She had no clue how much time had gone by before she heard a soft voice, �Tara?� Tara looked up to see Kennedi standing next to her, �Are you okay?� the girl asked.
�I...I don�t know. I�m so stupid. I shouldn�t have blown my top like that at my friends, I was just so mad.� she sniffled and then sneezed.
�Your friends are really worried about you. It�s been almost an hour and no one could find you.� Kennedi sat down next to her, �They love you. I could tell by the way they look at you.�
�I-I know they do. Where are they?� Tara asked.
�Siobhan stayed at the lodge in case you went back, but Alyson and Madison are out looking, too. Alyson�s just scared that something might happen to you. You know her protectiveness is only because she worries about you. My brother�s the same way. He even cried when Kendra and I left with Mom and told me to always look after her until we see each other again.� Kennedi explained.
�Yeah, I know. I guess we�d better go back to the lodge.� Tara coughed some more as she stood up, and wobbled a bit, �Woah, okay that was not a good thing.�
�Let�s get you warm. Come on.� Kennedi put her arms around Tara�s shoulder and led her down the path to the lodge. As they drew nearer, Tara could see Alyson and Madison racing across the snow towards her.
�Tara!� Alyson cried. As they reached each other, Alyson and Madison engulfed Tara into a warm hug.
�I�m sorry, guys, I�m so sorry. I didn�t mean it. I was just so mad and confused and I...� Tara apologized, tearfully.
�I know, sweetie, I know. It�s okay.� Alyson soothed.
�We understand. It�s just Syvanni you may have to worry about. She�s really upset that you yelled at her like that.� Madison admitted.
�Oh, no, I so did not mean...I gotta talk to her!� Tara broke the hug and began running towards the lodge. She ran in the door, and stopped when she saw Siobhan.
Siobhan tried to look mad, but the tears came so fast. She cracked a tearful smile and opened her arms for a hug, which Tara gratefully accepted.
�I�m so sorry, Syvanni, I didn�t mean to yell at you. I just wanted some space. You know how much I really love you, right?� Tara asked.
Siobhan let out a few more tears, still clutching Tara tightly, �You too, I love you too.�
Tara began to cough violently, �Ugh, maybe I shouldn�t have gone out in the snow like that for so long.� she confessed.
�I know. Come on, let�s sit.� Siobhan led Tara over to the benches, where Tara lay her head on Siobhan�s shoulder. Madison, Alyson, and Kennedi followed, Kennedi looking uncertain.
�Thanks for the talk, Kennedi.� Tara said, quietly.
�You�re welcome.� Kennedi smiled.
�Thanks for finding her.� Alyson smiled, and touched Kennedi�s hand briefly.
�Welcome for that, too.� Kennedi blushed a little.
�Okay, students in the lodge, time to board the bus!� a teacher�s voice shouted. The five girls got up and gathered their things, and followed their classmates out to the bus.
As the bus hummed along the highway, Tara fell asleep, her head leaning on Alyson. Alyson rubbed her back soothingly, and Siobhan was playing with her hair from the seat she was sharing with Madison and Kennedi. She felt so safe now, back with her friends.