La Douleur Exquise

Thirty

I must have fallen asleep while waiting for Darcie to get ready because someone shaking my shoulder woke me up. Everything was a little hazy as I opened my eyes, but if there was one thing that wasn't fuzzy, it was seeing Darcie staring down at me, her hair hanging around her shoulders in loose curls. 

She was wearing make up; not too much, but just enough to show that she had made an effort. Her eyes popped but unlike most girls, she didn't have that thick line of black that flicked out. To be honest, she didn't need that. Just like she didn't need to put on dark lipstick; I hated it when Mia would go overboard like and it always made it awkward having to kiss her. 

When I was finally awake enough to take in more than just Darcie's face, I frowned when I saw the dress she wore. Having seen Darcie unpack when we arrived, I knew she didn't bring any dresses with her, which begs the question- where did she get a dress from? It was long, flowing and white with a floral pattern on it and totally not what I would have ever pictured Darcie wearing.

"You're in a dress," I dumbly commented. I blame my sleepy daze for sounding so idiotic, but it was also a fair statement to make. "Where did you get it from?"

Darcie blushed and dropped her head to look down at her outfit, all the way down to her gold sandals. "I can change. It'll only take me a mom-"

"No, don't change," I cut her off. Sensing that she must have felt self-conscious over my comment, I think now would be the right time to pay her a compliment. "You look great, Darce."

"Yeah?" Her voice is meek and unsure, but when she sees me nodding, she smiles. "Erin let me borrow it. On her, it's supposed to be a maxi dress but I'm all tall and gangly, so... um, are you ready? It's almost seven and the cab is going to be here soon."

Having slept in the shirt I was going to wear, I quickly changed, grabbed my wallet and cell and escorted Darcie out of the cabin. Owen, Ritchie, Harlan and Lauren were all watching from the porch of the cabin opposite our but they were more scrutinizing than gossiping. 

When we finally reached the camp entrance, the cab was waiting. Darcie made a beeline for the door, her arm outstretched to open it herself. Quickening my speed, I manage to get to the door first, pulling ti open for her. 

"Um... thanks?" Darcie confusedly says. She slides across the seat and buckles herself in before she turns to me. "You don't have to open door and stuff for me. I'm not entirely incapable of doing stuff for myself. Apart from cooking. I can't cook."

I laugh. "Thanks for the advance notice on that. But just so we're clear, you're my RG and that's a heck of a job for you. Especially given the circumstances. You're putting yourself through hell for me and there isn't much that I can do in return for you. So, until I can properly repay you, I shall open doors, pay for dinner, and totally let you have the bed all to yourself. How does that sound?"

"I, uh..." Darcie blushed for the second time in less than fifteen minutes. She cleared her throat, rolled her shoulders back and quickly built those walls back up around her. The sparkle in her eyes was gone. She became colder. "Whatever, Campbell."

What did I do wrong? I thought I was being a gentleman! Bitch.