Exit, Pursued By A Bear
As promised, Cecily slipped me a piece of paper with directions to the cabin before we went onstage that Saturday night. It seemed pretty simple, even though I hadn’t been to Swift Creek for years. Zac had never been, and Cecily warned that it was a rough drive, so we decided to take my Jeep. I parked my car in the student lot near the theatre so that we would be ready to hit the road as soon as the show ended.
Closing nights were always bittersweet. Even if the show had a terrible run, watching it end always brought up tons of feelings about what you could have done differently. If the show had a terrific run, then of course you wanted it to go on forever. And a show like this, that was both good and bad? Well, they redefined the word bittersweet.
Donovan and I hadn’t even spoken a word to each other offstage during the entire run of the show. I liked it that way. Somehow, our chemistry onstage was only improved by our lack of chemistry off. I certainly wouldn’t miss acting with him – or a few others in the cast – but I couldn’t deny he had talent.
When we had a moment by ourselves in the dressing room, Cecily assured me that Donovan was going to Kelsey’s party, not hers. Her party, which her older sister was currently setting up for, would be as stress-free as possible for the small group of actors going to it. I couldn’t wait.
Once the curtain had fallen for the last time, I rushed offstage and shimmied out of my costume as quickly as I could. Cecily told me there was no need to be in any rush, since she herself couldn’t leave yet, but I couldn’t help being excited.
With my costume hung up for the last time, I gathered up my belongings, wiped off the majority of my stage makeup, and scurried out to the lobby. Zac was waiting around the first corner with a huge smile on his face. He scooped me up into his arms. “Great show, lady!”
“Thanks,” I replied, catching my breath when he finally sat me down. “Ready to go party?”
“Always.”
It took us several minutes, though, to make our way through the crowd. Since it was closing night, we had a sell out crowd and dozens of them were still hanging around to congratulate us actors on a great run. It felt like we might never make our way to the theatre doors, but eventually we did.
Cecily wasn’t kidding when she said it was a rough drive out to her family’s cabin. Each turn we took led us down a smaller road than the last, until finally we found ourselves on a twisting and turning little dirt and gravel road. Her directions told us to continue on that road until we reached the cabin, and so we did.
What Cecily failed to mention was that it wasn’t just one cabin; her family had a veritable retreat on their hands. At the top of a little hill, just above the lake, sat a series of little cabins. As we approached them, Zac pointed out a basketball court, tennis court and even a little shooting range down the embankment toward the lake. The first cabin, which appeared to be the largest, already had several cars parked out front, so I pulled my Jeep off into the grass in front of it as well.
Even though it was the largest cabin, it was by no means large. The first floor was one wide open room with a small but fairly modern kitchen and several comfy looking couches. A round kitchen table sat in the middle of it, covered in bottles of liquor, cake and potato chips. The grand tour Cecily gave us revealed little more than two bedrooms upstairs, one of which boasted a large projector screen that a few of the boys in the cast were using to play video games.
It wasn’t a big cabin, or a big party, but that was perfectly fine by me and Zac.
Zac, naturally, headed straight for the food, fixing a huge plate of cake and chips that he insisted on sharing with me. I didn’t really feel all that hungry, but something about finishing a show and finally being able to breath again gave me an insatiable appetite. It wasn’t long before that appetite turned to thirst as well, and I mixed up two fruity rum drinks for the two of us.
We didn’t really do a lot of socializing at the party. I introduced Zac to the actors he hadn’t met yet, but there was no pressing need to get outside of our comfort zones. I think everyone was too tired from the show to really do more than sit around and enjoy their drinks. Zac and I cuddled up into one oversized chair and just enjoyed each others’ company all the way through our first two drinks of the night.
By the time I went back to make our third drinks, Cecily had pulled out the game Apples to Apples and gotten a few people – Zac included – to start a game. I settled in beside him with our drinks, but declined the offer to be dealt in. It was plenty of fun just to watch the ridiculous words Zac threw into the pile; I found that each time, I could guess his choices without having even looked at his hand.
Cecily wandered off to continue her hostessing duties after the game got under way. I had to admit, I really liked her, even though we hadn’t spoken all that much. She just seemed to have so much poise and grace, and I could tell that wasn’t an act. That was just who she was. I wanted to be more like her, and not turn into a blubbering mess or a crumbling fool at the first sign of trouble.
“What the hell are you doing?!”
So much for poise and grace, I thought, realizing the screeching voice that had cast a hush over the entire party was in fact Cecily’s. All eyes turned toward the open door where she stood. Cold air blew in and made me shiver – as did the sight in front of me.
Donovan and Christin. Together.
The cabin’s outside light illuminated the snow flurries falling around them – and the fact that they were nuzzled up to each others’ side. Somehow, I didn’t think that was just to keep out the cold.
“Thought we’d come check out the party,” Donovan said, slurring slightly.
“It’s snowing!” Cecily screeched. “You could have wrecked. And you’re obviously not sober. Honestly, what were you thinking?”
Christin cast a quick look past Cecily, staring right at me and Zac. I knew exactly what she was thinking; she wanted to show me that she’d bagged Donovan. Did she expect me to care? Honestly, I thought the two of the would make a perfect couple. She would probably give him far more to be jealous and overprotective of than I ever did, and he was undeniably the sort of popular arm candy she would love to be seen with. I almost wanted to congratulate the two of them.
