My whole body starts to relax when I see my apartment building. Turning left, I pull into the parking lot and check again to make sure there is no black truck behind me. Satisfied, I drive further in and park in my designated spot: 34A. Taking the key out of the ignition, I grab my belongings and, with shaking hands, open the door. Wobbly feet step onto the pavement of the road and I clutch the car to regain my balance to stand up. Checking both ways, I cross the road and walk into the entrance of the building. For the first time in a long time, I hit the elevator button and wait for it to arrive on the bottom floor.
Hearing the ding of the elevator bell to announce its arrival, I look up from where my eyes were previously staring out the entrance doors. Stepping into the elevator, I push the button for my floor, floor 3. Keeping my eyes out of the slowly closing doors, there is nothing abnormal going on outside. The traffic and beeping of the cars is the same. The people walking on the sidewalk are the same.
Did I imagine the whole thing?
The closing of the doors breaks my concentration and I shake my head. The rest of the world may seem unaffected by what happened to me this morning, but that is because it happened to me. Obviously it happened or the rest of the goosebumps lingering on my skin wouldn't be there. With another ding, the elevator doors open and I rush down the empty hallway to the two boys waiting outside my door. Rushing up to Damon, I throw my arms around him and hide in his broad chest. After the initial shock wears off, he wraps his arms around me and pulls me tighter into his chest.
The feeling is mystifying. How can a man I have only known for a couple days make me feel so safe, so protected that in this moment, I know nothing can or will hurt me. The goosebumps from my arms abruptly leave and my heart steadies itself.
Realizing that I'm still clinging onto him and we are not alone, I reluctantly let go and take a step back.
"Sorry, I don't know why I did that," I lie. I knew why I did it, but I don't know why I did it to him.
"Don't lie. We both know you wanted to feel my pecs and abs."
Taking the easy way out, I agree. Turning to Brandon, "Hi. It's nice to finally meet you. I'm Rose," I say.
"Hi, I'm Brandon. His step-brother."
With all of the introductions out of the way we walk to the stairwell door and go down the three flights to the entrance doors. Damon strides ahead after we exit the stairs. Holding the door open for me, he guides me with a sweep of his arm and this time I don't feel offended. It was nice that he held the door open for me.
"Thank you."
The walk to Brandon's car is quick and quiet. I stop at the backdoor on the passenger side and wait to hear the click of the lock unlatching. Getting in, Brandon starts the car, the music blasting from his rear speakers scaring the hell out of me. I squeal and jump, catching both of their attention since Brandon already scrambled to turn down the volume.
"Sorry about that," he says sheepishly, looking at me through the rearview mirror.
"It's fine. I get scared easily."
With a nod from both of us, he reverses out of the spot and onto the main road.
"Tell me about yourself," I say to Brandon.
"My name is Brandon, obviously. I am 25 and in my last year of college to get my masters degree for engineering. I like to eat food, mexican preferred, and whenever I can I like to find new trails to go bike riding for a day."
"Where do you like to go? Where have you gone?"
"I've been to so many places that I have lost count and since all of the trails are so different I don't have a favorite place to go yet. I do like to go to places with mountains really early in the morning to watch the sunrise on a small cliff or on the side of the mountain. The view is one of the best things you will ever get to see and experience in your life. Just you, nature, and the sun. Sometimes, depending how high you are, the birds fly from the trees that are gently moving with the wind. It's absolutely breathtaking."
When he finishes talking I am in awe at what he explained. I would love to do that just once in my life.
"Can you take me once? I'm not great on a bike, but I would love to see that."
"Of course, just tell me when you want to go."
"Stop here. This is where we will start," Damon interjects.
After parking we all get out of the car and I notice that we are across from the little bookstore that Damon was telling about me earlier. The windows are decorated in books all on little different window shelves so they all get their own piece of attention. It looks amazing and I want to run in there and never come out.
Walking across the street, my feet move faster the closer I get. The door opens and the smell of coffee and vintage books wafts out. I inhale deeply, loving the smell. Like a kid in the candy store, I bolt as soon as my foot is inside the door. Rows and rows of books fill up the space, each different one a new genre. Finding romance, I pull a random book off of the shelf and sit in the chair on the end of the row to read it.
I don't know how much time passed, but by the time Damon and Brandon found me, I was 50 pages into the book and could not put it down.
"Are you all ready to go? There are more shops we want to show you."
Reluctantly, I nod my head and close the book. "I just have to pay for this first."
Surprisingly, the book was on the cheaper side, only $8. I was more than happy to pay that and was tempted to go back and get another. Knowing that I can come back here anytime I want pushed me outside the door with only one book in hand.
"Where to next?"
"We can go anywhere, but most people just go from shop to shop. I think we do this strip first then loop around to the other side. Does that sound go to you two," Damon asks Brandon and I.
"That's good with me."
"Sounds like a plan."
Going to the next store, we walk into a clothing boutique, making sure to try on a few hats and take silly pictures.
The next little shop was a bakery. Being a sucker for rainbow cookies, I had to buy one. The flavors exploded in my mouth and I couldn't help but moan at the flavor.
"These are delicious!" I delightfully exclaim.
Both boys look at me in amusement.
Moving down the strip, more clothing boutiques start to pop up. We skip over some of them with baby clothes and swimsuits.
Crossing to the other side of the road, we tackle the opposite side of the strip and stop in one that is full of home decor. I grab a small painting for my wall that has an open notebook and a colorful feather tip pen that dissolves into random letters. It is absolutely beautiful. I'm in love with it.
With another $30 gone, Damon offers to carry the painting for me. I thank him for his offer but ultimately decline it since the end of the strip isn't too far away and it's not too big that I can't carry it.
Stopping into ten other little shops, the boys have their hands full with bags. On our journey, they bought mens clothes, and prepackaged food for their apartment.
Crossing the street for the last time today, we head to the car and put everything into the trunk, taking extra care of the cavas for my wall.
"What did you think, Rose?" Damon asks as soon as we sit in the car.
"I liked it. I'm mad I didn't come here sooner actually. Thank you guys for taking me here today. I had a lot of fun and I still cannot believe that that guy kicked us out of his shop for laughing too loud!"
"Anytime you want to come back, we will take you."
"Thanks."
The car ride is quiet again. The day flew by and the sky has orange, pink and purple hues that stand out against the darkening blue.
Back at our apartment building, we gather our things and head up together before separating for the night through our own doors.