Nevada Confidential

Ursus Americanus

After packing up her tent- or letting Simon do it for her- Brinley removed her camera from its bag. She put away the lens cap, and adjusted the exposure.

"Okay. You ready?" Brinley asked.

Simon nodded. "Yeah. Do your thing."

Brinley started the video. "We're rolling."

Simon looked at the lens straight on. "This is Simon Castilla. Today is July 23rd, and it is our first morning in Nevada. As you know, we arrived early yesterday afternoon, and we're hiking through the area near Bald Mountain. Right now, we're at the very top of it. We're only about a two-day hike from our destination, the Bald Mountain Mine. We're going to hike for a while, and we'll see you in a little while. Until then."

The air felt cooler that day. Brinley was still sweating when they took a break two hours later, but not nearly as profusely as she had been the previous day. After her dream last night, she felt strange. It was obvious what had been bothering her lately; not the fear of growing up, but instead the scary thought that time would pass too quickly for her to catch up with. Also, she couldn't imagine living on her own.

Maybe she'd buy a cat. She'd always wanted one, but since her dad was allergic, she'd never been allowed. A dog was out of the question- she was terrified of them. Ever since a painful encounter with her Aunt Leslie's pit bull five years ago, Brinley hadn't been able to give dogs another chance.

She sighed. Maybe she was doomed to an eternity of loneliness. Then again, her parents might let her live at home for a few years while she figured things out. The plan had always been to become a photographer, but Brinley hadn't really considered the future other than that.

"What's on your mind?" Simon asked. He was sitting across from Brinley, leaning against a small tree.

Brinley shrugged. "Nothing. I'm just tired." She smiled at him. "What's on your mind?"

"I'm thinking that tonight I'm not going to sleep until I know that you're safely in your tent. It's dangerous, you being outside alone. You're lucky you didn't roll down the mountain."

"I nearly did. It even got into my dream," Brinley muttered.

"Oh?"

"I was driving this Mercedes," Brinley began.

Simon started chuckling, but stopped when Brinley glared at him. "Sorry. Continue."

"Well, I accidentally drove off a cliff. Also there was all this other stuff about Mom and Dad forcing me out of the house because I was too old- oh, and you. You were really old. You had gray hair, and a cane, and dentures."

"I guess that our conversation got into your dream," Simon said with a grin. "That sounds absolutely hilarious."

"It wasn't," Brinley frowned. "It was awful."

"Oh. Is that's what's been bothering you?"

Brinley shrugged. "Yeah, basically."

Simon grinned. "It was just a dream, Brin. It doesn't mean anything."

"But it does!" Brinley exclaimed a bit too loudly. "Because that really will happen some day. I'll have to leave, we'll grow old... hopefully not the part with the Mercedes, though."

"I thought that you wanted a Mercedes," Simon said, seeming amused. "You're obsessed."

"I'm not obsessed with driving one off a cliff."

"Oh. Well, okay then. I agree, that would not be so great."

The two sat in silence for a few minutes. The only sound was that of the wind, which blew sand over their feet and into their eyes. Brinley sighed.