Winter Curse: Book One

Yawning, Heather exits Satoru's hotel room and runs smack into Ingrid. Eyes wide, she grabs the girl by the arm and drags her hurriedly back to their own hotel room.

"What did you do last night!"

"Nothing! We just slept, honest!"

"Really?"

"Really, really. But, I'll tell you this: he definitely liked my dancing."

"Yeah, I like Satoru's, too."

"Huh?"

"Never mind," Heather says with a laugh. "Tell me all about it."

Excitedly, Ingrid gives Heather all the details. This is her first time having such a story for Heather, who typically is the one sharing details with Ingrid. It makes her feel good like she's on a level with Heather she's never been before.

Heather would disagree that there was any kind of barrier between her and Ingrid, but it's never felt that way from Ingrid's standpoint. She feels like this is a whole new level of existence.

"Do I want to know what happened in Satoru's room?"

"No, but I'll tell you anyway..."

Suguru's room:

"You can't be serious."

"I am. Don't worry about it, I'll be fine. I'm just going to explore a little farther ahead and I'll be right back."

"You know I'll go with you..."

"I know, but I don't want Ingrid to worry."

"She's going to worry either way! And what am I supposed to tell her? You're just taking an extremely long shit?"

He shrugs, digging in the bottom of his bureau for his favorite short sleeve Hawaiian shirt. Buttoning it quickly, he looks back at Satoru.

"If she's going to be with me she's going to have to trust me."

"If you're going to be with her you're going to have to be honest," Satoru counters.

"Do you think I'm being stupid?"

"Yes."

"Wow, no hesitation there whatsoever."

"Nope. Go tell her where you're going. I'll practice mantras with her today until you get back."

Seeing that Suguru is not even making an attempt to go to the door, he continues.

"You can't just sneak off without talking to her. You act like you've never been in a relationship for fuck's sake."

"Who said this is a relationship? All that happened is we kissed and then slept."

Silence.

Silence and a pair of dubious blue eyes are met with a resigned sigh.

"You're right. I know that you're right. I hate when you're right. I don't know why I felt the need to sneak off. I don't want to upset her..."

"Yeah well, go talk to her. You won't know how much she can handle unless you do, right?"

Girls' room:

The guys walk in with a loud hello and are immediately shushed, the girls eyes glued to the TV screen.

"They are sending archaeologists down below the church!"

"What," Suguru says. "We haven't given the city the all clear yet! What do they think they're doing?"

Ingrid shrugs.

"I don't know, maybe they felt like they were sitting on their hands and needed to be doing something."