It was getting late by the time Ramona and Mitchell had made it back to the cabin. John and Dana were making diner and trying to work out how to use each of the kitchen items. Mitchell had put her suitcase in her room by that time and left her to unpack her things. Although she had no intention of doing so. Ramona clipped her door shut and slumped down against it. She decided to push the thoughts about the mysterious boy to the back of her mind. There was no way someone could move at that speed. It was like he had vanished into thin air. The heat must have just gone to her head. She huffed and unzipped her suitcase, feeling defeated and somewhat tired. She pulled the clothes from the bag until it was almost empty, leaving a small book in the corner of the suitcase. Ramona sighed and took the book in her hands. She slumped down against the bed post and opened it. The first page read... 'This diary belongs to...' And the space allocated had her handwriting going across it 'Ramona Abbett'. She opened the next page, it was titled 12th September. That was last year. She read the first few lines before closing the book and pushing it under a pillow. Ramona decided to unpack. But her idea of unpacking was throwing her clothes into random drawers until her suitcase was completely empty. She then left her room and went to find Mitchell.
He was outside. Throwing stones into the lake which was only half a dozen meters from the cabin. Ramona sat on the steps going down to the trail outside the house and watched him silently. Mitchell glanced back hearing the creaking of the steps as she sat down. Dropping the stone he walked towards her and sat down.
"Your dads really trying you know."Mitchell began. After getting no response he continued.
"This trip is meant to be for us. For us to bond before graduation nest year."He said, playing with the sleeves on his shirt.
"I don't feel like bonding Mitch."She said quickly.
"I know you don't want to be here... But you are..."Mitchell attempted to differ her words. He was right about that. She didn't want to be here, not at all. And if she was going to be stuck here for three months, she may as well act like a stubborn child.
"Just because I'm here doesn't mean that I have to pretend I'm happy."Ramona sighed.
"But you could stop acting like you don't care about it."Mitchell brought up. Ramona looked up at him hesitantly.
"You don't know me."She said, standing and going towards the door.
"If I didn't know you I wouldn't let you call me Mitch."He told her, standing as well.
Ramona stopped and turned to him.
"I've always called you Mitch."She said seriously.
"Yeah and I've always hated it. But because its you I allow it."He explained.
"You could tell me to stop."Ramona bit her lip.
"But I don't mind it, because its the only thing you've done to show affection."Mitchell said honestly. His breath hitching slightly.
"I'm sorry."Ramona said quietly before walking into the house, allowing the door to shut behind her. By the time the sun went down Ramona had shut herself in her room, where she planned to stay for most of this camping trip.
She set a wooden chair beside the window and opened the window wide enough to feel the night air on her neck. She took the diary from beneath her pillow and grasped a pen from the top pocket lining the zip on her suitcase. She leant back in the chair tiredly as she filled in a black page of her diary. She glanced up out the window as she heard a crumpling of leaves and a stick snapping beneath something. At first she thought it was an animal, but then she saw the same brown eyes she'd seen earlier. It was the boy. She turned away instantly and told herself that it was just a figment of her imagination. As soon as she looked back he'd be gone. Just like when she saw him by the lake. Ramona looked up and inhaled. But he wasn't gone. He was closer. Watching her. Standing only a few paces away from the window. He stepped closer and smiled at the girls reaction. She let the diary slip between her fingers and onto the floor. Her heart beat quickened and she stood, standing behind the chair as if trying to create a barrier between them. Her heart was beating violently now. 'He was coming for her.' She thought. Fear coursed through her veins as the boy stepped closer. Watching her intently.
But now the fear was changing. It wasn't fear. No? No. It was anticipation. Despite how scared she felt she exhaled shakily and kept her eyes locked with his. Now she needed to know if this boy was real or if he was just something that her mind had materialised. She leant forward and pressed her hand to the window to keep herself from falling over the chair. The boy walked closer and went to place his hand on the other side of the glass. As he lifted his hand the door to her bedroom opened and Mitchell walked in.
"Ramona, your dad wanted to know if... What are you doing?"He asked seeing her with her hand on the window.
"Ur, nothing... I thought I saw a squirrel."She laughed nervously.
"Right. A squirrel..."He said before shaking his head.
"Your dad wants you to come out with us, we're going to look in the forest."Mitch said.
"But its getting dark."Ramona moaned.
"All the better."Mitchell smiled sheepishly before leaving her alone in her room. Ramona sighed and looked back to the window.
Once again, the boy was gone.