Treat You Better 💙❤️
Part 26: The Steeper Side of Things
Wally x Maddie
Warnings and info: everyone is Alive AU, set in 2023-24 (in line with the show), swearing,If any of the sledding terminology is wrong, I'm sorry I tried my best, I've never sledded before so I had to rely on google and @seeker1982 for that but somethings may still be wrong
Summary: Wally’s struggling with his choice about college. Everyone notices how Wally is pushing himself too hard during practice. So Maddie comes up with an idea to help take his mind off things – sledding, which seems to come at a good time for everyone.
Masterlist
Maddie frowned. “What?”
“Wait- seriously?” Charley said, sitting up straighter.
Wally exhaled, dragging a hand over his face. “I mean… the plan for college was always getting a scholarship. And since I decided against it, my mom probably thought my dad would pay- because she can't." He paused, his jaw tightening slightly. “So yeah… I think I made a huge mistake.”
“There are other options,” Simon said quickly, already thinking ahead.
Nicole nodded. “Yeah -financial aid, for starters.”
“Or scholarships for kinesiology,” Rhonda added. “They’re not all sports based.”
Wally let out a quiet, humourless breath, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. “Like I can get one of those. I’m not smart enough for that.”
Charley frowned. “That’s not true, Wally.”
Wally shook his head. “Both my parents said it when I told them. So… if they think that, it’s probably true.”
When he said those words, that landed heavier than anything else.
Maddie leaned forward, her hand finding his without hesitation. “They’re wrong,” she said firmly. “I know that. Everyone else does too. You can do whatever you set your mind to.”
Wally didn’t respond right away. His gaze dropped to where their hands were, his thumb brushing lightly against hers like he needed something to ground him.
“I just… need some time to think,” he said finally, pushing himself up. “I’m gonna head to bed.” He hesitates, then added, a little quieter, “Sorry I couldn’t be much of a host.”
He forced a small smile before turning, heading down the hallway toward his room.
Charley glanced around. “Uh… I take that’s our cue to leave?”
“I feel bad about kicking you guys out,” Maddie said.
Simon shook his head. “Don’t. We weren’t planning on staying long anyway.”
Nicole glanced at Maddie. “Just make sure he’s okay.”
“I will.”
“See you tomorrow,” Rhonda said, grabbing her jacket and opening the door. A cold gust of wind slipped inside, making her shiver. “I can’t wait until winter is fucking over.”
“You and me both.” Charley muttered.
Maddie let out a small breath of laughter before closing the door behind them with a soft click.
She grabbed their bags, carrying them down the hallway to Wally’s room. When she pushed the door open, the room was dim, lit by only the faint glow from the lamp on his dresser. Wally was lying on top of his bed, arms draped over his face like he was trying to block everything out. “They’ve left.” Maddie said gently.
“Okay,” he mumbled.
She set the bags down near his desk and sat on the edge of the bed. “Do you want to talk about it?”
Wally let out a slow breath, then dropped his arms and sat up beside her. “Do you mind if we just go to sleep? I’m tired.”
“Yeah,” Maddie said softly. “Of course.”
For a second, neither of them moved.
Then Maddie pushed herself up from the bed. “I’m just gonna get changed.”
Wally nodded faintly. “Yeah. Same.”
She grabbed a couple of things from her bag and slipped out of his room into the bathroom. The exhaustion was catching up to her as she changed, moving slower than usual.
She slipped back into his room, flicking off the lamp and crawling under the covers next to Wally, shifting on her side to face him.
Wally lightly pressed a kiss to her lips. “Good night, Mads,” he whispered.
“Good night,” she muttered.
The morning came quicker than Maddie expected it too. She’d half expected Wally to open up to her about what he said last night- but he didn’t. He talked about everything else, except that. She would wait until he was ready to talk about it. And when he was, she’d be there for him, listening- just like he always had for her.
Wally pushed open the double doors, leading inside. Warmth wrapped around them, a stark contrast to the bitter cold they’d just come from.
As they walked down the hall toward their lockers, Nicole, Simon, Charley, Rhonda, Yuri, Dawn, and Janet were all huddled nearby.
Janet was the first to notice them. “Hey, welcome back.”
Maddie nodded. “Hey. Honestly, feels like we never even left.”
Wally opened his locker, shifting things around like he suddenly had something important to do. The others picked up on it immediately. Instead of pushing, Charley redirected his attention to Maddie.
“Madison,” he said, mock- serious. “You didn’t show me what you wore to the wedding!” “Right. Sorry.” Maddie pulled out her phone, scrolling to the pictures before handing it over.
“Mads, you look hot,” Charley said, flicking through them. “Oh and, you too Wally.”
Dawn, Janet and Nicole leaned on to look over his shoulder.
“You look beautiful, Maddie.” Nicole added.
“You look beautiful too, Wally,” Dawn said.
Wally huffed a quiet laugh. “Thank you?”
“So,” Janet said, tilting her head slightly, “which one is Jessica and which one is Isabelle?”
“Yeah and who’s the hottie on the end?” Charley waggled his brows.
Yuri glanced at him. “Umm… hello?”
Charley looked up at him. “Relax,” he said lightly. “You’re still my favourite.”
