The Retreat - Part 1

Diana

We drove for miles away from our secluded village in the south of England. Passing through towns and cities and finally out into the countryside again, towards what Bonnie called 'Drinksville'.

"Did we really need to go so far?.... Surely there was a closer spa we could have gone to?" I say trying to stretch my cramped legs.

For nearly five hours we had been driving and my stomach rumbled.

"We're almost here! And no, this spa is the shit!"

We drive down into a valley, steeped with huge trees and numerous wooden lodges dotted about. It was beautiful.

"We're here!" Bonnie squeals excitedly.

"Where is here exactly?" I say looking around.

"The Lake District a.k.a drinksville" Bonnie replies. "Come on, let's go get checked in"

I get out of the car slowly, my bones aching from the long drive. We head towards the huge wooden and stone building, following the signs for 'reception'.

Bonnie walks to the desk to check us in and I look around me, feet still planted in the same spot. There's occasional couches and furs draped over them. A bar and small dance floor. A door with a sign 'restaurant' and another doorway signed 'to the spa'. A roaring open fireplace takes centre stage in the main seating area and people are lounging and drinking around it.

"Ok, we're all sorted" Bonnie says dangling a set of keys in her hand.

We head back to the car to get our luggage and make our way down one of the gravel paths to our numbered lodge.

My breath catches as I see a huge lake Infront of me.

"I knew you'd love it" Bonnie smiles as she drags her suitcase up the wooden steps of a lodge overlooking the lake.

"I do" I say surprised.

"Well let's get this dumped inside then we can go for some lunch" Bonnie says as she opens the door.

"Then we can hit the spa for a few hours before tonight" she adds with a mischievous look in her eyes.

"Why, what happens tonight?" I ask curiously.

"Well the main reason I picked this place is because that lodge over there becomes party central. It's the only place for miles around so everyone comes here!" She says looking far too elated.

"I thought this was supposed to be a relaxing break?!" I say drily.

Bonnie ignores me and walks to a room. " This one is definitely mine.... Omg I need to pee so bad!" I hear her squeal as she skips off.

I take my case to my room. It's a stunning lodge in keeping with the overall theme of wood and fur. Double full length glass doors lead onto a private balcony overlooking the lake. I feel oddly at home here already. I feel happy. Maybe this won't be so bad after all.

My stomach grumbles at me again.

Walking back to the lounge area I shout to Bonnie.

"Come on I'm starving bitch!"

Bonnie pokes her head out of her room looking equally shocked and pleased.

"Yes bitch! There's my girl.... I knew you'd love it!"

We laugh as we leave the lodge walking back to the main building.

We head straight for the restaurant and my mouth waters at the smell of food.

Four courses and many cocktails later, we make our way down to the spa for the first of many treatments Bonnie has booked for us.

We both lie there stuffed from lunch in the complimentary robes and slippers whilst staff work around us. We start with facials each before moving onto a full body massage. Champagnes and nibbles are offered to us at every interval and I watch as Bonnie downs her millionth glass.

"Maybe you should swap to water?" I say as she necks another glass in one.

"What did I tell you..... This is drinksville baby" she says laughing hysterically.

We finally end with full mani and pedicures. Bonnie chooses bright red for her nails and I choose a subtle pink colour.

We walk back through the main lodge still in our robes and slippers. Bonnie now wearing sunglasses and holding her champagne flute. She struts through the lodge like a celebrity who owns the place and I can't help but giggle at the looks she gets.

She leaves me trailing behind like her entourage carrying all our clothes in my arms. She was a woman on a mission to get ready for tonight!

Also I'm pretty sure she stole the sunglasses !!

I stop suddenly as I catch the faint smell of something, raising my nose in the air slightly. Wood, moss and fresh spring water so strong it feels like I'm standing next to a waterfall. The scent fades away and I look round feeling strange and almost desperate to find the origin. I pinpoint a large floral arrangement on the bar decorated with foliage and twigs. I start to walk over to it but a loud scream and the sound of glass shattering diverts my attention.

Bonnie.

"Urgh.... Who put those steps there?" I hear her groan as I rush towards her pushing through the small crowd gathering.

"Omg Bonnie! Are you ok?!"

She's lying on the floor in a heap at the base of the stairs, broken glass around her. Her slippers have flew off in different directions and her robe has flew up over her head like she's been turned upside down, covering her head completely.

Her bare legs and knickers up to her belly button uncovered.

She abruptly sits ups with the robe still over her head and I stifle a laugh. Everything else still on display.

A male quickly steps forward out of the crowd and pulls her robe down gently, uncovering her head and covering her body. Bonnie looks at him for a second before her eyes nearly pop out of her head.

Clutching her robe she looks for me.

"I'm glad you find this so fucking funny" she says when she sees my face. Bonnie tries to look angry but she breaks into a sheepish grin when I can't hold my laughter in anymore.

I laugh so hard I bend over clutching the clothes at my stomach. Tears in my eyes.

The male holds out his hand to Bonnie while another male gently puts her slippers back on her feet.

I walk down the steps to Bonnie who's now standing - no thanks to me. Still gasping for breath from laughing so hard.

"Thanks for your concern and help...... Friend" Bonnie says scowling.

"You.....you....." I gasp trying to talk through fits of laughter.

"You looked like a...... A lampshade!!!!!!!" I say the last word as I erupt into a choking laughing fit again.

