As the girls entered the small cabin house, it felt cozy and comfortable, despite its size. Rose looked excited, Annie kept a poker face, while Tina appeared displeased with the cabin's humble appearance.
"Rich brat..." Annie muttered, noticing Tina's disgusted expression.
Rose, on the other hand, admired the quaint charm of the place. "This looks so cute!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with delight.
Tina tossed her bag onto the sofa, her voice dripping with disdain. "I was told this is their biggest cabin... This is honestly the size of my fridge," she scoffed, lounging back on the couch. "Even the sofa looks used and disgusting..."
Annie rolled her eyes as she and Rose explored the cabin further. Annie had expected a more traditional camping experience, complete with tents and sleeping bags, but it seemed Tina had opted for a more comfortable, albeit modest, arrangement. Despite her complaints, Tina had paid for the cabin, so Annie couldn't quite understand why she was so vocal about her dissatisfaction.
Despite her complaints, Tina had paid for the cabin, so Annie couldn't quite understand why she was so vocal about her dissatisfaction [https://img.wattpad.com/34a75a39073af65d3a8336ce750b95cd8d7ab4d6/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f62364c394e454c723279594b58673d3d2d313436353035303334332e313765356562306664336135333531393935343230343330393835352e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Downstairs, the cabin featured a small living room with a cozy fireplace and a kitchen. Rose continued to express her enthusiasm, "This looks so vintage!" she said, her excitement palpable as she explored like a tourist.
Instead of a staircase, a ladder led to the second floor. Annie climbed with ease, accustomed to climbing trees, while Rose struggled with the first few steps. The upper floor was an attic with three small beds, a shelf, and a single closet. Rose neatly placed her luggage in the closet, preparing for the days ahead. Annie followed suit, organizing her belongings on the shelf and in the closet. Meanwhile, Tina remained downstairs, glued to her phone.
"Hey Rose! Put my stuff there, thanks," Tina called out, tossing her bag up to the loft, nearly knocking Rose over [https://img.wattpad.com/2239588bc26a1481de05b4d523de57c493b98818/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f475130597a726a4c6b67367477413d3d2d313436353035303334332e313765356563303862323836663663353233383833353734353831342e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
"Hey Rose! Put my stuff there, thanks," Tina called out, tossing her bag up to the loft, nearly knocking Rose over. Annie, puzzled by Tina's laziness and bossy demeanor, stepped in to help Rose organize Tina's things.
"Thanks, Annie!" Rose said cheerfully, grateful for the assistance. With Tina's belongings sorted, Annie headed downstairs to use the bathroom. The space felt unexpectedly warm and inviting, a contrast to Tina's chilly attitude.
As Annie freshened up, she decided to explore the area around the cabin, particularly the beautiful lake nearby. "I'm going outside," she announced, preparing to leave.
"Hope you get lost," Tina muttered under her breath, but Annie caught the comment and silently flipped her off.
"Enjoy being outside!" Rose called out, still exploring the kitchen.
Meanwhile, the boys were being rowdy in their cabin. John and Michael engaged in a spirited pillow fight while Clark calmly sipped his tea, seemingly unbothered by the chaos.
"Hey, Clark, why aren't you joining the fun?" Michael asked, delivering a playful pillow blow to John.
"Oh, bring it on!" John challenged, retaliating with a fierce pillow swing that sent Michael sprawling to the floor. As the laughter subsided, John noticed Clark browsing Darren's Instagram.
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
"Dude, Clark is so in love~" John teased, earning a sharp pinch to the nose from Clark, who smirked as John yelped in pain.
John yelped, "Oww!" as Michael burst into laughter. Clark, now visibly irritated, declared, "I'm going outside..." and walked out. He felt frustrated, knowing that his only servant was spending time following orders from his uncle. As he clenched his fist, he hurled a large rock into the lake with a frustrated shout, "Ugh!"
Clark then noticed Annie sitting by the lake, skipping pebbles across the water. Curious, he wondered why she was out there alone. Was she upset because of Tina? He approached and sat down beside her, his demeanor softening.
