They woke up in the morning. They lay in each other's arms and enjoyed each other's presence.
'' Where are we going today?'' Max asked.
'' I'll go with you wherever you want.'' She said, exhaling loudly.
She was nice and comfortable, she could have easily laid like this all day.
'' I have a little log cabin in the mountains. I'd like to show it to you.'' Melinda thought to herself that Max certainly didn't have anything ''little'' and smiled.
'' I don't know.'' she said, and she didn't sound enthusiastic.
''You just said you'd go anywhere with me. Do you know how great relaxing that will be?''
'' And why can't we relax here? Look how comfortable we are, we're lying in bed, we're warm and we're together. And there are no spiders.''
'' We can lie in bed there too.'' He said impatiently.
After a moment of silence, she sighed out loud again.
''okey...'' she said annoyedly.
''Great, let's go.'' Max said and tried to sit up.
''Right now?''
'' Yes.''
'' No.''
'' Yes.''
'' No!''
'' yes'' he said and started laughing.
'' Five more minutes, please'', she said, snuggling into him even tighter.
He stroked her hair a few times and finally pushed her away from him.
''Okay, here we go.''He said
He went straight to the bathroom and from the bathroom to the closet. Melinda was sitting on the bed wrapped in a blanket, her eyes barely open. When Max stood in front of her he was wearing brown pants and a green shirt. He looked like a boy scout.
''You're a freak!'' She said, throwing herself on the bed.
''Get up, don't lazy ''He said and threw her clothes at her.
''I have to stop at home for clean clothes.'' She said, and with a heavy effort, got out of bed, looking annoyed.
''And how long are we actually going to be in this wilderness?'' She asked
''A long '' He said and smiled.
Melinda groaned and hung her head.
''Well, c'mon, c'mon'' he said, bouncing in place.
''Where do you get so much energy from?'' She asked.
Max only gave her a break once they were seated in his silver SUV. She tried to get some more sleep in the car. Max talked the whole way about how they would be in the middle of nature the whole time. Just them and nature. Nothing more. She let him talk, he had a nice deep voice and it lulled her to sleep. He stopped at the house. Melinda got out of the car and so did he.
'' Where are you going?''she asked in surprise
''With you.'' He said, raising his eyebrows.
''You can't come with me.'' She said, looking embarrassed.
''Why not?'' He asked irritably.
''Well, because this isn't my house, you know... Please wait for me here, I'll be right back.'' She said and walked quickly to the door, hoping that Max would obey her and wait for her by the car. She didn't want any scenes between him and Mark.
Mark had just come out of his room. They were standing opposite each other and he was smiling at her invitingly.
''Well, well, well, he slept with you and dumped you? Or why are you here so early in the morning ? ''he asked ironically
''He's waiting for me outside, I just came to change.'' She said irritably, pushing him out of the way and walking into her room.
She felt insulted but she didn't have time to deal with it. She quickly ran into the shower and put on black leggings and a red tank top. She packed a couple of outfits in her bag and braided her hair into two braids. She applied makeup and ran back to Max. When she came out of the house she was petrified. Max was standing by the car and Mark was standing next to him and they were talking. They looked at her. Max looked strange and quickly looked at the ground. Mark was smiling and looked content. She slowly walked over to them, trying to figure out what was going on from their gazes. Mark returned to the house and they got into the car.
''What were you talking about?'' she asked him
''Nothing, just... nothing'' he said, his hands gripping the steering wheel. He was nervous and she could see it in him.
''Max, what were you talking about with Mark?'' She asked him, one hand puting on the dashboard and the other on the seat she was sitting in.
She stared at him and decided she wasn't going to leave him alone until he told her.
''He told me how you two actually met''
''And ? What's so interesting about that?''
''Nothing, absolutely nothing... ''He said, and he was even more nervous.
''It's perfectly fine.'' he said and coughed
''Of course it's perfectly all right.'' She still didn't understand what he was up to.
''It's just... that you didn't tell me... but whatever. It's in the past, I'm just sorry you had to go through something like that. That's all, let's not talk about it anymore.''
