Matilda, Child of Fire

MMV: When Love Takes Over

14 MMV: When Love Takes Over

"Looking out for you to hold my hand/It feels like I could fall/Now love me right like I know you can/We could lose it all..." –Astrid S., When Love Takes Over (David Guetta cover)

7 pm, Week 7, Lakefront Gazebo, Camp Wanaka

Matilda heard a telltale pop a foot away. Wyatt. She grinned nervously, smoothing the wrinkles from her Old Navy floral linen-blend dress as it had been packed at the bottom of her suitcase, crammed in tightly with her other outfits like a pack of sardines. Its sweetheart neckline and fitted bodice, coupled with its casual-chic goldenrod blossom-prints was enough for Matilda to choose the outfit for the evening ahead.

"How was your day?" he asked, raising her hand to his lips, kissing the tips of her fingers. Matilda's cheeks reddened slightly.

"The usual," replied Matilda, reaching over to help Wyatt carry his accoutrements. "Is that tonight's dinner?"

"Yup," he nodded. He offered his arm and Matilda took it, as they orbed off into the late afternoon ambiance of summer.

7:10 pm, Bayliner 285 SB Boat, Lake Wanaka Marina

They landed squarely on the grey-worn wooden planked dock, with nary a person in sight. Wyatt led Matilda to the same small white-colored futuristic speedboat-type water transportation vehicle from their first date. They walked onto the boat as Matilda continued gazing at the smooth wood interior cabin with cushioned seating and a small two-person table. Had this and the previous date been but a dream? Sometimes, late at night while staring at the cottage ceiling from her dorm-style bed with its crisp sheets and down pillow, she wondered whether everything between her and Wyatt had been a hallucination, a sultry fever dream—that perhaps, she would wake up back home at Epicenter Pico or Vera Manor in a cold sweat—that their stolen kisses on the campgrounds, their nautical sojourns hadn't really occurred.

But it was real, every moment of it.

"Thanks," Wyatt grinned as he removed the bags from Matilda's arms, revealing the evening's succor—fresh Coromandel scallops, caramelized carrots, and cold-set strawberry Jell-O made with sparkling cider. He braised the scallops with two teaspoons of olive oil, a hint of Creole seasoning, a fifth of a cup of dry white wine, a tablespoon of unsalted butter, a minced garlic clove, half a teaspoon of lemon zest, and a tablespoon of freshly-chopped parsley. Once the scallops were prepared, he plated these then warmed the carrots on the pan, after which he added the vegetables to the plates of scallops.

"Dinner for two," he said, presenting the plates.

"Looks amazing," Matilda murmured, and it did smell delectable, curls of aroma wafting throughout the cabin, the salty sweetness of the caramelized crimson-orange carrots soaking in their own jus combining perfectly with the earthy-yet-mildly-spiced shellfish commonly found in the country.

8 pm, Cabin, Bayliner 285 SB Boat, Lake Wanaka Marina

After their succulent dinner and accompanying Jell-O with sparkling cider, the pair cleared away the dishes and disposed of whatever trash they had in the paper grocery bag. Wyatt pushed the various items on the floor to the edges, and pulled out his phone, turning on music. "Feeling nostalgic already?" Matilda attempted to joke. Wyatt shook his head.

"I know we only have tonight—everyone's taking off next week, it's gonna be insane back at camp—and in the weeks we'd been together, I realized we hadn't danced together—yet."

Matilda shook her head, her crimson curls flying about in the enthralling manner that endeared her so to the man standing before her, beach-blond tresses and all. "Wyatt, you don't have to—I mean, I'm not a great dancer or anything—and it's just me after all—" she began, but Wyatt interrupted.