“So what’s my score for last night’s date?” I asked the moment he opened his door.
“Huh…” he said, glancing around confusedly. “Ah… the date.”
“Well…?”
“I just woke up. Be a little patient, Juliet.”
“But I waited for nine hours since our date ended!”
“Then wait for a few more.”
“Okay.”
We both headed downstairs for breakfast.
“So I know what I have to do for our next date.” I said as soon as we were done and Ethan was about to go get ready for work.
“Juliet, you don’t have to rush things. Take your time planning them.”
“I know but I also know that our next date is going to be so much fun. I can’t think of anything better than it.”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course. Why? Did you not like last night’s date?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. It was sweet of you to make me experience something I didn’t during college. I really don’t know.”
“So what about the scores?”
“I think I’ll just tell the scores after we are done with all the three dates.”
“Okay. So about our next date, will you be free this Saturday and Sunday?”
“Both days?”
I nodded. “Both days.” It was surely a big thing for him. I didn’t think he ever took two days off simultaneously.
“What are we going to do?”
“That’s for me to plan and for you to find out when it’s Saturday.” I said, booping his nose. “Just be free on that day!”
“Sure will be.”
Then I left him in front of his room to let him get ready for the day ahead.
I had a lot to do. My plan for the next date was to go hiking on a mountain. There was a lake nearby as well. I heard there were cabins located at the top and I had to book one in advance. I also had to arrange for things we’d need there.
If he was disappointed with last night’s date, this was going to make it up for it.
***
“Mom, dad. Ethan and I are planning to go hiking this Saturday and Sunday.” I announced.
“Hiking? Why the sudden plans?” My dad asked.
“I just felt like we both needed a little fun. You know how Ethan’s been working so hard these past months. It will good for him.”
“Who else is going?” My mom asked.
“Just us two.”
They did not seem comfortable with that. “Are you sure it’ll be safe?”
“Of course. The place where we’re going hiking is well populated. It’s safe. I haven’t heard of any wild animals there. It’s just about three to four hours of hiking. I’ve booked a cabin there. They provide breakfast, lunch and dinner. If we need help with anything, I’m sure there will be people to help.”
“Honey, we don’t have any doubt about that. What I’m asking is, will you and Ethan be okay with each other?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean are you sure I won’t get news of how you two ended up killing each other because you just can’t stand each other?” She asked and dad burst out laughing.
“Mom! If we couldn’t stand each other, why would I even go with him? We’re fine now. I know we fought like kids before but now we’re okay with each other. We’re… we’re friends.” I wasn’t sure if I should tell them that we had feelings for each other so I told them we were just friends.
“Alistair, what do you think?” My mom turned towards him.
“I think they’ll be fine.”
“So can we go?” I asked, unable to hide my happiness.
“Sure thing. But if you face any problem, you’re to immediately call me or the driver if you want to get home early.”
I nodded. “Of course. Thank you!”
I went and pecked them both on the cheeks because I felt like I wasn’t displaying much affection towards them as their daughter.
They looked surprised so I didn’t know if it was a good thing or not. Juliet probably wasnt big on being touchy with her parents. She might not have shown them affection openly when she got something from them or if they made her happy. It made me feel bad for her parents because if I had parents like her, I’d never lose a chance to tell then how precious they were to me.
I was about to exit their bedroom but Alistair spoke. “Juliet.”
I turned to face him. He wasn’t looking at me. He was putting a watch on his wrist. “Is something going on between you and Ethan?”
My tongue went flaccid. How was I supposed to answer this?
“We’re friends.” I repeated. It didn’t sound believable.
“I can understand if you don’t want to tell me. I just wanted to tell you that… if perhaps… there’s something between you two, I wouldn’t mind. I mean he is a good kid, hardworking and honest, a gentleman. So as long as this isn’t just a fling for you two, I’m okay with it.”
“O-okay, got it.” I nodded at them and almost ran out of the room.
I was overly excited but had to remind myself that they had approved Ethan for Juliet and I wasn’t her. They didn’t even know me.
***
I stretched a little as we exited the car. We were at the base of the mountain. I got our bag full of snacks, a few water bottles and a first aid kit. The driver was going back with the car and was supposed to come back the next day around noon to pick us up.
It was Saturday, our date day.
“We’re hiking? Have we got what we need for hikes?” He asked, looking down at his shoes.
“Of course.”
“I thought you were taking me to the gym because you told me to wear something sporty.”
I rolled my eyes at him. “Our first date wasn’t that bad that you’d imagine something so worse for our next.”
“It’s not about that! I enjoyed that party. It was different and I didn’t think it was bad. I just thought we were going for a run or at the gym because of what you told me to dress up like.”
“My apologies, Highness, for getting the wrong idea.”
“You better not assume something like that again.” He said, continuing quietly with, “I liked our first date.”
I gave him a genuine smile. “Shall we enjoy an even better second date?”
He nodded and I took his hand. We found the trail to scale up the mountain. It wasn’t a wide trail which meant this mountain wasn’t well traveled on.
We only had one bag and I fought to carry it. Ethan eventually gave up and told me to hand it over to him when I get tired which wasn’t going to happen anytime soon.
We had started early morning so that we could reach there around noon and have time in the evening to go fishing at the lake nearby. Then we were going to stay at a cabin for the night, have breakfast there the next day and will be on our way back by noon. It was a great plan and Ethan was definitely not going to get bored.
The trail was covered on both sides with thick trees offering scenic beauty, fresh air and a variety of different birds and small animals every now and then. Ethan was going to love this small trip and when he got back to work on Monday, he was going to feel relaxed and rejuvenated. This was a much needed trip for him because whenever he has visited places, it had always been to crowded cities. He hadn’t visited a place close to nature for a long time.
The path was rocky and we were stumbling here and there. The air was a little cold but we were dressed warmly. We stopped a little to take photos on our phones. Ethan was helping me keep my footing by guiding me through slippery rocks and loose soil with his hand constantly on my elbow to prevent me from falling.
We were walking for a long time and I knew we were getting near to the cabin. It was afternoon and we were in no hurry to get there. We were walking quite slow and had stopped a few times for snacks.
When we reached a particularly hard steep slope, Ethan as usual began to navigate me through it.
Suddenly he lost balance and came toppling down a big rock. He had his grip on my elbow so I almost fell down too but at the last moment I balanced myself. He wasn’t so lucky.