Runaway to Africa

Date

Jackson and I drive into town and arrive at a nice little diner when we get inside Jackson pulls my chair out for me as I sit, before taking his jacket off and sitting across from me. He places his elbows on the table and smiles over to me, "So what all have you guys done while you've been here?"

"We've been on your game drive. The game walk this morning. We went on a balloon safari which was odd, and we went on one of those helicopter tours."

"You guys really have been busy."

I nod, "Yeah, my mom wants to be able to review as much as she can."

"Still haven't seen any lions?"

I shake my head, "no, I haven't. But that's probably for the best though right?"

Jackson shrugs, "probably." he smiles softly over the table, "Have you guys been on one of those Horse Riding tours or one of the Mountain Bike runs yet?"

I shake my head, "No, but I'm sure it's on the list of things to do."

"You'll love the biking tour."

"What's your favorite thing to do on camp?"

"The Sound Safari is really fun."

"What is that?"

"Well, everyone gets a set of headphones and the guide uses a parabolic microphone to capture and explain the sounds of the bush around you."

I laugh softly as Jackson explains the tour, "That does sound like fun. But like I'm sure that's on the list. Or it is now." The waitress comes over to us and we both order. It doesn't take long for our food to arrive and as I look around I notice that the diner is pretty slow for this time of night, "Place seems a little died, doesn't it?"

Jackson looks around and nods, "Yeah, this place doesn't get busy until about 8 when the last tours of the day get over and about an hour before the night tours start. So by the time it gets busy here, we will be on our walk and by the time we are done it should have cleared out."

I smile softly, "So you put some planning into this before you asked me out."

Jackson chuckles and looks down, "Yeah, I did. I wasn't planning on asking you the way I did. It just kind of slipped out."

"Oh yeah? How were you planning on asking me?"

"Uhh.." Jackson rubs the back of his neck, "I was planning on waiting until you were on another one of my tours and asking you on the break, but the opportunity presented its self."

"That it did." I smile softly. Once the two of us finish our meal, Jackson pays, which is a little odd for me, and we head out for our walk. Walking the same as we had the other night, about a foot apart.

"I'm glad to hear you are having a good time here." Jackson glances over to me, his hands in his pockets.

"I love it here if it wasn't for my job up in New York I wouldn't leave."

"What do you do?"

"I am an ER Nurse."

Jackson looks over to me a little confused, "How old are you?"

"22. I started some of my college classes my junior year in high school and graduated high school at 17. I've been working for less than a year so. Why, how old are you?"

Jackson chuckles, "25, but I've been a guide since I was 18."

"They let you start that early?"

"They do when you grow up on the camp. My mom is one the camp doctors." Jackson's hand eventually finds mine and we walk while holding hands. "So, You guys have about a month and a half left here right?"

I nod, "yeah, maybe a little more. Why?"

"Becuase I enjoy spending time with you and I was hoping that we could hang out some more before you leave. If that'd be okay with you?"

I nod, "I would like that."