I wasn’t sure if I would actually go through with it, but something about getting my stuff packed and ready to go was exhilarating. Big Sur was the haven of writers like Jack Kerouac and Henry Miller. In short, it was paradise.
The next day the sun was shining in my window and the ringing of my alarm was blaring. I turned it off. I rolled out of bed and began my same routine of getting ready for school. I showered, brush my teeth, brushed my hair and got dressed. I picked up my backpack and noticed the extra weight. I looked inside and saw everything I had packed the night before. Suddenly, it all came back to me. I remembered the cute run away in the library, Liam. I remembered the offer to run away with him. I grabbed my bag and ran out the door. I took one last look at the front of my house in sort of saying goodbye to it. Then I hopped on the city bus back to the library where I had met Liam the day before. I hoped that he had not already left.
When I walked up he was sitting on the curb with two coffees and a bag of croissants.
“How did you know I would come? You have two coffees there?” I smiled at him. He was just as attractive as I had remembered him.
“It was something in the way you looked. Like you are screaming to get out of here and experience the world. I know that look well, and you have it.”
I sat next to him and drank the hot coffee and ate a croissant. “I can’t believe I am doing this.”
Something about his green soulful looking eyes made me feel safe. He made me feel like I could trust him. I believed him.
“Okay,” I agreed. “So what now?”
He pulled out a paper map and showed me a highlighted route. “I dropped off my rental car. We’ll take a cab to the Amtrak station twenty minutes from here. Then to this little town outside of Monterrey then it’s a bus ride that only runs every few days to Big Sur. I mean, that’s what we’ll strive for, but if something cooler comes up we can always do that instead. The sky is the limit, or I should say road.”
Then I took a deep breath and said, “Okay, let’s do it.”
Liam let out a, “Woop!” and stood up. He reached his hand out to me and helped me to my feet.
We took a cab to the train station and I was beyond nervous. In my head the entire time I was questioning if I was doing the right thing. Would my parents notice?
Half an hour later we were sitting in the café car of the train. There was a small concession stand at the end of the car with a train attendant selling all kinds of yummy treats.
We sat in a booth with a small table. I watched as the scenery passed us by. It was an absolutely epic view. Suddenly the world was unfolding in front of me at a flash. I was immediately happy that I had come. I had made the right decision.
Liam pulled out a deck of cards and we played a few games. We laughed and had a great time drinking coffee and playing cards. The train was the most romantic place to be. Not just in the sense of male and female romance, but in a romantic sense of adventure. I had never been on the train before. I was going through so many new experiences. It was intoxicating.
“I have to find the ladies room. Where do they have those things on a train?”
“Come on I will show you. It’s down stairs and down a hallway.”
Liam stood up and reached his hand out for me to help me to my feet. I quickly loved the way he did that. I gave him my hand and he held it all the way down the train car to the stairs. We started on the steps and the train hit some turbulence and Liam fell against me. Suddenly he was pinning me against the wall of the stairwell with his body. I felt lightheaded and breathless. I wanted him to kiss me. He stared at me and locked eyes. His hand reached up and brushed the hair from my face. My lips parted waiting for the next step, for him to kiss me. But he didn’t. He pulled away and grabbed my hand and led me down the stairs. He was being a gentleman. I liked him for it, but I wanted the kiss more.
We spent eight hours on the train and took naps in our seats. They were comfortable enough and the soft sway of the train put me to sleep. The next morning we had breakfast in the café car and watched the landscape change from desert to hills to forest. It was inspiring.
We finally arrived at our station in California. Here we would change over to a bus. The train did not go straight to Big Sur only a bus did. We stepped off the train and bought bus tickets. It wasn’t leaving for another two hours. We decided to sit at the café and order our favorites, cherry coke and cheeseburgers.
I sat across from Liam looking at him. Over the last three days I had got to know him more than anyone I had ever met. He had opened up to me and made me feel comfortable with him. He stared back at me with his soulful green eyes and smiled.
“Are you happy?” he asked.
“I am.”
“Seriously though. Are you glad you came with me or are you feeling regret? You can be honest with me, always.”
I smiled at him, “I feel no regret. I am having such a good time. I can’t believe this is real.”
“Okay, but you’ll tell me if you want to go home. Just tell me at any time. I will keep my promise to you Amelia, always.”
