by Peyton Banks
“Oh my goodness.” Jasmine squeals and makes her way over to the front window. “It’s really coming down out there.”
Static blares from my hip radio just before my partner’s voice pours through the receiver. “Zander? Do you copy?” There’s a loud click, signaling to me the line is clear.
“This is Zander.”
Another screeching click. “What’s your twenty?”
My captain’s voice is distorted, but I can still make out what she’s asking.
I clear my throat and hold the walkie to my mouth. “Just finished up cabin fifteen, about to head over to sixteen and seventeen.”
“Negative. The storm’s really bad, especially on your side of the mountain. I’ve talked to both cabins, gave them some tips. Just stay put for now? I’ll check in when it’s safe to get back out there.”
“Roger that.” I release the button and reattach the radio to my hip. “Well, I guess y’all are stuck with me,” I say, glancing around the room.
“Hell yeah. Looks like you get to party with us after all.” Ian jumps up from the sofa to enthusiastically shake my hand.
I shrug and unzip my coat. “I guess so.”
Karen turns in her seat. “See, Ariya. We have a ranger here with us, so don’t even start tripping.” She laughs despite the snarl on her friend’s face.
Ariya’s gaze meets mine, and I can’t help wondering if the sour grimace is because of me or what Karen’s said. It was fine to brush her off when I knew I had to leave, but now things just got weird.
“Yippee,” she adds. “If I die of frostbite, just know it’s on y’all.” She turns and climbs the stairs.
A second later, a door shuts, and I release a breath. I’ve only been here a few minutes and I can already tell it’s about to be a long night. God, please hurry up and let this storm be over with. I’m pulled from my thoughts when Noah pats my back. With one last glance to the top of the staircase, I force a smile and dive in on the conversation.
3
Ariya
I press my back into the wall and tilt my head to the ceiling. “What was that?”
Call me crazy, and maybe I am, but Zander didn’t seem too interested in this hook-up. I wasn’t too keen on the idea at first either, but that was just bad.
“I’m sorry, can you leave me alone?” I say with my voice deep to mimic his reaction to me.
Okay, those weren’t his words, but pretty damn close. I flop down on the quilt-covered mattress, tossing my hands in defeat. Lying back, I count the grooves in the popcorn ceiling to keep my mind from wandering. It works for about three minutes before my thoughts take over me. And, Ariya, what were you doing, girl?
“You’re a ranger?” My lips perch into a scowl, and I crane my neck, embarrassed by my own stupidity. “Of course he’s a ranger. If all that goddamn green doesn’t give it away, the logo stitched into his jacket should’ve.”
I shoot to my feet, pacing the floor trying to figure out a recovery plan. Better yet, I’ll stay right here, in the room, won’t even have to see his face. But what if you have to pee? Bitch! I love my friends, I do. Karen is practically my sister, and I’ve known Jasmine my entire life. They mean well, but there’s a reason I’ve asked them to stay out of my personal life. It’s bad enough they lied to get me up here, but now I’m forced to make nice with a guy who doesn’t seem to know he’s here for me. On top of that, I’ve made a plum fool of myself with my horrid attempt at flirting with the man. Then here comes Mother Nature, being funny with this wack-ass snowstorm. Heat builds in my chest at the thought of screaming and telling them all off for getting me stuck here in this mess, but I know it’ll be pointless.
I return to my spot on the bed and reach for my laptop. According to Zander, it’ll be hours before the blizzard settles, so I might as well be productive.
My stomach roars, reminding me how long it’s been since I’ve had anything to eat. I glance at the clock and set my laptop on the bed. I’ve been pounding away at my keyboard for nearly two hours, and for a brief second, I see what the girls meant. Here we are on what should be an engaging weekend, and I’ve been lost in my work. I stretch my legs, rubbing along the front of them to help get my blood circulating. With a yawn, I continue to massage my muscles and look at the window on my left. Daylight has gone, but I’m still able to see the snow fall.
