Between The Trees

Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

Maple must have fallen asleep, for the next thing she knew she was opening her eyes to Bonsai's concerned frown, her blonde curls dripping down onto her face.

"What?" Maple asked, immediately frowning as she sat up and pushed Bonsai off her.

"It's dinner time," Bonsai said, and Maple realised the woman was slightly breathless. Maple looked around and noticed Bacon's absence, and she couldn't hear anyone else in the Cielo. The rain tapped against the window in time with the drips from Bonsai's hair and Maple's eyes widened.

"Did you forget about me?" She asked, her pale cheeks flaming red; either out of anger or embarrassment, she wasn't sure which.

Bonsai offered her an apologetic smile and shrugged a little. "Kind of," she admitted. "But I've got Betsy, you'll hardly even be late," she assured her. "Do you have a rain jacket?" Bonsai paused, and Maple finally registered the downpour outside.

"I came here because America's supposed to be sunny," Maple grumbled, rooting through her day pack for her pac-a-mac.

"You came to Washington for sunshine?" Bonsai questioned, raising her brows with an entertained grin. Maple laughed and Bonsai laughed, tossing her head back like a little kid. "Oh, honey, Seattle is the saddest metro area in the US because the weather's so shitty."

Maple stared at her, taken aback. Admittedly, she hadn't done her research. She'd seen photos of the golden sandy beaches of Miami and Los Angeles and simply assumed that the rest of North America shared the same attributes.

"You're gonna need this a whole lot more than you need your flip flops," Bonsai giggled, then helped Maple into her rain mac, like a mother would her child.

Maple huffed her hair out of her face and pulled her glasses on, then followed Bonsai outside to where a hefty looking, pimped-out golf cart-type thing sat, with giant googly eyes on the front.

"What is that?" Maple asked, her jaw slightly open. She'd never seen something so ridiculous.

"That's Betsy. One of two Gator carts that we have. The best mode of transport out here," Bonsai said with a proud grin. Maple gave Bonsai a sceptical look as she pulled her hood up, then ran from the porch to the stout, green vehicle. Bonsai started up the engine and Maple gripped the handlebar beside her with a cry of surprise.

"There's no seat belts?" Maple shouted over the noise of the motor. Bonsai grinned and shook her head.

"Just hold on!" She laughed, pulling away from the Cielo with a jolt. Maple's other hand reached for Bonsai's thigh desperately as they were both rocked from side to side. Bonsai didn't seem to be trying to go particularly slow for Maple's account. The road was wet with rain and comprised only of shingle and rocks. Bonsai rounded the top of an incredibly steep hill which had a tall cliff, which overhung Lake Langlois. She finally slowed, almost coming to a stop.

"This is called Heart Attack Hill," Bonsai chuckled, gingerly navigating the downhill turns. Maple had paled, and Bonsai laughed again. "You're supposed to have the heart attack walking up it, not going down in the Gator." Maple wasn't convinced. And yet, once Bonsai had reached the bottom of the hill and driven them round the cliff, Maple's faith in Bonsai's driving grew.

The lodge came into view, standing proudly above the amphitheatre on tall wooden stilts, blending into the cliffs behind it. Bonsai slowed the cart to let Maple get a good look at the impressive building. "Keyser Lodge. She's a beauty," Bonsai was grinning. With her side profile hitting the pine forest and snow-capped mountains behind her, Maple gradually realised just how pretty Bonsai was; and even more slowly still that she was probably beautiful. Bonsai turned to grace Maple with her remarkable smile, then kicked Betsy back into gear.