Chapter 4 Bit by bit

Later that morning, Serena found herself aching for Greg's company. Without him, she returnejrd back to her haunting thoughts, replaying that cursed video over and over again in her head. It ran her Insane.

She wondered if she could go to his house, the one up the hills. Immediately, she opened her door, she found his hesitant balled fist suspended in the air, deciding if he should knock or not.

A little smile crept up her cheeks, she held on to the edge of her door.

"Good morning again, stranger."

He smiled nervously, " Didn't I think I forgot something?"

She chuckled softly, "You didn't even come in."

He smacks his head slightly, embarrassed by himself.

"What's your plan for today?" he asked.

"... Ummm, nothing, really."

"Well, I'm going up the mountains, care to join me?"

She smiled softly. Obviously, she was going to. She followed Greg up the hills, her steps hesitant yet filled with an inexplicable curiosity.

It was definitely clear he was very obsessed with mountains, but did he have a back story or he just simply loved them?

The cold mountain air nibbed at her cheeks as they walked along a lantern-lit path going up the mountain. Snow crunched softly beneath their feet, and the sky above was a blank whitish blue as the snow dropped down.

"This way,"

Marcus said, his voice steady and leading. He carried himself higher up the mountains with a confidence that bordered on charm, but there was also an air of mystery about him, something that made Serena's guard rise and fall in waves.

The mountainside was quiet and peaceful, except from the creaking of one naughty little bird. Tall trees covered the hills, their snow coated leaves swaying gently in the breeze.

A small iced stream stilled near the rocks, its water iced and bluish. Bright flowers grew here and there, regardless of the snow, I didn't know their names but they added so much color to the frosted ground. The sun shone softly,giving the day a rather peaceful look while lighting up the slopes and making everything seem calm and beautiful.

"The view is breathtaking," she said, stepping towards the sun, the rays fell against her chocolate skin. The warmth enveloped her instantly, and she looked around, bliss filled her face. The snow-covered landscape stretched endlessly, the trees casting long shadows under the moonlight.

Greg chuckled softly. "I find it's the perfect place to get lost, even if just for a little while."

Serena wandered taking little steps, exploring, her fingers picked up one of the flowers, eyes hover on them. The silence was profound, broken only by the soft hum of the little bird.

"They are Hellebores..."

She looked at them closely. "These pink little flowers? They look so delicate, how can they survive the harsh winter?"

"They just do, like you and I surviving, living through 'bad days.' They are called Christmas roses."

She smiled softly, still focused on the flower.

"Do you come here often?"

she asked, finally turning to look at him.

"Anytime I'm in Switzerland, I try to." He pauses,

"Life sometimes gets a little... overwhelming. "

She pauses for a little way, bending she places the flower back on the ground,

"Overwhelming is quite an understatement."

Greg studied her for a while, his piercing blue eyes seeming to cut through her mask, far beyond her carefully composed exterior.

"You're running from something, aren't you? "

His question caught her off guard. She looks at him, her low voice answering, "Isn't everyone?"

He didn't inquire more like a busy body, and she was more than grateful for it. Instead, they fell into a companionable silence, the kind that felt natural rather than forced or uneasy. They both looked down the mountain watching the portrait nature had painted.

Serena felt her shoulders relax. The weight of Jayson and Christina's betrayal still existed but it was muted, she couldn't feel it while in Greg's company.

"You don't strike me as someone who spends her days lounging in resorts," he said, a teasing edge to his tone.

She smiled faintly. "And what do I strike you as?"

"Someone who's used to solving problems, not escaping them."

She wasn't that, she escaped her problems, left a whole continent and fled, that was the type of girl she was.

Greg didn't push, his eyes scan her swiftly, moving over her hands which rubbed against her arm softly.

"You're cold."he immediately removed his jacket putting it on her. She met his eyes briefly as he arranged his jacket on her. Once, he's done, he holds her hands leading her down the mountain to warmth.

Once they got back to his lodge, he placed her on his sofa and started the fire in the fireplace, he throws some pieces of wood into the already lit flame.

The warmth approached her slowly chasing the cold away.

"Do you play?" he asked, nodding toward a grand piano in the corner.

Serena blinked, caught off guard. "It's been years."

"Why not try? No one's here to judge."

She hesitated, then stood and walked over to the piano. Her fingers hovered over the keys before pressing down lightly. Slowly, a melody began to form, a soft, melancholic tune that filled the lodge.

Marcus listened in silence, his expression softens as he watched her play, it was like she cast a spell over him, he couldn't take his eyes off her. When she finished, he clapped softly, a genuine smile spreading across his face. "Beautiful."

Serena returned to her seat, feeling quite vulnerable.

"It's nothing special."

"You sell yourself short, Serena. " he said.

Their conversation varied from a very lighthearted banter on who's favorite food was tastier to some time of quiet reflection. Serena found herself sharing pieces of her life she hadn't intended to, her Parents being too rigid, wanting to make all her decisions for her, how she deceived them that she was going to law school but actually went for Business administration though she carefully avoided mentioning Jayson and Christina by name.

Greg just listened most of the time, laughing and responding to her speeches. As time continued going by, he finally revealed something about himself even though it was vague.

"No body is perfect, especially me."

Serena paused, "Go easy on yourself, pal."

" I was a terrible person, once."

She really wanted to press further but she didn't. She found comfort in their shared imperfections, a sense that they were both trying to get better, that they were both running from the past and this sealed the connection they had.

As the clock ticked past midnight, Serena stood.

"I should get back to my cabin."

Greg asked to walk her back home, She nodded in agreement, clutching her coat tightly as she stepped back out into the cold. The walk back to her cabin felt different this time-lighter. It was like slowly, her sounds were healing bit by bit.