I climb out of bed and stretch my back, making my way to peer out into the night. The ceiling light flickers, halting me in my tracks, but when it stops I continue. Wind wisps by, creating a whistling sound as air seeps in through a crack. I hug myself and stare down, admiring how serene the blanketed ground appears. There are track marks in the distance leading into the forest, but otherwise, it all looks perfect and undisturbed.
My stomach growls again. I place my hand over it and pull in an exaggerated breath. Backing away from the window, I inch toward the door and slowly creep out into the hall. Laughter meets me at the staircase as one of the guys shares a story. I descend into the common area, immediately wrapped in warmth from the crackling fire. Ian finds my gaze from his place in the La-Z-boy that sits catty-corner to the fireplace. He nods, giving me a soft smile before continuing his tale. Jasmine turns on the couch to face me.
“There she is. We’re just about to get some food on the grill,” she says while holding a red Solo cup over the back of the sofa.
Karen approaches on my right with two cups of her own. “You were working, weren’t you?” She bumps her hip into mine on her way to hand drinks to Ian and Noah.
“Why’d you even ask? You know she was,” Jasmine jokes and faces forward.
Instead of gracing their mockery with a reply, I roll my eyes and zoom in on the space. It takes a nanosecond to realize there’s no sign of Zander. My shoulders relax, relieving me of the tension I felt around seeing him after making a fool of myself earlier.
Karen lifts her beverage and sits on the arm of Ian’s chair. “Zander’s making campfire nachos,” she adds between sips.
As the words fall off her lips, Zander strolls past me carrying a large empty cast-iron skillet. I glance behind me to the kitchen and see he’s been to work. It would explain why I didn’t see him when I came downstairs. Leftover avocado skin, tomato pieces, onion, and more are piled neatly on the countertop. I face forward, watching him set the pan atop the cooking grill he showed us earlier then return to the kitchen. On his way, he makes eye contact with me, passing me a tight-lipped smile and a head nod. I feign one of my own and force my shoulders back before reaching over the back of the sofa and snagging Jasmine’s cup from her grasp. I have no idea what she’s drinking but I’m praying its hard liquor.
“What the—?” she yells and cranes her neck to scowl at me.
I ignore her and toss the liquid back, finding gratitude from its contents. The alcohol burns my throat in the best way possible, but it isn’t enough. I hold the cup to my chest and pivot toward the fridge. The open bottle of vodka is on the counter just inches away from Zander, the sink, and the extra Solo cups. With my head slightly tilted, I glance at him through my lashes and blow out hot air. His back is to me while he continues to prepare our meal.
The freezer makes a low suction noise when I pull the door open and reach inside for ice. Filling two cups, one for me and a replacement for Jasmine, I set them both back on the counter and open the fridge. I snag the juice and turn, only to bump chest-first into him. A grunt escapes me, and I scan both our bodies to make sure we haven’t made a mess.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t see you there,” he says and steps aside.
My gaze drops to the bowl of diced chicken in his hand. “No, that was me. I should have been watching where I was walking,” I reply.
Zander gives me another weak smile and slides past me and back over to the fireplace. I turn away from the room to proceed to fill both cups with juice. After I return the bottle to the icebox, I crack the cap on the vodka, pouring until the liquid reaches the brim. I lift my beverage, taking a large gulp
before topping it off and finally carrying one back over to my friend. When I hand it to her, she barely acknowledges me as she accepts it and continues conversing with Noah. I step back, pressing myself into the chunk of wall serving as a divider to the kitchen and the stairs.
With one foot propped against the hard surface, I sip my drink, allowing myself to take in my environment. Outside this house, it’s a cold, wintery mess, but inside, we’re nice and toasty. The warmth from the flames and the aroma from the food Zander prepares is inviting and cozy. I watch my girls enjoying themselves. Their laughter is contagious, and I find myself smiling along with them. We’ve been through a lot together and have overcome years of sibling-like rivalries, heartbreaks, and successes. I never want to do much, but they never let that fly. Always right behind me to pull me out of a funk, or like this weekend, get me to step back and enjoy life. And it’s not that I’m some hermit who hates life and people… Okay, I don’t like all people, only certain folks. But I do consume myself in my work. I have goals and I enjoy being self-employed, and sometimes that means long hours if I want to reach every milestone I set for myself.
