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Dive into Adventure at Arete: Top Residential Activities in Wales
Step into a world of excitement and discovery at Arete Outdoor Centre, located in the heart of North Wales. Our residential activities are crafted to deliver thrilling, memorable experiences for school groups, families, and corporate teams alike, all set against the stunning Welsh landscape.
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Arete Outdoor Centre is more than just an outdoor destination; itâs a place where friendships are forged, and memories are made. Embrace the thrill, explore the beauty, and discover something new about yourself.
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i dont know if this is moving woes or if i actually feel this way but i havent touched my wii u, 3ds or gameboy advance sp (all 3 are zelda editions) in the 4 years i've lived in this apartment (and the latter two i've touched perhaps once since i moved to the uk 7 years ago) so im considering selling them but don't know if im making a huge mistake đ
#ive not bought them on a single trip ive made in 10 years either#i would say im a pretty low nostalgia person and i got rid of a lot of my old school stuff when i moved to the uk and i havent regretted it
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i may not have many friends that live a short car journey or train ride away from me but i have friends that i would cross oceans to see for just a couple of weeks and friends who would plan trips just so they are in the same country at the same time as me. i may not have many friends near me despite still living in the same town i grew up in, but i know i have many friends dotted around the world, who i spent mere months with, who care for me as though we spent years together. we may have not seen each other for 3 or 4 years, but the joy is still there. the love is still there
#b.txt#âŠ#just study abroad things x#even the friends I still have in the uk#the majority of them are from my study abroad year#I only have like .. 2? friends from uni here that I still keep in contact w#have maybe. 3?4? ish friends from school. maybe.. not even that tbh lmao#but from my study abroad year?? more than 10!!!#and at least half of those are dotted around the world#but I still keep in touch w them all often#idk#Iâm lucky I met them#sometimes I worry those friends donât care for me the way I care for them tho#but then Iâm like ok well.. one literally flew here to stay w u for a week ??? shoutout emily x#and another literally planned a trip w u so u would both be in the country we met in at the same time again#and are planning to do the same in a year ??#so like. shut up brain#thereâs something poetic about my friends and I being from so many diff countries#and always wanting to return to the city we met to meet again#korea u are our second home it seems
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the coach...belgium trip flashbacks
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This is actually a really good conversation starter I think
I need to run a survey really quick. This isn't serious, but I need people to cooperate and not cheat for the sake of it because it'll skew the results.
Imagine you wake up tomorrow and you realize you (and everyone else in the world) can turn into an animal (And back into a human) at will.
Please go to this link to see what animal it will be for you:
(this is random, and yes, you only get one, no redos)
With this in mind, please reply to the following questions as truthfully as possible based on your current situation. (Not an ideal fantasy one.)
#I got bear#which I don't think would be particularly useful except for breaking things which I don't have to do very often#but if any of my bullies from school go on a camping trip they're going to find themselves in a very plausibly deniable accident#second thoughts there are no bears in the UK so I can't even murder people fuck this
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i think a lot of people don't/can't understand how much social anxiety can keep from a person
#cylas speaks#it's not like i want to be 'lazy' and sit around at home all day. only hobby playing video games. all ive ever done.#watching Ninja Warrior and getting emotional rn#bc climbing is so much fun (did it on a class trip once)#but. yeah. not happening. even in school when a classmate went as well.#that was around the time where my anxiety was worst i think#there are things id possible be able to do with a friend. but. yeah.#gym? no. ninjutsu? no. i tried and had so many anxiety/panic attacks. a lot of crying and sitting on the bench.#because my body just will not do The Thing (tm)#even when i understand the instructions and want to#maximum frustration is2g#or how i could've travelled when i was living in the uk#there we also got depression though lmak#*lmao#went to the sea (30 minute walk) exactly once#might have gone more often if i had been able to get over myself and take the bus#we didn't have to pay bc it was all covered#but it was different than here and that is scary#trains? no issue. don't really gotta talk to or interact with people.#everything i heard about bus was weird and just overwhelming sounding
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retris has appeared in my dreams like. 3 times now. holy shit
#the one i can remember the most is the one i had like. yesterday#me and the sovstuck players were at the beach on a school trip or whatever#until the tide started going really really high and then sirens started going off#we could see a tornado trying to form at the other side of the beach so we wade a run for it and went inside this crappy wooden shed#(it stunk and it was literally falling apart. theres no way it wouldve protected all of us from a fucking tornado)#i called out for pleome or retris i think (cant exactly remember). i remember crying (and moaning we'd be stuck in here for an hour or so)#it was really scary#but once the tornado disappeared... we all partied lol#the weirdest part ever is that i live in the uk. we dont get tornadoes here (at least not any that i know of)#ive been watching too many eas mocks before my naps i think lmao#áŻâ
p@rrdy ponderrs âźâ.Ë
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arizona tea is back in lidl lets FUCKING GO
#I CAN NEVER GET IT IN THE UK IT SUCKS#i went to san Fransisco on a school trip once and ive been addicted ever since#arizona (tea) my beloved. im sure the state is nice too#cae rambles
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I'm sure there are plenty of people who might feel differently, especially if they're younger than me (I'm 27), but for me I definitely feel this might be more noticeable a phenomenon in the US than the UK?