Maddie laughed, taking her phone. “That’s Izzy in the green. And Jess is in the blue- and that’s her boyfriend, Liam”
Just then, Quinn made their way down the hall, sliding in beside Rhonda. Without hesitation, they leaned in and kissed her.
Rhonda froze for a split second before pulling back, shooting them a look. “You know how I feel about PDA.”
Quinn winced slightly. “Sorry.”
Maddie blinked, glancing at Wally before looking back at them. “Wait- when did this happen?”
Rhonda shrugged. “A couple of days ago.”
Quinn nodded. “I admitted I liked her, and she felt the same,” they said. “We’re still figuring things out.”
“I’m happy for you,” Maddie said, smiling.
“Yeah,” Wally added. “Me too.”
Rhonda rolled her eyes, but there was a hint of a smile there. After a beat, Wally added,
“I’m going to go find Coach Hernandez before class starts,” he said, slinging his bag over his shoulder. “I’ll see you guys later.”
When he disappeared down the hall, Simon turned to Maddie. “Has he said anymore?”
Maddie shook her head. “No. He didn’t want to talk about it last night, and this morning he just talked about other things.”
Nicole gave her a sympathetic smile. “He’ll come around.”
Wally found Coach Hernandez out by the gym, clipboard in hand, talking to one of the assistant coaches. He hovered for a second, then stepped forward.
“Coach- uh, do you have a minute?”
Coach Hernandez glanced over, then nodded toward the hallway. “Yeah. Walk with me.”
They started down the hall, the noise of the gym fading behind them.
“What’s up?” the coach asked.
Wally rubbed the back of his neck. “I just… had a question.”
Coach glanced at him briefly. “Alright.”
Wally hesitated, then forced the words out. “If someone… changed their mind about a scholarship… would it be too late?”
Coach slowed slightly. “Depends,” he said. “Why? You asking for someone else, or…?”
Wally let out a breath. “Me.”
They walked a few more steps before the coach spoke again.
“You were pretty set on not going that route,” he said. “What changed?”
Wally stared ahead. “It’s complicated.”
“Usually is.” Coach Hernandez said, nodding.
Wally swallowed. “I just-” He paused, trying to find the right way to say it. “I don’t know what I’m doing anymore. And I’m realizing I might’ve shut something down before I actually thought it through.”
Coach was quiet for a moment.
“Well,” he said finally, “you’re not wrong about timing. Scouts are already making decisions. A lot of spots are filling up.”
Wally’s jaw tightened slightly. “So I missed it.”
“Not necessarily,” Coach said. “You made it harder on yourself, yeah. But not impossible.”
Wally glanced at him. “There’s still a chance?”
“There’s always a chance,” Coach replied. “It just depends how serious you are about it.”
Wally didn’t answer right away.
“I don’t know if I am,” he admitted. “That’s the problem.”
Coach studied him for a second. “Then don’t make the decision today.”
Wally frowned slightly.
“You don’t need to commit yet,” Coach continued. “But if you want the option, we can see what’s out there. Make a few calls. Get a sense of where you stand.”
Wally nodded slowly. “Yeah… that’s all I want. Just to know.”
“Alright,” Coach said as the first bell rang. “Get to class, see you in practice.”
Wally let out a breath, the tension in his shoulders easing, just slightly.
The school day dragged, every class feeling longer than the last. Maddie barely registered any of it, her thoughts constantly drifting back to Wally, trying to figure out what he was thinking and how she could be there for him.
By the time the final bell rang, she was more mentally exhausted than anything else. The gym felt familiar in a way the rest of the day hadn’t. Sneakers squeaked against the polished floor, voices echoed off the walls and the coach’s whistle cut sharply through it all.
Maddie sat on the bleachers with Charley, Nicole, Simon, and Rhonda, her notebook open in her lap.
“You’ve written, like… three words in five minutes,” Nicole pointed out.
“I’m aware,” Maddie muttered. “My brain’s just not cooperating.”
Charley leaned back. “I can relate. I gave up ages ago.”
Rhonda glanced at him. “We’ve been here for ten minutes.”
“Longest ten minutes of my life,” Charley said.
Simon flipped through his notebook. “And yet, still accurate.”
“I had intentions too,” Charley defended.
“That doesn’t count,” Simon said.
Down below, Wally moved through the drills with the rest of the team.
Except… he wasn’t moving like his usual self. He was faster. Sharper. Pushing through each drill without slowing, like stopping wasn’t an option. When the others stopped, he didn’t. When the coach called something out, Wally adjusted instantly, already moving again before anyone else had caught up.
“Okay, even I can tell something’s off with him,” Charley said, squinting toward the court.
“He’s overdoing it.” Rhonda added.
On the court, Coach Hernandez blew his whistle sharply.
“Clark!” he called, stepping closer. “Ease up a second.” Wally barely slowed. “I’m good,” he said, already moving onto the next drill.
Conrad jogged up beside Wally as they reset. “You good?” he asked, catching his breath.
Wally didn’t stop moving. “Never better.”
Conrad gave him a look but didn’t push, just shook his head as they lined up again.
Maddie kept her eyes fixated on Wally. She knew he was pushing himself. She knew why too. She just wished he would open up to her what was going on in his head.
She tore her gaze away from him, turning her attention back to the others. “Are you guys free Saturday?” she asked. “I wanted to do something for Wally. This week’s been a lot on him.”