“Hey,” Zander says, leaning down to catch my gaze.
I blink away my thoughts, slowly turning my attention to him.
He holds a chopping board filled with herbs and veggies. “You were kinda zoning out. Just wanted to make sure you’re okay.”
I shake my head and force a gentle grin to my face. “Yeah. I’m fine. Just lost in thought. Thanks.” I take a sip and dig myself deeper into the wall.
He nods and carries the diced items and drops them in the pan with the chicken. It crackles as steam rises from the added ingredients. He takes a stirring spoon and mixes everything up then set the lid over it to melt the cheese.
He lifts himself off the floor, stepping over Noah’s feet. He runs a hand through his thick, dark hair, and I follow a loose strand to where it rests along the corner of his lips. I trace his low-cut beard down his neck and over his broad shoulders. Without the big ugly green coat he wore, I can finally take him all in, and boy is it a sight.
I swallow, straightening my posture when he comes over and signals for me to follow him to where my friends sit. I flop down beside Jasmine who smiles and pats my thigh. Zander goes to work, doubling sheets of aluminum foil to create pockets. Watching him brings back memories of camping with my dad, brothers, and Karen. We never carried plates, because foil was easier to dispose of. He loads each makeshift serving dish with his nacho concoction and passes us all a helping of our own.
His butt hits the floor, and he fills his own foil pouch with food. Using a propped knee for support, he digs in, enjoying his hard work. The room goes quiet for a while as we have our fill, and when we’re done, the only sound is the crunching of the thin material. Zander hops to his feet, taking our waste and tossing it in the recycle bin in the kitchen. I turn slightly toward Jasmine to allow myself to see him without any of them noticing.
I rest my elbow on the back of the couch and press my fingers into my forehead, stealing glances at him through the breaks in my hand. He snags himself a beer and effortlessly removes the cap before flicking it into the trash. Impressive. His chest puffs out, and his eyes fills with pride, but then he catches me staring him. Or at least I think he does. I don’t know for sure because the moment it looks like he sees me, I jump and swiftly reach down for my drink. When I peek up again, he’s making his way back over to his spot on the floor.
“Zander, thanks, man. Those nachos were all right,” Ian says, and we all follow in gratitude.
“No problem.” He takes a pull from his bottle. “Y’all shared your food and libations with me. It’s the least I can do.” Zander tilts his head, and I swear for a second his sights land on me.
4
Zander
I felt like shit by the way I acted earlier. It wasn’t my intention to offend her, but I could tell I had. She tried to play as if she wasn’t affected, but shortly after, she locked herself in her room for hours. I’m certain the only reason she’s even here now is because she’s hungry. With my beer gripped between two fingers, I bring it to my mouth and take a swig. I swallow it down, letting myself stare at her over the bottle. My vision focuses in on her, bouncing off the amber glass and zooming in like the lens on a camera.
I saw her watching me a bit ago and had to keep from laughing when she tried to play it off. No one else seemed to notice, but I pay attention to everything. It’s kind of my job to know what’s going on around me. Spend as many years as I have in these woods, and you’re bound to develop heightened senses. The lights flicker again, and I look up at them. The storm should have passed by now, but it seems the meteorologist miscalculated.
There’s a thud from something banging against the side of the cabin. Jasmine and Karen jump, snuggling close to Ian and Noah. But it surprises me when Ariya doesn’t. Her leg flies out, and she stares at the wall, her shoulders stiff like she’s prepared to run.
“It’s just the wind,” I say and pick myself up to walk over to the door. I open it to see what hit the house. A gust of wind whooshes in, knocking it from my grasp, sending it flying into the living room wall.
“See. Death by nature,” Ariya’s voice rings out behind me.
“Oh shit,” Noah blurts at the same time one of the girls scream and Ariya’s sarcastic statement.