Kind of, anyway. The freedom of my teenage years compared to the freedom of those in prior generations seems like it was more limited, and there were definitely opportunities my parents had that would have been unimaginable to me. (Backpacking around Europe without a mobile phone on hand, for instance.) And 100% we're experiencing the erosion of safe, free/cheap public spaces for young people to be, and the rampant capitalism forcing us to prioritise work over actually living life happily đ
But on the other side, I've been taking the bus by myself since I was 11 -- some of my friends lived way out of town, so to meet up either they or I would have to do the 1/2 hour bus journey. It wasn't a problem for me to catch a train to London - 40+ miles away - with a group of friends from when I was about 16 or so, and just wander about there for the day. And on a regular weekend, I could walk pretty easily into town from our suburb - about 40 minutes, 50 perhaps to the cinema?
Hell, Duke of Edinburgh expeditions are a common sight each summer - a group of 14+ yos with backpacks practically as big as them wandering around the countryside for 3 days, trying to follow a route on a map, maybe having an adult check in on them 3-5 times in the day but otherwise left to their own devices and to walk miles in the wrong direction if they make a mistake. The shit we got up to in the campsites was real đ
I feel like a lot of teens get a chance to do do young, dumb stuff in college, too (college in the UK being an optional educational institution for 16-18yos instead of staying on at secondary school.) (That's very simplified but shh.) It would depend where you are in the country I guess but definitely both of my 25yo housemates have some wild stories from college. Plenty of 17/18 yos I know went interrailing for a few weeks in Europe, too (although I know that's more difficult for the current generation with Brexit and price hikes and such).
And then as well if teens do go to uni* they're usually able to drink straight away, being 18 (which is debatable whether or not it's a good thing I guess) but Freshers' Weeks are certainly always wild and pubs and clubs always seem busy in uni towns -- and tbh I have friends who still regularly go clubbing well into their twenties, if it's their thing. And like, whatever you're doing when you're 18, you'll be able to hang out at a pub in the evening, and just have a chill night with your friends - half of us don't even drink alcohol. (I do feel minorly bad for always asking for tap water, but đ€·ââïž. Sorry local pub for maybe spending only ÂŁ20 there in the past 10 years đ )
*(which I think is easier here? You only pay one ~$35 fee to apply to ALL your unis, not one-by-one, and our loans are less aggressive here too -- you don't pay them back until you're earning ÂŁ25k ($30k) and they're written off after 30 years -- so it's more manageable to go? [Though don't get me wrong, it's still a damn sight harder if you're not middle-class+])
Ugh, sorry, this got long -- I don't want to diminish the importance of what you've all said because it's true. And it's been 8 years since I was a teenager, so younger folks might feel their freedom's been diminished since then. But at a time where social media was very much a thing, I had a 3/14/40 mile radius as a teen and it just doesn't ring true that we didn't get the chance to do dumb, stupid shit. đ€·ââïž
Maybe this is the wrong platform to pose this question given the average tumblr user but
Is it just me or did our generation (those of is who are currently 20-30 ish) just not get the opportunity to be young in the 'standard' sense?
Like, everyone I talk to who's over 40 has all their wild stories about their teens and 20s, being young and dumb, and then I talk to my friends and coworkers and classmates, and we just... dont.
#oh gosh and i've just remembered our school trips too#in a foreign country as 13 yos so long as there were four of us we were allowed to wander off and explore the area for a few hours#we even literally had an assignment to go up to random germans and ask them a list of questions to practise our german#idk it's definitely not the same thing but still...#personal#uk comaprison#sorry this just snagged on my mind and i couldn't let it go.