He reached out and put my hand in his on the table. We just sat there staring at each other. My heart felt like it was going to explode. This was the best experience of my life yet. I was falling for this guy, this stranger, this adventurous doctor. I had run away with him for my own reasons of wanting more out of life, but now I was staying because I liked him a lot.
Two hours later we were on the bus. It took us along the California coast. It was stunning. Large rocks and cliffs mixed with large trees. It was four hours of these blissful views on the way to Big Sur.
We looked out the bus window at the large redwood trees that lined the road. They were beautiful and majestic. I was in awe of the gorgeous environment. It was like living in another time period, we had arrived. This was Big Sur.
Finally, the bus stopped in front of a country store and motel. There wasn’t an official bus stop sign, but it was a stop.
“This is us,” Liam said. We grabbed our backpacks and stepped off the bus. I was beyond excited to finally be at our destination. I needed good sleep and to be still for a minute, or a day or two.
“What do you think?” Liam said as he turned in a circle looking up high at the towering trees above us.
“I love it. It’s beautiful. I’ve never seen anything like it.” I jumped up and down. I was truly glad I had come. I was truly glad I had left home.
We walked into the wooden cabin country store. However once I looked inside I realized it was more than just a country store. It was a very long building with a restaurant and bar on one side and the country store on the other. Liam walked straight up to the bar and sat down and ordered some drinks and a few sandwiches for us.
“This place is perfect. Is this where we’re staying?” I asked.
“Sort of. They have these luxury tents off the trails in the woods. I figured we can try those out.”
“Luxury tents?”
He laughed, “Yeah, it’s like camping only a little better.”
After we finished Liam went into the rental office to pay for a few nights of luxury tent heaven. I was still sitting at the bar playing with the straw from my glass when a young woman walked in. She was carrying a load of towels and said a few things to the employee. It was obvious she worked here. She was a pretty blonde with blue eyes and a waspy body. She was probably about my age. I saw her turn toward the office and her eyes lit up.
“Liam?” she asked. Her voice was filled with controlled excitement.
He came out of the office and she ran to him. My eyes grew wide as I was confused and jealous all at once.
CHAPTER TWO
“Sara?” Liam said it back but it wasn’t a question really. He was acknowledging her as they hugged.
“What are you doing here?” Her voice was high and pitchy with joy.
“Camping for a few days. Checking it out,” he said.
I noticed that he left out the whole running a
way from home subject. I guess he couldn’t really say that out loud with so many people around. I stared at him waiting for him to introduce me. Their conversation grew quieter as the excitement died down. I could no longer hear what they were saying. Ten minutes went by, but it felt like an hour to me as I sat there twiddling my thumbs.
Finally they hugged again and she skipped out the door. Liam walked over to me and I awaited an explanation. I didn’t think I was going to like it, whatever it was.
“What was that all about?” I asked. It just came out of my mouth. I couldn’t control it or be coy about it.
“That was unbelievable. That’s Sara. I met her last summer while on vacation in the Hudson Valley. Apparently her parents moved out here a few months ago. She’s working here. Isn’t that crazy?”
“Yeah, crazy.” I said under my breath. I didn’t like it. I didn’t like having a third wheel around to interrupt my magical time with Liam, especially after our amazing train ride. I really felt like we were getting closer and on the brink of what could be an epic romance, and now there was another girl. I tried to hide my disappointment.
“I invited her to stop by our tent after work for campfire stories and such.”
“Oh, cool.”
“Come on. Let’s go take a look.”
I followed Liam out of the restaurant. We followed an easy and wide trail. It went behind the restaurant and through the very large redwood trees. We were going into the lush campgrounds. As we got closer I could hear the calming sounds of water running through a creek. We came upon an old wooden bridge. It was beautiful and it spanned over the small clear water of the creek below.
“This is absolutely stunning. I am so happy I am here.”
Liam grabbed my hand in his. My heart raced. He looked at me and we locked eyes for a second as he said, “I am happy you are here too.”
I didn’t know what to make of this. I wanted him to lean in and kiss me. Now that another girl was suddenly in the picture I wanted it more now than ever. As though it would put a claim on him and I could relax.
“Come on. I think it’s this way,” he walked away from me and toward the camp. I could see the tents in the distance.
