Snow Cover

Chapter 8 Friendly Jokes

Julia's POV

I clear my throat trying to figure out how to word this so hopefully she won't be mad or hate me too much.. That even goes for her man, Tom, because it will affect him as well. "Well actually that's what I wanted to talk with you about.." I state as she tilts her head to the side showing her curiosity, but not moving a muscle otherwise. Here goes nothing, let's start this. "He wants to take me on a business trip over the weekend to this ski resort that he goes to quite often, apparently." I state as her eyebrows furrow.

"But you don't know how to ski." she says this as if I didn't already know, so I nod then shrug my shoulders. "I can learn, and he said he would be willing to try to teach me." I reply as she instantly retorts, "But you don't really know him that well." After she states this knowingly, Tom peaks his head out from behind her, just to state over her shoulder. "Well she knows him well enough.. am I right." he smiles big as I shake my head and Chanel laughs in response to that. "Ok.. so to where is he planning on taking you?" she asks as I instantly reply. "Colorado."

I watch her eyebrows scrunch as she declares. "Well, isn't that brave of you." I shake my head, not understanding her comment. "What do you mean?" I reply as she states. "Haven't you seen those news reports? The sh*t that has been happening for years at ski resorts in that state?" I shake my head as she declares, thinking I will know what she is talking about after a little more information. "You know.. all the s*xual assaults and beatings that have been happening for years to many different women, and within the last year it has even evolved into murder." I shake my head automatically, not recalling any such story.

She looks surprised as if it has been all over the news or even on social media, but I don't deal much with that either, so I wouldn't know about things like that. I keep shaking my head, showing the pure confusion at this rate, so she continues on. "They have evidence to prove that it is the same person who was assaulting women in these ski resort areas, and he has now changed things and is killing women instead of just assaulting them.. It's so sad.. It's been all over the news for a while now because they can tell that he is getting worse since more and more women have been getting murdered in the same ways. It started off as only a couple of women in a half a year and now has evolved to once a month." she says this information as if she has been studying it for a while or something.

I can see Tom's head nodding behind hers. He is agreeing whether he really knows about this or not. She glances back at him before turning her gaze back towards me as she adds. "This is terrifying and I know that I wouldn't want to be going there if I were you." She states to me and I can understand why she would say that, but I don't want to cancel when I have said yes multiple times and who knows where this person is.. I can't stay away from an entire state just because of one person who may or may not be there. "Yeah.. But come on Chanel." I state this too bluntly because it almost sounds like I don't believe her and that's now how it was supposed to come out.

The concern is even more apparent than before. "Julia, there have been so women killed all over Colorado.. They said that this person is strictly labeled as a serial killer now.. But they don't know who the person is yet, which means that they are running around the state as a free man at the moment.. And they think by how well this person knows the areas that it could be a person born and raised in that state.. Since one thing that all the crimes have in common that the police can share with the public, is that each crime scene is at a ski resort.. But in particular areas, only areas that you would know if you were a local to the town or even state, since they all take place at different ski resorts all around that state.. But do you actually want to go to a ski resort on your first trip to Colorado? Especially with everything that has been happening at places like that lately?"

I think about this for a moment, because I do understand what she is meaning. There is no denying that it is scary when you think about it, but I don't want some psycho to keep me from having fun in this opportunity that I might not ever get a chance to do again. Especially when killing happens all the time, in every single state. I can't let this person dictate what I do because of some tragedies that have occurred in that area. Besides, I have already agreed, and I feel like I need this trip for my sanity.

"Chanel.. I really do appreciate your concern, but you have to understand that people tragically die in every state for one reason or another.. I can't let this monster win by not going altogether to that same state where some bad things have happened.. Especially when I just had a great opportunity laid out for me. You know me and I don't do these kinds of things for myself, so why not take a leap of faith to get a fun new experience in return? Besides, I'll have John with me.. He is a big man, and I will be with him the whole time as far as I understand.. So I don't think there is any reason to worry." I declare with the utmost confidence in not just me but John as well.

