Ben's POV
Snowboarding camp is really fun when there are people who are harmless and friendly to each other.
Or so I thought...
After the vastly embarrassing morning moment I shared with Alex, I didn't dare to face him. Trampling over his reputation and then adding more fuel to the fire, I was successful in bombing my chances at the mission I received from Margie.
That night when I was in the bar with Alex, drinking the hot chocolate, my phone buzzed in the tone I had set for important notifications. Just to tease him and get a reaction out of him, I did the whole 'maybe you don't like my company' thing. I wanted a neat escape from that place.
Reaching outside, standing next to the bouncer, I took out my phone and read the message. It was from Margie.
"Don't let him bring the guy."
What guy was she referring to? There was no one besides us. I quickly replied to her.
"Which guy?"
"Keep an eye on him," she sent, which is right when I saw Alex walking out with a middle-aged man.
"I see some middle-aged man, is that who you're referring to?"
"Yes. That's him. Wedge between them or something, it's your mission now."
That was the final message she sent before going offline.
I began to pace back and forth down the stairs, "what should I do?" I muttered to myself.
My mind was blank. Knowing Alex, if I'd mess with him one more time, he'd chew me up alive on the spot. Various thoughts were racing in my mind, scheming from all sides as to how to prevent their meeting but none that gathered coherently.
I began to chew on my nails, eyebrows furried.
Right then, I saw something that sparked a light in my brain.
One of the bartenders walked out with a man, with his body almost draping him. They were walking towards the hotel room.
"Idea," I said, pounding my palm with my fist.
I ran towards where they headed to. Since I wasn't aware where they'd be sitting, I looked everywhere before stopping right in front of the lounge.
'This should do it.'
I ran towards him and tried to claim him.
Now I was aware he's with the actor. But who else in that room was aware of this fact? No one.
I tried my best, to persist and distract them but nothing seemed to work. At last, I was even rewarded with a slap to the head, only to fall back and receive the worst humiliation of my life.
Today, I had laid myself bare just so I could save my job at the theatre.
Alas, all went in vain because they'd already discussed their meeting and were only awaiting confirmation.
Safe to say, I had failed this mission, successfully.
Going back to the room after this was nothing short of a walk of shame. The walls seemed to mock me, while the floor kept me afloat, not allowed me to be sunk into it. In order to distract myself, I decided to go up the hills. Barely reaching the room, I changed into my snowboarding costume and ran towards the camp, where I saw the others.
For some reason, the Lights and Sounds teams had built forts and were throwing snowballs at each other, it looked like a snow fight. Kathy, looking a penguin in her round suit was waddling and throwing them at Nathan, while Sarah and Lee were targeting Sally. Dean was standing at the back, making snowballs for the Lights team.
I ran towards them, and they all seemed to enjoying while throwing stuff at each other, pointing fingers at each other and laughing out loud. I was cheering for the teams in rotation, hooting at people who hit their target. Right then, I saw Alex, with his helmeted head turned towards us.
As far I knew him, I could tell he was judging us.
I ran towards him, stomping through the thick crunchy snow and stopped in front of his face. He looked like a seal in the grey suit and black gloves, with his body unusually drooping into a slime-like form. I gestured him to lift his glasses so I could see him. I did the same.
His eyes looked BAGGED, almost he was chasing sleep like a madman, dark circles under his eyes that reinforced the seal look, eyes drifting elsewhere, zoning out, his steps staggering. I couldn't help but let out a small laugh, stopping myself by pursing my lips.
"Laugh! Laugh all you want!" His eyes were shadowed by anger.
I quickly took a few steps back.
I burst into a laughter, turning my face away quickly, "I know... hahah... It's because of me... hahaha, but are you cosplaying a panda?"
He kicked me in my shin, causing me to fall to my side.
"Don't annoy me," he rolled his eyes. They looked like they were about to fall out.
I dashed towards him and pulled down the glasses to his face. Walking right behind him, over his shoulder, I whispered, "let's have some fun together."
He shuddered at that action, turning back towards me, but before he could do that, I began to push his shoulders towards the cable-car.
While walking, he swatted my hand, "I can walk by myself," he said, probably glaring through the glasses. I took my hand away.
"Don't strain your eyes or they might fall." I said, throwing in a giggle because it really was that funny.
He didn't reply.
We both walked to the station, bypassed the line because hello? I have owner privileges. Getting into a car, we both sat across each other. The car was red on the outside, mostly round, with half of it's body being glass. The inside was very cosy, with a light resembling an oil lantern and the seats covered in black faux leather, cushioned with foam.
We both took of the glasses, placing them to the top of our head.
Now, my only mission here was to stop him from writing the next play.
I jumped over next to him and he pulled a little further towards the window. He didn't say much, but he turned his head away from me.
The scenery outside did deserve the attention though. We were going up a river with dark blue water, frozen in time, surrounded by thorny trees all around, covered in patches of purple and orange flowers. You could see small clusters of grass around, adding pops of green to the scene.
I looked at him, lost in the beauty of the place, "Alex!" I shouted to get his attention.
"WHAT?" He looked back.
"Is there any way you can change the story this time?" I said, rubbing the back of my head, "I don't like the concept."
"You started again?" He sighed, "besides, there's no one who knows the story, not even me yet."
"Yeah but like you know I saw you casting a middle aged man," I said, "I don't like that man," I scrunched my face.
He sighed, deeply this time. His eyes, blood-red now glared at me, reddening more. I took it as a cue to shut myself up. He nodded, turning back to the window.
I was looking forward instead, of all the cars that were followed us, all in different colors like blue, green, violet, all dragging through the wire in a straight line, with ocassional swaying by the wind. Besides that, there was nothing I could do in that atmosphere.
Thup.
I felt something fall on my shoulder. Looking sideways, it was him.
"Hah! You finally gave in," I said, leaning towards him to give him some support. But he didn't stop there.
Thup!
He fell again, this time harder on my lap but still didn't stop and instead rolled down on the floor. I sensed something weird and straightened myself, jumping at him to check his pulse.
There was none.