The Forest

"Hello? Are you awake?" A loud banging on my door wakes me up, "Hello?! I'm not waiting all day!"

My eyes heavily open and only spring awake when I see the clock is a little after nine. Jumping out of my bed, I shove on my shoes and grab my jacket and photo bag, rushing to the door to open it.

"I'm sorry," I say for being late and bumping into his stone wall chest, "Sorry," I say again, fixing the messy hair out of my face.

Matthew doesn't say anything. Instead, he just grunts and moves to the stairs. I follow behind him. Marcy is at the bottom of the steps with a picnic basket in her hands and gives it to Matthew, who reluctantly takes it.

"Have fun, you two," Marcy coos.

"Whatever," Matthew mumbles in a barely audible whisper.

Marcy gives me a smile while I run behind Matthew to keep up with his pace.

"Can you slow down a bit?" I yell out to him.

Matthew doesn't say anything, he just stops in his tracks, not even bothering to look back. Coming up beside him, he sneers at me, almost as if he's annoyed by my mere presence.

"You know you can just lie to your mom and say you took me out to the forest while you go sit at a bar and drink." I stare him down, "Maybe a drink might take away some of the assholeness you're exuding. Now go away before you scare all the animals."

Brushing past him, I continue into the woods, making a mental note of where I am so I don't get lost trying to find my way out. Not wanting to look back to see if he's still there, I take out my camera and start snapping pictures.

After taking a few test shots, I look through my photos and determine if I should fix any of the settings as the lighting shifts around the tree's canopy.

"Those are nice," Matthew says softly, scaring me out of my skin.

"Shit-fuck. I thought you left. How the hell did you sneak up on me?" I ask while recomposing myself.

"This is my forest. I can get around without crumpling a leaf." He puffs out his chest like he's proud of himself.

"Aren't you supposed to be somewhere else?" I look down at my camera to avoid his gaze.

"I can't leave you out here alone. Ma would literally kill me if she ever found out. Plus, I have lunch." Matthew lifts the picnic basket into my view.

"Yeah, well, I don't need you around here if you're going to be a douchebag all day."

"I thought I was an asshole," He replies, smiling as he leans down into my view so I have to look up at him. His whole attitude seems to have changed, nearly giving me whiplash from his mood swings.

"Where did the old you go? Or is this just a clever ploy to get me to trust you so you can take me deep into the forest and leave me to die?" I say, taking a step back from him so he's not so close.

Mathew doesn't say anything, and from the way he cocks his eyebrow with the biggest dumbfounded look on his face, I can tell he's trying to figure out what to say.

"Anyone in there?" I tease, using my hand to close his mouth.

"Funny." He says curtly, "Let's call this a favor in exchange for a favor." He leans against the tree, looking like any of the models I wish I could've photographed in college.

"Favor?" I ask, taking a knee to find the right angle to shoot him in.

I manage to get a couple of pictures of him until he notices what I am doing. Matthew reaches for my camera, but I manage to swipe it away before he can touch it.

"Whatever, you can use those to think of me," Matthew says, leaning against the tree as if he's trying to intentionally pose. It's like he's turned on this suave, sexy persona he could have.

"I won't ask again." I smile at him.

"I'll tell you in a bit after you get a few more shots in."

It's such a shame that his body is wasted on a man who is such a pain to deal with.

"Okay..." I continue snapping photos.

For the next amazing minutes, it felt like we were the only two people on the planet. The original Adam and Eve. My stomach makes an audible growl, causing him to laugh at me.

"Why don't we take a break and eat?" Matthew picks up the picnic basket and takes out the blanket inside, laying it out on the ground.

Starting to unpack the basket, I give him a side glance when I pull out roses and wine alongside a nice meat and cheese board as well as strawberries. 

"Ummm?" Is the only sound I can make as I shake the wine and roses at him.

"Jeez." He runs his hands through his hair, "I really should have checked it before we came out. I'm pretty sure this is my Ma's way of playing matchmaker." He shrugs his shoulders, and his cheeks are starting to turn red. 

Matthew takes the wine and opens it, pouring us each a glass. This is way more romantic than I expected, and his douchebaggery seems to subside after he takes a drink. I take a sip of the red wine while picking up a piece of meat and cheese. 

"What makes you think your mom is playing matchmaker?" I say, eating one of the strawberries. 

"This set-up. Do you really think I'd pack this? If it were me, I'd just put in sandwiches and maybe even a six-pack," He laughs at himself, taking another drink.

"I'm definitely a catch, you'd be lucky to have me," I tease, taking the bottle and pouring myself another glass. He extends his arm with his empty glass so I can also pour him another. 

"Oh really?" Matthew eyes me up and down, sending goosebumps running down my spine.

Brushing him off, I pull out my camera and take a few shots while we're sitting down. I try to capture the gorgeous view when the wind shifts in. The chill sends shivers all throughout me, making my teeth start to chatter. Matthew notices and stands up, putting his jacket over my shoulders. He glances down, reviewing the pictures I shot. 

"Wow. I guess you really are a photographer." Matthew bumps my arm with his elbow.

"Dick." I shove him back.

"Now I'm a dick? I guess that's better than douchebag." Matthew teases.

Preparing to punch him in the face, he raises his hands in the air, conceding.

"Since it's already late. Tomorrow I'll really show you around, and in exchange, I want you to take a family portrait of me, ma, and the kids".

Family portraits? Yeah, right, there's a reason I don't do family photos. I choose to take pictures of the outdoors because families are unbearable to deal with. How am I supposed to picture a happy family if I don't even know what one looks like?

"I'm not sure..." I say standing, suddenly, the idea of getting lost in the forest doesn't seem too bad.

Trying to find the words to turn him down, he starts walking toward me until my back is pressed up against a tree.

"What if I say please?" Matthew lifts his arm above my head, bringing his face close to mine.

His breath brushes past my ear, sending shivers down my spine. I push him off me, causing him to laugh. Fixing my hair knocked out of place, I keep my head down and pretend I'm looking at the pictures.

"I'll do it for Marcy, but not you"

"Fine by me, but eventually, you'll do anything for me." He says with swagger, standing tall as the trees around us.

"You're so annoying." I push him away, "Let's head back now then, I can take the photos of you all once we're back."

We head back out of the forest and back to the inn, where his mom and his kids are waiting outside. Matthew waves over to them, and his kids come running over with his daughter leaping into his arms. I walk over to his mom and join her, sitting down on the rocking chair beside hers. 

"How was the view out there?" Marcy asks.

"It was lovely, and the picnic was ...unexpected." 

Marcy laughs, covering her face as if she's the one embarrassed by it, "It's been a long time since Matty has been around a woman, I thought I'd give him some encouragement. Plus, you're so gorgeous and I couldn't just let you pass him by."

"I did tell him I was a catch," I laugh with her.

"What brought you both back so soon?"

"He asked me to take a family portrait of all of you together," I say.

Marcy jumps out of her seat, "Really?"

"Yes."

"Kids lets get ready," Marcy yells out in their direction.