Page 43 of Cedarwood Cabin

The unmistakable sounds of Tammy and Lyka fucking echoes through the cabin. I roll my eyes, feeling irritated.

I look over at the nightstand alarm clock which reads six in the morning. My throat suddenly tightens up and I feel thirsty. Carefully, I step over Lina and Dickie, hoping not to wake them. I quietly make my way out into the hallway. I look to my right and see Robin sprawled on the floor with a rug covering him. Jack is slumped against a door with a couch cushion under his head. I can’t help but let out a little chuckle at the sight.

I head towards the living room and kitchen. As I approach, the faint sound of moaning can be heard. I turn my head and see Sav and Dax on the couch. As I get closer, the sounds become unmistakably clear.

Sav is straddling Dax, her movements slow as she grinds against him with her head thrown back. “Dax…yes,” she murmurs, lost in the moment.

I am caught off guard and don’t know where to look. My eyes look around, trying to focus on anything. Dax opens his eyes and notices me, quickly pushing Sav off him. He looks surprised and embarrassed, and I feel the same way. “Shit. Shit. Shit,” he mutters.

Sav looks at me with annoyance as she stands, raising her hands in the air. “Sorry,” I mumble as I walk backward toward the hallway.

I make my way back to Dax's room, stepping over Lina and Dickie once again. Crawling back into the bed, I pull the covers over my head, wishing I could erase the last few minutes from my memory. One single tear falls onto the pillow. The muffled sounds of Lyka and Tammy’s fucking still reach my ears, blending with my thoughts of Dax and Sav.

Everyone has left the cabin and it's now eerily quiet. I stand in the bathroom, brushing my teeth. I look up at my reflection, trying to collect my thoughts and shake off the awkwardness of the morning.

As I'm lost in thought, I catch a glimpse of movement behind me. Robin is standing in the doorway with a noticeable black eye. My brow furrows in confusion.

“What happened to you?” I ask.

Robin shifts uncomfortably, his eyes darting to the side. Dax appears out of nowhere, his face stern. I can't shake the feeling that something happened between them.

“Ahh, I fell after you went to bed,” Robin mumbles, avoiding my gaze. The explanation feels fake and how he glances at Dax makes me suspicious. I feel a pang of unease.

Robin breaks the silence and says, “Anyway, Flora, I’m going. It was lovely meeting you.”

I watch him leave and I have so many questions. Dax stands there, his expression softening slightly as he looks at me.

“Are you okay?” I ask him.

“Yeah, I'm fine. Robin just had a bit too much to drink last night. We had a...disagreement. It's nothing for you to worry about.”

I want to press further, but Dax’s demeanor suggests he’s not in the mood. “Okay, if you say so…”

“By the way, I’m sorry you saw that earlier with Sav,” he mumbles.

“Why are you sorry? I don’t care,” I reply, trying to sound normal, but a slight edge to my voice betrays my true feelings.

Dax's eyes search mine as if hoping for a different answer. “Sure you don't care?”

“No? It’s like you want me to care…”

The truth is I did care a little, but I don’t know why. I didn’t expect him to behave like that. Even after learning that he and Lyka have slept with all of their friends.

Dax steps closer, trying to look into my eyes, but I walk past him, eager to escape the atmosphere. He stops me, his hand gentle yet firm on my arm. He looks down at me and his eyes are intense. He brushes his finger against my chin, making my heart skip a beat. I instinctively move my face away, the confusion of my emotions too much to handle.

“Could you please drop me home today? I’ve decided I’m going to return home to London,” I whisper as I look away from him.

Dax bites his lips and nods. I can see the sadness in his eyes…and something else. He lets me walk past him. I head back to the bedroom to gather my things, my mind going crazy with thoughts and emotions I can't quite figure out.

TEN

FLORA

I glance around the bathroom, making sure I have everything. I decided this morning to move back to London to live with my aunt. I put my backpack on and head to the living room.

Dax and Lyka are standing in front of the TV with expressions of shock and disbelief across their faces.

They don’t register my presence as I walk in. “What?” I ask, curiously. Turning to the TV, I instantly understand their shock.

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