Julia stepped out of the car, stretching her arms slightly before glancing over the roof at Kate.
"I need to sleep it off," she said, like she had already decided.
Kate got out more slowly, closing the door without much energy.
"…yeah."
Julia rolled her shoulders once, then nodded toward the path ahead.
"And you need to keep him in check."
Kate followed her gaze.
Ray was already walking toward the cabin, hands in his pockets, not looking back.
"…right."
Julia crossed her arms briefly.
"Because if I have to do it," she added, calm, "I'm making both of you run laps around the camp."
A small pause.
"Like I said."
Kate glanced at her.
Then back at Ray.
"…you would?"
Julia didn't answer.
Kate exhaled quietly, then started walking after him.
As Kate yawned, slowly walking back towards the cabin, she took the last cigarette she had in the pack, lighting it before tossing the empty pack into a nearby bin.
The flame flickered for a second before catching.
She inhaled slowly, holding it in a moment longer than usual—
Then exhaled, shoulders dropping just a little.
Behind her, Julia watched for a second.
Didn't comment.
Just shook her head lightly to herself before turning toward her own cabin.
"Don't burn it down," she called out, not even looking back.
Kate lifted the cigarette slightly in response, without turning.
Ray was still ahead, already near the cabin door now, slowing just a bit like he wasn't sure if he should go in or wait.
Kate noticed.
Didn't speed up.
Just kept walking, steady, smoke trailing behind her as the distance between them slowly closed.
Ray entered the cabin, closing the door behind him a bit too quickly, like he didn't want to deal with anything else for a while.
He stood there for a second.
Just… still.
The silence inside felt different.
Quieter.
He exhaled, running a hand through his hair before looking around.
Jake's mattress was gone.
Right.
"…of course it is," he muttered under his breath.
A small pause.
Then he moved, slower now, heading toward Kate's bed like it was the most obvious solution in the world.
He kicked off his shoes, barely bothering to line them up, then pulled off the extra layers until he was left in just his underwear—simple, nothing special, like he didn't care enough to think about it.
He dropped onto the bed without much grace.
Winced slightly when he landed.
"…still hurts," he mumbled, shifting once to get comfortable.
For a moment, he just stared at the ceiling.
Thinking.
Or trying not to.
Then he turned onto his side, pulling the blanket over himself halfway, like he wasn't fully committing to staying—but not leaving either.
Outside, faint footsteps were getting closer.
He heard them.
Didn't move.
Just closed his eyes like that might solve everything.
As Kate's smoke was nearly all gone, she was already in front of the cabin's door.
She took a big breath, deciding there was no point in waiting.
Then she pushed it open.
And stopped.
"…seriously."
Ray was already in her bed.
"…hi."
Kate stared at him.
"You're in my bed."
"…yeah."
A pause.
She stepped inside, closing the door behind her.
"If you think I'm gonna let you fuck me, or whatever else you have planned—"
He looked at her.
Completely innocent.
"You broke my balls, remember?" he said. "I'm female for the week."
A pause.
Kate blinked.
Once.
Then just stared at him.
"…what?"
Ray gave a small shrug, like that made perfect sense.
Kate let out a short breath through her nose, shaking her head slightly.
"…you're unbelievable."
He didn't react to that.
Just pulled the blanket up a bit higher, like he was settling in.
Kate stood there for another second—
Then looked away, pressing her lips together, trying not to react more than she already had.
"And first of all, we need to wash up before any of us get into this bed, you moron!"
Ray blinked at her.
Then looked down at himself.
Then back at her.
"…right."
He pushed himself up slightly, wincing again as he moved, slower this time.
Kate crossed her arms, watching him, not moving an inch.
Ray sat there for a second, like he was debating something—
Then sighed.
"okay."
He swung his legs off the bed, dragging a hand over his face as he stood up.
Kate stepped aside just enough to let him pass.
Didn't say anything else.
Just followed him with her eyes.
"Don't even try to jerk off inside the shower again now. Or I swear I'm gonna enter it and kick you again. This time I'm gonna make sure you're fatherless for the rest of your life. Idiot!"
Ray froze mid-step.
"…again?" he repeated, blinking, clearly stuck on the wrong part.
Kate didn't turn back.
"Just move."
He hesitated—
Then nodded quickly.
"okay."
One hand instinctively dropping lower for a second before he forced himself to keep walking.
