Get Away

It's as though she could read my mind, unexpectedly resting on the hood of my Jeep. A sight for sore eyes and a clouded mind. Immediately I couldn't help but laugh, "Always popping out of nowhere. I was wondering when I'd run into you next."

"Got to keep you on your toes!", she smiled back while taking a leap off the front bumper. "I'm hoping this one's yours, I guessed. But right or wrong, it worked out as planned."

The doors were unlocked, yet just like everyone else that takes a ride, she stood there waiting, later to make excuses and lectures on how I should lock my door and that next time she'll take stuff.

"So where are we going?" She got comfortable quick and snapped on her seatbelt.

"Well, now that I got this pleasant surprise I say we get some fresh air?"

"Let's do it!"

The stereo caught up with the rest of the car, and the music began to dance from the speakers. Her hand brushed against mine as I shifted into gear, intercepting her sloppy reach for the volume knob. "Hmm, a manly man eh?" mocking my choice for a manual transmission, forcing me to confirm that the cool factor did contribute to the selection. She chuckled to herself, shaking her head with disbelief, which soon blended with the music and demonstrating her sense of rhythm. I put on the most absurd macho expression on my face and hammered on the gas, sending her deep into the seat.

"So where are we going?"

My brow raised in attempt to build suspense. "I've had an idea for some possible pictures," I teased, purposefully withholding my plans.

"Dedicated! Do you take your camera everywhere?" I nodded and pointed to the backpack I had recently tossed into the back seat. This stirred her to fish it out, bumping the bag into the back of my head, in turn making me drift slightly out of my lane. Her small fingers worked the dials and buttons and soon she was reviewing the last of my shots.

"Ha, I figured it out." she grinned with accomplishment.

"Haven't done much since the last time you looked."

"Well, I guess we're going to change that today hu?" Eager, interested, spontaneous and let's not forget, she smells nice. "So what's the thought floating in your head?"

"Rocks."

Soon we found ourselves sitting by the waterfall, away from all the troubles. The only sound between us was the snapping of small stones against each other, followed by the occasional collapse of the empire we spent the recent minutes building. Eventually, we silently agreed upon our creation and I drew my camera. Laying on the ground, I squinted through the view finder, focusing the image. Cutting through the silence, her breath escaped slowly as to not disrupt the tower in front of us.

"Gail?" I held my breath and released the shutter.

"Hmm?" The camera snapped open and close, flashing the satisfying image onto the small screen. Just as I pictured.

"Thanks for cheering me up."