The Player Next Door

Chapter 2

"You're a woman who isn't related to him," Mr Mattew said, pointing out that her approach didn't solve any of the issues. "I may get in a lot of trouble if I screw up your situation, Mark. You're the most valuable player in this situation. Do you mind putting up with the girl for a few days while we figure things out? I'll rearrange the cabins so that you can sleep in the one you like. Meanwhile, you and your partner have separate bedrooms in the cabin."

We heard noises as a yellow bus pulled up outside. Inside, happy campers were crammed, anticipating their first day.

Consider the Minions.

That was something Mark didn't want to deal with just now.

He snatched the keys from the desk and growled, "I'll give you three days to solve this." "If not, I'm out."

No one inquired if I was okay with the situation. It didn't seem to matter what I had to say.

Mark walked away. Mr Mattew returned to his office, and Kim re-aligned her chakra by taking a few deep meditation breaths.

I understand. Mark has the ability to wreak havoc on a girl's chakra.

**

Maple Cabin was a lovely wooden cabin on the shores of a clear blue lake. Soft rugs and wooden furnishings were used to beautify the room. I tossed my duffel bag in the kitchen and came face to face with the devil himself.

"Are we related? What an affront."

He's insulted me in the first second. This is a fantastic start.

"Who writes a nine like that?" you might wonder. I retorted angrily. He's the one who got us into this problem in the first place.

"Do you know what else resembles a four?" Mark gave a sly grin.

"You've got the line coming out of the side, and the top is so sharp." It appears to be a four!"

Me. I was a four at the time. That's hilarious.

I growled, "You're so immature."

His grin grew even wider.

I tried to ignore his immaculate appearance. His blue eyes and unkempt hair emphasized his chiseled face. His presence seemed to take over a room, as if he could fit in anywhere. And here I was, a girl who didn't seem to belong anywhere.

My worn-out pants and scarlet t-shirt with white polka dots drew my attention. I needed to get out of here as soon as possible.

"I heard the campers arrive," says the narrator. I'll go get our group," I replied as I walked out of the room, almost tripping over myself.

I climbed into my car and started revving the engine. Someone pounded the hood of my trunk as I put the old gal in reverse and was pulling out of the parking area.

"STOP!"

Mark appeared in the rearview mirror of my car. However, it was too late. I tried to come to a halt, but the tires rolled over-

CRACK

I let out a shriek. I yelled like a crazy and took three minutes to remove my seatbelt because I was so spastic. I slammed the car door open, and Mark was already kneeling when I got to the rear.

Of course, I wasn't paying attention to who I was speaking with or dealing with. I practically raced up to him and knelt down, colliding with him. He should have been pushed over by the force, but he was strong and it had no effect on him. He held me steady with one arm, not even glancing at me.

"It's true."

"WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED?! WHO WAS IT THAT I HIT?! I CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT I'M SEEING! WHAT ON EARTH HAVE I DONE?!"

"IN MY LIFE, I'VE NEVER HAD A TICKET! I almost hit a raccoon in the driveway once, but I swerved just in time and smashed my mother's flower pot, but it was okay since the raccoon was spared! I can't believe I actually did it!" I let out a shriek.

I let out a shriek. I was sweating profusely. I was practically giggling.

He waited for me to come to a halt. "Are you done?" he finally inquired.

Other counselors and campers were making their way up the cobblestone paths to the surrounding cabins. They were all looking at us at this point. Everyone, in fact. I couldn't tell how ashamed Mark was to be seen with me because he didn't show any emotion, but I'm sure it was huge.

I took a breather. I was having trouble breathing. At the very least, I wasn't a murderer because there was no body under the car. What a breath of fresh air.

His voice was enticing and silky. It instantly relaxed me, and now as I'm staring at him, I feel like I've been transported to heaven.

I stopped up attempting to talk and said, "I…glub gar fle… fle." He had me at a loss for words.

"You stepped on my suitcase. You may have broken my laptop."

So, it's possible that I overreacted. Just a smidgeon.

""I didn't want to wreck your stuff," I explained, "I swear I'm a good driver." I once narrowly avoided a raccoon in my driveway"

"How is that story even a story?" he asked, his lovely face hidden behind his hand.

"Can you tell me your name again?"

"Well, you had to be there; it was quite dramatic at the time," I countered, defending my story-telling.

Crickets.

With a shake of his head, he said, "Look, I don't give a damn. Is it possible for you to return to your car so that I can get my bag and leave?"

Mark was not a fan of my business. When he sought to get out of our rooming arrangement, it was clear that he didn't want to be there. I had now become his worst annoyance. "I…"

I had a horrible feeling. But as soon as I arrived in my car, he grabbed his suitcase and drove away, just like he said he would. The mouse in me wanted to hide and stay here. And, in most cases, the mouse-side comes out on top. But today, more than any other day, a more aggressive form surfaced. Let's refer to it as tiger-side. Yes, I cringed as well.

"Wait!"

Just as he reached the threshold of our cabin door, I cried out to him in the middle of our driveway. He came to a halt, perplexed.

I summoned the fortitude to exit the vehicle. "You didn't give me the opportunity to apologize. It happened by chance."

As he tightened the straps, he groaned, the massive muscles in his shoulder twitching. "Look, I don't want to be here, and we're not required to get along. Just don't get in my way."

He walked up to the front door and opened it.

He examined me from every angle. "I seriously doubt it."

"Hey. HEY!" My determination astounded me "You don't get to say stuff like that and then walk away. I don't care who you are; I'm attempting to make amends! And I'll make amends for any damage I caused."

"Are you implying that I'm a scrooge? I swear I'm going to pay you back every penny you owe me. Even though you are undeserving of it. Who, in the first place, leaves their suitcase on the ground?! That was a blunder."

"Does this come across as an apology or an insult?"

"Isn't it possible for it to be both?"

"That's not how it works. You are not permitted to smash my laptop or curse me out." With a brush of his palm, he moved away from me and pushed open the front door.

"You were the one who began it!" I screamed at the top of my lungs. Billie you're quite mature…

Yes, I made a blunder. But I was going to do everything I could to make up for it

It was the proper decision.

Even though he was a jerk as I was leaving.