"Ok.. I guess that's true.. I do think you deserve to have fun and try new things, and I have been telling you to do that as well. So, yes, you're right. You can't let the psycho win.. Just be careful.. I understand you have John, but everything between the two of you is still fresh and new.. This isn't too incredibly new.. But still new enough.. What if he is some insane s*x addict taking you to somewhere that they won't hear you scream! On the other hand, now that I say this out loud, it actually sounds fun.. But.. What if he is some type of serial killer taking you away?" she spats as Tom finishes for her. "Where no one will hear her scream?"

She nods her head frantically while pointing at Tom, but all I can do is shake my head at her silly accusations, "Well for one thing, if he was a serial killer, then don't you think he would have taken advantage of the fact that he had me all alone, naked and vulnerable with just himself in my apartment and a plethora of different things to use as weapons? Especially since I had nothing to defend myself in that moment." I defend John and the situation as much as I can while she slowly nods her head. "Yeah, probably.. And he seems nice.. and polite.. I know I sound like a worry wart.. I just worry about you sometimes and want to make sure you're being safe," she says as I nod in understanding.

I walk over to her grabbing her to get a hug that I think we both need after that talk. "I get that I really do.. and I know that I don't know him as well as I probably should before running off on vacation with the man.. But you know as well as I do that he has been helping me to get out of this funk that I have been stuck in for a while.. And I can't deny the fact that I need to try something new and a vacation that I never give myself has been laid out for me to take." I state as she starts nodding at what I have said making me feel better about how I have been feeling.

"Besides, like you said, he has been nice and respectful the entire time. He gave me the choice to bring him into my apartment and room.. He gave me the choice to join him on this trip, and I said yes multiple times because he has been so respectful.. He even kept asking just to make sure that I was ok to go with him. So do your best to try not to worry about me. I think I will be fine for a couple of days away." I state letting her go as I step back to see that she is still nodding from knowing how stressed I have been and how he has been helping me to feel better lately, so there is no denying my explanation.

"I really think I need to give him this chance to show me his true colors. Trips do that for people and I think this trip might show me what I need to know about him and where this relationship could go." I explain further as I notice Chanel letting out a deep breath. She knows just as much as I do that with any new relationship at some point, you have to take a leap of faith with them and hope for the best. I watch as she keeps nodding before she adds on, "Yeah, you really do need the vacation.. and c*ck." I gasp out as I slap her arm, causing her and I to laugh together. "Ok.. yes.. I need c*ck and a vacation, and I would be getting both this weekend.. So I couldn't say no.. right?" I reply as she keeps smiling and nodding.

Tom has a smile that is just as big as Chanel's, which is cute. They are a very nice, sweet, and understanding couple, I can see why they are so good together. They have made this conversation better than I imagined it would be when realizing I had to talk to them about this weekend. But I am feeling better about this by the minute. This conversation is making me feel at ease so far while heading in the right direction.. But now onto the hard part, when I ask for help.

I have such a hard time asking for any type of help.. but I have to if I want to do this little vacation that could be so much more for me. "Alright.. I guess I'm ok with all of this.. But what are you going to do about work?" she asks as I quickly explain. "Well, I only have two morning shifts to worry about, one tomorrow and one on Sunday.. And I was hoping that the best roommate and coworker in the entire world would be willing to help her desperate roommate out.. to get c*ck and time away." I declare this almost nonchalantly while keeping my fingers crossed for her to see.

She looks at my fingers, I think finally realizing what I am talking about, as I see her eyes roll while she groans out, pinching the bridge of her nose. I watch her hand letting it go before falling down to her side as she looks back at Tom. He winks at her as she looks back at me, then states. "Yes, of course I will help you out because, like you said, I'm the best.. But you owe me!" She points her fingers at me as I get way too excited and instantly hugging her, while jumping up and down, causing her to do the same with me.

That is until Tom decides to join us, as all three of us are bouncing together in a tight hug while we make circles around the floor. I couldn't be more excited about the fact that she has agreed to actually help me. I feel the relief automatically covering me at that thought. I can finally relax and start focusing on the trip at hand.