Outside, the night air seemed more intense than the winds I had felt from my room's balcony; and without interior air conditioning to combat the heat, the temperature seemed to double instantly. I stayed near the pool for the first few minutes, sitting alone at a table as a crowd of guests continued to yell and laugh above the splashing sounds of the water. I kicked back and rest my head in folded back arms, listening for any girls to muse about the troubles being single. Instead, I found myself listening to the sounds of the water and the light breeze of the wind against the hotel.
Exhaling, I sat up from my comfortable position, watching as the waves made their gentle approach to the shores in the distance; free from the noise and bustle of the hotel, and peaceful under the glimmering light of a midnight sky. After a quick breath of cool air, I stood from the table and made my way past the pool side area towards the white sands of the beach.
Once there, I began to walk along the shore, through ankle deep waters and the rhythmic movement of the tide as it passed between my legs. A calm smile filled my expression as I stare out across the horizon, at peace for the first time in years. Closing my eyes, I lifted my nose towards the sky, taking in the soft scent of the ocean as it hung in the tempered air. Then, with another deep sigh ready to escape my lips, my exhalation quickly became a surprised "WOAH" as my foot struck something in my path.
"Ouch!" came a soft voice.
Hitting the sand with a thud and a small splash, my eyes darted away from the ocean sky towards the cause of my fall, which happened to be a living person. Quickly, I brought myself up to my knees and turned towards the figure.
"Hey, I'm so sorry, I didn't see you there, and..."
"It's okay," came the reply with a small laugh, as she began wiping the sand from her clothes. "I guess I do blend in with the sand a little bit."
Fumbling with my words, I looked up from the beach to see a bright smile and a cheerful expression looking back at me. I let out a sigh of relief just as our eyes made contact for the first time.
At first, I gazed and I gazed, somewhat blankly, searching for something to explain her being so kind. I felt anxious, for the first time since in forever and even a little afraid, but the more I stared, the more I became lost in the porcelain beauty of her simple, innocent expression. She easily had the most beautiful eyes I had ever seen. They were dark brown and glowed warmly under the night sky.
"I... I'm Travis," I stated, lost in a less than subtle stare, "and I have a reservation."
I quickly slapped myself on the forehead, cursing myself under my breath and pulling my eyes away momentarily. What's wrong with me? Why am I acting so strange? My reaction was met with a very soft giggle; one that brought my heart to an accelerated beat.
"Well, hello, Travis," she grinned, happily. "I'm Meadow. Meadow Baird. I have a reservation, too, I guess." She says with a small laugh. Looking down from the stars, I watched as Meadow sat peacefully with her hands folded together in her lap, as if completely oblivious to my clumsy remark. Still embarrassed, I slowly let my hands fall back to my sides before flashing a smile. Before long I found myself lost in a second endless glance; this one even longer than the first.
Meadow's eyes were stunning; the same dark brown that you'd see in a forest full of rich brown oak trees that covered the vast surface of the earth, and filled with the same elegance and beauty. She was about my age, and our appearances seemed strikingly similar, right down to our clothing even. The only major differences between us seemed to be the color of our shorts and the pallid tone of her skin, which actually did blend quite flawlessly with the white sand. Her hair was long and brown and seemed to flow in the wind like the waves in the ocean.
