"“Ok, I got my dress.” Lillibeth says, shoving her dress in my face."

We walk around a bit till we come across a little ice cream shop. Despite the hot air the shop is empty. 

“Do you guys have any plans for when we get home?” I ask. Taking a sip from my cotton candy root beer float.

“I only have a week's rest till I go visit my family in Organ.” Bre speaks up first.

“I just plan to play video games.” Jayden says as he plays with his chocolate ice cream.

Lillibeth grabs my arm, forcing me to turn to her as she shakes me.

“You have to stay in contact with me. You know my parents are crazy! If you don’t hear back from me for a week, call cps!”

“As if they’ll do anything.” Bre rolls her eyes.

“It’s ok Lilli. I’ll make sure to text your mom.”

She gave me a big kiss on my forehead. “Thank you!”

We sit in silence for a while. I look out the window and watch as people walk by. It’s crazy how everyone has their own story and family. Years from now all these people will be dead and it will be like they were never here in the first place. I think that way about me and Colin. Everything seems to matter now but a year or two from now he could be a memory. A name forgotten in time.

“We should order an ice cream cake.” Jayden speaks out loud.

“You paying for it?” I ask, finishing my drink.

“Sure, But you all gotta pay me back.”

“You want us to pay you back for your own idea?” Mathew finally speaks up. He’s been on his phone the whole time. The kid is addicted to that thing.

“Well we’re all eating it.”

I sigh, digging in my bra and pulling out a 5.

“That’s all I’m putting”

Jayden takes it. Looking around the table.

Mathew puts in another 5. Jayden then looks at Bre and Lillibeth.

“I’m putting in my good looks.” Lillibeth says flipping her hair.

“Thanks Lillibeth, tell me when they get here.” She glares at him as he switches his eyes to Bre. She opens her month to speak but he immediately cuts her off. 

“I never even expected you to put in, so I don’t need a bullshit Excuse.” Jayden pulls out his card, getting ready to go But Lillibeth stops him. “I’ll go.” She gives him a smile before walking away. Swaying her hips as she makes her way to the cashier. We all watch as she flirts with him. Twirling her hair and laughing.

“Hopefully She’s talking him into giving us a free cake.” Jayden says.

We all go back to doing our own thing as we wait. Even though I want to go home I don't want this trip to end. I don’t want me and Colin to end. What’s going to happen when we leave? I’ve been on delivered for months. Are we just going to go our separate ways till school starts?

“Got it!” Lillibeth sings as she sits the cake in front of us. It’s cookies and cream with a blue edge. In the middle reads, ‘Till forever falls apart.’ She’s so cute.

Jayden waves his finger around it. “Was that extra?”

Lillibeth giggles. “No silly, he gave it to me for free. Well, in exchange for my number.”

“It better be free.” Jayden says getting up from his seat and taking the cake. “We better get back soon. We can put the cake in our fridge.” 

We all get up to make our way back. Lillibeth quickly grabs spoons before following.

“You really gave that kid your number?” I ask when she catches up to us. 

She gives me a look. “No, I gave him yours.”

I hate her.

“Will we get in trouble for this?” Mathew asks, staring at the cake that is steadily starting to melt.

“Why would we? We can keep snacks in our rooms. Our snack is just bigger than usual.” Jayden says. Being careful to not fall.

“I know we’re being careful but our cake is melting. We need to hurry.” Bre complains.

We make it quickly back to the hotel. A few of our classmates look at us but don’t say anything. We all make our way up to the boys room. Mathew gets in front to open the door and the only way to describe it is a hot mess.

“Sorry for the mess.” Jayden says. Mess? You have to try to be this messy. Clothes and food combined. He doesn’t even try to walk over the mess. He just steps all over his clothes. Lillibeth and I’s room might be messy but with clothes and makeup. Not pizza boxes and melted candy bars. At least our room smells like strawberries. But the funny part is Colin’s side of the room is perfectly clean. His bed is farthest from the door. All his shoes are perfectly lined up on the wall and his suitcase is nice and packed. He’s laying in the middle of his bed. Sleeping.

