Chapter seventeen: Ski Trip Pt 1

                                    

                                          
A couple of days after Christmas I start packing for the trip, shoving plenty of warm layers into a suitcase for when we are outside and cozy clothes for inside the cabin into a duffle bag. As I'm packing there is a loud knock at my front door. I throw a zip-up hoodie over the crop top I'm wearing and zip it up to just below my chest as I walk down and open the door. As I open the door I see Judd standing there in his usual black hoodie holding a small package wrapped in black shiny wrapping paper. "Hey dude, what's up?" I question as I let him inside.
"I uh," he pauses a little nervously then holds the gift out to me, " I got you something for Christmas, I wanted to bring it by sooner but family, ya know."
I smile and he shoves his hands in his pockets after I take the gift from him, "oh don't worry about it, I understand."
I sit down on the couch and he sits on the other end while I carefully tear off the paper to reveal a small brown box. I open the box, on top is a Christmas card with a photo of his family all in matching pajamas in front of the tree, Judd off to the side in the same pajamas but carving a candy cane into a shiv with a butterfly knife. I chuckle a little as I look at the photo," this is going on my wall I hope you know that." He shakes his head while laughing quietly then nods at the box to tell me to look under the photo. I take out the photo and place it on the coffee table, underneath is a black butterfly knife a lot like his, but with my name engraved on one side of the handle and "princess" engraved on the other. 
"What's with you and that nickname." I ask as I feel my cheeks warming up.

He shrugs, "i think it fits you, I mean, would you rather I call you a queer all the time?"
"Nah, stick with princess I guess. I take the knife out of the box and carefully open it up to inspect the blade. 
"Do you like it?" he asks a little hesitantly. 
I nod, "This is really cool!" I run my fingers over the engraving on the handle, "I've never used a butterfly knife before though."
He smiles and scoots towards me, "that's okay, I'll show you how to do it so you don't hurt yourself." I smile more and nod then hop up and grab a wrapped package off the floor by the fireplace then place it in his lap. 
"You didn't have to get me anything," he laughs a little and I shrug, "I wanted to."
He nods, opens the package and pulls out a beanie with a raccoon with a knife on the brim. He smiles and laughs while looking at it, "this is very me."
I nod and smile big "I know, I had it custom-made."
He shakes his head and sighs with a smile on his face then puts it on. "Thank you."
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The morning of the trip Judd comes and picks me up in his janky ass jeep. We load my bags into the back and I hop in the passenger seat. 
"Really? Still no seatbelts? Or heating?" I snuggle into my sweater a bit more.
"Would you rather be in the car with my parents, Nick and Andrew?" 
I sigh, "I guess not."
He shakes his head and twists a knob and the heat kicks in," got that fixed just for you."
I smile and get comfy in my seat, "thanks," I turn up the volume on his radio and pull out my phone as he starts driving. 
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After an hour or so of driving he pipes up again "whatcha been doing over there?"
"Reading" I respond without looking up.
"Whatcha reading?" 
"Nothing you would know."
"Okay? I'm still curious."
"You wouldn't like it."
"Whatever," he rolls his eyes.
A few minutes later he pulls into a gas station and gets out to pump the gas. I get out and walk into the shop to get some snacks, leaving my phone in the car. I walk through and grab a couple of Monsters and some chips. I pay for it all then get back in the jeep. Put the monsters in the cup holders then look over at Judd and see him holding my phone and reading. I immediately reach over the middle console to try and grab it from him. "Hey! What the hell are you doing?"
He pulls it away from me and starts laughing, "I see why you didn't wanna tell me what you were reading."
"Yeah well, I for sure don't want you reading it!" I keep reaching for my phone and he keeps moving it away from me while still trying to read.
"You've seriously been sitting here reading Ghostface fan fiction?"
I groan and start climbing over farther to try and grab it.
"Oh? This isn't just fan fiction!" I start to blush as he says, "You've been sitting in my car reading Ghostface smut!" 
"Give it back!" 
"Why? You afraid I'll see what freaky shit you're into?"
"NO!"
"So I can keep reading?"
"NO!"
He sighs, hands my phone back, and starts the car.
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Once we get to the cabin at the ski resort Judd and I unload all of our stuff and put it all in one of the bedrooms. Elliot walks into the room and looks at us, " you two behave okay," he looks at Judd, " Your mom is already having issues with Leah and Val sharing a room." 
Judd nods and shrugs, "I'm sleeping in the woods anyway."
Elliot, obviously not having the energy to tackle that just sighs and walks out.
I look at him confused, "really? No way. That's too dangerous. What about animals?"
"Oh, are you worried about me?"
"Maybe a little," I look away, getting mildly embarrassed.
"Just say the word and I'll stay here."
I stare at him for a minute then look away again and nod, "stay, please."
He nods and grabs some extra blankets and pillows from the closet, "Will do princess."
I blush a little and sit on the bed as I watch him set up a spot for himself on the floor.