Mirrors

Thea’s heart hammered against her ribs, did she hear that right? It felt surreal,like totally a dream and she'd wake up anytime soon.

The water felt cool on her skin, the sun was hot and his grip around her was firm too. It wasn't a dream, it's all true.

Thea pulled away from him, her eyes scanning his face as though in search of the distant man from this morning but Seth felt different. It looked different.

"You remember?" she echoed, her voice betraying her.

Seth's gaze remained fixed on her. "Yes,."

"And this morning?" she pressed, her arms crossed over her chest, the water beading on her skin. "Ignoring me? Is that part of remembering?”

He looked away for a moment, his jaw tightening. "I wasn't ignoring you."

"You weren't?" she challenged, her voice firm. “What was it then?” she asked.

“It's complicated.” He said simply.

Thea sighed, she had enough of this. She turns to leave but Seth pulls her back, his arm firm around her wrist. “It was a reaction.”

“To what? To admitting the truth? To admitting something to something that didn't involve a balance sheet or a contract?"

He met her gaze once more, and she could see a flicker of frustration warring with something deeper.

“I was drunk last night.”

“So you want me to forget it happened.”

“No.”

“Then what?” She snapped, folding her arms again.

“I was drunk and I was honest with you.”

“That’s why you were ignoring me?” Thea asked, the more he spoke, the more confused she got.

"It was confusing. The… intensity of it. It was… unexpected. I'm not accustomed to…" He trailed off, the words seemingly catching in his throat.

Thea waited, refusing to fill the silence for him. She needed him to say it, maybe then she would be able to understand him..

The distant calls of birds echoed through the waterfall.

"To feeling… something." he finally admitted, the words forced, as if pulled from him against his will.

Thea went silent, how could a man who has grown up surrounded by close family members who loved him, have it difficult to feel?

“I don't understand what it is but I want you with me. I want you safe.”

"Your actions this morning spoke volumes," she retorted, refusing to be swayed by his words despite how much it warned her heart greatly..

"My actions this morning were born out of fear," he corrected, his voice low.

"Fear of what?" she echoed, genuinely surprised.

“You make me…nervous.”

“I make you nervous?” She asked, eyes wide open in shock.

“There's much more to learn about me.” he replied, his fingers pulling a stray strand of hair behind her ear, a rather calm look on his face. Thea didn't flinch, she didn't move away. There was no point doing that.

He didn't look as guarded as he often does, he looked different now, peaceful even.

“I don't believe you. I make you nervous.” she asked again, unable to hold back her laughter.

“Believe it,” he said, his voice dropping to a serious tone.

Her laughter died down, it still didn't make sense. “You said I shouldn't fall for you! That I shouldn't trust you.”

“You shouldn't."

Thea scoffed. “What?”

“I don't understand what this is. I can't tell you to trust that I know what I'm doing.”

How the hell did Seth manage to make an emotional confession seem like some business transaction?

“Why are you telling me this then?”

Seth went silent, almost like he was trying to find out what prompted this discussion in the first place. It had nothing to do with the talk he had with Celine when he led her to her cabin and everything to do with his internal conflict ever since he spoke to Arian about Thea and his several nights of denial.

“Hey!” Arian’s voice rang out. "Thea! Seth! Celine said lunch is ready."

The sound of his voice shattered the silence between Thea and Seth.

Thea’s head snapped up, her eyes blinking as she was pulled from the depths of their conversation. She felt a wave of relief wash over her. The intensity of the last few minutes had been overwhelming, and Arian's call was a much-needed break.

“We’ll be right there, Arian!” she called out, her voice a little breathless.

Arian and Daisy nod and are soon on their way back to the main lodge. Thea turned to face Seth but he was now closer to her, his eyes softer now.

"I need to think," she said, her gaze steady as she looked at him. "About all of this. About what you said."

Seth nodded slowly, a hint of understanding in his eyes. "I know."

Thea sighed and Seth nodded. He stepped away from her. Thea made her way out of the water with Seth right behind her. She gathered her clothes from the rocks and headed towards the main lodge.

Each step she took felt heavy, maybe she should say something. Maybe she should ask questions, press him more about the things she was most curious about.

Thea clenched her fist , refusing to resolve this issue so easily. If he meant what he said, then he'll have to show it. Moreover, he clearly had no clue what exactly he was feeling just yet!

They finally arrived at the main lodge where Celine was waiting in their panic spot, several meals plastered on the table. Thea almost lost her mind; did Celine really make all this by herself?

“Celine! You made all this by yourself?"

“Yes.”

Thea didn't have any reason to believe this was nothing but the truth. She saw all the staff were gone for the weekend. Celine did all this by herself .

“You should have called me!” Thea said, her eyes scanning Celine in concern.

“Yes. We could have made things so much easier.” Daisy adds, equally concerned. “This looks like a lot of work.”

Celine laughs it off. “You're all my guests here! I should treat you as such. “

“I understand that we're your guest but at the same time this is a lot of work. We're going to make dinner. You can rest tonight.” Thea said, taking the serving spoon from Celine gently while Daisy helped Celine pull a seat out of the table so she could sit.

Seth watched Thea in silence, staring at the two women in his life going back and forth about who does what. How on earth couldn't he have fallen for her?