{57}✔️

Dahlia's POV

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Christmas break officially starts on the tenth, which is next Tuesday. We get a long ass break, and I'm so thankful for that because that gives us plenty of time to go to the cabin and enjoy and then come back in time for Christmas. We're gonna leave at 5 pm next Tuesday and come back the morning of Christmas Eve. That gives us exactly two weeks in the cabin, and a lot can happen in two weeks. I'm hoping my dad and Aunt Josephine end up falling in love while we're there.

Convincing my dad to take off work a few days early and go to the cabin was kinda difficult, but after an hour of my begging and a thirty minute PowerPoint presentation that Cadence had made—She's oddly obsessed with making them—he finally agreed to it. Aunt Josephine was a lot easier to convince. All the twins had to do was ask and she said yes.

Billie was excited about it and agreed to come because she hasn't been on a vacation in a while, and she said that Finneas was a dweeb who wouldn't let her go anywhere alone so he and Claudia would be coming too, just as I expected. She had offered to pay for the whole trip, but I quickly shot that idea down. In fact, I'm gonna use $400 of my savings to pay for me and her because I told her I'd pay her back for my dress and this is how I'm doing it. And I still owe her $200 bucks.

It took almost an entire day of arguing with her to get her to agree to that, but I'm stubborn and resilient and I won that argument. And I'm damn proud of it.

She'd told me I'd won the battle but she'd win the war after agreeing to let me pay for her, but I just rolled my eyes and pulled her in for a kiss in response.

Just as I'd predicted, Denver had begged to bring Julia and Cora had begged to bring Liza. She glared at me as I smirked at her, sending her a knowing look as my oblivious dad agreed.

Hudson is coming too because he's our friend and, of course, his dad owns the cabin. The twins are coming as well, of course, and Caden is bringing Ken and Cadence is bringing Gigi.

Billie invited Bea, who agreed to come and begged to bring a friend of her own. Billie had asked her what friend and she'd admitted that she wanted to bring Luna because apparently she's crazy about her and doesn't wanna spend more than a few days away from her. Billie had quickly shot that down, but I agreed to let Bea bring her.

Billie and I already established that Billie and Luna getting together again isn't gonna happen. Billie has me and Luna has Bea and that's that. I'm not worried about Luna at all. Billie wants nothing to do with her and she made that perfectly clear.

Besides, I'm a little nosy. I wanna meet Luna once again. Sure, we'd spent the night of the Sadie Hawkins dance together, but I didn't know then what I know now. It'll be different.

I think it'll go smoother than Billie seems to think it will, but if not that's fine too. If Luna wants to start something she can get her fucking ass beat.

Billie's also worried about Kai and Jaylen, who I also invited. Kai and I have actually been getting along ever since the party, and I still don't fully trust her, but I don't hate her and I don't think she's gonna cause any problems. She seems like she's legitimately in love with Jaylen. Every time we talk she never shuts up about her, and I'm honestly really happy for them. I didn't really invite them because I wanted to spend time with them, though. I mean, sure that'll be fun and all, but honestly, we were just a few dollars short and needed some more money to be able to make this trip happen. We were already able to afford the two-week stay, but paying the additional $700 so that we could afford to do all the activities like skiing and shit while we were there? We were a few dollars short. Inviting Kai and Jaylen fixed that problem.

So, that's nineteen of us going on this trip and honestly, I couldn't be more excited. I love shit like this. Spending time with a big group of my friends and family? I'm beyond happy! I've never been more ready for a Christmas break.

"You really don't know the difference between a julienne cut and a batonnet cut, do you?" Mrs. East tsk'd as she walked by my table. I pouted as I looked down at the potatoes I had been cutting. They looked fucking terrible and I'm probably gonna get an 'F' for today, which means my hands smell like potatoes for no damn reason.

"Not everyone can be good at preparing food, don't sweat it, babe." Billie's fake sweet voice filled my ears before she let out a loud snicker and continued cutting her potatoes perfectly. I rolled my eyes and reached over, making random cuts in them with my knife. She gasped as I messed up her work and then pointed her knife at me. "I will cut you."

"She really will." Kai mumbled. I laughed loudly before clearing my throat and apologizing.

Billie smirked as she continued cutting her potatoes.

***

"This is the worst Thursday in the history of Thursdays," Caden whined as he cracked his knuckles and then picked up his pencil again. "All these fucking study guides and shit—Why are we just now getting a study guide in here when the test is tomorrow?"

"No, no. First through fourth-period tests are tomorrow. Fifth through eighth-period tests are Monday." I corrected him. He gasped.

"But...But—"

"Why are you pretending to stress? You always cheat anyway."

"Lower your voice!" He leaned in closer to my face and looked around quickly to make sure no one had heard. "I have to complain about not being ready for my tests so nobody suspects anything!" He whisper yelled. I rolled my eyes before picking up my phone as it began buzzing repeatedly.

Bitch ass group chat:

Bilboa: Aye Who all is supposed to be riding with me on the drive to the cabin?

Bilboa: I can fit seven people in my Jeep if 2 are willing to sit in the back trunk thingy

Bilboa: Actually I don't wanna drive for two whole hours so I'll sit back there. Who wants to drive?

D: I'll drive!

Bilboa: no you fucking won't

Cadence: no thanks to that. Caden can drive

Caden: why the fuck do I have to drive?

Cadence: so u can make urself useful for once? lol

Caden: I'll drive just cause Billie's car is cool. Bitch ass hoe.

Bilboa: dope so that's four ppl. Who else?

Huddy: me!!

D: didn't u say u get car sick sometimes?

Huddy: ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Huddy: no.

Bilboa: I like u Nd all but if u throw up in my shit I'm gonna beat your ass

Huddy: deal

Kai: well I know this is awkward but can I ride too? Cause I don't think me and Jaylen will have a way there if I can't.

Bilboa: aw. that's so sad. Cora are you there? Do you need a ride baby???

D: she's probably sleeping in her class rn. Yes you can ride with us Kai!

Bilboa: twins, don't y'all wanna ride w y'all S/O's ????? Come on now

D: ignore her y'all.

I rolled my eyes as I closed the group chat and opened up me and Billie's messages.

D: stop being a meany. We're gonna have a good time. Everybody's gonna get along. That includes u and Kai.

Bilboa: what part of I like to hold grudges do u not understand lmaooo

D: what part of you're not getting any pussy if u don't act right do you not understand ?

The group message buzzed a few moments later and I smirked as I saw the text.

Bilboa: so I've had a change of heart and I've decided that you're more than welcome to ride w us Kai.