Page 40 of We're At It Again

“What relationship?” Austin asked. “I’ve never seen you kiss once.”

“What we do is none of your business.”

Austin looked back and forth between us with a challenging glint in his eyes.

“Then kiss her right now.”

We hesitated, our eyes meeting in uncertainty. We’d never kissed before, and the thought of doing it in front of everyone was nerve-wracking. But I had something to prove. With a determined spark in my eyes, I stood up and approached Hudson. His eyes were so wide it looked like they were going to explode. Ignoring the gasps and whispers around us, I straddled his waist. I leaned forward until our lips brushed.

“Play along.” I whispered, before pressing my lips to his.

His hands gripped my waist, pulling me closer. I expected it to be a simple act of defiance, a response to Austin’s challenge, but it was so much more. As if the kiss unlocked a floodgate of emotions I never realized were there. There was a tenderness in the way his lips moved against mine.

When we pulled away, I felt breathless, and my mind was reeling with the intensity of what had just happened. I looked into his eyes, searching for an explanation. But all I found was a mirrored reflection of my confusion. As I climbed off his lap, emotions swirled within me. I shot a defiant glare at Austin before turning on my heel and storming out of the room.

“Luna, wait.”

Austin followed me out, his voice sharp with warning as he tried to catch up with me.

“You shouldn’t be getting involved with him.”

His comment irked me, but I remained silent, refusing to engage in his attempts to dissuade me. Every step I took away from him was a step to reclaiming my independence. I didn’t owe him any explanation after everything he did to me. It was time for me to forge my path.

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26

HUDSON

DARKNESS ENVELOPED THE RESORT, and the crisp night air carried the promise of adventure. Eli and I were roaming the resort, laughter echoing in the silent expanse. As we wandered, my eyes widened in awe at the sight before me. I nudged him.

“Look there.”

He gasped as he caught sight of a majestic moose grazing nearby. Excitement surged through us at the rare opportunity.

“Let’s see if we can get it to come to us.”

I grabbed a branch laden with fresh leaves, dusting some snowflakes off it. Eli joined me as we waved it in the air, attempting to lure the moose towards us. That’s when I got a devious plan in my head.

“I have a plan.”

With a mischievous glint, I motioned Eli to follow my lead. He didn’t argue. Here we were, in the middle of the night, leading an unsuspecting moose on a daring escapade into the lodge.

We moved silently. The thrill of what we were about to do heightened our senses as we guided the moose through the deserted hallways of the lodge. With expert precision, we maneuvered it to room 101. Jockstrap’s room.

I watched like a proud father as Eli picked the lock. As we opened his door, my heart raced with anticipation. With a swift flick, I tossed the branch into the room. The moose followed as if he was in on the prank. With a triumphant grin, we slammed the door shut, trapping Chambers inside with a wild animal.

Our laughter rang out in the silent halls as we dashed away from the scene. We collapsed onto our beds with exhilarated breaths. As we drifted to sleep, the memory of our prank lingered in my mind, and I couldn’t help but smile in excitement at what could transpire tomorrow.

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I awoke to the sound of frantic screams piercing the peaceful morning air. My eyes snapped open, and I glanced at Eli, our silent communication speaking volumes as we shared a mischievous grin. We bolted out of bed and followed the chaotic noise.

Alongside the mass of our senior classmates, we rushed down the hallway toward the source of the commotion. We arrived at Chambers’ room, the door wide open, revealing a scene straight out of a comedy.

Inside, I spotted Jockstrap and his friend perched precariously atop the dresser, their faces contorted with fear as they attempted to evade the unexpected intruder. I nudged Eli as I noticed Chambers sporting a sizable bruise on his forehead, a testament to his unfortunate encounter with the moose’s hooves.

The sight was too comical for us to handle, and we erupted into peals of laughter, our mirth echoing in the confined space of the hallway. We whipped out our phones, eager to capture the absurdity of their predicament.

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