Nicole tilted her head. “Doesn’t your mom get back Saturday?”
“Yeah,” Maddie said, nodding. “But not until later. The rest of the day’s free.”
“What do you have in mind?” Simon asked.
“We could go sledding or something?” Maddie suggested.
Rhonda scrunched up her face. “You lost me at sledding.”
“Oh, come on,” Nicole said, nudging her arm lightly. “It’ll be fun. And you can bring Quinn along – they’d love it.”
Charley sighed dramatically. “Normally, I would also say no because I hate the cold and value my life-”
Simon didn’t look up from his notebook. “You’ll survive.”
“Debateable,” Charley shot back, before continuing, “But I could actually use the distraction.” He paused for a moment. “Yuri is meeting my family on Sunday.”
“That’s huge, Charley.” Maddie said, her expression softening.
Charley let out a small breath. “Yeah. And I’m nervous as fuck. We all know how my parents reacted when I introduced them to Emilio.”
Rhonda glanced over at him. “That was a long time ago, Charley.”
“They’re not like that anymore,” Nicole said gently. “You’ve said that.”
“Yeah,” Simon added. “People can change. You said it yourself - they’ve grown.” “Yeah I know,” Charley said. “Still terrifying though.”
Maddie nodded. “I know. But you’ve got this. Yuri’s a great guy, Charley,” she said, gently. “It will be different this time. I know it will.”
“And, you’ve got us in your corner, Char,” Nicole added. “We’ve always got your back.”
Charley smiled. “I love you guys.”
Just then, Coach Hernandez blew the whistle. “Alright, we’re done for the day. Hit the showers, boys.”
They stood, grabbing their things. Nicole turned to Maddie. “Do you want me to wait with you a bit longer?”
Maddie shook her head. “No. I’m okay.”
Nicole nodded. “Text me if you need anything.”
“Will do.”
Maddie waited just outside the boys’ locker room, leaning against the wall, arms folded loosely as the noise of the team filtered out- laughter, lockers slamming, voices overlapping.
Wally was one of the last to come out. His hair was still slightly damp, bag slung over his shoulder, movements slower now that practice was over. The pressure from earlier was still there, just buried under exhaustion.
Maddie pushed off the wall. “Hey.”
“Hey,” he said, offering a small smile as he planted a kiss on her temple.
She studied him for a second. “You pushed yourself pretty hard out there.”
“I’m fine, Mads.”
Maddie didn’t say anything -she didn’t need to. Just gave him that look.
Wally huffed out a quiet breath, shaking his head. “Right. Can’t hide anything from you.”
She raised her brow slightly.
“Okay, yeah,” he admitted. “I pushed myself and I’m tired.
Maddie let out a low laugh. “Yeah, no shit.”
Wally gave a tired half-smile, shaking his head.
They walked toward the exit together. The cold hit them the second they stepped outside.
Maddie pulled her jacket tighter around herself, her breath fogging in front of her as they made their way across the parking lot. Snow crunched under their shoes, the lot dimly lit by the flickering streetlights and lined with the last few cars half-buried in white. His truck sat at the far end, under a thick layer of fresh snow, covering the car.
Wally unlocked the truck, tossing their bags into the back before reaching down to grab the snow brushes from the floor. Maddie moved to the other side without a word, brushing snow off the windshield in steady strokes while Wally cleared the passenger side. Light flakes drifted down around them, catching in their hair and shoulders. They worked quickly, the only sounds were the soft scrape of the brush and the crunch of snow beneath their feet.
Once they finished, Maddie tossed the brushes back inside just as Wally reached for the driver’s door-
“Let me drive,” she said, stopping him. “You shouldn’t be driving when you’re like this.”
He didn’t argue. Just gave a small nod and walked around to the passenger side, climbing in without another word.
For a moment, they drove in complete silence, the only sounds coming from the heater and the low hum of music playing on the radio. Maddie glanced over at him before looking back at the road, the familiar houses passing by as snow began to fall heavier. She didn’t push. She knew he’d open up when he was ready.
She pulled into the driveway and cut the engine, the quiet settled quickly. Maddie twisted in her seat, grabbing his bag and passing it to him before reaching for her own. They climbed out of the truck, the cold biting again as they made their way up the snow-covered path to the front door.
Inside, Maddie flicked on the lights, dropping her bag to the floor. She shrugged off her jacket, handing it to Wally as he hung both of them in the hall closet. Wally moved straight to the heater, turning it on before dropping onto the couch. Maddie followed, sitting beside him as he grabbed a blanket and pulled it over their legs.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. She rested her head on his shoulder, his hand settling absentmindedly on her thigh as the warmth of the room began to sink in.
Wally let out a slow breath, his body finally starting to relax. “Today’s been… a lot,” he said quietly.
Maddie nodded slightly against him. “The last couple of days have been a lot.”
She waited a second before speaking again, her voice softer now. “How’d it go with Coach this morning?”
Wally’s hand stilled slightly against her leg. He stared ahead for a second before answering. “Not great.”
Maddie lifted her head slightly, just enough to look at him.
“He said scouts are already making decisions,” Wally continued. “Some offers are probably already gone. And even if they’re not…” He trailed off, shaking his head. “I don’t know if I’d even get one now.”
