Hot 'n' Cold

22

After a 26-hour flight the plane descended into the trees.

"Alright, guys, good luck and I'll see you on the other side!" The pilot waved, as we walked into the jungle.

"Here, I got you this. It helped with my first trip." May handed me an old Polaroid camera with tons of film.

"We all have tons more film in our bags, in case you need more. And I can show you how to press flowers with your new travel journal." My boyfriend gave me a thick book, full of empty pages.

"Thank you, guys!"

"Don't thank us, Adam called and said that your dad was coming home and that you wouldn't see him. So, this way, he can see the Amazon. And you could tell stories!" Piped in Jack. Adam picked a flower and put it in my hair. May took a quick photo of us and scribbled a caption: Together Forever and Always.

-----

I woke up beyond tired and depressed. Its been over 4 months, and I'm pretty sure I've seen every killer animal! Just last week I was bitten by a snake, luckily Adam carries a bit of anti-venom or I'd be long dead. Adam was more scared than me!

I sat up in my tent, my boyfriend was still sleeping. His mouth was open ajar, and snoring softly.

"Happy birthday to me." I laid back down and cuddled into Adam. For the first time ever, my dad was home for my birthday, but I wasn't.

"Happy birthday baby." Adam rolled on top of me, "how does it feel to be 20?" He asked in between kisses.

"You remembered!"

"Of course! I wouldn't forget my beautiful girlfriends birthday."

"Oh, Adam I love you." A tear escaped his eye.

"I love you so much more." I laughed at my emotional boyfriend.

"Is it alright if I get you a present when we get home?"

"You don't need to get me anything."

"Don't come crying to me, about your lack of gifts." I laughed and kissed him again, but this time more passionately.

"Tonight, we have all night to ourselves."

"But babe, I'll be a walking zombie tomorrow!"

"Good thing we have a day off to relax."

"Now that sounds absolutely perfect." We rolled over so I was on top.

"Come on guys we need to get goi- oh shit sorry!" Jack retreated from our tent faster then he appeared! We followed him laughing. I planted one last soft kiss on Adam's tender lips and winked as I left to help May with breakfast. The boys had to take down and pack up our tents.

"Boys! Breakfast!" Adam ran over and sat down at my feet.

"I love you."

"Nope, I love you more." When we finished the slop, we started the long trek for the day. I held Adam's hand as we broke through the dense woods.

"Let's set up camp here." May tossed her pack in the middle of a clearing and smiled tiredly.

The trees curved in and created a natural canopy. We had plenty of room for our tents, a nice fire pit and we had a crystal-clear pond nearby.

One might say, 'Adventure is the root of all evil, that life is better behind the safety of a desk.' But I have to disagree, completely. I never thought that I would like the Amazon, but this past year has been absolutely incredible. It's insane because we're in the home stretch. Within a few moments, we would break through the trees, hit a large town, get on a plane and go home.

ADAM'S POV
-2 weeks ago-

"Hey Jack mate, I need to piss, spot me?"

You know, the buddy rule. You don't want to meet a critter unexpectedly.

We walked behind a rock and waited for our girls to get farther ahead.

"Jack, what I'm about to show you has to stay a secret. DO NOT TELL ANYONE!"

"Damn, it must be bad." He raised his eyebrows. I placed my pack on the dirt and pulled out a little black box.

"Aww man for me? You shouldn't have!" laughed Jack. I sent him an 'are you serious' look. "Kidding, are you really proposing?"

"Of course. I love her, and I want to start a family with her."

"Congrats dude, when?" Jack and I did a side hug.

"When I grow some balls..."

"Let's see the ring." I opened the box and revealed a sterling silver ring, with 3 stones. The center one was a large Peridot, which represents Cleo's birth month. The ring also had 2 smaller stones hugging her stone, blue Sapphires. Representing September, and me. If you looked close enough, you could see an indent of dolphins, inside the sapphire. And a snake, in the Peridot.

"Adam it's fucking beautiful, grow some balls and quick! How long have you had the ring?" My face turned bright red.

"366 days."

-Current day-

The little box burned in my pocket.

Did she want it done extravagantly, or intimately with close family?