“You’re going down!” Harper squealed, as Adam mashed a handful of snow down the back of her jacket.
The school had done a surprisingly decent job of picking a resort. White Stone Lodge was no prize in itself. The bus was parked in front of a complex of stout, reddish residential buildings all circling the three-story main lodge building, covered with faux brick and stone in a failed attempt to make it look homey. But even a run-down Motel 6 would have looked appealing in such a setting-a glistening blanket of snow covered the roofs, and delicate icicles dangled over the edge, turning the lodge into a giant gingerbread house rimmed with dripping sugar crystals. Jagged mountain peaks loomed in the background, slicing through a storybook blue sky. The endless grayish beige of the flat desert landscape had never seemed so far away.
Adam raced away as Harper scooped up an armful of snow and sent it flying in his direction.
“Face it, you suck at this, Gracie!” he called from a safe distance, pegging a snowball in her direction.
Oh, really?
She scooped up another handful and raced after him, tackling him to the ground. They tumbled into the snow together, heaving with laughter. Adam rolled over her and held a dripping snowball a few inches from her face.
“You want a piece of me?” he asked in a mock threatening voice, as icy drops spattered down on her.
She looked up at his flushed face, illuminated by a childlike joy, and suddenly lifted her head up to kiss him.
“I want
“You snooze, you lose,” she crowed, exploding into laughter. He fell to the ground beside her, laughing just as hard.
The sky looked so different up here, she thought, barely noticing the chill creeping through her fingers and toes. It seemed so much closer, as if she could reach up and grab a cloud.
Adam’s gloved hand took her own, and she snuggled against him, wishing that they weren’t sprawled out in the open behind the resort. She wanted to be alone with him-now.
“Think your roommate’s going to be around tonight?” she asked innocently. Harper hadn’t actually told Adam about her WFS plan, but she figured he would see the possibilities of this weekend just as clearly as she did.
“Nah, Nikki kicked out her roommate, so he’s not going to be coming back tonight.”
Or ever, Harper thought-once Nikki got her claws into someone, she was unlikely to let go.
“So if you wanted to,” Adam began again, tentatively.
“It would be a shame to let an empty room go to waste,” she said casually. But her heart was thudding in her ears. Why was she so nervous?
“Are you sure?” he asked-and there was nothing casual about his tone.
She looked around at the sky, the mountains, the snow-his face. It was the perfect spot for a perfect moment.
“I’m sure.”
Since their chaperone had disappeared within minutes of arrival, the Haven High kids were free to do whatever they wanted at White Stone Lodge. There was a party in room 17, free pot in room 32, and Miranda was pretty sure she’d heard something about skinny-dipping in the hot tub.
But Miranda wasn’t in the mood. She’d brought along her new, uber-portable laptop in hopes there’d be some kind of wireless network she could tap into. Her dating profile had been up for a few days and, much as she hated to admit it, she was desperate to see whether anyone had responded to her. It seemed a little pathetic, to have come all this way, spent all this money, just to spend another Saturday night at home in front of the computer… but on the other hand, she thought, logging on to her e-mail server, Harper was likely gone for the night, so it’s not like anyone would ever have to know.
Congratulations, Spitfire, the following 3 users have expressed interest in your profile!
User Profile: TheDude
Sex: male
Age: 17
Height: 6?1?
Favorite color: gold
Favorite food: beer
If I were an animal, I’d be: a PARTY animal
Celebrity I most look like: Brad Pitt
Best lie I’ve ever told: No Officer, I haven’t been drinking.
Three things I can’t live without: beer, sex, pot
I am… one wild and crazy guy, looking to party it up with one (or more) lucky ladies.
You are… totally hot, especially in a miniskirt-and out of one. If you know what I mean. Wink, wink.
And then there was bachelor number two…
User Profile: HanSolo
Sex: male
Age: 16
Height: 5?3 ??
Favorite color: Martian red
Favorite food: peanuts
If I were an animal, I’d be: a Wookie
Best lie I’ve ever told: It’s not a doll-it’s an action figure.
Celebrity I most look like: Mark Hamill
Three things I can’t live without:
I am… the guy at the back of the class that you’ve never noticed before. The one lurking by your locker that you brush past without a word. I’m very smart, I just need some help with my people skills-at least that’s what my mom says.
You are… friendly, nice, a
And, of course, Mirandas personal favorite:
User Profile: Thrasher
Sex: Yes, please
Age: 18
Height: 11 inches
Favorite color: whatever color your thong is
Favorite food: pizza
If I were an animal, I’d be: a coyote
Best lie I’ve ever told: Of course I remember your name.
Celebrity I most look like: the Rock
Three things I can’t live without: my bike, my booze, my band
I am… a guy who likes motorcycles, trucks, booze, and hard rock.
You are… a chick who digs guys who like motorcycles, trucks, booze, and hard rock.
Spitfire, if you would like to send a message to any of these users, click here.
Miranda snorted in disgust. What had she been thinking? Like anyone other than the freaks and the geeks would be using this stupid Web site. She could only imagine the look on these losers’ faces if they ever saw who they’d picked. There was a horrifying thought: Even these freak shows probably wouldn’t want to date her if they got the chance.
“We should really get some sleep,” Beth pointed out, wriggling out of Kanes grasp.
He checked the clock on the nightstand: 10:40.
