A Wifey for the Bad Boy(197)

Instead I turned and made my way back into the dry woods where the trees witnessed my sorrow.





Chapter 6

I was back at camp. I knew they'd all be disappointed in me but the only one I cared about was Clara. I wanted to show her that I was her type of people but I had failed the first two tests. No longer would she look at me as an equal but I was one of those people. The city people. The ones who she had always battled against. The ones who had limited imagination. As if to prove the point I had tried to connect with the outside world via my cell but it was utterly futile and I passed the time by thinking about her. Who else? In some other universe where I was smarter I would have jumped in the lake first and really shown her that I wasn't like she thought, like Lisa had told her, that I was different and could be a free spirit too. We would have danced in the water, and hidden under the surface our limbs would have found each other. While the others swam and played we would be drowning in a world of our own making. We would be finding each other, looking into each other’s eyes as the abyss below housed our secret touches. Each finger would explore a little further. Would push the boundaries. Would she be the aggressor or would I? She was more experienced, I could tell that, and more used to throwing caution to the wind but I wanted it more, I was more hungry, and if given the right encouragement I would go all the way without hesitation.

I imagined the way her soft skin would feel and respond to my touch, and the intensity of the sensations that she would elicit in mine. She was all my fantasies rolled into one, the woman I had been waiting for, the one that made it all worthwhile and yet she was still out of reach, and maybe I was not the one that she was waiting for. Though I found myself burning with excited arousal it was tempered with this bittersweet recrimination and I could not give myself fully to the desire swelling within me, because every time it seemed to unrealistic and I didn't want to torture myself with things that would never be. That could never be.

Before too long they returned. Clara was still dripping wet. I was sitting at the entry to my tent with my hands clasped over my knees. I looked up at her and focused on a single drip that trickled down her leg.

“You missed some good water there,” she said as she grabbed a towel from her own tent and began to vigorously rub herself.

“Yeah, I'm sorry, I'm just, well, it's been a while since I've been swimming.” I offered. I knew it was a lame excuse but it was better than the truth.

“No worries, still got a long way to go this weekend. I'll make a camper out of you yet,” she said, and winked at me. Suddenly my heart was filled with hope and elation seized y soul. I rose and unlike the forlorn figure I had been when they had returned I tried to press them for the next activity, the next adventure. I wanted to show them that I was still the same old Andrea, that I could still be fun, that we could still be rogues just like we were in childhood.

“I'm pretty pooped. I haven't exercised like that for ages! I think it'll be time to get dinner going soon,” Simone said, dashing my hopes. Kira went into her tent and began to read a book. Lisa pulled out some notes. Plans for the wedding. Simone and I shared a look. Neither of us had been asked to be bridesmaids and we were wondering if the invitation was ever going to be forthcoming. Clara bent down to the floor and placed her wrists on her knees. She shook the hair away from her face and closed her eyes. I watched in awe, giving her silence as she meditated. I wanted to know what was going on in her head. I wanted to sit beside her and roll through the subconscious haze with her but I knew that it was personal territory and that was a part of her that I'd never be close to.

“I was talking with her, she's single you know,” Simone said. I flushed crimson and walked away from Clara, hoping that we were out of earshot.

“Yeah, like that matters, look at her,” I whispered harshly. Simone shook her head.

“When was the last time you had a date, or, you know, fun of any kind?”

“That's not important,” I said. Simone narrowed her eyes. By ignoring the question I had answered it.

“It's obvious that you like her. You're here for three days. Make the most of it. I love you Andrea, we all do, but loosen up and have some fun,” she said, placing a hand on my shoulder. Then she walked away. Have some fun. If only it were that simple.





Chapter 7

The words echoed through my mind throughout the rest of the day. Did I really stand a chance with her? I'd never been good at making the first move, especially not when they looked as good as Clara. And it had been so long since I'd actually had anything of substance. I tried to relax and focus on enjoying the weekend with my friends. Clara was just a bonus, an enigma, a wild card that was going to do as she pleased.