“I’m using the bathroom.” Bre says. Me and Lillibeth walk farther into the room going to the little mini fridge, opening the door just to find it full of food.

“Why would you volunteer your room knowing it’s full of stuff?” Lillibeth asks as she rolls her eyes. 

“Just shut up ok? We just need to clear it out.” Both the boys get on their knees, removing piles of food from their fridge. Lillibeth helps them. Picking up the trash and moving it to the trash. I watch for a while before making my way to Colin’s sleeping form.

‘How has this kid not woken up yet?’

He’s laying on his stomach. His glasses lay on his pillow a little ways above him. His head is buried as he’s holding something. 

My cardigan.

He’s snuggling my cardigan.

‘Why does he have to be cute?’

I sit beside his head. Running my hands through his curls. I rub my nail over his scalp and he sighs into the touch. He slowly opens his eyes and stares at me for a while. I smile at him. “Hi.”

He stays silent for a while. Before making a pouty face. His arm comes up to drag me down with him.

“Dude! It doesn’t fit!” 

Colin quickly sits up. Moving to put himself between the sound and me as he sees the mess my friends are making.

I look at the scene from Colin’s shoulder. They dropped the cake. The once beautiful lettering is now smudged. The cake now reads, ‘Fall apart’. The icing is all over the plastic lid.

“You ruined it!” Lillibeth screams, hitting Jayden on the head. Jayden hits her back resulting in a kitty fight. Bre comes out of the bathroom, making her way to their mess. Looking over Mathews shoulder.

“This is why we can’t have nice things.” Bre sighs walking to sit down on Jayden’s and Mathew's bed. It is then that I realize the very obvious flaw in this plan, we have an ice cream cake ... but we only have a mini fridge.

“It’s Lilli’s fault. She got the cake too big.” Jayden complains. Trying to fit the cake in the very small fridge.

“You guys didn’t give me a size!”

“Just cut it in half.” Mathew says like it's the obvious answer.

Jayden rolls his eyes. “And put the cake where. The container it’s in doesn’t fit.”

“Just cut the container.” Lillibeth says. “Then put the second part of the cake in the lid.” 

“Ooo smart.” Mathew says. Opening the melting cake. Using our forks to cut it in half.

“So they plan to put an ice cream cake in our mini fridge with no lid?” Colin whispers. I move more over him. Leaning over his shoulders more to see his face. He looks horrified.

Even with the sleep in his eyes he realizes the problem right away. The problem that took me till now to realize and my friends who still don't see what’s wrong here. 

‘And he’s the baby in the group?’

I move his curls from the back of his ear. Giving him a little kiss behind his ear. “I know baby I’m sorry.” All my friends are facing away from us, too invested in trying to make the cake fit.

He turns to look at me. His face wide awake. “Baby?”

I shrug.

In my mind I call him all sorts of pet names. But this is the first time I’ve said it to his face.

I move away from him. “Sorry-“

“No… I - I like it.” He turns to fully face me. His face red.

I watch him as he looks between the bed and me. A small smile forming.

Colin leans in. Like he’s about to give me a kiss before I’m suddenly pulled off his bed. Falling to the floor. Me and my attacker both fall. I stare up at the ceiling as I hear laughter. I look at Colin who is looking at whoever dragged me. Holding back his own laugh.

‘Trator’ 

I turn to the left to see Lillibeth. Her face shocked as she stares back at Colin.

“Why’d you do that?!” I scream. Sitting up. 

She sits up after me. Her face guilty. “I didn’t mean to pull that hard.” She puts her hands up in surrender. “Truth.” 

I roll my eyes at her, getting up and kicking her in the thigh.

“Ow!” She glares at me.

I look at her innocently. Shrugging.

“I didn’t mean to kick you that hard.”

I walk over her.

She frowns before getting up and following me towards the door where Bre is waiting for us. 

We say our goodbyes to the boys but before I close the door I give Colin a little wink. I see his eyes go wide before he nervously turns the other way. 

As we walk back to our room Bre stopes in her tracks.

“What’s wrong Bre?” Lillibeth asks. 

“That cake's going to melt.”

Do you like ice cream cake?