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How relatable Kate Middleton gets George, Charlotte & Louis school ready, from parenting hacks to special shopping trip | In Trend Today
How relatable Kate Middleton gets George, Charlotte & Louis school ready, from parenting hacks to special shopping trip Read Full Text or Full Article on MAG NEWS
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#Celebrities#Charlotte & Louis school ready#from parenting hacks to special shopping trip#How relatable Kate Middleton gets George#Money#Motors#Politics#ShowBiz#Sport#Tech#UK#US#World
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Arete Outdoor Centre: Premier Outdoor Activities in UK
Looking for some outdoor fun activities? Experience premier outdoor residential activities in the UK at Arete Outdoor Centre, where school groups engage in adventurous and educational outdoor programs. We offer all the residential activities like mountain walking snowdonia, climbing courses uk, bushcraft camp uk, canyoning snowdonia, kayaking north wales and other family holidays in wales with activities etc. Reach us https://www.aretecentre.co.uk/tag/outdoor-activities-uk/
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How relatable Kate Middleton gets George, Charlotte & Louis school ready, from parenting hacks to special shopping trip | In Trend Today
How relatable Kate Middleton gets George, Charlotte & Louis school ready, from parenting hacks to special shopping trip Read Full Text or Full Article on MAG NEWS
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#Celebrities#Charlotte & Louis school ready#from parenting hacks to special shopping trip#How relatable Kate Middleton gets George#Money#Motors#Politics#ShowBiz#Sport#Tech#Trends#UK#US#World
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This is so much thank you. Have a song for your troubles
is this anything.
#I read this book in my last year of undergrad in a class that was at least on par with every grad school class I've taken#including the one at that school that semester when I took graduate Sociolinguistics#anyway it was my first time with that book and I really liked it and it was also a class about punk rock and we went on a trip to London#I wrote a paper about Suicidal Tendencies and submitted half of the music for the class playlist#and we listened to Anarchy in the UK and then in London I went to a good record shop in Camden Town and bought a ton of stuff#and one pin I bought was a a crossover between Sex Pistols and A Clockwork Orange#I bought it to remember that class specifically#and the powerpoint my friend and I did on the book. I recall we were both really happy with each other's contributions which is rare#also my bassist has covered this song with another band before so I'm trying to get us to cover it#I could make it a little fancier but I'd also move it down at least a fifth
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Family day out
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#Lincolnshire showground#Lincolnshire show#rural#bryonyperfectlyimperfect#lincsshow#lincsshow23#home schooling ideas#parents in the picture#kids crafts 101#farm animal#home learning#educational field trip#uk places#places to visit uk#outdoor kids activities#tractors#my countrysidetonic#Lincolnshire life#Lincolnshire uk#rural area#field#Lincolnshire blogger#family activities#day out uk#farming#agriculture#farming uk#lincolnshire#family time#uk blog
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I Would Climb Every Mountain With You
Alexia Putellas x Explorer!R
14K of fluff and fun
For those interested this is the song that played in my head throughout the inception of this one;
You shoved the last of your gear into your duffel, relishing in the zipping sound that pierced the silence of your sparsely occupied apartment.
This was a quick turn around, even for you.
You were back for your nans 82nd birthday which was in a few days and to catch up with your friends and family.
Youâd barely been back on UK soil for 18 hours, in your Cumbria flat for only 15, when you got a call offering you a trip as a tour guide in the Pirineus Aragonese, otherwise known as the Spanish Pyrenees, for 3 nights.
Usually youâd ignore such a request at this point in your career but for a 3 day trip there were more 0âs than you would expect on the pay packet. Too many to refuse.
You were one of the best in the business, so trampling around the low level bases of a fairley commercial mountain range was a bit novice for you.
These days you find yourself in the thin air over 6000 meters, or in a remote rainforest, or trekking through the Sahara, guiding millionaire white men who made the move from being armchair adventurers to have-a-go adventurers in the very safe manner which your expertise offered.
You did it because those IT consultants, those bankers, those surgeons, paid well.
Very well.Â
Well enough to fund your explorations.
To go to those heights that really drove you. 8000 metres. The death zone. Where the air was so thin you couldn't stay long or your brain would lose oxygen.
Or the amazon, making contact with a tribe to warn them of encroaching foresters.
Or to the arctic. To witness the last of the planet untouched by man.
As you shut the door behind yourself, barely even checking it locked. Fuck. You thought, as you downloaded the boarding pass sent to you.Â
Your mum was going to kill you.Â
But god. You loved the outdoors.Â
â-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
âI hate the outdoors!â
Alexia growled smacking a hand against her forearm, trying in vain to swat the midgie which was trying to make her blood its next meal. She hated the high pitched zoom that travelled past her ear as it moved back through the mini bus to try and find a more peaceful meal out of one of her teammates.
