I shoved the last of our bags into the back of the car and slammed the trunk shut. We were supposed to be on the road already.

"Let's go," I called out to Chunk and Squid who were the last to get there things out of the dorm. Jayden, Jase and Dylan were already sitting in the car, waiting to get going.

As Chunk and Squid got closer I realized they were trying to hide something, something they wouldn't be able to hide long.

Jackie trailed behind Squid with her own little bag, looking nervous to approach the car full of guys.

"What's going on?" I asked as they got closer.

"Jacks wanted to come with, if that's okay," Squid said grabbing the shy girls hand and tugging her closer to him. Jackie had been a good friend of Sadie's while she was here, so I had no problem with it.

"Fine by me, but I want to get going so let's move," I grabbed Jackie's bag from her hands and shoved it into the back through the back door.

"Why didn't I get to invite someone?" Dylan immediately questioned as Jackie, Squid and Chunk squeezed into the shrinking car.

"You never asked," Squid stuck his tongue out and Dylan reached out to whack him upside the head.

"Keep your hands to yourself or I'll beat the hell out of all of you," I yelled back at the rambunctious crew as I threw the car into reverse.

"You didn't tell Charlie did you?" Jayden asked.

"No way, that's the point of a surprise," I kept my eyes on the road as I drove, excited to get this drive over with so we could all relax and have a good time. And get the hell out of this crammed car.

===

"This is a cabin?" Squid asked, gawking up at the large cabin as we pulled into the driveway. I jumped out and punched in the pin to open the garage and pull in but there was another car in the way. A Subaru was parked in the garage but Charlie's car wasn't. Weird.

Maybe he wasn't coming up here alone after all.

"Where's Charlie?" Chunk asked, already starting to pull our bags out.

"I have no idea," I walked into the garage and tried the side door, it was unlocked. He wasn't far if he left the doors unlocked.

"We can jut surprise him when he gets back," Squid mentioned.

"What about the car, he'll recognize it?" Jackie asked, already holding her bag and waiting for the groups next move.

"I'll park it around back," While the others made their way into the cabin, I hurried to pull the car around the back of the cabin and prayed that Charlie wouldn't notice the tire marks. I wonder where he had gone. Maybe to the lodge.

The guys and Jackie roamed around the cabin while I made my way to the master bedroom where Charlie and I had always stayed when we were younger. Instead of the room being empty and clean, a hot pink duffel bag and black duffel bag were thrown on the bed, the pink bag was open and clothes were spilling out of it.

It looked like a tornado went through the room. I guess I was right, Charlie hadn't planned on coming up here alone. He had a girlfriend and never mentioned it to anyone. Maybe not a girlfriend, but still.

I threw my bags in one of the bedrooms that hadn't been claimed yet and shuffled down to the kitchen where everyone was hanging out. I went straight to the kitchen, feeling the urge to drink for the first time in a long time. The fridge was full of fresh groceries and plenty of beer, plus a huge pitcher of punch that the housekeeper must have made for Charlie.

"Who the hell makes this much punch?" I muttered to myself while setting the pitcher on the counter and grabbing a six pack of beer.

"There's already someone's stuff in my room," Chunk called out and the group rushed to where he was on the second floor, crowding around to stare into the guest room where indeed another duffel bag was.

"So much for coming up here alone," I couldn't believe Charlie wouldn't have just been honest about it. If he wanted a weekend to himself with a girl then all he had to do was say that. Dread sank into my stomach, knowing I was about to ruin my best friends New Years Eve plans.

"I think we should get out of here guys," I said, walking back down to the kitchen.

"What! We just got here!" Squid called out.

"Yeah, why would we leave?" Dylan found where the cups were and was pouring himself a big glass of punch.

"Because clearly Charlie didn't want us coming up here, it's obvious he wants to be alone up here with whoever he's with,"

"We just drove like three hours to get here though, there's plenty of room for all of us here anyway," Chunk explained but before anyone could say another word we heard a car pull up outside.

"They're here, hide!" Squid yelled, grabbing Jackie's hand and pulling her into the nearest bathroom.

I think Jayden and Dylan made it behind a few curtains and I was stuck bending behind the couch with Jase.

"That was amazing, but I'm definitely ready for some alcohol," I heard an unfamiliar, high pitched voice come closer to where we were hiding, they were standing in the kitchen now.