Flurries dust over the cedarwood flooring, creating a mini tornado in the center of the threshold. I lunge for the door, gripping it firmly along the edge and work to get it closed. The winds fight against me, making the task difficult, but I eventually manage to succeed. The curtains on the small window next to it stop swaying as the air inside returns to normal. I place a hand over my chest, trying to catch my breath. The lights flash once more then suddenly go out. The small radio, fridge, and every other electrical appliance dies from the lack of power, filling the room with silence.
The generator should have powered on by now, but if not for the fire, it would be pitch-black inside. Thankfully, there’s enough of a glow that we can still see our way around. Noah gets up and walks to the window next to me. Jasmine follows after him, and they both peek out into the night.
“Um. Back away from the window before a branch comes flying through and kill ya asses,” Ariya adds, her tone bringing a smile to my lips.
Karen sucks her teeth. “Stop being dramatic.”
Ariya holds her arms up, still clutching her drink in one hand. “I’m just saying, this is feeling real Final Destination-ish.”
“What?” Jasmine snaps her head around with laughter in her voice. “Zander, excuse our friend, okay. She’s silly and always has the craziest things to say.” She waves to me and struts back over to the couch.
I laugh. “Thanks. I think she’s funny actually,” I retort on my way to the back door. Moving the curtain aside, I stare out the small window cutout and realize even if I could get the generator working, I’ll never make it out there without another episode of what just happened.
“Well, good, because you’ve seen nothing yet,” Jas adds.
Noah steps into the ray of light created by the embers, his frame casting a shadow against the kitchen wall. “Damn, it’s really coming down out there. Z, it looks like you’re going to be with us all night.”
I turn on my heels, “It does. I was going to see if I could get to the generator, figure out why it hasn’t turned on.”
“Ooo. Let’s play a game,” Karen squeals from her place on Ian’s lap.
“Girl.” Ariya snaps her head in her friend’s direction. “What we gon’ play? We can’t see shit.”
Karen shoots up. “First of all, we have a fire. That’s plenty of light. Secondly, we don’t need to see. We have liquor, and nothing but time.”
Ian rubs his hands together and shifts in his seat. “I’m down for a drinking game.”
“Great.” Karen steps around the left side of the sofa and makes her way to the kitchen. A moment later, she returns with two
bottles of alcohol, cups, and an armful of snacks.
Noah helps by taking some of the items, allowing her to park herself on the floor next to Ian’s feet. When she leans forward to pass me a cup, I hold my hand up and respectfully decline.
“Oh, come on. Don’t be a party pooper. You’re probably not going to be back on duty with the way this storm is going.” She tilts the bottom, nudging me to accept.
I scoot forward, gripping the plastic, and tap my fingers against it. Noah pats my shoulders before sitting inches away from me.
“All right, Karen,” he groans. “What are we playing?”
Her back straightens, and a smile forms as she opens the half-full bottle of vodka. “The alphabet game,” she answers and pour shot-size portions for everyone. “We’ll pick a theme, and each person has to say something that fits, starting with the next letter. But, the trick is, you have to repeat all the words before you can say yours. If you get any of them wrong, you’ll take a shot and skip your turn. We keep it going until we reach the letter Z, then start over.”
“So what’s the end objective?” Ian asks, sliding down next to her.
“To get drunk,” we all say in near alliance. The timing brings us all to laughter.
He clicks his teeth. “No shit. But I mean, like if you take X amount of shots, you’ve lost-” He continues to quiz.
Noah shakes his head and points a finger out to silence him. “Dude. You’re thinking too much. The only point in a drinking game is to see who gets shitfaced first. Will it be you, Mister I Need the Stats?” He shrugs and holds his hand at his side to mock our friend.
I down the rest of my beer while reminiscing over our college years. Just like that, we’re back on campus, at an insane party, getting drunk and talking shit. The only thing missing is Brady. I shake my head at the realization that they haven’t changed one bit. We’re older, maybe a little wiser, settled in our careers but still wild at heart. Ian has always been the know-it-all in the bunch. Noah’s the shit talker and one to get everyone on their toes. Brady was the jock in the group. Always overly confident but a good dude at his core. While I remain the calm, reserved one out of all of us. I’ll join in on the fun but never get too crazy. Ian waves him off, pulling me out of my trip down memory lane.