âWe know AleâŠâ a tired voice from next to her groaned âyouâve mentioned it once, twice. Maybe a thousand times.â Mapi rolled her head off of her girlfriend's shoulder where she had been in a light doze. Interrupted by her captain's loud complaints.
âIâm just saying.â Alexia continued to grumble âI donât know why Jona is making us do this. Team Bonding? We are a very bonded team already! I make you all pancakes on sundays!â
Mapi rolled her eyes at the blondes protests. Sheâd heard all of this before since Jona had announced the 3 day team bonding trip at the start of pre season. She could recite Alexia's complaints by heart.
âIâm excited.â She shrugs, eyes cast over her girlfriend who had moved to nuzzle into her side.
âTraidoraâ The captain replies, eyes gazing out of the fast moving countryside out of the window. She felt worse and worse the more they moved away from the city into the endless empty space around her. She could feel civilization leaving her grasp as the bars of signal went down on her phone. âYouâve been brainwashed by your nordic girlfriend.â She lets out simply. Ignoring Mapis' offended scoff and dodging the light slap sent her way.
âBehave Maria.â A tired voice let out, without opening their eyes. Like a school child who had been told off, the tiny defender backs down and settles back into her girlfriend's shoulder. And if Alexia sticks her tongue out at her like a toddler then well. Who can provide it?
âGodâ she thought to herself as she settled her head back against the vibrating glass, starting a mental countdown of when she would return to her city center apartment âI hate the outdoors.â
â----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
âI probably should buy new walking boots.â You thought to yourself as you clambered out of the minibus which dropped you and your small team at the muster point. Your boots fit like a glove but they did look a little worse for wear. All scratched and battered. The green laces prominent against the dark brown leather.
Who are you kidding? You knew you would never buy new boots.
You could still make out the scratch deep in the leather where you hooked your foot behind a rock as you careered down a shale summit when you were still a novice. A mark against the toe protection where a dog in the Andes got a bit too friendly and attacked your foot. Nah. These boots were the closest friend you had.
A rumble of a car cut against the silence of the mountains around you and you could just make up another mini bus trudging up the mountain pass from the elevation you stood at. You had a few minutes before the clients arrived.
âWho âav we got then?â you asked and you turned to face Rio, your long-time guiding partner when you were in this part of the world.
Full name Mario he was a kind man in his 40âs who lived for bad 80s music and loved his kids more than you thought any human was capable of love.
âI am unsure, Mi Amiga. I just got the paperwork that told me it was a team of 23 ladies. They assured the operator we have no fitness issues. They have translators in the group, multiple languages so we're best sticking with English. I have all the health forms here, everything looks good. Some dietary requirements but nothing we canât handleâ
Huh. A weird group. 23 fit women with translators in the group? Weird.
âWomen. Rio. We prefer the term women.â you gibe him, âUrght. 23 women is a lot. I hope it isnât a hen party. Penis straws arenât my thing, if you know what I mean.â you knock your elbow into his ribs and let out a cackle.Â
You were very very gay. A fact that wasnât lost on Mario as he had unfortunately been witness to more than a few hook ups after expeditions over the years.Â
âSi, I know what you mean, that rock over there knows what you mean, tu idiota.â he replied, rolling his eyes and moving to help the team with the checklist of essentials.
Your knee deep in gas canisters and spare tent pegs by the time the mini bus holding the clients arrives.
You untangle yourself with a sheepish smile to Rio as you move to meet the van and he moves to tidy your mess. Heâs the practical guy. Youâre the nice guy. It's your job to go and meet the clients and explain the expedition and answer any questions.
âHol⊠Holy shit.â you start. What you intended to be a lively welcome in your best spanish quickly got lost on your tongue with each woman who exited the van.
Fucking hell. These women were gorgeous.
Specifically the last women to emerge from the van. All blonde hair and hazel eyes.
And tattoos.
And fit.
And tall.
And. Not to be a dick about it. Very gay.
You shake yourself out of it. Come on. Be professional. Stop being a gross guy. You scold yourself.
You turn to Rio whoâs finishing up with all the kit who laughs at your expression; âNot a hen party then?â
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â... so on day two we will reach the gorge, follow the treeline across the ridge, through the forest finding some good places to camp and then finally end in ArĂ©n. Where your bus will meet you and take you back to Barcelona. Is that good?â
The group lets out a murmur of agreement and an enthusiastic âFantastic!â is heard above everyone else and Alexia rolls her eyes.