"There's plenty of that here," Charlie announced. I heard his footsteps as he walked towards the fridge and opened it, "What the. . ."

"Thanks for waiting for me you guys," A familiar, sarcastic voice called out now. I knew that voice.

It sounded exactly like Sadie.

Involuntarily my knees straightened and I stood up from behind the couch, my eyes finding Sadie immediately as her eyes grew wide.

"Kent?" Charlie's head snapped towards me as I heard Sadie say my name for the first time in almost two months. Charlie's happy go lucky, charming smile faded and was replaced by a menacing scowl and cold glare. What the hell was going on.

"Surprise?" Squid announced weakly, peaking his head out from the bathroom and shrugging his shoulders innocently. Charlie glanced at every single one of us as we all popped out of our hiding places.

"What. . . what are you all doing here?" Charlie's jaw was clenched and I could tell he was trying to keep it together. Although I was still trying to understand why Charlie would be upset about it, sure we ruined his plans for the weekend but he was the one who was up at a cabin with the girl I had fallen for.

"We thought we'd surprise you, but obviously you've got other plans," I muttered, my eyes not leaving Sadie's the whole time I spoke. Her gaze was on me as well, her hands fidgeting with her sweater and she kept inching towards her other friend.

She looked confused and hurt and for a moment I was glad. Why the hell was she up here with Charlie anyway? Did my feelings mean nothing to her?

Anger was starting to swell in my chest. Had Charlie and Sadie been talking the whole time?

"I, well. . ." Charlie couldn't seem to find the right words to say as he glanced around to all the stunned faces. No doubt this would be the talk of the school once break was over, "My parents told me I couldn't have a bunch of people up here so I only invited a couple,"

"I thought you said-" Charlie cut off Sadie by raising his hand, telling her to be quiet. Sadie's eyes flared.

Lies. Complete lies were pouring out of Charlie's mouth, his parents always encouraged him to have my friends and to invite more people around. There's no way they would have a problem with this.

Jackie poked her head out of the bathroom finally and saw Sadie, rushing over to embrace her in a tight hug and breaking some of the tension in the room. Sadie quickly introduced Jackie to her friend, Rebecca I think her name is, and the guys took this chance to say hi to Sadie again. They were all excited to see her, I couldn't tell if I was or not anymore.

Now Sadie wouldn't even look at me. My heart felt like it was about to beat out of my chest for this girl and she couldn't even make eye contact with me. I guess she had already chosen then. Charlie was who she wanted to be with, clearly.

That's probably why I had never heard back from her, she was too busy entertaining Charlie.

"I'll be right back, make yourselves at home I guess," Charlie fished his phone of of his pocket and rushed out the front door.

Sadie had made her way over to the kitchen island, picking up the large pitcher of punch of offering everyone a drink. I couldn't bring myself to move from where I was still standing in the living room, I could only watch from a distance as my friends hugged Sadie and asked how she had been. Sadie made sure to introduce Rebecca to all of them as well.

"I think it's great that you guys wanted to surprise Charlie," Rebecca grabbed a few more glasses for Sadie to pour more punch into. I couldn't stop staring at her and everyone knew it.

"I'm glad you're all here, do you guys want any?" Sadie held out a glass of punch, changing the subject like typical Sadie. I opted out, still needing to finish my beer and try to piece everything together.

Sadie managed to glance my way for a brief second before she looked back at the group, drinking her punch with a shaky hand.

After a few more awkward moments, Sadie grabbed Jackie and Rebecca and pulled them towards the master bedroom.

"What the hell is going on?" Squid asked once the girls had slammed the door shut, "I didn't know Charlie and Sadie even liked each other,"

"They don't," I blurted out without thinking. I didn't want everyone to see how upset I actually was about this situation.

"She's up here with Charlie, I don't know what else it's supposed to look like," Jayden mumbled, sipping his punch.

"Shut the hell up man," Chunk hit Jayden's arm and stepped forward to pat me on the shoulder, "I'm sure if you talk to her it'll all make sense,"

"If you distract Charlie, I'll figure this out," I told Chunk who simply nodded, understanding his assignment, and filling up his second cup of punch.

Something definitely wasn't right here and if Sadie and I didn't talk now, we'd never figure it out.