Turning Tables ---Going Under Construction---

Camping

Dressed in my warmest sweater, I walk out into the cold where Xander is waiting for me. He stands in front of the passenger door of his truck that looks almost exactly like the one he had in high school, except clean. He walks to meet me and grabs the bag from my hand. 

"Hey, ready for camping?" He leans down and gives me a quick kiss on the cheek before leading me to his car. 

"I haven't been in a while, so it'll be fun." Or completely horrible, who knows. Xander helps me into the cab of the truck and throws my stuff into the bed. He's playing old school rock and has the heat blasted. I relax into the soft seat. We had to leave early, so I didn't get much sleep after closing the bar the night before (my deal to get the next three days off). Before the car even starts I doze off. 

After what feels like 20 minutes I wake up to the view of mountains and a stream rushing past my window. 

"Have a good nap?" Xander asks grabbing my hand. He keeps his eyes on the road the whole time, starting to rub my knuckles with his thumb.  "Ready for a quick leg stretch?"

I nod and stretch out as much as I can in the small confines of the car. "How long have you been driving?"

"About 3 hours. More than halfway there. We might even beat everyone there and get a bit of time alone." He throws me a wink and I can't help but laugh a little. We continue to speed along the beautiful mountainside, colorful leaves floating off of some of the trees in the rushing creek below. People are stopped on the sides to take pictures or just sightsee. I'm almost tempted to ask Xander to stop until he pulls off to an exit for gas and food. 

Aspen is a four and a half hour drive from where we live and I am glad I was able to sleep for most of it because I can not think of anything to say to him. I try to avoid old times but we had so many of them. We were together for almost three years, in high school you think that's forever. Even as a 24-year-old, I think that's a lot. 

As we pull into the gas station I unbuckle, needing a bathroom break badly. We both run inside and go in separate directions. When I'm in my stall I message Sasha. All the texts I have sent her in the last week have gone unanswered, she's the only person I want to talk to though. 

Help. I'm stuck in a car with Xander and I don't know what to say.

I hit send, not really expecting a reply, and head back into the convenient store. Xander is already at the register and waves me over. "I got you your favorite," he tells me playfully. In his hand are dill pickle potato chips and a Starbucks espresso double shot. 

He always thought it was weird that I ate pickles let alone pickle flavored chips, but he bought them for me just about every day of summer every year. Coffee has also always been an addiction of mine, though the Starbucks espressos are a new love. 

Still, he got it right. 

I link my hand in his as the cashier hands the bag of snacks and drinks over. Xander gladly takes both and leads me back into the car. 

"So, what is the plan for the weekend?" 

With a sly smile, he opens my door. "If I told you that I wouldn't get to see the look of sheer awe on your face."

As we drive the rest of the way it's a comfortable silence and he continues to hold my hand. I think for a moment that I can make this work, despite what Sasha said. People don't change, but they can grow. "How often do you go camping," I ask, breaking the silence as we reach the last 30 minutes of the drive. 

"Well after I moved out of my parent's place I traveled a lot and when I couldn't find a hotel, I would camp just about anywhere I could find. Those were some of the best nights of my life and I try to do it twice a year if I can. Do you like it?"