Silence settled between them again.
“I just keep thinking about what I said last night,” he added more quietly. “About cutting my dad out of my life. And what that actually means… not relying on him for anything.” He paused, jaw tightening. “And about giving up the scholarship so quickly.”
Maddie didn’t interrupt him, just listened.
“I was so sure about college,” Wally went on. “And now I don’t know what to do.”
“But if you do pursue a football scholarship,” she said, gently. “it will be something you don’t even enjoy.”
“I know,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. “But it will lead to a career. Something for me to do, instead of doing nothing after I graduate.”
She shifted slightly beside him, turning just enough to face him. “I can’t make those choices for you,” she said gently. “But I’m going to support you no matter what you decide.”
“I know you will, Mads,” he said quietly.
She held his gaze for a second before continuing. “And you don't have to have it all figured out tonight. Talk to your mom on Saturday, okay? Get her advice on what she thinks, especially about cutting out your dad.”
Wally let out a slow breath, nodding. “I will.”
Maddie shifted slightly, pulling the blanket tighter around them. “We should probably sort something out for dinner.”
Wally nodded. “Sounds good, you decide. I’m happy with anything.”
Maddie reached for her phone on the side table, scrolling through the different options. “Chinese?”
“That works.”
Her thumb hovered over the screen before she glanced back at him. “Hey… I was thinking, Saturday we could go sledding or something. Get out of the house for a bit. Take your mind off of all this.”
Wally looked over at her, expression softening. “Yeah, that sounds great.”
She smiled faintly, then placed the order and set her phone back down, settling against him again. “Food will be here soon.”
Wally hummed softly, his head resting back against the couch.
Not long after, the doorbell broke through the quiet. Maddie grabbed the bags while Wally cleared a space on the coffee table, the smell of warm food quickly filling the room. They ate side by side on the couch, the TV playing quietly in the background before they eventually settled on a movie, neither of them really paying attention too.
By the time it ended, exhaustion had finally caught up with them. They cleaned up just enough, turned off the lights, and headed to bed earlier than usual, the weight of the day finally pulling them under.
Maddie and Wally were up early on Saturday morning, getting ready for their day in the snow with the group. They’d agreed to head to Stillwater for sledding – it had a bigger hill, more space to spread out, and compared to the hills in Split River, which were always crowded, it just made for a better day. Plus, the hills in Stillwater were a little steeper, which made it more fun.
Wally loaded up his sled along with anything else they needed– goggles, a large thermos of hot chocolate with cups, some snacks, and a spare bag of extra clothes, just in case- as Maddie crossed the street into her backyard, unlocking the shed and grabbing her dad’s old sled.
She paused, a small smile spreading across her face as she remembered when her dad used to take her sledding when she was little. She hadn’t used it in years. Whenever she went sledding, she always used Wally’s. Tears slowly filled her eyes as she grabbed the sled and closed the shed behind her.
When she returned, Wally had finished packing the back of his truck. He turned at the sound of her footsteps scrunching in the snow, immediately noticing the tears in her eyes and understanding why.
“If it’s too much to use your dad’s sled, I can text the group chat, see if anyone else has a spare” he said gently. “Or we can even stop by the hardware store.”
“It’s okay, Wally,” she said softly. “They’re happy tears, more than anything.
He pulled her into a hug before taking the sled from her and loading it into the back.
They climbed into the truck, the heater slowly warming the cold air inside. Wally backed out of the driveway and headed toward Conrad’s house.
During the drive, their phones buzzed, the group chat lighting up.
My People 💛
Charley: Remind me again why I agreed to this?
Nicole: So you don’t spend all day freaking out about tomorrow.
Janet: What’s tomorrow?
Yuri: I’m meeting Charley’s family. He’s freaking out about it. Which you don’t need to be.
Charley: BUT I AM YURI!!! I’m freaking out more about tomorrow than me potentially ending up in the ER after I crash and that’s saying a lot.
Simon: You won't end up in the ER. Plenty of us have sledded before and we’re fine.
Charley: That’s not as reassuring as you think it is.
Dawn: Wait- how big is the hill again?
Rhonda: It’s a hill, Dawn. It’s going to be big.
Maddie: You guys will be fine. Wally and I just picked up Conrad. Be at your place soon, Charley.
“Let me guess,” Wally said as he climbed back into the truck after helping Conrad load in his sled. “Charley is freaking out?”
Maddie laughed. “Actually, he’s more freaked out about Yuri meeting his family tomorrow.”
Conrad glanced over. “Why’s Charley freaking out about that?”
Wally pulled out from the curb and back onto the road. “It’s complicated and not really our story to share. But basically, the last time he introduced his family to someone, his parents didn’t react all that great.”
Maddie twisted in her seat, looking back at Conrad. “It was a while ago, but he’s still terrified.”
Conrad nodded, understanding. “That sucks. Hopefully today can take his mind off things. At least for a bit.”
“Yeah, seems like today came at a good time for a lot of people.” She said, adjusting in her seat.
“Thanks for the invite, by the way,” Conrad added. “I’m a bit anxious waiting to hear if I got into Ohio State.”
Wally nodded, his focus staying on the road. Waiting to hear back. It should’ve felt normal- something they were all going through. But instead, it sat heavy in his chest, a quiet reminder of the decision he still wasn’t sure he made right one.
