The cabin was too small.
Too quiet.
Too… close.
Andrea stood near the window, arms crossed, staring out into the dark trees like they could swallow her whole.
Behind her—
Tom dropped onto the bed like he owned it.
"Comfortable," he said casually.
Andrea didn't turn.
"Don't."
"Don't what?"
"Act like this is normal."
A pause.
Then—
"What do you want me to do?" he asked. "Panic?"
She turned then, finally facing him.
"Yes."
He laughed.
"I don't panic."
"Yeah," she said coldly. "I can tell."
Silence stretched between them.
Heavy.
Unspoken.
Andrea looked at the bed.
Then back at him.
"You take the floor."
Tom blinked.
"…No."
Her jaw tightened.
"You're not serious."
"I am."
"I'm not sleeping on the floor."
"And I'm not sharing a bed with you."
Another pause.
Then—
"Why?" he asked, quieter this time.
Andrea hesitated.
Just for a second.
Then—
"Because I don't know you."
His expression shifted slightly.
"Exactly," he said.
"What?"
"You don't know me."
He sat up a little, leaning forward.
"So what are you so worried about?"
Her heart did something sharp.
Annoying.
She hated that.
"I'm not worried," she said.
"You are."
"I'm not."
"You are," he repeated, softer.
Andrea looked away.
"Shut up."
Another long silence.
Then—
"Fine," Tom said, standing up.
Andrea looked back at him, surprised.
He grabbed a blanket, tossing it onto the bed.
"You take it."
She frowned.
"What?"
"I'll take the floor."
"You just said—"
"Yeah," he cut in. "I changed my mind."
Suspicion.
Immediate.
"Why?"
He shrugged.
"You look like you'd kill me in my sleep."
A beat.
Andrea almost—
Almost—
Smiled.
But didn't.
"Good instinct," she said.
Later, the lights were off.
The cabin was dark except for faint moonlight slipping through the window.
Andrea lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling.
She couldn't sleep.
Of course she couldn't.
Below her—
Tom shifted slightly on the floor.
"You always overthink this much?"
Her eyes closed briefly.
"Do you ever stop talking?"
"No."
A pause.
Then—
"Why are you like this?" he asked.
Her eyes opened again.
"What does that mean?"
"You act like you're… somewhere else," he said.
"Like none of this matters."
Andrea swallowed.
It wasn't supposed to matter.
None of it was.
"It doesn't," she said.
Silence.
Then—
"That's not true."
His voice was quieter now.
Serious.
Andrea turned her head slightly, looking down at him.
"You don't know anything about me."
"No," he admitted.
Another pause.
Then—
"But I want to."
That—
That hit harder than it should have.
Andrea looked away again.
"Don't."
"Why?"
"Because it's a bad idea."
A small breath of a laugh.
"Yeah," he said.
"I know."
Silence again.
But different this time.
Not empty.
Charged.
Andrea sat up slowly, swinging her legs off the bed.
"You're not sleeping on the floor."
Tom looked up at her.
"I thought you didn't want to share."
"I don't."
"Then—"
"But I'm not that cruel," she cut in.
A beat.
He studied her.
Like he was trying to figure something out.
Then—
"Alright," he said, standing up.
They both froze for a second.
Too close now.
Way too close.
Andrea stepped back first.
Always.
"Stay on your side," she said quickly.
Tom smirked slightly.
"Didn't know we had sides."
"We do now."
They lay on opposite ends.
Not touching.
Not even close.
But—
Aware.
Of everything.
Every movement.
Every breath.
Andrea stared into the darkness.
She could feel him there.
Next to her.
Too real.
Too present.
"Hey," he said quietly.
She didn't answer.
"You're not as cold as you pretend to be."
Her chest tightened.
"I didn't say anything."
"You didn't have to."
Andrea turned her back to him.
"Go to sleep, Tom."
A pause.
Then—
"Goodnight, Andrea."
Her name.
Soft.
Different.
She hated that it didn't feel wrong.
EARLY MORNING
Andrea woke up first.
Of course she did.
Sunlight spilled across the room.
For a moment—
She forgot where she was.
Then—
She felt it.
Warmth.
Close.
Too close.
She looked down.
Tom had moved in his sleep.
Closer.
Not touching—
But almost.
Her breath caught slightly.
She didn't move.
Didn't wake him.
Just… looked.
He looked different like this.
Softer.
Less dangerous.
That was worse.
Way worse.
Andrea quickly sat up, breaking the moment.
Distance.
Important.
Always.
Behind her—
Tom stirred slightly.
"Already running away?" he mumbled.
She froze.
"I'm not running."
"Sure," he said, eyes still closed.
A pause.
Then—
"Stay," he added quietly.
Andrea didn't answer.
She grabbed her jacket instead.
And walked out.