As soon as it reaches her lips, vapor billows around the glass. She lowers the cup and sets it on the table. “It’s very hot tea,” she says.

“Is that how you try to hide it?” Christine asks.

“Is it working?” Ava says.

I reach forward and pick up the little cup in front of me. I look around to see if the waiter is nearby, even though he didn’t ask me for ID. Still, High School Me is panicking inside my brain. I raise the cup to my lips and sip the hot liquid. It is surprisingly easy to drink, or maybe not surprising given the price tag.

I continue to sip my drink and nibble at the food. Ava and Braden continue to flag down the waiter and order more bottles of sake, and more colorful, strange, tiny plates of food.

The conversation grows louder and my body warmer, and although Braden barely talks to me, I start to not really mind. Because, after each sip of sake, I feel more and more like I am good friends with all of these intimidating strangers.

“Oh, I almost forgot,” Christine says, as she pours herself more sake. A bit spills on the table and she dabs it with a finger and then licks it off. “My parents said we could have the ski house for spring break.”

“Oh, fabulous,” Ava says. “I’ll cancel the hotel tomorrow.”

“Everyone’s invited,” Christine says. “There are plenty of bedrooms.”

“There are plenty of guest suites,” Ava says.

Christine rolls her eyes. “There’re only two apartments in the guesthouse.”

“Dibs!” Ava says, raising her hand and knocking over a glass of water in the process. “Oops.” She tosses her napkin over the spill, but water continues to snake down the table.

“Sara,” Christine says, turning to me. She puts her hand on mine. “You should come too. You would love it. Have you ever been skiing in Aspen?”

“Nope. I’ve never been skiing ever.” I tuck a loose hair behind my ear.

“Well then you have to come,” she says. She leans closer, “And I’ll let you and Braden have the guesthouse. Ava can get over it.”

“That’s so nice of you to invite me,” I say. In my mind I picture my calendar. I mean... I guess I could probably see if I could leave the camp early... But still, I’m not sure if I should miss any of the week.

On the other hand, a mansion in the mountains? My mind swims in sake, and I can’t help but daydream about the majestic scenery, and spending time curled up by the fire, no stress or worries for almost an entire week. A break from it all.

“So you’ll come?” Her eyes are bright.

“Yeah.” I let myself smile. “I’ll make it work. Wouldn’t miss it.”