“You’ll get in,” Wally said after a moment. “Ohio State would be crazy not to accept you.”
Conrad let out a small breath, a hint of a smile pulling at his lips. “Thanks.”
Wally pulled up in front of Charley’s house, the truck coming to a stop as Yuri and Charley were already outside, bundled up and waiting.
Charley looked like he regretted everything. Yuri, beside him, just smiled.
Wally hopped out, the cold hitting him instantly as he moved around the back, helping them load in their sled in with the rest – Conrad’s and Yuri’s plastic sleds stacked easily, while Maddie’s and his were set in more carefully, the wood heavier as he adjusted them into place before shutting the tailgate and headed back to the driver’s side.
The second Charley settled in, he groaned. “Why is it so warm in here?”
Maddie glanced back at him. “Because you’re wearing, like, ten layers.”
“It’s called protection, Madison,” Charley said, already tugging at his scarf. “I’m thinking ahead.”
“You’re going sledding, not surviving the apocalypse,” Conrad said.
“Same thing.”
Yuri slipped in beside Charley, calmer, quieter. “You’ll be fine.”
“I feel like I won't be,” Charley muttered, though he leaned slightly into Yuri without thinking.
Conrad shifted where he sat, bracing an arm against the seat as he looked between them. “Seriously, you’ll be okay. Me, Wally, and Maddie – we’ve all done this before. We’ll show you what to do.”
Wally glanced at him in the rearview mirror. “Yeah. It’s not that hard once you get the hang of it.”
Maddie nodded. “We’ll start you on the shallow part of the hill. It’s the easiest.”
Charley looked at her. “There’s a shallow part?”
“And a steeper part,” Wally added. “Which we’re not going to make you go down on your first time.”
Charley hesitated, then sighed. “Okay.. that actually helps a bit.”
Wally turned down the road leading out to Stillwater, the houses thinning as the drive stretched ahead.
Wally pulled into the parking area in Stillwater, easing the truck into an open spot near the very end of the parking area. The cold hit them immediately as they climbed out. Wally moved around to the back, pulling the tailgate down while Conrad and Maddie grabbed the sleds, brushing off a thin layer of snow from the top.
Charley stepped out of the truck and instantly pulled his jacket tighter around himself. “I hate it here.”
“We’ve been here for five seconds,” Wally said.
“Five seconds too long.”
Yuri just shook his head slightly, taking his sled off of Conrad.
They’d just finished unloading the truck as Simon’s car pulled in beside them.
The doors opened and Dawn stepped out, her eyes immediately landing on the hill. She froze for a second. “Okay… wait.”
“What?” Janet said, coming around the back of the car.
Dawn pointed. “That part – people are actually going down that?”
“Yeah?” Simon said. “That’s what sledding is.”
Dawn blinked. “It’s really fast.”
Charley turned, following her line of sight. “See? I’m not being dramatic.”
Dawn nodded. “You’re not.”
“That’s what I’ve been saying!” Charley said, relieved.
“You’ll be fine. Just don’t overthink it.” Nicole added, grabbing her backpack from the trunk.
“I’m already overthinking it,” Dawn said.
“You guys are welcome to stay in the truck,” Wally said, adjusting the straps on his shoulders. “But you’ll miss out and I’m not leaving the heater on.”
Charley rolled his eyes. “Okay. Fine.”
Rhonda’s car pulled in beside Simon’s just as they started moving. Rhonda stepped out, taking one look at the hill before letting out a quiet sigh. “Yeah… still not into this.”
Quinn climbed out beside her, pulling their gloves on as they looked around, a small smile forming. “It’s nice, though.”
“We’ll see how long that lasts,” Rhonda muttered.
They grabbed their wooden sled and joined the others, falling into step as the group started toward the hill.
Snow crunched underfoot, the cold sharper out in the open. Conversations overlapped easily – Charley still complaining, Dawn asking rapid-fire questions, Janet and Simon answering when necessary, Nicole drifted into step beside Maddie, while further ahead, Conrad, Wally, and Yuri moved a little faster, sleds dragging behind them.
Conrad said something that made Wally laugh, the sound carrying back toward the rest of them. Yuri added something, earning another laugh from him.
Maddie found herself watching him. For the first time in days, he didn’t look weighed down. No tension in his shoulders. No distant look in his eyes. Just… him. Laughing easily, like everything wasn’t sitting in the back of his mind. She hadn’t realised how much she missed that until now. A small smile formed on her lips as she adjusted her grip on the sled, following the rest of the group up the hill.
By the time they reached the top, the hill stretched out beneath them, the gentler slop off to one side and the steeper drop further across. Grey clouds hung overhead, the light flat and cold.
Conrad set his sled down first. “Alright- quick rundown. Sit with your legs facing forward. To turn left and right, lightly drag your heel - not too deep, or you’ll flip. To stop, press both heels into the snow or lean back slightly to ease friction.”
Charley stared blankly at him. “Oh sure. Because I can remember all that.”
“You will.”
Wally stepped forward, nudging his sled toward him. “Take mine. It's big enough for two – you and Yuri can go down together.”
Charley blinked. “Wait- really?”
“Yeah,” Maddie said. “Wally and I can share mine.”
