Tulips & The Daily

Part three - You're acting weird (I think its my fault)

Not much happened after that, if you asked Nora, anyway. The moment Clara finalised the teams, her mind seemed to blur, and the room felt smaller, tighter. Feeling suffocated, she felt an overwhelming need for air.

"I think I'm gonna go unpack," Nora mumbled, barely making eye contact as she stood up.

No one seemed to notice much. Nora slipped out quietly, eager for the solitude of her room, where she could breathe again. It was getting darker outside, the last traces of daylight vanishing into the thick, inky sky. The air had grown cooler, and the trees that surrounded the cabins loomed like dark, shadowy figures. No stars tonight, just the deep, endless black above, with clouds rolling in and hiding any hope of light breaking through. Nora suddenly felt cold, even though she was wearing three layers, and pulled on a fleece jacket. The fabric was soft against her skin, but it did little to chase away the chill that settled in her bones. The darkness outside seemed to press against the windows, making the cabin feel even smaller. She rubbed her arms absentmindedly, trying to create warmth. While unpacking, Nora could hear the noise of conversation slowly fading downstairs. The chatter and laughter was gradually replaced by the soft thud of footsteps on the stairs, and the gentle closing of doors. One set of lonesome footsteps caught her attention, echoing through the cabin before they vanished into another room.

A few minutes later, she heard the light, playful giggles of two girls making their way upstairs, their laughter intertwining like music, filling the empty spaces of the cabin. By then, she had finished unpacking, her belongings neatly organised in the small closet. Nora hurried into the bathroom, the cool tiles sending a shiver up her spine as she brushed her teeth and went through her skincare routine. She moved quickly, hoping to go unnoticed. Just as she finished, she slipped back into her room, heart racing slightly with relief. In the quiet of her space, she changed into her pyjamas, and slipped into bed. Nora spent about an hour scrolling through her phone, the soft glow of the screen illuminating the dim cabin. Her eyelids grew heavy, and just as she was on the verge of drifting off, she heard the door creak open. Maggie stepped inside, and while she tried to be quiet, the rustle of her movements cut through the stillness. After a few moments, Maggie finally settled into her own bed, and the familiar sounds of the cabin faded into the background. With a contented sigh, Nora could finally surrender and fell asleep.

The next morning, Nora awoke with the first light of dawn spilling through the window, casting gentle rays across the cabin. The air was still crisp, and silence filled the cabin. She savoured the tranquillity, relishing the moment before the day began. After she had gotten herself ready, she slipped out of the cabin and made her way to the dining hall, the wooden floorboards creaking softly under her feet. She had texted Lila, knowing her friend would likely roll in at the last minute, just like always. After half an hour of waiting, the first wave of students began pouring into the dining hall. Nora watched as they filled the tables. She made herself a plate, piling on scrambled eggs and toast, and settled into her seat, scanning the crowd but not recognizing any familiar faces. Just when she began to feel out of place, her gaze caught sight of the rest of her cabin walking in together. Clara's bright smile instantly lit up the room as she spotted Nora, and she waved energetically, pointing her out to the others. Once they'd grabbed their food, they joined Nora at the table. Nora had decided in her time alone that there was no need to act weird around Matthew. It would only blow a small thing out of proportion, and she didn't want to give it that power.

"Nora, I swear, you are like the ultimate morning person," Clara said as she plopped down beside her, a playful grin on her face.

"Yeah, no one even heard you," Sophie added, her voice laced with dreariness as she rested her chin on her hand.

"I've gotten quite good at being quiet," Nora replied with a smirk. "Did you all sleep okay?"

Around the table, a mix of nods followed. Some faces looked more tired than others, eyes still heavy with sleep. Khalid yawned widely, stretching his arms above his head. "I think I heard the owls outside all night. It was driving me nuts."