At this point even one of the males who helped her up, can't hide their laughter at my comment. Bonnie raises her chin and folds her arms across her chest trying to regain her dignity.

"Yes, well.... I'm glad you found my little 'faux paux' amusing" she says as she glares daggers at the two men.

I notice the taller male, mid twenties staring at me. He has chocolate brown messy hair and his eyes are the same brown with specs of green. His smart black trousers, slightly tight around his thighs leading up to his pale blue shirt which is unbuttoned at the collar. His sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His muscular and toned arms on display.

"Umm.... Thank you for helping my friend" I say uncomfortably, trying to break his trance.

He steps towards me holding out his hand to shake as a light breeze blows from behind him. The smell. I inhale through my nose and I feel my pupils dilate. Is it coming from him? It must be his aftershave!

"Hi my name's Hunter" he says smiling at me still holding out his hand. His hand has a small tattoo placed between his thumb and forefinger of a bow and arrow. Odd.

I freeze for a moment as something stirs in my mind and my head starts to pulsate gently.

I slowly extend my hand towards him.

Our finger tips just touch as Bonnie grabs my arm and yanks me away.

"Oh wow, would you look at the time Diana" Bonnie exclaims looking at an imaginary watch on her wrist.

"Thanks guys for your chivalry yano yada yada but we're in a BIG hurry... Laters!" Bonnie says dragging me towards the path when I hear Hunter say a word.

One word.

"Mate"

I stop and turn around to face the two men.

Hunter is rigid, shaking slightly and the other male has his hand on his shoulder quietly talking to him.

Hunter takes a deep breath and closes his eyes clenching his fists at his side like he wants to beat the shit out of something.

Me?

"Is everything ok?" I ask nervously, not having a fucking clue what's going on.

Hunter opens his eyes and looks at me, like he wants to launch himself at me. Bonnie is pulling on my arm insistently and when he steps towards me I step back in fear, not knowing what has him so angry and definitely not wanting him to come closer to me!

Hunter stops in his tracks when he sees me step back and turns abruptly, power walking away, leaving the other male trailing after him.

"Well that was very weird!" I say as we get further away.

Bonnie doesn't reply and walks us briskly to our lodge not letting go of my arm until we're at the door. She glances over her shoulder before ushering me inside.

"Bonnie what's wrong?"

"Nothing" she replies quickly. Too quickly.

My entire life, I've never seen Bonnie look so unnerved.

"I'm gonna go lie down for a while" she says fumbling with the edge of her robe.

"Oh ok... Do you feel alright?"

"Yeah, I think I just overdid it with the champagne. I'll be fine"

"Hey, you're not bothered by those guys are you? I'm sure we won't even see them again"

Although I already knew I wanted to see him again. There was something about him, I couldn't put my finger on it but the way I felt inside when he looked at me was addicting. I must be fucking crazy, I met him for a few minutes!

"Who? Dumb and dumber? Pleeease, I can handle those idiots" Bonnie says confidently but somehow I can sense she's worried about something.

"Good, why don't you have a lie down before we head back out" I say trying to hide my eagerness to 'bump' into him again.

"First let me go look at my ass cos I'm sure it's bruised" she moans as she hobbles off dramatically.

I walk into my room scanning it appreciatively. Flopping on the bed I roll onto my side and gaze through the glass doors at the lake. Replaying the moment I saw Hunter for the first time in my head. My eyelids grow heavy and I doze off.

"Knock knock" Bonnie says as she walks in my room. I sit up to look at her. She's dressed in a skin tight silver mini dress which literally stops just below her ass and silver stilettos with straps that wrap up her legs like snakes. Her blonde hair is slicked back into a high pony tail and her blood red lips match her nails.

"Wow" I say genuinely "How long was I asleep for?" Thinking it must have been ages for her to complete that look.

"A couple of hours" she says shrugging

I blink.

"It would take me just that, to put one of those bloody shoes on!!!"

"Right then..." She says, then changing to her russian accent she dramatically adds

"It's time for your transformation"

"Ok" I say

Bonnie pauses "ok?"

"Yes. Ok" I say simply.

"You mean you're not gonna fight me or bitch or moan?"

"Nope... I feel different here. I can't explain it. A good different. So come on...... Transform me!" I say the last two words copying her russian accent and we both burst out laughing.

"How's your ass by the way?"

Bonnie rolls her eyes "It's fucking perfect as usual"

I let Bonnie get to work doing my hair and makeup and when she's finished she disappears off into her room. She comes back a moment later holding a dress bag and some shoes.

"Whats wrong with the clothes I packed?"

"Ah ah ah..... You promised me no bitchin. Just put this on and shut up" she orders.

She unzips the bag and holds out a pale pink mini dress which shimmers in the light. It's stunning and the top sits on one shoulder. Theres not a whole lot of fabric going on and I suddenly feel nervous.

"Take off your underwear" Bonnie says after squeezing me into the almost sheer dress.

"What!"

"Your bras in the way and I can see your knicker line.... It's ruining it!" She says casually.

I do as she says and shimmy it out from underneath me.

"Perfect" she says before helping me into the shoes.

I walk to the mirror to look at myself and I'm speechless. My makeup is light and dewy and my hair is braided and curled and pinned up in places. The dress covers my lady bits - just!... but I look. Angelic.

Like a flower.

A moonflower

Me and Bonnie walk carefully up the gravel path in our heels. We link arms for extra support. The breeze blows and I can smell the faint traces of wood and spring water in the air.