“Okay… that’s significantly better.”
Yuri smiled faintly. “I know what I’m doing too, so you’ll be fine.”
Maddie lined up her sled at the edge, sitting at the front with Wally settling in behind her.
“I’m coming too,” Charley said suddenly. “Come on, Yuri.”
Rhonda blinked at him. “Really?”
“Yep. If I don’t do it now, I never will.”
Charley dragged Wally’s sled into place beside them, sitting down with Yuri behind him. “Now what?”
“Use your hands to push,” Wally said, glancing over. “Like this.”
Maddie and Wally pushed first, their sled lurching forward picking up speed almost immediately.
Cold air rushed past Maddie, sharp against her face as the hill dropped away beneath them. She let out a laugh, one hand gripping the sled while the other rested on Wally’s knee. Behind her, Wally leaned back slightly, relaxed, guiding their balance as they hit a small bump. The sled shifted, then straightened, then straightened out smoothly.
They flew down hill, fast but controlled, the sound of the sled skimming over packed snow mixing with bursts of laughter and breathless woos that carried into the open air.
Back at the top of the hill. Charley squinted after them.
“Okay,” he said. “I can do this.”
“You got this Charley!” Dawn called.
Charley placed his hands down in the snow, inching closer to the edge and pushed off.
Snow sprayed up along the sides as they picked up speed, cold air hitting their faces. Charley screamed, gripping on the strap as Yuri laughed behind him, one hand steading them, the other bracing at Charley’s side.
At the bottom, Maddie and Wally stepped off their sled. Wally glanced at her, a small grin still on his face. “This was a really good idea, Mads.”
Maddie smiled softly- but before she could respond, Charley’s scream carried down the hill as they sped closer. They hit the bottom harder, the sled jolting as it slowed, both of them lurching forward slightly.
Charley sat there for a second, completely still. “That actually wasn’t as bad as I thought.”
Yuri stood, offering him a hand. “Told you.”
Maddie turned slightly, watching them with a grin. “See? You survived.”
“Barely,” Charley said, “Stopping was a bit rough.”
They grabbed their sleds and started the walk back up, boots crunching over the packed snow.
Off to the side, another group lined up at the top. Simon pushed off first. He went down cleanly, controlled, steering easily as he picked up speed.
A second later, Nicole followed. There was a brief hesitation before the sled dropped, her balance slightly off at first before she adjusted, a laugh carrying faintly down the hill as she found her rhythm.
Quinn went down next, pushing off a little too quickly. The sled wobbled almost immediately, veering slightly before they corrected, shoulders tightening as they held on.
Rhonda went next, she sat down at the edge and pushed without hesitation, going straight down, rigid at first as the speed kicked in. The sled picked up quickly beneath her, staying mostly in a straight line as she flew past the others.
Maddie and the rest kept to the side, climbing steadily, sleds dragging behind them.
By the time they reached the top again, Dawn was still standing off to the side, sled in hand, staring down at the hill.
“I don’t know,” she said, more to herself than anyone else. “I don’t know if I can do it.”
“You can,” Conrad said, stepping up beside her. “Would it help if I went over everything again?”
She nodded quickly. “Yes please.”
“Alright,” Conrad said. “Sit with your feet forward, lightly press your heel into the snow when you need to turn but not too hard, and when you stop, press your heels down.”
Dawn listened carefully, watching the hill as he spoke. “Okay,” she said after a second. “I think I’ve got it.
Janet stepped up beside her. “We can go down together if you want?”
“Okay,” she said. “Thanks, Janet.”
Dawn and Janet positioned the sled by the edge with Conrad just beside them.
“Take your time, Dawn.” Conrad said.
Dawn took a breath and pushed off.
Dawn and Janet reached the bottom in a spray of snow, the sled skidding across the snow before slowing to a stop. Dawn sat there for a second, breathing hard, then let out a laugh- wide, bright, a little disbelieving that she just did that. Conrad came down not long after, controlled as always pulling up beside them as Dawn pushed herself up, still smiling.
They made their way back up again with the others, and from there it blurred into motion.
Sleds went down one after another, sometimes in pairs, sometimes solo. Maddie and Wally took another run together, smoother this time, Charley insisted on going again with Yuri, louder than before but laughing through it now. Simon went down clean every time, controlled and steady, while Nicole grew more confident with each run, leaning into it without hesitation. Quinn had a couple shaky starts but found their rhythm, small smiles turning into real ones by the tune they reached the bottom.
Rhonda went down fast again, but this time there was less stiffness to it, like she’d stopped overthinking it. Dawn went again with Janet, less screaming this time, more laughter. Even when a few of them wiped out – sleds tipping slightly, someone tumbling into the snow- it never lasted long, just cold air, laughter and quick recoveries before dragging the sleds back up again.
Eventually, they all gathered at the top again, catching their breaths.
Wally glanced toward the steeper side of the hill, then back to the group. “So… who wants to try the steeper part?” he asked, casually.
There was a brief pause.
Conrad stepped forward first. “Yeah, I’m in.”
Simon gave a small nod. “Same”
Nicole hesitated for a second, glancing down the slope before exhaling. “Okay… yeah. I’ll try it”
Maddie looked at Wally, a small smile forming. “You already know I’m not backing out.”