Kate rolled her eyes faintly, but didn't say anything else.
As Ray stepped inside the bathroom, he took a big breath before closing the door.
He stood there for a second, just staring at the sink.
"I shouldn't have taken that pill Jake gave me…" he muttered under his breath.
He rubbed his face slowly, trying to piece things together.
"I barely remember anything… I know I kissed her…"
A small pause.
He exhaled.
"…eh."
Another breath, lighter this time.
"I guess it's gonna go as it's gonna go."
He reached for the faucet, turning it on, the sound of running water filling the small space as he tried not to think about it too much anymore.
"Alright Kate, now we are gonna set some ground rules."
She started talking to herself, eyes fixed on the mirror.
"Whatever this idiot does, and however wet you are… he doesn't get to fuck. You understand me?"
She held her own gaze for a second.
Like she expected an answer.
A small pause.
Then she scoffed quietly.
"Horny bitch," she added, rolling her eyes.
Her shoulders dropped slightly after that, like the tension slipped just a bit.
But she didn't look away.
"Get it moving, asshole! I wanna sleep soon! And it's your fault, so wash that dick and get out!"
She screamed, tapping sharply against the door.
Inside, there was a brief pause—
Then—
"Give me a minute! Jesus!"
Ray's voice came back, louder than before, clearly caught off guard.
Kate rolled her eyes, dropping her hand from the door but staying right there.
"I am giving you a minute!"
She leaned her forehead lightly against the wood for a second, exhaling.
Inside, water kept running.
Ray muttered something under his breath—too low to make out.
Kate didn't move.
Just waited.
As a matter of fact, a minute was all Ray needed as he literally opened the door…
Fully naked.
Kate froze.
"…are you serious?"
For a second, she didn't even move—just stared, like her brain needed time to catch up.
Then—
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"
She turned her head away immediately, one hand coming up to block her view, the other pushing against his shoulder.
"Are you insane?! Put something on!"
Ray blinked, equally confused, like this wasn't the obvious problem.
"I just— you said hurry—"
"NOT LIKE THIS!"
She shoved him back toward the bathroom door without looking, her face already heating up.
Ray stumbled a step, grabbing the doorframe to steady himself.
"Okay—okay!"
He reached back blindly, trying to find something—anything—while Kate stayed turned away, refusing to look back.
"…idiot," she muttered under her breath, but quieter this time.
The door shut again.
Kate exhaled sharply, still facing the other direction.
"It was his plan… to make me wet," she muttered to herself, still turned away.
She frowned slightly right after saying it.
"…idiot."
Behind her, she could hear him moving quickly now—drawers opening, fabric shifting, something dropping to the floor.
Rushed.
Kate crossed her arms, staring at the wall, like that somehow helped.
It didn't.
She exhaled through her nose, shifting her weight from one foot to the other.
Inside, the noise settled.
A second later—
The door handle moved again.
"Finally!"
She pushed him aside as soon as the door opened, not even looking at him this time, grabbing her towel, a t-shirt, and panties in one quick motion.
Ray stumbled half a step to the side, caught off guard.
"Hey—"
The bathroom door was already closing again.
He blinked at it.
Then looked down at himself, adjusting his shirt slightly, like he suddenly became aware again.
"…okay," he muttered.
Inside, the lock clicked.
Kate leaned back against the door for a second, eyes closing briefly as she exhaled.
Outside, Ray ran a hand through his hair, glancing toward the bed—
Then back at the bathroom.
Not sure what to do now.
"Fuck it," he said to himself, as he dropped onto her bed, laying down.
He let out a long breath, staring up at the ceiling again.
For a second, he just stayed there.
Not moving.
Then he pulled the blanket over himself a little, like he was claiming the spot without really thinking about it.
"…I'll deal with it later," he muttered.
From the bathroom, water started running again.
Ray turned his head slightly toward the sound.
Then back to the ceiling.
He didn't move after that.
Kate washed up as fast as she could, no way she was going to finger herself like last time.
The water ran a little longer than needed—
Then stopped.
She got out as she dried herself carefully.
Slow movements.
More controlled now.
Then she looked at her clothes... realising her pyjama was dirty.
A pause.
She just stood there for a second, towel still in her hands.
She had to sleep with him... half naked.
Her grip tightened slightly.
A faint color rose to her cheeks.
She looked away from the mirror.