Chocolate Cosmos

Chapter 10

When we reached Camp Serene, I couldn't close my mouth from awe and I was sure Karl was as impressed as I was.

The camp lodges were designed with full on nature-inspired architecture. They had vines and flowers decorating every inch of wood. The lodges stood in rows with a beautiful nature decorated open alleys in between. Each row had five lodges standing side by side, the rows making up four columns, two on one side.

Dan explained that the single lounge standing between the two columns was the main office where the administration desk was along with his own room, the staff rooms, a community area and a mini restaurant.

Dan led us towards the administration desk and asked for two single-bed lodges. With a wide smile he turned to face us.

"Let me show you to your rooms."

"We don't need them. Just get us to a working phone were we can call someone to come pick us up and we're out of here." Karl responded grumply.

Dan's eyes turned from Karl to mine and I sighed.

"Excuse us." I told Dan and pulled Karl an appropriate distance out of Dan's earshot.

"What's wrong with you Karl! What's with the attitude?" I whispered yelled.

"What's with my attitude? I'm perfectly friendly." His words dripped with pure sarcasm.

"We came here for some fun remember. Don't ruin it Karl please." I said calmly. I knew bickering back will do no good right now and just like dealing with a beast I tried to convince him softly.

Karl looked me dead in the eye. "We came for only a single night Charis. Why are you trying to extend our stay? It's not like we didn't do the camping part."

He did hit a bull's eye with this.

Why did I want to extend our stay?

I sighed. "I think I just want more days away from all the drama back in the city. For once in a long time Karl I'm away from the people who keep on judging me with every move I make." I voiced the reality. I sighed again. "I know I'm being selfish by holding you up here with me. You can leave if you want, I'll come back to the city like a day or two later. I promise I won't stay for long."

Karl's eyes remained fixated on mine, the cappuccino was now turning into a dark espresso shot swirling into its specifically designed cup, the waves crashing with every turn and I couldn't look away.

He sighed before turning his gaze to Dan who was still standing in his place.

"Are there showers in those lodges of yours?" He asked with a nonchalant expression towards Dan.

"Yes of course. Each lodge, single or paired has its own bathroom and shower. You can also try our outdoor showers. It's fully private don't worry." Dan replied enthusiastically.

Karl looked back at me, his gaze soft. "We get back the day after tomorrow."

I couldn't stop the wide grin on my face as I nodded excitedly.

Karl rubbed the top of my head before heading towards Dan and snatching his lodge keys from him. He carried his bag and tents from the floor where we placed them and I watched as he left the main lodge.

I walked towards Dan with a smile as I fixed my hair. I probably looked like a five year old who was just given candy.

"I wanna try that outdoor shower." I grinned.

§§§

Karl

I dropped the bags I had onto the lodge floor as I closed the door with my back.

I gazed my way towards the bed and breathed out before attacking the pillow with a series of punches that can kill a man if directed at him.

What in God's sanity is wrong with me!?

I buried my face into the beat up pillow relishing out a muffled scream.

"Why did that Dan guy have to find us? Why? Why? Why?" I yelled into the pillow, my fist punching the bed this time.

And why the hell was he bothering me so much?

I pulled my head up from the pillow.

"A beautiful lady like you shouldn't be sleeping out here." I mimicked the i***t like a kid. "Miniminiminiminimi."

"No, I'm not jealous." I answered to absolutely no one. "Why would I even be jealous? Charis and I are not a thing!" I was fighting the air like a mad man.

I let out a loud groan as I collapsed on my back onto the bed.

With a sigh I cleared my head.

"What is wrong with me?" I asked for the zillionth time and getting no answer. I felt so stupid with my actions and childish attitude earlier. That was not charismatic or cool. And I'm a charismatic man! I can't lose composure like that.

I pulled myself up from the bed into a sitting position deciding it was best to not think about it, go take a shower and come back out as the man I always came out to be. It was probably last night's uncomfortable sleep that got to me.

Looking around the single bedded room, I couldn't deny how beautifully decorated it really is. Looks like that Dan guy knows how to keep people sticking around.

Parquets occupied the floor, walls and ceiling and matching the greenery decorating the exterior, there were vines and flowers decorating the interior as well. The room even had a complete side with plant pots lining the whole of it.

There was a single window on one side hidden behind a full length curtain. A door opened to the bathroom while another glass door opened to a small closet showing all its contents.

The bed stood in the wall opposite the closet with a small carpet underneath and a nightstand on the side.

The whole color palette consisted of brown and green with all their shades. It felt annoyingly relaxing.

What was Charis doing right now?

I shook the question as soon as it wafted into my mind.

I shouldn't care. No, I won't care. I don't care at all.

I got up from my place and started heading immediately for the shower. It felt good washing off all dirt and mud I had on me. My muscles relaxed despite the mental war I was having to keep any and all thoughts of Charis and Daniel boy out of my head.

'Just think happy thoughts. Just think happy thoughts.' I chanted in my head up until I turned the faucet off and wrapped myself with a towel around the waist.

Changing into a pair of clean pants I had packed, I dropped onto the bed tiredly.

Maybe just a small nap.

I don't remember if I had agreed on the suggestion or not as next thing I remember is waking up with a small gasp. Looking out the window, I saw the moon and stars waving back at me notifying me that I have been actually sleeping for a while now.

I got up with an ache all over my body and I forced myself towards the bathroom. Splashing cold water onto my face woke me up fully so I zigzagged my way towards my unpacked bag and reached for a t-shirt to wear.

I had a black polo shirt that I threw over with some black jeans. And slipping my shoes on, I decided to go search for Charis and have something to eat.

A memory flashed in my head reminding me that my teenage tantrum made me forget asking about Charis's lodge number and I groaned loudly.

Weighting my options, I decided that asking about her at the main desk was a good option.

I took in a deep breath, regaining my normal Karl Hawke demeanor. I was the mysterious, highly charismatic, cool man who could bring any girl to her knees. No man was ever competition to me.

I was the Karl Hawke and I walked with composure and pride.

Composure and charisma that crumbled down tragically when I saw the black hair goddess laughing whole heartedly with stupid Dan, the two of them sharing a sofa, their bodies closer than my liking.