Wally huffed a quiet laugh. “Yeah, didn’t think you would.”
Behind them, Charley shook his head immediately. “Absolutely not. I just got comfortable with the not dying version.”
“Same,” Dawn said quickly. “I’m staying right where I am.”
Janet nodded. “The shallow side is fine.”
Quinn gave a small shrug. “I think I’ll stick with that too.”
Rhonda crossed her arms. “Yeah I’m good here.”
Wally nodded. “Alright, no pressure.”
The steeper side of the hill looked different the second they stepped onto it. The slope dropped faster, longer, the path more worn down from constant use. People lined the top, sleds going down one after another, barely a pause between runs. Voices carried louder, sharper, mixed with bursts of laughter and the scrape of plastic and wood against packed snow.
“Okay,” Nicole said under her breath, eyeing the drop. “That’s… definitely steeper.”
“It is,” Conrad said simply.
Wally set down Maddie’s sled, testing the edge with his boot. “You’ll pick up speed quicker, but it’s the same idea.”
Maddie glanced at Nicole. “You don’t have to do it.”
Nicole shook her head. “No- I want to. I’ve got it.”
Simon grinned. “Let’s fucking go.”
They lined up along the edge, waiting for a clear break between the sleds already flying down. One by one they pushed off. They felt the difference immediately. The sled dropped faster, the ground falling away beneath them as the speed kicked in almost instantly. Cold air rushed harder, sharper, the sound louder as the sled skidded over the snow.
Maddie felt it in her stomach this time, the quick drop before she laughed, gripping tighter as they sped down. Behind her, Wally adjusted their balance smoothly, steading as they hit a bump that sent snow spraying up along the sides.
Conrad went down clean and controlled, carving slightly as he picked up speed. Simon followed with the same steady precision.
Nicole hesitated for half a second then pushed off. The sled shot forward, faster than she expected, a startled laugh breaking out as she tried to adjust.
The speed built quickly, the bottom rushing up toward her sooner than she was ready for. She dragged her heels a little too late, the sled hit the flat of the hill and kept going – straight into someone.
“Sorry- oh my god, I’m so sorry-” Nicole scrambled upright, brushing snow off herself as she looked up.
The guy she’d bumped into was already standing, steadying her before she could fully regain her balance. Up close, he was a little taller than her, warm brown skin and short curls with a clean fade, dark eyes steady and easy. There was something relaxed about him, a quiet kind of confidence that showed in the small, effortless smile he gave her.
At the bottom, the others had already slowed to a stop.
“Did she just-” Conrad started.
“Yep.” Simon said.
They moved toward her instinctively, boots crunching over packed snow – but before they could get there, the guy was already helping her up.
“Hey, you’re good,” he said easily. “Happens all the time.”
Nicole let out a small breath, taking his hand as he pulled her upright. “Still – sorry. I didn’t mean to just take you out like that.”
He laughed lightly. “I’ve had worse. First time on this side?”
“… that obvious?”
“A little,” he said, smiling. “I’m Teo.”
“Nicole.”
A few steps away, Maddie slowed, then subtly reached out, catching Wally’s sleeve.
“Wait,” she said quietly.
“What?” Wally asked.
Maddie tilted her head slightly toward Nicole. “Give her a second.”
The group paused where they were, hanging back just enough.
Across from them, Nicole brushed off the snow off her sleeves, still a little flustered, while Teo stayed easy, relaxed, like the whole thing hadn’t been a big deal.
“I should probably – get back to my friends,” Nicole said, half laughing.
“Sure,” Teo said, smiling. “See you around.”
She nodded, stepping back, she turned to see Wally, Maddie, Simon and Conrad standing there.
“You guys saw that, didn’t you?”
“Yep.” Simon said simply.
“Wonderful…” she muttered, dragging a hand down her face. “That was actually so embarrassing.”
Maddie stepped up beside her. “At least he was nice about it and didn’t act like a dick.”
Wally nodded, squinting over at Teo. “Yeah… he kind of looks familiar.”
Nicole blinked. “Really?”
“Yeah… I just don’t remember where from,” Wally said. “Did he tell you his name?”
“It’s Teo.”
Wally was quiet for a second, like he was searching for it -then it clicked. “Oh – yeah. I remember. He was another councillor when I did that football camp.”
“Small world,” Simon said.
“Yeah, I think he goes to Steven’s Point.” Wally added.
Conrad nodded. “Oh yeah, I remember playing against them a while ago.
Maddie nudged her shoulder lightly. “We’re heading back up if you want to come?”
Nicole shook her head immediately. “No, I think I’m done for the day.” Maddie smiled. “Fair.” She slipped her backpack off her shoulder and handed it her. “There’s hot chocolate in there and snacks, help yourself.”
Nicole took it, a small smile forming. “You’re actually the best.”
“I know,” Maddie said lightly, already turning back up toward the hill with the others.
Nicole watched them go for a second before turning away, scanning the bottom of the slope. A little further off, the others were gathered along a low wooden fence, sleds propped against it, catching their breath. She made her way over.
“Hey,” Quinn said softly as she approached.
Nicole dropped down beside them, letting out a breath. “They really weren’t kidding about the other side being faster. I just knocked someone over.”
