Rendezvous

introductions

August 2, 2018

We were surrounded by towering pine trees and their refreshing scent. The midday shadows cast thousands of stubby patches of shade over us. It had been years since the last time I visited Yosemite. With every visit, I brought back home a memory that I would always treasure.

"By the way, my brother's friend is really hot," she warned as she pulled the keys out of the ignition. I stared at the small cabin in front of us. The railing of the porch was decorated with delicate white flowers. On the grey couch, two abnormally large jade pillows rested on top. The windows on the first floor were wide open; welcoming the early autumn air.

I rolled my eyes and said, "You're being dramatic. He's probably just below average," I argued.
"I'm telling you, no words can do him justice. If I wasn't good friends with him I would've-"
"Ximena!" I laughed.

"It's true! Don't come to me later and tell me that I was wrong," she threatened. We hopped out of the car and gathered our things. I bumped the car door with my hip and followed Ximena to the door.

"Esteban!" She bellowed.

"It's open!" He hollered back.

Ximena opened the door and revealed the most amazing interior. All of the furniture had some sort of wooden detail to it. The light that poured from the glass windows gave the wooden furniture a golden glow that illuminated the room.

"Hey!" Ximena greeted Estaban. "Thanks for letting us join you guys."

"You know I got you," he smiled.

"Good, you?"

"Great," he replied. "Shawn and I were planning on going on a hike soon. Do you guys want to come?"

"Sure," I nodded.

"I'm going to change then," Ximena said before running upstairs.

"Yo, Esteban, have you seen my phone?" Someone asked.

My pulse spiked dramatically after he walked in. I turned around and came face to face with the most handsome person I had ever encountered. Ximena wasn't lying: there were no words to describe his beauty. I couldn't put my finger on what made him so intriguing. Was it his hazel eyes or the confused expression on his face. Or maybe the way his eyes lit up when they met mine.

"Oh, hey!" He beamed. "I'm Shawn."

"Neo, nice to meet you," I smiled nervously.

"Are you hiking with us?" He asked. His lips stayed curled and his eyes bright.

"Yeah. I'm going to get ready now so if you'll excuse me," I chuckled. He simply nodded and proceeded to talk to his friend as I made my way up the stairs.

I rushed into the first room I could find. I shut the door and pressed my back against it. My eyes closed shut as I exhaled to make sure I was still breathing.

"I told you."

My eyes shot open immediately to see Ximena standing in front of me with her shoulders crossed across her chest. By not giving her a quick response only increased her confidence. Her smirk and raised eyebrows only made me feel worse.

"He's just so...ughH!" I groaned as I flopped onto the bed. She laughed and said, "I know. Now hurry up and get your assed dressed."

• • •

We raced down the path with a laughing fit. We had walked a good seven miles and our feet were probably dead, but we didn't care. We cut through the wind like blades as we finished the last portion of the trail.

"I won!" Ximena cheered.

"I don't think so," Shawn said with a smug look on his face. Similar to the one Ximena wore a few hours ago.

"How the hell did you get down here so fast?" She gasped.

"I'd rather not say," He smirked.

"Fu-"

"I'm hungry!" I falsely declared as I ran to cover Ximena's dirty mouth.

"What was that for?"

"There are children around," I laughed.

"Oh, they know!" She said flinging her arm in the air.

"Yeah, but not all of them grew up with our parents," Esteban added while looking at his Canadian friend. Who most likely than not, hadn't heard a bad word until he was twelve. Shawna scoffed and rolled his eyes.

"What's for dinner?" Ximena asked curiously.

"Hotdogs," Shawn answered.

"Well let's go!" Ximena demanded as she ushered us out of the trail. I laughed at her and shot a glance towards Shawn to discover his eyes were on me.