I followed him over the bridge and then along the trail that was creek side. The air was different down here in the lushness of the forest. It was crisp but heavy at the same time. It was fresh and smelled of rich plant life. I inhaled deeply and knew that this was a life changing moment. Most people waited until years to have an experience like this. Yet here I was having it, and it was mind altering.
“I think this is us. Tent number eight.” Liam yelled out.
He walked up to a camp area labeled number eight. On it was a large tent. It was the kind the army used. It was more like a giant outdoor room. It was up on a wooden platform with a few steps that led up to it. There was a fire ring a few yards in front of the tent with a cute wooden picnic table. It was perfectly situated along the creek and few yards away from the nearest tent. It was a perfect location with one giant towering tree occupying our area. Liam unzipped the long vertical zipper and we went inside. It was massive and very user friendly. There were four cots with sheets and blankets, electrical outlets, and lanterns. This was not camping, it was an outdoor room and I loved it.
We settled in and then he said, “You know I didn’t think to get supplies when we were inside the store. We need wood and some snacks and stuff.”
“Oh yeah I guess we didn’t think about it.”
“You know I will go back up there and grab a few things. You just relax here. Take a load off; we’ve been traveling for hours. I wouldn’t want you to be worn out on the road so fast.”
“Oh no, it’s fine. I can come and help.”
“Don’t worry about it. I will be back in a bit,” he winked at me and walked back toward the country store.
I sat on the cot and sighed. I knew that he was going to talk with Sara. I guess I couldn’t really be jealous. He wasn’t my boyfriend. Still, I counted every minute with loads of anxiety. First I looked around the tent. I changed out of the clothes I had been wearing for two days and freshened up. Then I went outside. The view took my breath away again. It really was a beautiful place. I decided to just enjoy it. There was nothing I really could do about Sara at this point.
I sat on the edge of the creek and put my feet in. The water was cold and refreshing. I felt one with nature. This was not at all what I had imagined running away to be like. I had to admit; Liam really knew how to do this adventure thing right.
I looked at my watch again. It had been twenty minutes and Liam was nowhere in sight. I imagined that he would reemerge with Sara on his arm.
“Hey!”
I turned around and saw Liam behind me. He carried a bundle of firewood and a bag of groceries hanging off his arm.
“How’s the water?” he asked.
“It’s wonderful.” I smiled. He was alone and I was glad.
“It’ll be dark soon. I should get the fire going.”
An hour later it was dark and we were sitting around the roaring fire. The temperature had dropped and I wrapped a blanket around my shoulders.
“What’s wrong?” Liam asked.
“What do you mean?” I asked back even though I knew exactly what he was talking about. I felt like at any second Sara was going to show up. This was giving me an enormous amount of anxiety. Apparently that anxiety was showing.
“You are just quiet,” he said.
“Oh, it’s nothing.”
“I think I know what it is,” he said.
“You do?”
“Yes, you’ve been waiting for something exciting to happen. I’ve disappointed you.”
Oh no, I thought to myself. He knows I am jealous about Sara. Here it goes. Liam looked at me and smiled. I didn’t know if he was being cocky and arrogant because he knew I was jealous. Then he leaned closer to me and said, “You’ve been waiting for this.”
Then he leaned in and kissed me. First it was a light kiss as he brushed his lips across mine. Then he pulled back and looked at me. I didn’t want him to stop so I put my arms around him. He kissed me again this time with more passion. I lost myself in the kiss. Suddenly all the sounds of the wilderness in the night got sharper. I could hear an owl in the distance and the rustling of leaves in the wind.
Finally we stopped kissing. I breathed in deep. I had wanted him to kiss me for so long and it was as magical as I thought it would be. Then we heard a throat clearing behind us getting attention.
“Ahem,” Sara said.
Liam jumped up to greet her. My heart dropped to my stomach. I didn’t want her here. Then Liam did something that made it all better. He said, “Oh hey Sara! Come join us. This is my girlfriend Amelia.”
I was in shock. I reached my hand out to shake hers and she was all smiles. Then she said, “My boyfriend Robert is on his way to hang out with us if that’s cool?”
“Yes that’s great,” Liam said.
I realized that I had worried about nothing. Sara and Liam were only friends and she had a boyfriend of her own. Liam had introduced me as his girlfriend, which meant I had nothing to worry about. It was perfect.
Taken by the Navy Biker Page 11
