclaimed, knowing all too well how my older twin sister could get when she wanted revenge against someone. Aka she became a real bitch.

"Nuh-uh~ I'm not gonna let you through just because you're with your girlfriend, Erik~!"

"She's not my...Urghh," I sighed, stopping myself before I fell into her little trap, "Okay, I'll do it," coughing to clear my throat, I began, "Please, Jess, can you open the door? You're the best big sister a guy could ask for, so please can you accept this request?" I said, feeling my face heat up from the humiliation, while also feeling angry at my sister for embarrassing me so badly in front of Ashley. Jess, after all, was the only person who knew about my crush on Ashley, so she knew what she was doing.

But I'd get back at her soon~

Seemingly happy with her revenge, Jess pressed the buzzer and the door opened. Grumpily, I pushed the door open before getting past Jess, scowling at her, "Fuck you," I practically growled.

Jess simply laughed before blowing a kiss through the air at me, "Love you too, bro!" before she started cackling with laughter.

Goddamn, I hate my sister sometimes.

Timidly, Ashley walked through the door, seemingly not wanting to spend too much time around my sister. Her face looked a bit red and I wondered whether it was because of the cold or because of Jess calling her my girlfriend.

"Well, we're going up to the Lodge. I figure that you're waiting here for Mike, right? You sure you wanna wait here all alone?" I asked this because even if she annoys the living hell out of me, she's still my sister and I do care for her well being.

...What? I'm just simply not a piece of shit brother, is all.

Smiling sincerely, Jess nodded at me, "Yeah, I'll be fine. You and Ashley go up to the Lodge, I'll head there after Mike comes here. We're gonna have a fun party tonight, huh?" she asked, her excitement practically palpable.

Nodding, I gave her a smile in return before motioning for Ashley to follow me, "Well, stay safe, Jess. See you in a bit," waving, I walked off with Ashley.

When we were a distance away, I pulled on Ashley's hood to signal for her to stop, "Psst! Ash, stay here for a minute. I've gotta get payback," I said as I crouched down and started compressing the snow into a snowball.

"What are you doing??" Ashley asked confused and I just looked back at her with a 'Really?' expression on my face.

Raising an eyebrow, I answered her, "Can you really not tell what I'm about to do? When I'm making a snowball? Whatever, just get ready to run, okay?" I said with mischievousness practically pouring out my mouth.

I finished with the snowball and pulled back my arm before getting a slight run-up before letting it rip, throwing the snow through the air at its target:

Jess' head.

I stood there to watch it flying before finally it hit Jess' head and she let out a tremendous scream which turned into an annoyed and utterly furious groan, "ERIK!" she half-screamed, half-yelled, but by that point, I'd already turned around and started running.

"PAYBACKS A BITCH, JESS!" I shouted over my shoulder, knowing my sister heard it when I heard the scream of my name followed by multiple curse words get hurled at me from behind.

Ashley, seeing what I did, started laughing before she also started running. Though she wasn't a quick runner, I could bet she was quicker than my sister. Though I doubt my sister would even chase us.

But doing such silly shit with Ashley, after so long...it was nice. Great, even.

I felt my excitement and anxiousness burn even hotter as I thought about making a move on Ashley tonight. I hope it pays off.