Thread: No Better Time to Bond - [QuirkyVixen & Crescent]

The parking lot's sparse assortment of people and cars filled the air with a quiet din, all the sounds familiar, but alien at the same time. Even to city boy Joel, the first dose of civilization following a week long trail hike felt especially jarring. A car door closing resounded loudly in his ears. Joel was momentarily surprised no one else's attention snapped to the source of it, a black sedan with a teenage Asian couple emerging, him in a gray hoodie and jeans and her in tighter, black jeans and a puffy coat with faux fir trim. The casual clothing seemed especially touristy out there at the mouth of nature. Joel found his gaze idly following the couple on their path to the visitor's center, daydreaming, first about warm, comfortable clothing, then bed sheets, then...Heather. He pictured her in that jacket, drawing the fur trimmed hood over her loose, brown tresses, her cheeks tucked in that knowing smile. Actual Heather's boots scuffing along the dirt path brought Joel back to reality, and to face the reason for his inspired finish to their last day of hiking. Irrefutably, her real, tangible being outclassed Joel's imagined one ten times over. Not that he was particularly overweight to begin with, Joel looked noticeably more trim in his coal-colored wool pullover, the sleeves drawn up to his elbows, and his tan, nylon hiking pants. Her beaming smile hastily infected him, bringing a charmed grin to his own scruffy face. Joel pushed up from the edge of the picnic table that had supported his leaning as she collided into him. Never been happier to be found. His hands magnetized to their usual place just above her hips, taking firm hold of her sides as if he were always about to hoist her up like a figure skater. His lips pursed against her smattering of kisses. How he'd made it a week without those warm kiss-happy lips was beyond him. Where's who? Joel wasn't ready to lose her affectionate attention just yet. His right hand smoothed up her side until his thumb reached what felt like bra through her down and other hidden layers, cupping around to her back and decidedly squeezing her against him. His thin slacks did little to hide the kindling in his groin which she no doubt intended with that lip nibbling kiss. To her question, Joel contorted his face into one experiencing deep thought, only to come up with, Shit, I think I forgot already. He wore an easy smirk as his dusty-blue eyes settled back into her gorgeous browns. No it was great. I missed the hell out of you, but it was great. His attention drifted to a genuine thought somewhere off to the left, and he added, we saw a MOOSE. Joel attempted to demonstrate the idea of bigness, holding his left hand up above either of their heads. Mooses are large. His facial expression as well expanded for emphasis. Letting the restroom door swing shut behind him, Alex set a path back to where he'd left his pack and his cousin. At a distance, he caught sight of the pair of lovebirds and their blatant PDA. 'Here we go,' he reflexively thought, steeling himself for a weekend of third-wheeling. Not that Alex held any animosity towards Heather, he'd been looking quite forward to meeting her after being subjected to Joel's love struck depiction of his incredible new girlfriend. It was just impossible not to glean his cousin's more exclusionary intentions from the anticipatory way he talked about meeting up with her at the end of their trip, especially when Joel explicitly mentioned it. Hey, I found him! Joel pointed towards Alex, looking over Heather's head. Motioning his index finger back and forth between them, he offered a lazy introduction. Alex, Heather. Heather, Alex. Alex flipped on a friendly greeting face and brushed his palm against the side of his khaki shorts as he leaned forward and reached out to shake hands. Hey, nice to finally meet you. The sleeve cuffs of his red and gray flannel shirt were rolled up to his elbows. Hey, umm. Worrying he held eye contact too long, he looked to Joel. They have showers here. I mean, if we're planning on going right out somewhere. Alex crossed his arms in front of his chest, keeping an extra step and a half away, lest he offend Heather's sense of smell. Nah, we're fiiiiine, Joel tossed back. We don't smell that bad, do we baby? He flashed a toothy smile in her direction. And I might die of starvation if I don't eat a hamburger within the next half hour. No shower is worth that. Ok then, uh, there was a place on the road I remember. The Big Bear Lodge I think. Alex shuffled another step away and raised an arm to point towards the outlet road Heather had come in on. Perfect, let's go! Joel exclaimed, leading the way to Heather's crossover, fairly oblivious to his cousin's discomfort.