Lost on the Mountain
Hannah Collins thinks she's lost her chance at love when a patient she helped through rehab leaves her without a word. This is not the first of Hannah's relationships to sour early on, and she is very frustrated. Her parents suggest she get away for a while and point out the coupon she had for a flight to Argentina. She is on the plane early the next day and at the resort by late day. She goes to a resort where the mountains meet the forest.
Hungry, Hannah goes to the restaurant in the upper level of the resort complex with a view of the forest and mountains. She watches people taking the trail from her table by the window. Malcolm, a professional guide, notices her and glides over to see if she needs a guide, and also to secretly find out why she is out at the resort alone.
He comes on strong and impresses Hannah with his knowledge, but puts her off with his overconfident attitude. She tells him she'll consider his offer to take her into the jungle. He plays it off cool, but is secretly excited by the prospect.
The next day, the weather is beautiful and Hannah hardly thinks about her messed up past relationships. She decides to accept Malcolm's offer to show her the trails and goes to find him after lunch. Malcolm has just led an early morning tour back from one of the shorter trails and is sweaty from the quick hike back.
Hannah and Malcolm take a trail through the forest by the base of the mountain. Malcolm wants to show her a waterfall at the far end of the hike. When they get there they stop for a break. Hannah snaps a few pictures and Malcolm asks her about herself. She doesn't want to seem attracted to him because of his attitude, so she tries to ignore his questions or give answers that don't tell him much. She still feels rejected from her past attempts at relationships so she hides her interest.
On the way back to the resort a rainstorm arrives overhead. The rain is intense, but Malcolm leads Hannah down a side trail as a shortcut back. They get back and Hannah tells Malcolm she's glad she went with him, despite being soaked. She kisses him goodnight on the cheek without thinking about it. She goes up to her room and falls asleep.
Malcolm and Hannah spend the next few days together, hiking and seeing the local sights. They walk together on the beach, snorkel together and go out on a boat to swim and sunbathe.
Malcolm is worried Hannah is leading him on. The following day, he asks her out on the town near the resort complex to see if she really is interested in him, under the pretense that he is showing her the area.
Hannah accepts his invitation and they take his Jeep into the nearby village. She is secretly pleases he is so up front with her, but wonders if he is being too forward to be decent.
The afternoon is rainy again and they are forced to take shelter in the car. Malcolm puts an arm around her to warm her. Hannah tells him she's soaked, and he says of course she is, so is he. They kiss softly, which quickly turns passionate. They make love in the car before heading back to the resort.
The next day, Hannah waits for Malcolm to come in so they can go for another hike, this time up the mountainside. Luanne, one of the other guides, sees her, and they make conversation. Luanne doesn't like Malcolm because he has never fallen for her like she wishes he would. She tells Hannah in a subtle way that Malcolm has a lot of affairs with women who visit the resort. Hannah feels cheap. She is furious.
When Malcolm shows up he sees Luanne and realizes she is trying to sabotage his relationship with Hannah. He starts to argue with them and Hannah asks him if he has really had affairs with women at this resort before. Luanne is enjoying the scene so much she refuses to leave. Malcolm is very upset and tells Hannah that Luanne was lying. Luanne retorts that if she was lying then what is he doing.
Malcolm and Luanne go on fighting, but Hannah feels the tension is too great. She tells them both she's going, and leaves for the mountainside trail alone.
Malcolm clashes verbally with Luanne, trying to find out what exactly Luanne told Hannah.
Hannah climbs the mountain trail alone. She is furious and her heart is breaking. She can't even focus on the path and gets turned around more than once on the trail. Soon she is completely lost and the day is wearing on past noon. She thinks about eating part of the picnic she planned to share with Malcolm but doesn't have any appetite. She knows she is starting to have feelings for him, but doesn't want to admit it to herself. It's just a fling, she tells herself, just a fling.
Hannah becomes more and more lost and alone. Malcolm goes out on the trails to looks for her. He knows he needs to tell her how he feels before she leaves, and with the day growing later he can't leave her out in the forest alone. Hannah is desperate to find her way back through the circuitous pathways when Malcolm finally finds her.
She is upset to see him and tearfully tells him she isn't lost. He doesn't believe her and becomes angry that she would tell a lie to him. He tells her again that Luanne was lying and he doesn't like women who lie. He demands to take Hannah right back to the resort so they'll be safe for the night. He knows the way so he takes Hannah's arm. Hannah tries to push him away and tells him she doesn't want to leave at all. Malcolm gets choked up and tells her he doesn't want to be without her. They kiss passionately. Hannah agrees to go back to the resort. (Make up your own ending - maybe she moves to the resort to be near him or maybe he comes to the States to be closer to her.)
CHAPTERS
Chapter One
Hannah is depressed after one of her patients, who she was attracted to, recovers and moves away. Her parents suggest she take some time off. She goes down to Argentina to hike and forget her troubles. She is not so sure the trip was such a good idea when she sees how rough the area around the resort actually looks.
Chapter Two
Hannah arrives at the resort. She is tired and hungry, and goes to the resort's restaurant overlooking the jungle with a mountain view. She sees people taking the trail up toward one of the mountains. Malcolm comes over to her table and introduces himself as a guide to the mountain and the jungle. Hannah is intrigued by Malcolm's suggestion but put off a little by his overconfident attitude.
Chapter Three
Hannah decides to take Malcolm up on his offer and they got out on the waterfall trail in the forest. She makes a show of ignoring the personal questions he asks her on the walk, but is secretly happy he is taking an interest.
Chapter Four
A rainstorm moves in over the trail on the way back to the resort. Malcolm takes charge and leads Hannah on a shortcut down a side trail to get back before the trail is reduced to mud. They get back to the resort tired and soaked. She kisses Malcolm good night before going to bed. They spend the next few days together going different places and slowly growing closer.
Chapter Five
Malcolm thinks Hannah might be leading him on. He decides to ask her out on the town near the resort complex to see if she really is interested in him. She accepts and they take his jeep into the nearby village. The afternoon is rainy again and when they take shelter in the car they end up making love instead of heading back to the resort.
Chapter Six
Back at the resort the next day, Hannah gets nervous about Malcolm when she meets Luanne, one of the other guides, who insinuates that Malcolm has meaningless trysts with all sorts of tourists here. When Malcolm arrives, he tells Hannah not to listen to Luanne. Hannah begins to think he was just playing her.
Chapter Seven
Hannah hikes the mountain trail alone to get away from Malcolm and Luanne. She is so upset that she walks so far she gets lost. Malcolm gets away from Luanne and goes off along the same trail in search of Hannah. He knows he needs to tell her how he feels before she leaves. Hannah is still lost on the trail when Malcolm finds her. She tells him she doesn't want to see him, and in fact, they should just go straight back to the resort. Malcolm says he'd be lost without her and kisses her. In surprise, Hannah asks him if he means it. He tells her he doesn't want to be without her.
CHARACTERS
Hannah Collins
Age: 28 Height: 5, 4 Hair: Chocolate Brown Eyes: Brown
Family: Parents, 1 Brother Occupation: Rehabilitation Counselor
Malcolm Mendez
Age: 28 Height: 6, 0 Hair: Blond Eyes: Grey
Family: Parents, Colleagues: Luanne Occupation: Travel Guide
SETTING
Hannah's hometown and the resort in Argentina where Malcolm works as a guide