Rebecca ripped the letter out of my hands to read it herself. We were standing in the corner of our school's library 'looking' for books we could use as references for a paper due after break.

"So why don't you want to go?" She handed me back the letter after she was done reading what Charlie had sent me.

"Keep your voice down," I nudged her and continued to pretend looking through the books in front of us while our teacher passed by, "I just don't know if it's a good idea for me to go or not,"

Rebecca rolled her eyes and I leaned against the shelf, not caring if the teacher saw at this point.

"It's not like Charlie is going to try to murder you or something," Rebecca laughed to herself, "plus, he said a few of the guys will be going up there too, so you won't be alone with him,"

Rebecca made kissy noises that caught the attention of our teacher who told us to keep it down but didn't seem to care too much. Break was tomorrow anyway.

"Besides, it's at a ski resort so it's not like you guys will just be sitting around doing nothing, you've gotta loosen up Sades," Rebecca started flipping through the books on the shelf now.

I stared down at the fourth letter I had received from Charlie this morning, the letter I had stuffed in my backpack so I could show Rebecca at school. Charlie had mentioned his parents cabin in the mountains right next to a ski resort and how a few of the guys were going up after Christmas for New Years Eve. He invited me to come too.

Part of me hoped Kent would be going but at the same time part of me hoped he wouldn't be going. Charlie hadn't mentioned any names and I hadn't heard back from Jackie, Josie or Holly even though I had written them all letters as well.

"You know, I'm always down to be your backup, just say the words and I'll have a bad packed," Rebecca said, suddenly turning towards me with a grin, "What if I came with you? A vacation and being your body guard, what do you say?"

I couldn't help but laugh as Rebecca wiggled her eyebrows and continued to beg me to let her come with. It would make me more comfortable having my childhood friend there.

"Alright, alright! I'll ask Charlie, okay?"

"When is your mom going to give you your phone back so you guys can stop this 'Dear John' crap and text like regular couples these days," Rebecca waved her hand at the letter still in my hands.

Although I had basically begged my mom to give me my phone back but she still wouldn't budge. I was hoping she'd allow me to go on this trip, as long as I didn't tell her we were staying with guys at a cabin we've never been to.

"Charlie and I aren't a couple," I argued back but Rebecca only rolled her eyes.

The bell rang for class to end and we hurried out of the library, having accomplished nothing for class. Rebecca waved goodbye and disappeared to her next class while I walked the opposite direction, towards mine. I hope Charlie would be okay with Rebecca coming. . .

===

I watched while Chunk and Squid yelled at each other, battling it out on Mario Kart on the old Nintendo 64 that three of us guys pitched in to buy. Pretty much the only good thing that had happened since Sadie got expelled. Charlie and Jase were sitting next to me watching, while Jayden and Dylan were glued to their phone on the other couch.

Usually the day before break was a time of celebration for me, but I could barely finish a whole beer to myself now. I held the half empty can in my hand still and for some reason kept glancing at my phone.

I couldn't help but notice Charlie had been more distant lately as well, always in his room or rushing to the office. I suspected he and Missy had started talking again and she was a TA in the office right now, he probably just didn't want to tell me. Thinking I'd be mad about it when in reality I'm just glad to have Missy off my ass for a while.

"Any fun plans for break, guys?" Jayden asked the group. Most of us shook our heads but Charlie was excited.

"I'm heading up to my parents cabin for New Years," He boasted with a big grin.

"Just you and your parents?" I asked. I hadn't been up to Charlie's families cabin in a few years but it had always been a fun time when we used to go. I wonder why stopped inviting me, we used to go up a few times every year.

"Nope, cabin all to myself for the weekend," A smug look made it's way onto his face but quickly vanished when his phone began ringing, "oh, I gotta take this,"

He jumped up and hurried out of the room without answering the call until he had shut the door behind him.

"Guys, I think we should surprise Charlie up at his cabin this weekend," I blurted out, getting everyone's attention. Chunk even paused the game. Charlie had been so distant lately, a guys trip couldn't hurt.

"Hell I'm in, I don't have any plans," Squid announced first, raising his hand for some reason. Chunk and Jase agreed but Jayden and Dylan looked skeptical.

"What if he doesn't want us up there?" Jayden asked.

"Yeah, he seemed pretty content being alone," Dylan muttered.

"Why would anyone want to spend New Years Eve alone in a cabin? Come on, we'll grab a ton of beer, surprise Charlie and have a great weekend bringing in the New Year together before Senior year,"

The others agreed and I could see Jayden and Dylan starting to be convinced of the plan.

"Can I bring Jackie though?" Squid asked, looking hopeful.

"I don't see why not," I glanced at the others and they all seemed to agree. I never would've imagined Squid being the one getting a New Years kiss, but who was I to ruin that for him?

"Okay, so it's a plan?" Everyone else nodded but stopped as soon as the door swung open and Charlie came strutting in again.

"What did I miss?" Charlie asked, sitting back down next to me.

"Nothing much," Squid said, unpausing the came and continuing to play with Chunk. Charlie glanced at me with a confused look but shrugged it off and pulled out his phone.

Now I finally had something to look forward to other than spending New Years Eve with my parents.