( two! )

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YOU DIDN'T WANT TO GO.

When you and Everett had received the video about coming back up to the lodge for the weekend, you were quick to refuse the invitation.

You had gotten bad vibes from that place ever since the twins' had went missing that night.

Not to mention, everyone had drifted apart.

The two of you traveling the world, in hopes of forgetting whatever happened the night your friends had pulled the prank.

You wanted nothing to do with Blackwood Lodge, and you made that pretty clear to your boyfriend.

"I'm not going back to that place, Everett. I have some bad vibes there, and I would rather not have them come true."

"It'll be alright, baby. It's just anxiety because of what happened that night. I promised I wouldn't leave you, remember?

"Plus, Josh needs this right now. His sister's are gone, us being there is the least we can do." He encouraged, and you sighed.

"Baby, I don't wanna gooo. What if something happens? He might try to get revenge on everyone who pulled the prank." You point out.

"He's not like that. He's just a grieving man who wants to reunite all his friends for the weekend. Just trust me, babe. It's going to be okay."

You stared at your brunet boyfriend for a few silent seconds, then sighed.

He smiled, knowing he won.

"I promise...if anything were to happen, I'll be here to protect you. Alright?" He pressed a reassuring kiss against your forehead.

"Okay, okay. I love you." You look over, and he grins while taking your hand.

"I love you, baby."

You watched the snow slowly fall against the windows of the bus you both were on, arm wrapped tightly around your boyfriend's as anxiety washed over you.

Every time you had come a foot closer to the Lodge, your stomach would ache up and your foot would stop tapping rapidly.

Everett had noticed your uneasiness and settled his hand on your thigh, hoping to ease the nerves.

"It's going to be okay, N/N. I'm here." He reassures.

You could only nod your agreement, watching as the bus soon rolls to a stop in front of the infamous Blackwood Lodge gate, allowing you both off.

Tightly gripping both yours and his bags', Everett started forwarded as you unwillingly walked behind.

The cold nipped at your skin, tightening its hold around you as your hands gripped the straps to your backpack.

"We'll need to climb over. I'll go first then pull you up afterwards." He tosses the suitcases over first.

Then starts up and you watch him from below.

After some struggling, you managed to swing your body onto the other side and drop down with your brunet boyfriend.

You forgot how long the trek to the lodge was, and every step closer felt like death.

It didn't help your only warmth was one of Everett's sweatshirts with ripped jeans and a black turtleneck, the male soon sliding his beanie over your head.

"I knew you should've brought more warm clothing. You're freezing now, babe." He points out, with a small laugh.

"I-I don't know what y-you're talking about." You hum in disagreement, as he playfully rolls his eyes.

"Yeah, okay." He teases.

Taking your hand in his, he leads you further up the mountain where the two of you soon see figures standing by the cable car.

Sam and Chris you had realized upon closer inspection, the blonde seeming to brighten at your figures.

"Well, well, well...look at who we have here. Is that Everett Stark and Y/N L/N?" Chris mentions.

"Hey, Chris." Your boyfriend smiles.

"Ah! You guys looks great! Y/N, I love what you did to your hair." Sam compliments, and your face warms at her words.

You hadn't done much to it, just cut the ends and dye them f/c.

But you appreciated that she noticed a change.

"T-Thanks." You quietly respond, nervously standing beside your boyfriend as she approaches your figure.

"It's so great to see you guys. It's been forever."

Sam reaches out for a hug, but you flinch back in reflex and she notices the change, quickly retracting her arms.

"Oh, uh...yeah. It really has been." Everett nods, changing the subject.

She noticed the differences in you, too.

You were much skinner than she remembered, and you made sure the sleeves were rolled down on your arms as gloves covered your hands.

Then she noticed the turtleneck covering the skin of your neck, which she found odd.

She's never worn turtlenecks before, she wonders.

"Well, anyway. I'm sure the others are up there and waiting for us. We should meet up with them." Chris suggested, noticing the mood change.

He didn't want to point out the obvious changes in your health, and Everett didn't say anything either.

He would try to mention something later.

"Right. Let's go, then." Your boyfriend nods in agreement, following after his two friends as you kept by his side.

It was slightly awkward in the cable car, until Chris started talking about how he met Josh then the butterfly effect.

"Boom: butterfly effect." He finished, and you softly smiled at his grin.

It was nice to see your friends happy.

Everett noticed the small smile you showed, and squeezed your hand in reassurance as you lean against his arm.

"So what's been going on with you two? You guys seem...quieter than usual." Chris points out.

Your shoulders tense in surprise at his question.

"Oh, you know...just been traveling around and such. Needed to take a break ever since...that night. Get our minds off everything." Everett shrugs.

"I don't mean to pry but...did anything happen during your traveling?" Sam wondered.

"No, why?" He played off.

"Just wondering, Y/N seems more anxious than normal. And a lot could happen in a year so I was curious." She explained, quickly.

"Nothing that you need to concern yourselves about. Don't worry." You reassured.

"You know I'm always gonna worry about you."

Before anyone could say anything else, the cable car comes to a stop and Sam tries the door but it was frozen shut.

"Oh look...there's Jessica." Everett points out, motioning toward the female.

"JESSICA!" Sam exclaimed, startling the girl.

"What are you guys doing in there? Having a stroke?" She wonders, catching her breath but the blonde explains the door's stuck.

After some prying on her side, the female is able to get the door open which allowed you all out.

"Oh thank god. Another second in there and I would've chewed my own leg off." Chris exaggerates, and Sam gags for a second.

"Gross, Chris." Your boyfriend snickers at his friend's joke, before adjusting the suitcase he held.

"Well, it's great to see you, again, Jessica."

Said female turns to look at you both, and she grins in happiness. "Everett! Y/N! It's great to see you guys, again, too."

Everett is the only one that hugs her between you both, and she also notices how quiet you are.

But she decides to not pride.

"Well, we're gonna start heading up to the lodge. You guys coming?" Everett wonders, and the blonde nods in agreement.

"Right behind you both. I'm guessing Jessica's gonna stay here for Mike?" She wonders.

The female hums in agreement.

"Yeah, we'll catch up later." She waves off, and the four of you continue your climb toward the lodge.

Chris and Sam separate from you guys, allowing another silence to form over the two of you as your hand tightly grips his.

The anxiousness wouldn't stop brewing inside your stomach, and you feared the worst.

"My stomach's getting worst, Everett." You whisper.

"We're almost there. You have your medication?" He wonders, and you just nod in agreement while adjusting the bag on your shoulders.

"Yeah. Everyone kinda looks the same, to be honest." You pointed out, and he laughs quietly.

"Yeah, I guess that's true, huh?"

It didn't take long to soon reach the lodge, where the familiar male who gathered everyone made eye contact with you both.

"Do my eyes deceive me or is that Everett and Y/N in the flesh?" He jokes.

"Josh. Joshua Washington."