Paul wasn't sure to think as he stood at the bus stop near a cozy little general store.

He hadn't expected one of his classmates to invite him to out to a lake house for the summer vacation. He didn't really know the girl too well, they were acquaintances at best, though he did know her name at the very least. Mélanie Bouchard. She seemed nice enough, and they had a mutual interest in writing, so it was easy to be friendly with her.

But, like as it had been said, he hadn't expected her to invite him. He'd thought that she would maybe invite someone she knew a little better, like a close friend. He almost even rejected the offer. His job wasn't all that secure and he'd most likely have to leave just to go on this trip, and then he'd have to find a job at a new newspaper once the summer break ended. Still though, he realized he honestly needed a break. He hadn't gotten any real personal writing done in awhile now. Perhaps this stay at the cabin could help him to unwind and reinspire himself.

And so, he accepted Mélanie's offer. She gave him directions to where the lake cabin was, as well as when the host of this get-together, Victoria Rohde, would arrive, and told him that at least four others would be coming as well. He didn't have a car, so he was going to have to take the bus to get there.

And now, there he was. Other than the bus stop, a tire replacement service, and a store simply called "Ben's", he was pretty much in the middle of nowhere. Forest trees surrounded him in all directions, which was definitely a new experience. He was a city boy, he wasn't even going to try to deny it. Living out in the woods was very different from anything else he knew. He suddenly felt anxious, wondering if maybe he'd accidentally taken the wrong bus route and was now completely lost. Perhaps the general store owner could help him gain his bearings.

With a messenger bag strapped from around his shoulder, and a suitcase in his right hand, he went over to the store and opened the screen entrance door. He could see an elderly woman sitting at a table, but no one else at the moment.

"Excuse me, is there someone that could help me?" He asked, "I'm pretty sure I'm in the right area, but still I feel kinda lost. I'm looking for a lake house cabin, I think it belongs to the Rohde family? I'm gonna be staying there for the summer. Does anyone know if it's near here?"