C arrie is a college student, looking for adventure in the North Carolina mountains. She thinks she has everything planned out and is excited about her trip, though little does she know that she has no idea what this trip will entail.
J ohnathan lives alone in the mountainside. He is a loner, who has written off humanity, but when his path ends up crossing with a woman who needs his help, he will have to force himself to rekindle a sense of decency, at least for the woman, if not for anyone else.
However, things take an unexpected turn when the two starts to enjoy each other’s company and that company eventually heats up.
C an Carrie help Johnathan break through his trust issues to regain his life and carry on within normal society?
OR Is this simply a fling for two people brought together by unlikely circumstances?
Chapter 1: Carrie
I couldn’t believe that the day was finally here! I had planned this trip for so long, it seemed to take forever for time to finally catch up to my bustling excitement. I sauntered around the house, quickly making my last round, to ensure I hadn’t forgotten anything.
Kasandra, my roommate, who was also my best friend, sat on the couch and scoffed at me, each time I passed her. I didn’t know what she was so concerned with, since she had the weekend to herself. I was sure she was going to have her boyfriend over and they were going to perform unmentionable acts all over the apartment, while I was using my hiatus from school to get back to nature.
Yet, being that she was the opposite of me in this regard, I guessed I shouldn’t be so surprised.
Kasandra wore her emotions on her face and everyone knew exactly what she was thinking, without her having to say a word.
At times, especially growing up, this trait got her into a lot of trouble, while I was roped in most of the time, simply because I was guilty by association.
Now that we were adults, though, this talent was useful.
I, on the other hand, was quiet, resourceful and a pacifist. I would do anything to avoid a fight, while Kasandra had accepted she couldn’t hide her emotions. Therefore, she seemed to always be ready for a fight.
Right now, however, her glare of disapproval was lessened slightly by her strained, cheerful tone, “So, why are you excited about this trip again? Please tell me you’re going to do more than hike.”
“Nope,” I insisted as I reached for the last few things I felt I would need on my journey. “I’m going to be spending the week in the mountains, enjoying the clean, fresh air. I want to clear my head before classes start again.”
“Why don’t you just go to the spa, like a normal person?”
I laughed, knowing that strangely enough, Kasandra was trying to be nice, even though it didn’t sound like it.
“Because, it’s not the same,” I insisted, hoping she didn’t see through my carefully constructed plan.
“Yeah, that’s my point, it’s a lot more fun, relaxing…and safer. If you want to work up a sweat, go in a sauna.”
“Kas, are you worried about me?” I retorted in a joking tone, which made my friend scowl as she shook her head, though her expression still gave her away quite apparently.
“No, it’s just a stupid idea,” she answered, somewhat defensively.
“I know you think so,” I replied, refusing to let her ruin my excitement.
“I mean, why a mountain? Why that mountain?” She insisted, getting into questions that I didn’t want to answer.
I sighed, again refusing to allow her to douse the passion I had regarding this trip, “I respect that it isn’t your thing but please respect that it’s mine.”
“Just be careful, is all,” she hissed, “I know that it’s your thing and whatever. That’s not the stupid part.”
“Well, if you’re so worried about it, why don’t you come with me?”
I knew she wasn’t going to, but to keep the conversation fluid and away from the secret truth behind my trip, I needed to ask her, so she didn’t get suspicious.
If I had it my way, she would never figure out the true reason I went on this trip. If she did, I would likely never hear the end of it and that was the last thing I needed.
Again, Kasandra scoffed, “I’m not that worried about you,” she retorted with a snide laugh.
However, I brushed off the warning, considering where it was coming from. After all, Kasandra was a city girl and could never understand the intrigue and the beauty of nature.