âMapi, you really need to control your girlfriend. If you're not careful she's going to run away into the wilderness.â she mutters to her best friend.
âShut up Ale.â Mapi hisses back, but it isnât missed by Alexia how Mapi slowly inches herself closer to her girlfriend and hooks her fingers through the waist strap of her backpack, as though physically stopping her from leaving her, renaming herself Hedi and living the rest of her days in the mountains.
Alexia lets out a scoff of laughter, which was louder than she intended.
âThere, at the back. A question?âÂ
Suddenly Alexia finds the eyes of the team watching her, most with a glint in their eyes as they were all victims to her complaining over the last few weeks.
Listen. She's not bothered she has 22 sets of eyes on her.
She's used to it. Especially these eyes. She's their captain.
That's not what causes her mouth to dry up and her pulse to race.
No. That's you.
For the first time since getting out of the van Alexia looks up and sees your gaze directed straight at her. Holy shit. You were the most beautiful woman she had ever seen.
And she had seen a lot of women.
But you, standing there in your khaki shorts, simple vest top, hair tied up and a bandana and dirty old boots took her breath away.
You gave off an aura of cool. Dark raybans perched on your face and muscles rippling against a backpack bigger than you.
You were the coolest woman she had ever seen.
âSorry, the paperwork said everyone would understand English, or had access to a translator. That's my fault. Can someone translate? Or I can spe-âÂ
A ripple of laughter goes through the group but its Mapis cough and small kick that pulls Alexia out of her stupor.
âVaya, I understand, lo siento, no. No questions here. Just. So excited to get going! Vamos Amigas!â Alexia cheerfully ended, ignoring her teammates' confused faces at her complete 180 as she hoisted her backpack on and threw you her most dashing smile.
Maybe she could make something out of this weekend after all.
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You threw a smile past 3 of your group on the trail as you made your way down the mountain.
âHola chicaâsâ you let out cheekily, throwing a wink at the three, who had quickly become your favourites.
You loved love and you could see how much the small brunette you learned was Mapi hung onto every action of her girlfriend. Ingrid's enthusiasm was one you shared, born of a childhood spent outside and Alexia.
Well.
Alexia was a mystery. Quick to smile and eager to please but there was something there. So confident and yet you could make out the blush on her cheeks at your innocent wink.
And god. Was she gorgeous. Chiselled andâŠstay professional!
They made a very likable trio and you had been spending most of your hike with them so far but you had to share the love and you left them behind a few miles ago to go scout out the front of the pack.
This was how you and Mario worked. You would take it in turns to be at the front and the back of the group - keeping everyone together and pacing everyone so they remained in a close-enough group to manage safely whilst not hampering or rushing anyone.
Youâve got to admit.
These girls were fit.
Even you found it difficult to keep up.
Though, to be fair you had to hike double with the overlapping on the hillside and your pack that weighed about 6 extra stone.
Still, you wouldnât swap this job for the world. You thought to yourself as you spied the last team member a few metres down the mountain you halted and waited for them to reach you. Feigning that you were just taking in the view so that they didnât feel bad about being at the back.
Someone has to be.
âDonât worry about itâ you let out easily at Pina and Patris apologies, âYou guys are doing it the right way. Take in the view! Weâre hours ahead of scheduleâ.
And you were. These girls really were athletic. You really should find out what the hell they do for a living.
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âCapi, what are you doing now?â Mapi grumbled as Alexia came to a stop.
She tosses her bag down and rummages through it, picking out a small bottle and spraying herself quickly before hiding it away.
âVamos Mapi, you go up. Iâm just⊠taking a moment.â
âNo problem Alexia, we can wait with you. Is it your knee? Are you okay?â Ingrid's kind voice asked, her brows furrowed in concern for her captain.
âSi Si I am good itâs justâŠâ
âAh! I know!â Mapi exclaimed âthe sudden buen humor. The changes in pace. I canât believe it! Capi has a crush! With the mountain boss lady! Wait⊠is that perfuâŠâ
Mapi is quickly silenced by Alexia's large hand covering her mouth as the captain looks down the mountainside in concern. Youâve passed them and are out of view and she hopes out of earshot.
âCallate idiotaâ she hisses âEw!â She pulls her hand away and wipes it on her shorts whilst Mapi grins cheerfully, her tongue safely back in her mouth.
âI do not! It is good to feel nice, that's all. I am just taking a moment. Please. Ingrid. Take her away before I push her down the mountain.â
Alexia pleads to the Norwegian, who is more than happy to grab her girlfriend's hand and continue the best weekend of her life, explaining all about the different types of trees they would see as Mapi hangs on her every word.
