Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I've tasted of desire
I hold with those who favour fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.
-Robert Frost
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"Goddammit Gina, I am not going on a stupid tourist trip!" I cry.
I woke up this morning to a smiling Gina, making two cups of tea, and the bright sun filtering through the thin curtains. She was even more chirpy than she was yesterday, and to be honest, it was way too early in the morning for that so I burrowed under the sheets, that were then ripped away from me. I shrieked at the sudden change in temperature and proceeded to flop lifelessly on the bed. I was then dragged and unceremoniously plopped into the bathroom, with a warning that I had ten minutes. I had ended up sleeping over in her room, even though my own was just two steps away, after hours of talking about anything and everything. I quickly slipped back into my own room, showered and changed into a cute pair of jean shorts and a white tank top content in the capability I know had to face the humid heat outside without the AC blasting full pelt. As soon as I was finished, Gina whisked me off to breakfast where I inhaled a large amount of pancakes and three cups of coffee. Now loudly arguing in the huge hotel lobby, I desperately try to avoid a tourist canyon trip Gina is trying to drag me along to.
"I'm afraid you owe me sweetie, after having kept from me the story of the dark young boy you met at the airport. I had to force the information out of you!" She says, giving me a pointed look. Sharing a room with Gina had brought us closer together, and after my short outburst at the elevator I couldn't hide the story of that guy from her. Even though my new-found friend understood why I had kept it from her, she still had seemed genuinely hurt when she found out. It was incredible how fast we bonded. I now knew that Gina was from Phoenix in Arizona, she was married with two kids called Jason and Theodor, she was the owner of a small publishing company and that she had come here for a holiday alone to get a break from everything for a month. It was her third time on such a trip and was apparently very glad to have found a companion. With all Gina shared, I had decided to also share my reason for traveling and although it did come as a shock to her, she understood, and I now felt much better having shared everything and having someone to talk to and count on.
"But that's not fair!"I cry. "You play dirty." I huff out, glaring at her as she chuckles at my childishness.
"Come on Ara, let's go." Gina smiled mischievously, knowing she had won, and pulled me through the hotel entrance towards the bus waiting outside.
"Woohoo, so excited." I answered sarcastically.
* * *
"Someone kill meeeeeeee." I whine, fanning myself with my hand. The AC broke down thirty minutes ago, after the driver tried to switch it on higher and the system overheated. Don't worry, the irony of that particular situation was not lost on me... the air conditioning, overheating... ha... ha... ha... real funny universe.
"If the heat won't, I will." I turn to see who spoke, a scowl twisting my features, and lock eyes with the guy from yesterday.
"Please tell me I'm dreaming, and I'm not inextricably stuck with your annoying self for the rest of this stupid day on this stupid tour." I groan.
"Now you're just hurting my feelings. I thought you enjoyed our little meeting yesterday." He says, recalling last night, to my unadulterated horror. I had panicked, grabbed him by the front of his shirt, thrown him out of the elevator, rushed in myself and practically violated the floor buttons repeatedly until the doors finally closed. All the while repeating "no, no, no, no, no, no...", Gina, the bellboy and the hot guy, staring at me as if I had lost my marbles. Wait, did I just call him hot?
Really, that's what triggers you out of everything you just said?
Oh, shut up! Oh crap did I say that out loud?
"Yes, you did. Do you often talk to yourself like this?" He asks, a smirk playing across his lips.
"Ok, you know what, talking to yourself is scientifically proven to make you smarter. So, there you go!" What is up with me? I talk to him and suddenly I sound like an immature six-year-old? Come on!
"Alright, I see you're having another one of your internal conversations so I'm just gonna let you do that."
I just roll my eyes in response and turn back around.
Outside, the lush green forest surrounds us and it blurrs as we pass it in our roaring, sweltering bus. The window is opened a crack, it smells of damp earth. Accompied with the sound of the light rain ricocheing off the metal roof of the vehicle, I could close my eyes and mistake my surroundings for the amazonian forest.
I'm quickly pulled out of my daydreaming. No literally, the idiot behind me pulled my hair.
"What?" I snap.
"So... what's your name?"
I look at him like he's lost his mind. "Are you kidding me! No! Leave me alone." I give him my signature scowl and turn back around.
"Come on, what did I do to warrant this hate?"
"Really? Maybe it was when you shut the door in my face this morning? When you stole the last waffle, from my own plate at breakfast? When you thought my bag was your bag and didn't even excuse yourself when you where wrong? Let me think... How about all of them!" I fume.
"Jeez, hold grudges much? So... what's your name?" I huff in response.
"Alright, I'll go first. My name is Roman, and I'm a shopaholic." He mimicks support group introductions and I can't help the laugh that escapes my lips. As soon as I do, he grins, his violet eyes twinkling.
Suddenly, Gina turns around out of nowhere, a mischievous smile clearly a bad omen for me. "This is Amara." She says, patting my head. "Wonderful young girl. Do you happen to be single?" I glare at her, she knows why I left New York and I'm certainly not going to repeat the same mistake.
"And this is Gina, my enemy it seems." I say, my words pointed at her more than anyone else, my eyes narrowed.
Gina moves closer to me and whispers not so discreetly, "You'll thank me for this later on. Just you wait and see." , which earns her another glare from yours truly.
Through all of this, Roman keeps his amused smirk. I'm going to wipe it off his face, with a chair, made of metal, with spikes on it.
The bus rolls over a pothole, destabilising it and me in the process, and I'm thrown into the window beside me with a short yelp. I rub my head and wince in pain. Of course, my luck never ends, and we roll over another pothole, my head meeting the glass again as I curse under my breath. Darned stupid road. Darned stupid window. Darned stupid bus. I hate the universe and the feeling seems to be mutual.
Gina and Roman are practically on the floor, in tears, laughing.
"Yeah, yeah. Laugh. I hope it's still funny when you're in hell!" I growl, just as the bus comes to a stop. I get up, pass Gina to get into the aisle, stretch and sigh in content. "Ah, finally."
And that's when the engine roars back on and throws me backwards into a pair of amazing, strong arms.
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THE SECOND CHAPTER IS FINALLY FINISHED! WOOOHOOOO! Didn't think I'd make it, but here we are. What do you think of Roman's name? I had to choose between that one and Xander. I was sweating in front of my computer and my brain was about to explode. As soon as I definitively chose Roman I have expected the ghost from Indiana Jones to tell me whether I chose poorly or wisely. Aggghhhhh!
Anyhow here it is. Enjoy!
YOU ARE READING
Finding Freedom
General Fiction"Take a break." They said. "You need a holiday." They said. Well, when all hell breaks loose, and Amara's had enough, she finally does. She boards the first interesting flight, and starts her unforgettable adventure.