Bell, observing the scene, nearly spat out her drink in surprise. "Masked guy is sitting near you..." she exclaimed in Annie's mind, half amused and half shocked.
Annie was startled but tried to remain composed, continuing to throw pebbles into the water.
"Are you sulking here alone?" Clark asked gently, joining her in skipping rocks. His tone was softer, almost concerned.
Annie shook her head, smiling slightly. "I'm not sulking... It's just better to be out in nature than stuck in that cabin with a brat," she replied, her tone light and honest. She started to throw the pebbles with a bit more force, feeling a sense of release.
Seeing her increased effort, Clark took it as a playful challenge and began throwing rocks with more enthusiasm. They both laughed when Clark accidentally tossed a rock that startled a flying fish, causing it to splash back into the water. The shared laughter broke the ice, creating a warm and friendly atmosphere between them.
Feeling more comfortable, Annie decided to ask him a question that had been on her mind. "Hey... what's your relationship with Darren?" she inquired, leaning back on the grass, genuinely curious.
Clark looked at Annie, surprised by the question but also touched by her interest. He took a deep breath, the tension leaving his shoulders, and began to share the story of what had happened between him and Darren.
Clark sighed and began to open up, "Well... you see, Darren and I were really close. I was a super shy kid, and Darren was always so interactive. We became best friends when we were younger. But when I entered M Academy, I started to get really possessive of Darren. I was so possessive that I ended up driving Darren's other friends away, and eventually, I pushed Darren away too."
He paused, a hint of regret in his voice. "I thought things would change when Darren joined M Academy in the 7th grade, but I just made it worse. I was desperate to keep him close, and I ended up acting in a way that wasn't friendly at all. I would tease and bully him for being short, just so I could spend more time with him. When I finally confessed my feelings, I did it in such a scary way that he pushed me away and gave me a hard rejection."
Clark looked down, fiddling with a pebble in his hand. "I don't blame him, but it wasn't entirely my fault. My divine spirit, Salis, also influenced my actions. Still, if Darren gave me another chance, I'd take it in a heartbeat. It's a long shot, but I'd do anything to make it work."
He finished with a heavy sigh, the weight of his past actions and unspoken feelings evident in his tone. The honesty and vulnerability in his words revealed a side of Clark that Annie hadn't seen before, making the moment even more poignant.
Clark finished recounting his past, reflecting on the memories, but then shook them off. He turned to Annie with a curious look and asked, "Why are you always so stoic and neutral, even when you're being pranked, mistreated by Tina, and dealing with Bell's antics? How do you manage to stand it all after everything?"
Annie smiled a bit, noticing Bell crying softly over the touching moment. She replied, "I've had a lot of misfortune in my life. At first, I cried, complained, and blamed the world, and sometimes I still do, but not as much. It really pisses me off how much bad luck I've had for almost 13 years... My mom raised me while working hard, and even when everyone she loved hurt her, she withstood it all. She always told me to move forward and not let the past hold me back, despite the tough life we've experienced."
Annie paused, then continued with a soft smile, "Over time, I cried so much that I barely have any tears left. I also realized that crying over the past doesn't really help, and it's best to move forward to get a better life. I still get angry and sad, but only when it's something big. Honestly, I'm having a good life so far... or at least for now."
Clark looked at Annie with admiration, though she couldn't see it because of his mask. Meanwhile, Tina, Rose, Michael, and John noticed the two talking and were surprised but didn't eavesdrop.
Through the window, Rose asked, "What are they talking about?" She was genuinely curious.
Tina clenched her fists as she watched Annie, muttering, "Is she snitching on me?"
On the other hand, the boys were taken aback as they observed the conversation from afar. After a while, Tina came out and called the group together.
"Guys, our lunch is ready!" Tina yelled, prompting everyone to stand up and follow her to the restaurant.
Clark turned to Annie with a warm expression and said, "That was a good talk." Annie returned his gaze with a small, genuine smile, feeling a bit of a connection after their heartfelt exchange.