''Max, what the hell are you talking about'' she asked, already angry
''Mark told me what you did for a living until he rescued you. ''
''Excuse me?!'' What exactly did he tell you?'' Her eyes clouded with irritation and she took a deep breath.
''All right, but you don't have to feel bad about it. I'm not judging you''
''Max, talk to me''she said impatiently
''He told me how you met. You were a prostitute, he paid you, you spent a few nights together. You became friends and he wanted to help you. He put you up in his house and offered you a job. He actually saved you.''
She wasn't able to get a word out. She straightened up in her seat and stared at the road ahead, which she couldn't even see because her vision was blurry with anger. Suddenly, she exploded and began pounding the dashboard with her fists.
''Stop the car !''
'' I can't stop it, calm down ''
'' Stop the car Max!'' she was very angry
'' Okey, okey, just calm down please. I said it's okey I'm not judging you''
He turned into an alley and stopped the car on the road by the houses. She jumped out of the car, breathing deeply. She grabbed the back of her head and looked murderously at Max, who walked over to her. He wanted to hug her, but she pushed him away.
''I was never a prostitute and he didn't save me. How could you believe him ?!''
'' I.. I don't know... I'm sorry Mel'' he felt ashamed
''Do you trust me?''she asked him
''of course, just calm down, please'' he said and hugged her
''You know what, when I get home, I'll grant him one of his wishes.''
''And what's that?'' He asked
''death in his sleep''
They got in the car again and continued their journey.
''Let's not let it ruin our beautiful trip'' said max
Melinda just looked at him superficially and better said nothing. She didn't want to offend him, or his beautiful trip. She was still angry, because of what Mark had made up, because of the fact that Max had believed him. Along the way, the atmosphere relaxed and she forgot about the anger. Max talked the whole time about how they were going to walk in the woods and how romantic he thought it would be. The longer they drove, the deeper into the woods they went. Max parked the car at a rest area and they walked about a mile. Melinda knew, this trip would be anything, but romantic and beautiful. They were standing in front of a really small wooden log cabin with a mowed lawn and dense forest around it.
''Wow, I was expecting something bigger''
''Looks like I spoiled you''
''Please tell me there's a toilet. But the real one, not the wooden shack, somewhere behind this wooden shack.''
''Yes...'' he said and rolled his eyes
''And electricity?''
''Yes, electricity too.'' He said, grabbed her around the waist kissed her and led her into the log cabin.
It was just one room with a big fireplace and a big comfy couch. There was a large cutlery on one side and a table and one chair next to it. On the other side was a door that let to the bathroom. It wasn't until later she noticed the spiral staircase that led to the attic. She went up and saw a bed and a small window. She could barely fit in there, so she went straight back to room with the couch.
'' So? What do you think? Do you like it ?''
'' Well.. ''
'' It's my secret place. It's special and my favorite. Nobody, knows about it but me nd now you. I wanted to share it with you.'' he said and smiled
''I appreciate it Max, but you really didn't have to...'' she said and they both laughed
''And what we're going to eat?'' she asked
'' We'll have meat'' he said ahow it should be of course.
'' Are you going hunting? she asked ironically.
He opened the bottom of the cutlery where the freezer was and pulled out a piece of meat.
'' Oh shit, this is like a horror movie'' she said
''Don't worry it's not a humas flesh'' he said and laughed hauntingly
''We could go for a walk while it thaws'' said Max
'' Max, you surely noticed, that I'm not excited about this trip. Then, why, are you making it, much worse?''
'' Oh, c'mon, don't by lazy, just a short walk'' and laughed
She didn't believe it would by a short walk, but if this wil make him happy... They walked for hours and it was pure hell for her. Branches striked her face, she walked right through the spider's webs several times, and few times she tripped and fell. Max, on the other hand, was enjoying it. He was smiling the whole time, and all the branches and spider's webs avoided him. The sun was shining on him and the little birds were singing over his head. While over the Melinda, there was a grey, heavy chilling could. She could think of nothing but the spiders, that were surely in her hair. When they returned it was already evening, she was hungry and tired. Max had built a fire and roasted the meat. They sat by fire and cuddled together. A bilion stars shone over their heads and Melinda had to admit it was romantic. When the weather turned cold, they returned to the log cabin. Max built the fire again, this time in the fireplace, and they continued cuddle on the couch. Tenderly they made love, and a fire burned beside them. It was her most romantic lovemaking. They took a shower together went to bed. The next morning Max wanted to go for a walk again, but luckily for Melinda it was raining.
