The Road Trip

• Four •

"Where are we going?" I asked after ten minutes of unbearable silence in the Bronco.

I wanted silence because I didn't want Luke to weasel his way in with his charm, but I was so anxious with it at the same time, I couldn't choose which was better. He just sat there looking unbothered as always.

"Eternal Flame Falls."

"And why do we have to hike it at night?"

"Dusk is more appropriate. It won't be pitch black, but I want it to at least be darker."

"And why do we have to hike it at dusk?"

"I want to get a better view of the flame. Duh."

"There's an actual flame?"

Luke smiled excitedly as he looked in his rearview mirror. "Yeah, behind the waterfall."

"Behind the waterfall?"

"Are we back to that?" Luke gave me a sidelong glance and a chuckle. "Or did you short circuit?"

"I have so many follow up questions, my brain can't process one through my mouth."

"We're going to walk. When we're done walking, there's a waterfall. Behind the waterfall, there's a little cave that emits this natural gas, which is lit. Then we look at it in pure wonder."

I looked at the side of his face in wonder. "I want to be like you when I grow up."

Luke laughed. I wasn't sure if Luke was naturally born with such an easy-going and calm personality. Like he just wanted to enjoy all life had to offer. He'd always been like that. For him, there was no sense in wasting time being angry or worried. Maybe that was a product of having two parents, one who made half a million dollars a year, and a natural gift at school. I swear he hardly studied and got into Harvard, and then why do you have to worry about that anyway when you know your dad can always take care of you if you needed.

He pulled off the side of the road where cars were lined down the street. The sky was a pink yellow fusion as it started to set, disappearing behind the trees and shining through the branches.

"I think the entrance to the trail is this way." Luke pointed behind him.

I followed until we both saw a sign indicating the start of the trail, and we turned into it. We walked over dried leaves that covered the worn pathway, continuing further into the forest. Occasionally, we'd cross over exposed roots and Luke would look back to make sure I was all right. We'd pass a sign with a picture of a flame at every fork in the trail, directing us in the right direction. A few people greeted us on their way out with smiles and told us we were almost there. Good, I thought, because I'd been staring at Luke's calves and watching them contract for exactly eleven minutes, and they were way too defined.

"Luke..."

"What's up?" he asked, turning his head around. "You need to stop?"

I rolled my eyes. "I'm not so out of shape that I can't walk for fifteen minutes." I waved my hand to tell him to keep walking. He obeyed but slowed to walk at my side.

I didn't know how to ask what I'd been thinking about since our car ride. "Why are you the way that you are?" is what came out of my mouth.

Luke looked down at me with a bemused expression. "What?"

I tried again. "How are you the way that you are?"

"Are we having an Unrelaxed Reese moment?" He cracked a smile. "I have no idea what you're asking me."

Lightbulb. "How are you always so relaxed?"

"Oh," he laughed and looked down at his feet as he walked. It took him six steps to respond, but when he did, it was like he was talking about the weather. "I died for four minutes when I was twelve. I drowned actually."