Whatever reply Donovan gave her was in a lower tone, so I couldn’t quite make it out. Something about the other party being a bust, I thought. Cecily cast a glance back at the rest of the room, then pulled herself back together and said, “Since it’s snowing, I’m not going to turn you guys away. Maura opened up the other cabins earlier, so you guys can stay in one of those, alright? I don’t think either of you need to do any more partying tonight.”
That must have sounded agreeable to them, because soon they were gone and the door was shut on the cold again. The whole room seemed to let out a sigh of relief. After a beat, everyone who had been quiet through that entire exchange began to speak again. The game of Apples to Apples resumed, but I had lost my interest in watching it. I settled back into the chair and pulled my knees up to my chin, lost in my own thoughts.
Zac’s quirky sense of humor won him the first round easily, and David was just beginning to deal the cards again when Zac leaned back to look at me. He took one quick look at me and glanced back at David, telling him that he’d rather sit out this round.
“Are you sure?” I asked him. “You looked like you were having fun.”
“Yeah, and you look like you aren’t.”
I shrugged. “I’m fine.”
Zac wrapped his arms around me and lowered his voice. “Is it Donovan?”
“No, not really,” I replied. “I’m glad to get the two of them out of my hair. I think it’s just post-show depression. Alcohol usually helps, but apparently not tonight.”
“You promise you’re not upset about them, though?” Zac asked, his brow furrowing adorably with concern.
“I promise.”
Cecily wandered over and cleared her throat to attract everyone’s attention. “Hey guys, it’s really starting to come down out there. The other cabins are open, but there’s not really room for everyone. So anyone who doesn’t want to spend the night should probably head back to campus now before we’re all snowed in. There’s two bedrooms in here, but the other three cabins are just one bedroom each.”
I glanced over at Zac. He offered me a small shrug, obviously leaving the decision up to me. I knew that our laundry was still in my car from earlier than week when I had taken it to Taylor’s apartment to do, so if we wanted to stay, we had pajamas. Still, I felt like we were imposing. But I didn’t want to make the drive back to campus in the snow. Sensing my hesitation, Zac finally said, “I think we’re going to stay, if that’s alright.”
“Of course,” Cecily replied. “Come on, I’ll get you the key.”
Zac stood up first, then offered me a hand. We followed Cecily to the door, where a large key rack hung with several numbered key rings dangling from it. She pulled down one with the number “2” and handed it to me.
Leaning in close, she said in a stage whisper, “Don’t worry about any… mess you guys might make. It’s cool. And I’m sorry about those two earlier.”
I had to stare at her for a second before realizing what she meant about a mess. It made me blush, and I wanted to ask if she really meant it, but I could tell by her tone that she really didn’t care what Zac and I did behind the closed cabin doors. It was strange, but not unappreciated, as was her apology for Donovan and Christin.
Zac chuckled as he nudged me toward the door. I grabbed my coat from the pile by the door, handing Zac his as well. My car keys were stuffed in the pocket and I fished them out to unlock my car and grab our pajamas. Zac walked close behind me, rubbing my shoulders protectively. I had to admit, I appreciated it; the snow really was coming down and it was positively freezing outside.
I dug around in the two laundry baskets in my back seat, finally finding t-shirts and pajama pants for both of us. I had a feeling we were both going to be very cold that night, but there wasn’t much we could do about it. Except for one thing…
Zac gave me a grin as he walked us toward the second cabin. “So, what do you think about what Cecily said?”
“Which part?” I asked, feigning innocence as I stuck the cabin key in the door, then shoved the door open.
It was basically identical to the first cabin, but on a smaller scale. I could see through the slatted floors that the upstairs was just one big open space with a bed. At least the heat was on, but I was certain the second floor wouldn’t be as warm and toasty as the first. I scurried up the stairs without waiting for Zac to reply to my question.
“You know what I mean!” He said, the warmth of his body letting me know that he was close behind me.
I tossed our pajamas onto the bed, then spun around to face him. “You really want to do it here? In someone else’s cabin?”
He shrugged out of his coat, and kicked off his snow covered shoes. “Why not? She said we could. Seems a shame not to take advantage of that kind of offer.”
I chuckled, but didn’t answer him. Instead, I kicked my shoes off as well and walked toward the large bed that took up most of the room. I took off my coat and let it fall into the floor, where it was soon joined by my damp jeans, small clumps of snow clinging to their hem. While my hands were busy pulling my shirt over my head, Zac sneaked up behind me and grabbed my waist. He had already taken off his own shirt, and his hot flesh pressed against my back kept me from shivering at how cold the room was.
He didn’t try to turn me around. Instead, he just kissed my neck and unhooked my bra. He nudged me forward a little and I took the hint, falling onto the bed and rolling over to face him as I shrugged my bra off. I quickly pulled the covers up over my body, not out of shame but just for the warmth. Zac grinned down at me as he quickly removed his pants and underwear. Before tossing his pants aside, he pulled out his wallet and grabbed something – I didn’t have to guess what – from the inside pocket of it. With another grin, he jumped onto the bed and ducked under the covers as well.
“Brr,” he said, giving an exaggerated shiver.
I nodded, wrapping my arms around him to try to pull some of his warmth into my body. “I know. It’s freezing in here.”
“Well, you know,” he replied, wiggling his eyebrows. “Body heat is the best kind of heat.”
I rolled my eyes at his cheesy words, but the way he looked at me made a different kind of chill run through my body. I let him pull me closer, pressing his lips to mine, and tried not to think about the fact that we were in someone else’s bed.