Genevieve wandered back to the motel, finding herself surrounded by the tacky lobby decor faster than she had expected. She saw Chelsea at the front desk, donning her familiar blue beret. She smiled at Genevieve and something about that smile unnerved Genevieve in a way she couldn't put her finger on. The whole town unnerved her just slightly: the strange antique shop, the crowd at the springs, everyone in town being unnaturally happy, something felt wrong.
"Hi!"
Genevieve was accosted by a familiar face beaming at her.\
"Camila?" Genevieve stepped back.
"That's my name." Camila squinted at Genevieve, pointing and waving a finger in her face. "I didn't catch your name earlier."
"Genevieve." Genevieve replied. "Did you just get here today? I didn't see you check in last night."
"Genevieve. That's a name. I love it." Camila laughed loudly, covering her mouth with a hand Genevieve had just noticed was neatly manicured with short white nails. "I'm going to call you Gen. Anyways Gen, what is it you were asking? When I got here? I checked in last night, sometime after two am I'd say."
"Oh, that's funny, I was having a bit of trouble sleeping at around that time." Genevieve replied.
"Well, last night was a full moon. The moon tends to influence sleep throughout its monthly cycle." Camila giggled. "What can I say, I'm into astrology."
Just then, Genevieve's stomach rumbled. She hadn't eaten all day and it was approaching late afternoon; she had started to regret not getting food at the cafe earlier.
"Shall we?" Camila motioned towards the dining area.
"Oh yeah. I guess it's about time." Genevieve smiled and just about ran to the restaurant.
Occupying a table, the two women placed orders before continuing their conversation.
Genevieve leaned in, closing the gap between her and Camila sitting across from her.
"I've been out all day today, the spring right? So remember the people I was having breakfast with?"
"Well clearly you didn't have much breakfast." Camila pointed out.
Genevieve furrowed her brows playfully before continuing.
"I bumped into them. In the woods. For some reason they refused to let me near the spring, told me to come back on sunday? It was extremely sketchy. I don't know it could just be me but come with me tomorrow, scope them out for me?"
Camila pulled a lip gloss out of her pocket and reapplied. The women stared at each other, Genevieve still eagerly leaning over the table.
Both of them broke out into laughter.
"Please don't think I'm crazy." Genevieve said.
"No, trust me." Camila said through her laugh, placing a hand on Genevieve's shoulder. 'In the short time I've been here, I've heard crazier things."
Genevieve innately trusted Camila. The way she smiled, her mannerism, the way she talked; she was different from the awkward and rough around the edges people Genevieve had already met in town.
The women talked through the afternoon as if they had been friends for years. By the time they had finished talking, it had gotten dark outside.
"Well, I'd best get going." Camila sighed, gathering her things.
"Oh? Where are you off to so late in the day?" Genevieve inquired.
"The spring, of course. From what I've heard, it's too crowded during the day. I doubt there would be people out there now. It's much too cold."
Camila slung her bag over her shoulder, pushing in the chair she had been sitting on.
"Let me join you. I can finally check it off today's to-do list." Genevieve stood to follow Camila.
"I'd rather go alone." Camila smiled and shrugged. "Besides, I'll see you tomorrow. I haven't done much today and I'm sure you've seen some interesting things in town today. Show me around?"
Genevieve sat back down. "Alright. Be safe out there."
Camila turned and left, leaving Genevieve sitting alone in the empty dining area.
"Huh… I like her." Genevieve stared through the lobby, thinking about her encounter with Camila. "She's the first person in this weird ass town I can have an actual conversation with."
The wind whistled outside, shaking Genevive awake from her thoughts. She got up, making her way to her room. She got ready for bed and neatly wrapped herself in the blanket. The bedside was still on and Genevieve stared out of the window unable to see anything through the reflection of the light inside. She dozed off slowly, the warmth of the neon motel light nursing her to sleep.