Alexia isnât alone for long until she hears your peel of laughter as you round the corner with the two meneces that were Patri and Pina.
You say something that makes Patri laugh and she shoves you playfully to one side which makes Alexia's heart jump into her throat.
âAy! Idiota! Do not push her! She could slip!â
She takes your bark of a laugh and the soft look you give her happily, embracing the warm feeling that it makes in her chest.
âSorry Capi.â Patri mocks, saluting with a shit-eating grin on her face.
âAlright. That's it. What the hell do you guys do? Youâre all mega fit, speak about 15 different languages and now youâre introducing this insane leadership structure. Is this some sort of new-age google thing?â you ask, incredulously, hands on your hips and question in your eyes.
There's a moment of silence and then all three of them burst into laughter at the same time.
âWhat? What did I say?â you ask. âWhat do you think we do jefa de montana?â Pina asks, as you all continue your hike upwards.
âI donât know⊠really rich estate agents?â you ask, prompting more laughter from the group. âErm⊠oh! I know! Youâre all personal trainers in old folks homes but youâre taking it really, really seriously? OH! I knowâ Youâre all spies!â you exclaim, just to hear Alexias laugh again. Which you are rewarded with.
âNo tonta. We are all footballers. We are the Barcelona Femini first team!â Alexia lets out, arms wide, all three of them pausing with expectant looks on their faces in your direction.
âAh. Makes sense. Cool.â you let out, smile their way and continue leading them up the mountain.
You sense youâre walking alone all of a sudden and turn to see all three of them standing like fishes, mouths open staring incredulously at you.
âWhat? What's wrong?â you call down.
âFootballers, you strange mountain woman! Itâs more than cool! Weâre the best in the world!â Patri lets out, incredulously.
Itâs your turn to bark out a laugh. âHa! Sorry chicas, I promise I will be suitably impressed once we reach campâ you wink as you all continue upwards, a peaceful silence settling over the three of you.Â
âIâm more of a rugby person anyway.â you break the silence.
A moment of pregnant pause.
âPush her off the mountain Patri.â Alexia orders, jovially. âOn it Cap!â
You cackle as you run away from the three chasing footballers and the only thought that is running through your head is, âGod, Alexia smells good.â
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âElla es tan bonitaâ Alexia mutters to herself, as she watches you from across the clearing, after helpfully dumping herself outside of Ingrid and Mapis tent as Ingrid sets the whole thing up as well as going behind Mapi and re-clipping all of the clips and double checking all the poles, whilst ensuring Mapi doesn't see her.
âAy, Capi. Stop creeping and come help. Or set up your tent, you need somewhere to sleep.â âI will, I willâ Mapi takes a seat next to her captain who doesn't look like she's moving from her perch anytime soon.
âSo, youâre in love, si?â
âSiâŠâ Alexia lets out dreamily, âWait. No! Shut up, I didn't say that.â
Mapi opens her mouth, ready to tease the hell out of her captain before⊠âWe heard nothing Ale, donât worryâ Ingrid lets out from inside the tent. Mapis' mouth closes with a small frown at the idea of her teasing ammo being taken away from her.
âShe is so cool though.â Alexia continues, âYou know, sheâs been to the arctic three times? And climbed 4 of the worlds highest summits. 4 of them? One on her own!â
âWe know Ale,â Ingird responded, kindly, appearing from the tent âYouâve told us a dozen times. Come on. Letâs see if she needs help with anything.â
Alexia moves as though sheâs just intercepted a stray pass in front of goal.
Rapid.
You stand, ignoring the aching in your back as you put the finishing touches onto the makeshift fire pit.
Youâd spent the last hour scouting and setting up camp for the group. Mario was off helping some of the girls set up their tents for the night.
You both preferred the ease of a hammock slung between two trees with a mosquito net being the only thing between you and the stars. That meant you were both able to carry more provisions for the group and set up your camps quickly before moving on to help the clients.
âDo you need any help at all?â you hear accented english, you turn and Ingrid offers you a kind smile. âNo, no youâre good guys, make yourselves at home.â you gesture to the logs that had been moved into a semi circle around the firepit. Logs collected by Mario waiting for the night to arrive.
You're on your knees setting some water to boil as you hear an annoyed grumble and a slap of skin âmierda!â. You turn on your knees and find yourself faced with Alexia, sitting on a log near you losing a one woman battle against a thousand midges.
