Oh, That Russian Accent

Chapter 5

An hour later we arrive at our destination. It is absolutely amazing here! There’s a medium-sized lake surrounded by green trees. Everything is green and bright. The sun is at its highest point and it shines through the forest. It is a lot warmer than I had expected it would be, but that’s just even better.

We start by setting our tents up. There are three, two-man tents. Emily and I, Dimitri and Harry, and Jamie and Oliver.

After about an hour we are finally done. My eyes keep darting over to look at Dimitri. Never in my right mind had I thought, I would spend three days with a guy who hates me. And I definitely didn’t think, that Dimitri’s a person to go camping. It just doesn’t sound right.

“I’m really sweaty after this, so Imma head down for a swim. Does anyone care to join?” Emily asks.

Bullocks, I didn’t think we were going swimming. First of all, I don’t have a bathing suit. Second, I’m not going to get basically naked in front of 4 good-looking guys. There’s just no way in hell. I’m not comfortable and secure in my body as, for example, Emily. I’m not oversized, but I’m not skinny either. I don’t like to show my body to anyone besides myself. And that is final.

“I didn’t bring a bathing suit,” I tell Emily and find a camping chair to sit on.

“Oh, well you can borrow one of mine,” she says.

“No, no, really it’s fine. I don’t feel like bathing anyways.”

“Well, your choice. Do you want me to stay with you?”

“No, no, of course not. Go down and have some fun. I have a good book to keep me entertained,” I tell her.

Emily and the guys run down to the lake and jump in. I laugh at them, before noticing that Dimitri’s not with them. I haven’t seen him, but I don’t think too much of it, because I’m soon drowned in a world of Elizabeth Bennet and a certain, Mr. Darcy.

*****

A couple of hours have gone by. I already finished my book, so I’m just enjoying the sun with my eyes closed and relaxed. The others are still down at the lake, playing like little children.

“Why are you not down there with them?”

I jump slightly at the voice. I didn’t think anyone was around.

“Jeez, you scared me, Dimitri. And I forgot my bathing suit,” I tell him.

He looks me deep in the eyes as if he knows, I’m talking bull, and that’s not the reason why I’m not down there. I hate that he seems to see right through me. He doesn’t point out that I’m lying though, which I appreciate.

“Why aren’t you down there with them?” I fire back.

“I just did not feel like it,” he answers with that thick accent.

“Fair enough,” I tell him. Our conversation stops there.

I spent the rest of the day and evening relaxing, and reading some more. I, of course, had packed a backup book with me.

The sun had set and I think it was around 10 PM. We all settle down around the bonfire, that the guys had started. We find the ingredients for s'mores and make them. Mhmmm, it was a long time since I last had a s’more. I like them. And I like this. Being surrounded by people. Having friends. This is great. It’s really something I need to do more often. And I am confident that things similar to this, will come in the near future. I smile at the thought.

As the clock turns 12 AM, Jamie says, “Well, Imma go to sleep now. There’s a new day tomorrow. You coming, Oliver?”

Then there’s four.

Emily yawns, “I think Imma go to sleep as well. You coming now or later?”

“You just go ahead. I’m gonna stay a little longer,” I tell her.

Then there’s three.

Not one minute after, “Goodnight guys,” says Harry, as he walks away.

Then there are two.

There is silence between us. But not the uncomfortable kind of silence. We are just sitting, enjoying the fresh air, the warmth from the fire, nature, everything.

“I think I’m going to bed too,” I tell Dimitri about 10 minutes later, “Goodnight.”

No response.

I zip my tent up, but much to my surprise there are already laying two people in here. Emily and Harry are all cuddled up together. I can’t wake them up when they’re laying like that. Sighing, I walk back to the fire and sit down.

Silence.

“Why did you come back?” Dimitri asks me. Huh, he can talk then.

“Harry’s taken over my sleeping spot,” I told him nonchalantly.

“Then where are you going to sleep?” He asks me.

I hadn’t really thought about it.

“I don’t know. Guess I’ll just stay here tonight.”

“Okay.”

And with that, he walks away and goes to sleep in his own tent, I guess. Or I thought. 5 minutes later he comes back and says, “You can take Harry’s place in my tent if you want to.”

Wait. What?

“Uhhh, I don’t know. It’s really no problem, I can just stay here tonight,” I tell him.

“I am not gonna touch you, but if you prefer to stay out here all alone tonight, then that is your choice.”

Wait. All alone. At night. I think the hell not.

“Well, if you’re alright with it?” I ask him.

“Whatever. Just come now, because I would like to get some sleep,” he says in his all-Russian accent. Alright, guess we’re back to grumpy him. Not that he’s ever been not grumpy.

I quickly grab my pajamas from the chair and follow him. He goes into the tent and changes, while I change outside. I had started to regret the fact that my pajamas were cotton shorts and a small tank top. I thought it was just going to be Emily who saw me in this, and I don’t really have anything else. Normally, I would have taken my bra off, but just for tonight, I’m going to keep it on.

“Can I come in?” I ask him through the tent in case he isn’t finished.

“Yes,” he answers.

I zip the tent up and look down at him. He’s already laying under the sleeping bag.

“Ummm, where is Harry’s sleeping bag?” I ask Dimitri since I can’t see it here.

“He has probably taken it with him,” he shrugs.

“What am I supposed to lay under?” I ask him, fidgeting with my fingers. I can feel his gaze on me… or rather, my body. God, this is embarrassing.

“I do not know. I guess you can come under my sleeping bag. It is, after all, a double.”

What is it with these people and their double sleeping bags?

“I don’t know.”

“Jesus, just get under already, would you! I am tired and I want to sleep. So either get under or get the f**k out. I do not have time for this,” he spits at me.

Holy s**t a mood change. I don’t like him treating me this way. But either way, I quickly scurry under his bag and down beside him. I’m not going to get eaten alive by a bear, alone outside. At least in here, it is safe. Or it feels safe, anyway. We are laying so close down here, that our legs and arms are touching. It’s sending electricity jolts all the way down to my spine.

“Goodnight and thank you for this,” I tell him and close my eyes.

“Goodnight, Ruby,” he answers after a little while. His tone is hard and cold, but he doesn’t feel so scary, laying here side by side with him.

After a couple of minutes, I fall asleep.