Charley tried – and failed- to hold in a laugh. “Oh my god, that’s hilarious. I would’ve paid to see that.”
Everyone stared at him.
“…too soon?”
Rhonda rolled her eyes. “Obviously.”
“Sorry,” Charley said. “Continue.”
“Are you okay?” Janet asked.
Nicole nodded. “Physically? Yes. Emotionally? Scarred for the rest of my life.”
“I’m sure it wasn’t as bad as you think it was,” Yuri added.
“No, it was,” Nicole said flatly.
“Well – was the person you hit okay?” Dawn asked.
“Yeah, he’s fine,” Nicole said. “He was actually really nice about it, which somehow makes me feel worse.”
“I thought it was meant to be a good thing,” Quinn said.
“I mean, yeah -but now I just want to bury myself in a hole and live there forever.”
She unzipped Maddie’s backpack, pulling out the thermos of hot chocolate and pouring it into one of the cups. “By the way, there’s hot chocolate if anyone wants some.”
Charley straightened instantly. “Oh my god, yes. I need that.”
She handed out the cups as the thermos passed between them.
“Important question,” Charley added. “Was he at least cute?”
Nicole hesitated, then nodded. “Yeah. He was really cute. Like…really cute.”
Unbeknownst to her, Teo approached from behind. He lingered a few steps back, waiting for a moment to interrupt.
“He’s probably one of the cutest guys I’ve ever seen.”
Rhonda looked up, seeing him standing there. “…uh, Nicole,” she said slowly. “Is that him?”
Nicole frowned. “What-” She turned, seeing Teo standing there.
“Hey, Nicole.” Nicole blinked. “Oh- hi.”
She turned around, letting out a quiet panicked breath. “Oh my god.”
Charley leaned in slightly. “Go talk to him.”
“I can’t-”
“Yes, you can,” he said. “Go.”
Nicole shot him a look, then turned around, brushing snow off her jeans as she stepped toward Teo.
“Hey,” she said, a little breathless.
“Hey.”
She hesitated, then winced slightly. “How much of that did you hear?”
Teo tilted his head, thinking. “Uh… just the end. The part where you said I’m the cutest guy you’ve ever seen.”
Nicole closed her eyes for a second. “I was afraid of that. That’s actually worse than me running into you.”
He laughed softly. “No, it’s okay. I think you’re cute too.”
She blinked. “Wait- really?”
“Yeah,” he said easily. “Really.”
There was a small pause, then – “Can I get your number?” he added.
Nicole stared at him for half a second, still catching up. “Yeah, okay.”
They pulled out their phones, exchanging numbers quickly, a small settling on her face now.
Teo slipped his phone back into his pocket, a small smile still there. “I’m glad you’re okay.”
Nicole huffed out a soft laugh. “Yeah… me too. I’ll try not to take you out again next time.”
He grinned. “Next time, huh?”
She faltered for a second, then smiled. “I mean- hopefully without the collision part.”
“Yeah,” he said lightly. “Let’s aim for that.”
There was a small pause.
“I’ll see you around, Nicole.”
“Yeah,” she said, a little softer. “See you.”
Nicole turned back toward the group, trying -and failing- to hide the smile on her face.
Charley immediately leaned forward. “Well?”
She shook her head, still smiling. “Shut up.” “That’s a yes,” Rhonda muttered.
“I’m so happy for you, Nicole,” Dawn said as she gave her a hug.
“You know, we’re never letting you forget you literally ran into him,” Charley added.
Nicole groaned. “Please don’t.”
“No promises.”
A little further up the hill, Maddie and the others were already making their way back down.
“Hey!” Maddie called as they reached them. “We were thinking about heading home.”
“Good,” Charley said, pushing himself up. “I can’t feel my toes.”
“That’s because you refused to wear proper socks,” Yuri pointed out.
“Not my fault,” Charley shot back. “I couldn’t find them this morning.”
They gathered their things, brushing snow from their jackets, grabbing sleds, passing around the last of the hot chocolate as they started toward the cars. Fresh snow drifted steadily down around them.
As they walked, Nicole drifted closer to Maddie, lowering her voice. “I got his number.”
Maddie glanced at her, confused. “Whose number?” “The guy I ran into, Teo.”
“Oh - that’s great, Nic,” Maddie said.
Nicole nodded, still processing it. “I know I said I wasn’t interested in dating right now… focus on senior year, not get into anything.” She hesitated. “But I think I might’ve changed my mind.”
“Which you’re allowed to,” Maddie said easily.
Nicole let out a small breath. “Yeah, but… I don’t know if anything will happen. He lives in Steven’s point. That’s like two hours away.”
Maddie shrugged, nudging her shoulder. “You don’t have to have it all figured out right now. Just… enjoy it for a bit.”
Nicole glanced down at her phone, a smile forming again. “… yeah. Okay.” They reached the cars and began loading everything in. Snow dusted over sleds as they were stacked and secured, boots crunching against the packed ground. Jackets were shaken out, bags tossed into back seats, doors opening and closing in uneven rhythm.
Wally and Conrad worked at the truck, lifting and adjusting the sleds until everything was strapped down properly. Nearby, the others climbed into their cars, warming up as the heater kicked in. One by one they backed out of the parking space and back onto the main road, back to Split River.
Part 25 Part 27
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