âYou must taste nice.â It takes you a minute of the blonde blushing and red face to realise what youâve said. You stand and move to sit next to her âNo! No sorry I didnât mean⊠I meanâŠâ you take a deep breath andâŠ. âYou smell nice.â
Mapis' bark of laughter makes you roll your eyes good naturedly, the blonde next to you still looking at you somewhat star struck.
âNo really AlexiaâŠâ you move closer and breathe the blonde in, she smells sweet, floralâŠ. Stay professional!Â
âThatâs why theyâre attracted to you. Your smell, andâŠâ you move slowly, gently and take her arm in yours⊠âsome people just react to the bites more, this looks like it could become sore.â you brush over a large, reddening bite on her inner arm.
Alexia, meanwhile, is acting as though your touch isnât setting her blood on fire. Sheâs apparently chosen to hide this by just staring at you, wide eyed. Another midgey lands on her skin and you feel her arm tense in your grasp as she moves to swat it but you hold firm.
âEy ey, there's more of them than you and weâre in their territory. Take only pictures, leave only footprints and killâŠâ
âNothing but time!â Ingrid jumps in, excitedly, âYes Ing, that's the oneâ you reply, as Ingrid sits proudly. âMascota del maestro.â Mapi teases her.
You move your attention back to Alexia, âAle, you should go and wash off, there will be a stream over there, looking at the treeline and the game track marks. Itâll take the sweetness from your skin. It will help, I have some antihistamine you should take when you get back and I'm sure I smelt some wild garlic growing just as we entered the clearing. It acts as a repellent, I will go forage some and add it to your meal tonight. It will help for the rest of the trip.â
âNo, Iâll be fiâŠ.â you move to stand, gathering your wilderness knife and attaching it to your hip. âI wasnât asking Alexia. Iâm in charge here, Captain. I know what Iâm doing, now go. Pleaseâ
Alexia isnât told what to do often.
Yes she has a coach and she has trainers but she is the captain.
The expert.
But your kind and gentle nature just became firm in front of her eyes. This was your world and it was clear you knew what you were doing in it. She felt like a puppet as she stood obediently and made her way to the stream.
As she stood there, in only her underwear in the cold water, listening to the distant laughter of her teammates and overlooking the most beautiful blue-green water of the gorge beneath the mountain side. She kind of understood this whole outdoorsy thing. It was peaceful, she could hear her thoughts. Alexia was never alone. There was always someone fighting for her attention, needing something from her.
But here, she felt like her mind had gone quiet. And she could think. And breathe.
She was feeling somewhat light and philosophical by the time she made it back to the firepit.
You look up from your pan and see the silhouette of the tall Barcelona captain making their way over. She looks lighter somehow. Hair hanging limp softens her features and her face is bare, making her look somehow more beautiful. You shake yourself out of your thoughts and start to plate up the meal for everyone.Â
You feel Mario next to you; âAy, smells goods, some of your best work Mi Amiga.â He mutters to you, shoving your shoulder gently, âooh weâve got fancy with the spices, si? Someone to impressâ he obnoxiously wiggles his eyebrows at you and you very maturely, in your opinion, ignore his teasing in order to stir some sauteed garlic through one of the bowls. âGo give that to your apalastar. Iâll hand out the restâ he orders.
âI donât have a crushâ you hiss, even as you gather two bowls and make your way over to the blonde. Alexai looks up as you stand above her, seemingly having interrupted her thoughts. You offer a smile as you pass her a steaming metal bowl.
âChicken and riceâ you state, as you take a seat next to her, âwith extra garlic, as promisedâ you smile as you start to shovel food into your mouth.
You take a moment with your eyes closed like you do before every meal before tucking in. Mario tells you that you eat like a wild dog whoâs just found an open trash can, you donât care, you love your food, especially after a long hike day cooked over an open fire.Â
âHow do you know these things?â Alexia asks. You make the universal noise of; âhuhâ? And eye her curiously. âThe garlic. The stream. How do you know?â
âAh, itâs my life.â you reply, âI grew up in rural England. Me and my brother would go for hikes for days at a time. Not much else to do. I learnt how to read the land. You get used to itâŠâ a beat of silence, âthe solution is always around.â
Now it's Alexia's turn to let out a confused grunt, around a mouthful of chicken.
