#stjudesstart

“Wait, I’m sorry...” Park laughed. He wasn’t. But, the sight of someone lingering on the dock by the lake was too tempting; which sane human being wouldn’t push them in. After all, he knew they could swim and had been in the lake himself, it wasn’t dangerous. “I’m sorry...” he called out again as they walked past him back towards the cabin. He would’ve followed but the pain in his sides from laughing had debilitated him. It was only when they stopped to put their shoe back on properly that he managed to catch them up, trying his best to keep the smile off of his face. “...Are you alright?”

Slowly, she looked over the clearly much shier person and her random new target for flirting with this weekend. She couldn’t remember if they said they were single or taken and didn’t really care. “Ditch your roommate and hang with me this weekend? I can help you...”

“No offence, but if we die out here, it’s totally your fault and I blame you. I’ll make sure to carve it into a tree before we get eaten by bears or something.” At the time, the idea to go on a night-time stroll sounded fantastic, exciting even. Zara never really shied away from an adventure, but now she was starting to curse herself for not doing so. The woods were unfamiliar and everywhere was beginning to look the same.  “I also feel like we’re being followed - call me paranoid but that’s how it is - let’s turn back...whichever way that is.”

“I don’t know if you’re aware but you’re a very heavy sleeper,” Disney said as she noticed her roommate wake up. “And you snore. It’s okay though. I brought earplugs that play the meditation tracks I’m listening to at the moment.” She loitered by the wardrobe with the doors open, looking at the other person trying to wake themselves up.  “I hope you don’t mind but I put your stuff into those drawers over there - only, I noticed you bought mainly jeans and polyester that crease anyway...Do you wear anything else, or?” her voice dwindled off as she perched in front of the vanity, beginning to do her hair. 

“You know, I never realised you were a morning person...” Soraya whispered as she tip-toed on to the porch of the cabin. The sun had barely come up and the last thing she wanted to do was frighten the other person. “...That’s probably because I’m not a legitimate morning person...unless it’s Christmas Day...or my birthday...so I guess I wouldn’t know until today.”  She placed a mug of hot chocolate littered with marshmallows and cream on to the wooden table in front of them and settled into the free chair, her blanket hanging from her shoulders. “I’m not a coffee or tea person...I hope that’s ok.” It was only after she spent thirty seconds fiddling and another thirty enthusiastically blowing over her mug that she realised this had been a completely one-sided conversation. “Are you okay? Why’re you awake, then?”

Janey exhaled and leant against the headrest of her bed. This was probably the best trip she’d been on this season; no crowds or drunk people, no wildness and strangers. Just her and the people she was familiar with, surrounded by nature. There was only one person she was currently avoiding and that was Kyle; but she doubted he’d be actively seeking her anymore anyway.  Her wrist spiralled and arched, drawing absent-minded clouds and swirls in the margin of her notebook as she contemplated how to word the idea she’d had in her head for a few weeks now. Just as she began to form the diagonal stroke for ‘A’, the door slammed open and she gasped, jumping in her seat.  “Crap, hey...Sorry. You scared me,” she said, trying not to sound too intimidated. “Uh, I don’t think anyone else is rooming in here if you’re looking for a bed.” 

“Wait, wait, come back...You’re the one who talked me into doing this shit,” Ruby laughed as she hesitated before jumping over the stream a few yards from their cabin, her foot somehow still managing to land in the water. “Fuck...Y’know, I was raised by two gay men who love the theatre, big cities, dining out and cleanliness - I don’t know why you expected me to be good at hiking.” That being said, she was down.  She’d noticed the other had been quiet all evening when they got to the cabin last night and proposed a hike to take their mind off of whatever it’d been. Looping her arm through theirs, she smiled softly, “You’ve been quiet...”