At First Sight

Seventeen

After an hour of driving with low country music and small talk with plenty of giggling, the truck finally stopped and Alaric turned to me with a grin, making his sharp features seem almost boyish. He was so cute.

I watched his hazel eyes twinkle as he grabbed the fingers of my left hand and lifted them to his lips before plantings soft kisses along my knuckles.

I giggled in return and planted a kiss on his forehead. When I pulled away he was looking at me through thick, dark lashes and I felt my cheeks heat up with a feverish blush.

I cleared my throat awkwardly. "So where are we?" I asked with a smile.

He chuckled and straightened in his seat before answering. "We're at a favorite spot of mine, it's a nature walk along the Silver Oasis Lake bordering the Grey Stone Mountains. There's a nature walk along the lake that I often visit." Alaric explained as he got out and went to my door, offering me a hand to get out of the truck.

I gripped it tightly as he practically lifted me from my seat, lowering me to the ground while keeping eye contact with me. His eye's lighting up and seeming to glow every time I held his eye contact for more than a few seconds.

"That sounds lovely, well thank you for sharing such a special place." I said with a smile as I leaned into him, pushing my cleavage into his chest.

All the while what he'd said about the lake bordering the Grey Stone mountains lingered with me, because it sounded so familiar.. but I couldn't place why.

"A nature walk huh? How often do you come around here?" I asked as he grabbed bug spray before offering me some.

"I come every week, sometimes a couple days a week. It's close to home and a good place to clear my head." He said with a smirk as he reached into the backseat for something.

"Plus.. I thought we could have a picnic at my favorite spot." Alaric said as he pulled a large wicker basket from the backseat.

"Wow you came prepared did you?" I said with a chuckle.

"Oh you have no idea." He said with a laugh.

"Well I can't wait to see what else you've got in store." I looked at him with a smile. "Oh, what did you say the name of the mountain is again?" I asked as innocently as I could.

"Oh that's Grey Stone Mountain, it's been a landmark in this forest for hundreds of years. The lake was made as a byproduct after a landslide a few decades back." Alaric said as he walked me to a trail head board.

"Wait are we taking a hike right now? Isn't it kind of late, I mean the sun is starting to set." I said as we got there.

"Yea well.... my grandparents kind of own the land and this is one of my favorite hiking trails, I promise it'll be okay! We're not trespassing and the view of the sunset is amazing!" He said excitedly.

"Plus, I did something cool so I can't wait for you to see it." He said with a wide grin and bright eyes before nodding his head toward the trailhead sign.

On the bulletin board styled sign was a large poster that said 'will you take a stroll with me, Vivvy?' And when I turned to look at him he had a handful of wildflowers for me.

I grinned so wide my mouth hurt from the stretch of my lips.

"I'd love to stroll with you." I said as I grabbed the flowers and started looping them into my hair. Alaric just chuckled at me and led the way.

"I'm glad you like the flowers." He says with a smile.

"You took the time to pluck them from the ground, how could I not like them?" I said easily.