LA to The Bay

Chapter 26: Grand Canyon (1)

Grand Canyon National Park

I stare at the clock smiling. It's 11am and I am still in bed enjoying a lie in. A lie in! Definition: a basic human need and something so far denied on this vacation yet according to the dictionary is a standard part of a holiday as opposed to a luxury granted sparingly. And oh how I have slept well, better than for days since I was finally able to relax and process my exhaustion knowing that I didn't need to get up and zoom off to somewhere ridiculous this morning, all day in fact except for meeting Ana and Duncan at 1pm to go for a GENTLE LEISURELY walk along the side of the Canyon. If I really wanted I could go the entire day without seeing anyone else.

'You should have come on the helicopter ride.' Duncan says as I arrive at the view point to meet them. 'The views were epic!'

'No way, you were sensible not to come,' Ana, who was already waiting with Duncan, intercepts, 'it made me puke.' She makes a fake vomiting sound, 'I thought it would be great but the way the pilot kept swaying the thing from side to side...stop Ana, your making yourself sick again!' She holds her hand up gesturing that it is time to stop talking about it before she hurls again. 'Plus I thought the damn helicopter wasn't even going to take off.'

'It couldn't take off?'

'Nearly,' she whispers, 'because Jayden is so fat.'

'Oh.' I nod my head realising she is talking about one of the fat Australian guys. I never considered that they might have actual real names before.

'Of course Harry, Louis, Lottie, Marty and Juno all shared their own helicopter, and of course that had no trouble taking off since they are all stick thin!' She laughs.

'They did?' I can't help but be interested in this tit bit of information but quickly remind myself that it was a good thing I wasn't there, I've still not recovered from the trauma of the balloon ride, remember? I can just imagine it now, it would have been all "ooo Harry let me sit on your knee so I can get a better view, ooo Louis I'm so scared I think you need to wrap your arms around me to protect me, blah, blah, blah...". I'm surprised they didn't cause the pilot to crash the damn thing with the amount of seat swapping which no doubt went on during that flight.

'So I saw you dancing with Harry the other night in Sedona.' Ana is insistent on keeping the conversation focused on Harry, again.

'Yes, so?' I'm aware that I've snapped at her, but always talking about Harry is starting to get really boring.

'And so you looked good together, that's all. Far better than if you had been dancing with Louis, I just don't see any chemistry there at all.'

'And there's not any chemistry with Harry either!' God she is starting to sound as annoying as Leah with all her relationship analysis mumbo jumbo. Like the pair of them can talk; I don't see either of them with an actual boyfriend to base their so called wise opinions on.

'Yes, well you need to be quick because a guy as handsome Harry will not stay single for the duration of this trip. I have seen the way the other girls are round him like flies. But you are much better.' She raises her eyebrows at me which causes her forehead to wrinkle. I should be flattered that Ana seems so enamored with being my personal cheer leader but the cynical part of me can't help think that she is so keen to partner me off with Harry to ensure that I don't spend too much time encouraging Duncan.

'So where are we headed?' I change the subject.

'I think if we walk for about a mile in this direction then we can catch a bus to bring us back.' A mile, in this heat? That's practically the same thing as hiking.

I walk in silence, allowing Duncan and Ana to chatter between themselves, as I remain staggered by the drama of the canyon. In the full heat of the day I quickly become dizzy at trying to walk forward whilst still looking over my left shoulder at the view. As powerful as it is I'm soon feeling nauseous, like the girl who works in the sweet shop and ate too much candy, the constant sight of the Grand Canyon is making me fat and giving me a too ache due to the non-stop visual stimulation.

'A bus stop.' I sigh, collapsing on to the bench.

'But we've only walked for five minutes.' Both Duncan and Ana stare at me, bewildered by my lack of stamina.

'I'm English, I'm not used to such sun.' I'm only part lying - lying down in the sun is fine as a hobby but trekking about in it all day like we're in training for a marathon is a health hazard waiting to happen. 'But you two carry on without me.' I wink at Ana, hoping to encourage her to seize this opportunity of being alone with Duncan.

'Okay, if you promise you'll be alright?'

'I'll be fine.' I waft them off eagerly.

Thirty minutes of staring out across the Canyon pass, thirty minutes of squinting at the lines of the rock and then creating kaleidoscopic images through the shadows of my eye lids, thirty minutes of wondering if a bus is actually ever going to turn up or if I might still be waiting here tomorrow long after the coach has departed on to Las Vegas, if I might still be waiting here when the winter sets in.

'So do you think you're gonna go for it with Marty?' I hear a male voice giggle.

'I don't know man, she is pretty clingy.'

Both voices sound familiar. Of course it's Louis and Harry, conversing whilst jogging along the canyon path. Just the two of them jogging, in just shorts and bare chests.

I feel my own chest tighten, my heart is beating and I'm consumed by panic at what's about to happen, that they are about to see me like this, my hair unstyled and unwashed but worst of all...without make-up! Shit, I need to try and hide behind the bus stop shelter, if I crouch down then maybe they won't see me.

'Niamh?' Damn it. I look up and am blinded by their glistening brows and heaving chests, out of breath from jogging but the pair of them lithe and perfectly sculpted. I can't help but notice the way waist bands of their shorts hang just perfectly on to their slim hips exposing just the faintest hint of hair and that the both have their hair held back from their faces by headbands. I would normal laugh at such a fashion statement but somehow...

'Are you okay?' They speak in unison.

'Me? Yeah I'm fine. I was just admiring the bus shelter.' Way to go Niamh, because that's believable. 'Don't you just think it's lovely how they're made out of wood here, not like the graffiti riddled plastic we get back home. I mean we're lucky to even get a shelter back home in the rain now aren't we?' I faux laugh desperately.

Ignoring my ramblings and in an unexpected reversal to their usual roles Louis asks,
'So are you coming to watch the sunset tonight?' whilst Harry remains silent.

'Mmhhhhmm.' I nod.

'Great, then we'll see you then.'

'Yep see you then.' I give them both a thumbs up sign as they recommence their jog. Smooth Niamh, smooth.