''That's a shame.'' She said with a smile on her face as she looked out the window from bed
''Are we going home?'' She asked excitedly in a thin voice, hoping Max would say yes
'' No, we'll wait. We have to hope, that the raind will pass.''
''Yeah, I really hope so'' she said ironically and day down.
''What are you doing?''
''I love sleeping, when it rains'' she said, wriggling into the blanket
'' You're bad. I'm beginnig to think, you didn't want to come here at all.'' he said and they both started laughing.
'' I'm thrilled to be here. Not even Paris can compete with this adorable dog kennel.''
He jumped on her and began to tickle her and they fooling around and kissing. In the afternoon the rain stopped and to Melinda's disappointment, they walked throug the forest again. It was even worse than yesterday. It was wet and muddy everywhere. In the evening it rained again and at once point the electricity went out.
'' Oh, shit, it's here'' she said dramaticaly
''What's here?''
'' We are going to die'' she said seriously
'' Oh, stop it please'' he said and laughed
''We are alone in a log cabin, a thousand miles from civilization, with no electricity. It is dark and raining outside. Do you even know, how many psychopaths are out there right now? ''
Max just laughed and put the wood in the fireplace.
'' Max, the door will open and a serial killer will stand there and our flesh will end up in that freezer. ''
Max laughed again, lying down next to her on the couch and resting his head on her thighs.
'' What can I do, to make you calm?''
'' take me home''she said seriously.
''I suggest we wait until morning, and if we survive, we'll go home''he said as seriously as Melinda but smiled
''Okay, let's go to sleep, let it be morning'' she said
She lay down by the window and looked out. She saw nothing but darkness. Raindrops were drumming fast on the window. Max picked her up and rolled her over him. Now he was lying by the window.
''What are you doing? ''She asked in surprise.
'' I must be sleeping by the window''
'' What ?'' she asked, uncomprehendingly.
'' Haven't you noticed that I'm still sleeping by the window? ''
''No I haven't, you're relly weird.'' She said and crawled over him back to the window.
''I'm sleeping here tonight. If a serial killer breaks in, I need to be at the window so I can jump out quickly. ''She said with all seriousness.
''So you're going to sacrifice me? You're gonna let him chop me up? ''
''It was your idea to come here.... ''she said, lying down and closing her eyes.
They fell asleep in each other's arms and with a smile on their lips. No serial killer came and they woke up in the morning to a beautiful sunny day. Max took revenge on her, for not being able to sleep by the window and made her go for one last walk. She was angry with him, and on the way back to the log cabin she didn't even talk to him anymore. Suddenly she fell and cried out in pain. She held her ankle and pierced Max with her gaze. He quickly ran over to her and checked to make sure it wasn't broken.
'' It's your fault. ''She said.
Max picked her up in his arms and carried her the rest of the way. In the log cabin, he bandaged her ankle.
''Do you know how much that hurts?''
'' I'm sorry, I'm sorry, we should have gone home instead, you're too big a clumsy klutz to be walking around in the woods.'' He said and laughed.
She looked very offended, but eventually she laughed too and admitted it was true. This was nothing for her. Absolutly not. When the pain subsided they got in the car and headed home.
''I'll come get you tonight.'' Max said.
''Okay, we could go somewhere.'' She suggested.
''Where do you want to go?''
'' Like, somewhere to dance.''
'' Dance? I can't just go dancing somewhere. ''
''Why not? I spent two scary days in the woods with you.''
'' Scary? So when we had sex, you screamed in fear?''
Melinda blushed and said nothing.
''Honey, I can't go dancing somewhere, you know what kind of madness would ensue if someone recognized me.''
''You're right, we'll think of something else.''
The rest of the way home they talked about their great trip and how Max thought they needed to do it again as soon as possible. Melinda had to admit that it was a little romantic and a little fun, but she definitely didn't think it was necessary to do it again.