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Quinn- 10
Eli- 12
“That’s it… you're dead meat!” I hear her shrill as I duck behind a tree. I know I'm going to pay for what I just did, but I couldn’t help myself. She was too busy talking to Sloan and Wes to notice me sneak up behind her with an arm full of snow. Before she knew what hit her, she was buried under it. Hence why I'm hiding.
Most girls Quinn’s age are all bark and no bite. But not my Queenie. She's a fierce little one and will absolutely make me pay. Something I’m looking forward to.
It’s awfully quiet right now… too quiet.
I chance a peek around the tree, only to be met with a devilish grin. Seconds later, I'm taking a ball of snow right to the face. Quickly swiping it away, I chase after her.
Her laughter and useless pleas fill the air as I capture her over my shoulder.
“Please, don’t! I'm sorry. Okay! I’m sorry.”
“Eli Ryan Barton, you put her down this instant,” I hear my mom yell from the deck above us.
“Oh, come on, we were just messing around. I promise I'm not going to hurt her,” I yell back. Spinning Quinn around, she can see her face is still in one piece. And if I know Queenie, it's sporting a big smile.
Turning back to face my mom, I see my little sister Sloan and my twin Maddie standing next to her.
“You told, didn’t you?” I scold them.
“I didn’t do anything… I ran inside for hot chocolate.” Sloan sticks her tongue out at me, and I do the same right back. Maddie stays quiet, trying to ignore my accusation.
“Eli…” my mom says in a tone I know not to test.
Accepting defeat, I gently set Quinn back on her feet. She gives me a smirk, as if to say she won this round, then starts marching up the snowy hill toward her family’s vacation house.
We’ve been snowed in at the Turner’s lake house for over two days now. Not like this hasn’t happened before, but we’re all here this time. The Bartons, Turners, and the Kings. Making this one epic weekend.
“Come inside and warm up for a bit. You’ve been out here all morning,” my mom says right before she heads back through the sliding doors.
Quinn is already halfway up the hill before turning to me. “Last one to the house has to carry the other's sled for the day!” she challenges, then scurries up the hill. But what she doesn’t know is the path she’s on is slick with ice. Just as I'm about to warn her, I see both her feet slide out from under her and she hits the ground. Hard. Dread fills me as I race to her.
But that doesn’t stop her. Nope, not Quinn Turner. She gets up, shakes it off, and locates another path, continuing climbing up the hill like nothing happened.
She beats me to the back door despite her fall. When I finally catch up, I hold on to her arm, stopping her before she goes inside.
“You okay, Queenie? That looked like it hurt.”
“Yeah, I'm all right.”
I give her a knowing look. One that saysdon’t lie to me…
She rolls her eyes and tries to break free from the hold I have on her. “I’m fine, E. I have so many layers of pants on, I didn’t even feel it. Cross my heart.”
Nodding, I accept her answer, and we head inside. We take off our snow gear and enter the kitchen where everyone is hanging out, the room lively with chatter. She nudges my shoulder, bumping me out of the way to get on the last stool at the kitchen island. With a smirk, I walk around to the other side, hopping up onto the counter. I would have given her the last seat anyway. I always do.
* * *
We’ve spentseveral hours warming up by the fireplace, watching Home Alone. Now we’re all itching to get back outside in the snow. Everyone is suiting up, even our parents. We love to go sledding and tubing down the Turner’s hill. The lake has a nice thick layer of ice this year, so there is no need for us to put up a barrier. We just let our sleds take us as far out as we can possibly go. Of course, with our families, it turns into a competition. One every single one of us takes seriously.
“You’re going down, Barton,” Quinn says as she lines up her sled with Wes’s, Maddie’s, and mine. I love that she's not throwing this threat at anyone but me.
Most people can’t handle her spunkiness, but I happen to enjoy it. I love playing with her, and other than Wes, there is no one I have more fun with. I still remember the day she accepted that first dare from me when no one else would. The sparkle in her eyes as she proved herself amongst the crowd. I knew right away that this girl had something special. She’s been challenging me ever since, and there’s nothing I love more than a challenge. Even though she is Sloan’s best friend, and Wes is mine, Quinn ismyperson. And if it’s up to me,she always will be.
“Let’s see if you can keep up, Mildred.” I wink at her, knowing damn well my calling her that will light a fire behind her eyes. She absolutely hates her middle name. So, I make sure to throw it her way every once in a while. I wouldn’t be one of her best friends if I didn’t.
