The cabin in High Wood

Chapter 2

Hannah shut the lid of her case, it had been a squeeze... but a girl needed all her tools. Besides, her uncle would be giving some of them a lift up to High Wood and she could take a smaller case if need be.

"You ready sweetheart?" her mother called up to her.

"Yeah, I'll be down in a minute."

Hannah had found it weird when her mother had married her father's brother, but he was always good to her... and besides, she could get her own way by making them both feel guilty. She strolled downstairs leisurely, spotting Becky helping her uncle load her case into the trunk.

"You packed enough Becks?" She asked with a smile, skipping up to her best friend.

"Just enough for a week, you know bathing suit and warm clothes just in case" Becky replied seriously, counting off what she had on her fingers.

Hannah helped push her case in, her stepdad lifting her relatively small case afterwards.

"Come on girls get on in, I want to be away before traffic builds up in town."

They both nodded in reply, jumping into the back of the car. They unfortunately still got caught in holiday traffic though, perhaps others having the same idea. Becky however never wasted an opportunity to gossip.

"So... you think you'll get back with Tommy?" Becky whispered conspiratorially, keeping an eye on Hannah's uncle.

"I don't know, it's not like he did anything really terrible. Hell, he might not even want to" she replied, folding her arms and staring out the window.

Hannah had heard he'd started dating Fran, but rumours were just that. Maybe she'd ask him when they got there.

"I'm sure he still loves you, I think he's just a little scared is all" Becky told her, voice all aflutter with romance.

"He just said that so I'd sleep with him" Hannah replied in a huff, though that wasn't true. Tommy wasn't even remotely deceitful, it's what made her so frustrated, he was so... perfect.

Eventually, they arrived at the cabin, only one car already there. As they approached Jason, Robert and Trish got out to greet them. Her uncle pulled up beside them, opening up the boot to take out their cases.

"Hey Becks, how was the trip up?" Jason asked, leaning on the car and helping her down.

"Long, very long" Hannah butted in, jumping out the other side.

She was sure Becky would make a face, smiling as she collected her case from her uncle.

"It's going to be late by the time I leave, so ring me if things get too much okay?" He said to her, plonking down Becky's oversized case.

"Yeah I will, you be staying at that motel a ways back?"

"Yeah, just promise me you won't do anything foolish alright."

Hannah nodded, wheeling her case to the cabin. Robert met her, the others having already gone inside.

"You want a hand with that?" he asked, offering a hand.

"Yeah, sure" she replied with a smile, letting him lift it through the doorway.

"Is Tommy here yet?" she asked hurriedly, instantly hating that she sounded desperate.

"No, he's running a little late... he asked about you too, you guys should make up. You know, in my opinion..."

Hannah smiled, punching his arm playfully. "You don't have to be careful around me, if we make up then great. If not, well, then it wasn't meant to be."

"That's unusually mature for you to say, Han. When did you grow up?"

"Must have been when Becks was talking my ear off about him" Hannah said with a laugh. Robert put an arm around her, closing the door behind them.