âIn nature. Nature always provides what you need. If it creates a problem, it will create a solution. That's why I love it so much. Sunburn? Mud is the best sunscreen money canât buy. Stuck in a monsoon? Youâll be saved by a cave to shelter in that's carved by the same weather that's trying to kill you. Mosquitos making you their next meal? Garlic will grow and act as a repellent. You just need to learn to read the signs. That's why I love it so much.â
Alexia grows quiet, and you canât quite place the look she's giving you.Â
Itâs open, and you feel maybe you shared too much so revert back to what you know. As you scrape the metal bowl clean you pull out a blister pack and present them to the footballer. âSometimes, though, the answer is in a pharmacy in Perpignanâ you grin cheekily and enjoy the blondes blush and laugh as she pops an antihistamine and swallows it.Â
You root into your pocket and pull out some bite cream.
âMay I?â you gesture towards her arm as you see she has finished her meal. She nods and presents you with her arm where an angry looking lump had formed. You grunt in sympathy as you carefully apply the cream. Making soothing motions with your thumb making sure the cream is absorbed fully.
You struggle to remain professional with the blondes soft skin under your hands. And you struggle to pull them away. You donât know what comes over you as you gently blow on the bite to sooth it. You donât think youâre alone in your feelings as you hear a sharp intake of breath from the blonde, and feel goosebumps rise under your fingertips.
âIâm sorry, It helps to cool the area, itâs feeling a little hotâ as you pull your hands away.
Alexia seems to be in a daze but you catch her eye as she lets out âeres tan calienteâ. Itâs quiet, under her breath and you see her eyes widen as she realises she's spoken aloud. âPardon?â you ask, just to make sure you heard her.
âOh sorry, nada, nothing. Thank you for your help. It feels better already. Youâre really good at this.â
You smile at her happily, a proud buzz in your stomach at making her feel better, you're interrupted from any reply by Mario shouting your name across the fire pit. And that's when you realise you have 22 other clients all around, and you had kind of left your colleague to deal with them all.
Which makes it easier for him to convince you to fulfil his request. He always does this. And he knows you hate it. As he shakes the ukulele heâs carried up a frigging mountain at you. You canât really deny him.
âCome on chica! Show the girls what you can do!â, you take it from him as you roll your eyes good naturedly as you settle back down, closer, somehow to Alexia, you can feel your thigh touch hers as you try to pretend that is isn't setting your world on fire.Â
Alexia pretends that she canât see Mapis' eyes light up and eyebrows wiggle at her from across the campfire.
As the stars start to make an appearance you serenade the group with campfire songs you grew up on, some songs that Mario sings along with you, you strum as Mapi excitingly dances around the campfire and you continue into the night as your fingers start to ache. Lucy even teaches you the Barcelona anthem, which you murder, but it's worth it to see the laugh in Alexia's eyes.
You donât mind making a fool of yourself if that's your result.
You feel the blonde slump more into you as the night goes on, and you feel the tension between you both increase. However, when you look across to catch her eyes you see that she's practically asleep as she sits.
âHey, Aleâ you mutter as Pina takes a turn on your ukulele, rousing her from her light sleep, âcome on, the tablets can make you drowsy. You need to get to sleep.â
âOh, no. But I donât want to miss anything.â she mutters, cutely, you donât think sheâd be so open unless she was completely exhausted. âAnd I need to set my tent up.â
âDonât worry, I set it up for you when you were in the stream.â you respond, easily, and there's that look again, the one that puts your stomach into knots and makes you unsure of what youâve said, so you continue, âItâs next to Mapi and Ingrids. I thought youâd want their protection from the bears.â
âBears?!â she exclaims, which brings everyone's attention to the both of you, 23 worried looking footballers now looking in your direction as you bark out a laugh.
âIâm kidding, Iâm kidding!â you respond, to all of them, hands raised as a sign of peace. They settle down⊠âwell actually Iâm not, but what did you think the singing was for!â
Mario is the only one that snorts out a laugh.
â----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alexia wakes up hot.
And thirsty.
She opens her eyes and takes a moment to remember herself and where she is. But as she hears the light chatter and banging of pans outside it comes back to her.
Last night, sitting around the firepit by your side, one she had gotten over how hot the vision of you playing the instrument was, she was being lulled into a drowsy state by your gentle singing, the stars shining above and the warmth of your body by her side.
She remembers your hands on her skin, causing goosebumps and her stomach to flutter, somehow those hands in the middle of a literal mountain range made her feel more safe than the most experienced medical professional in the most high-tech sports facilities ever could.
She remembers finding her tent from where you had set it up. Citronella candle burning outside keeping the bugs away, everything zipped up safely, and then seeing how you had set the inside up.
Sleeping bag open and inviting, all her bags set neatly, essentials on top of her bag, hiking boots sitting on pegs she definitely did not bring to air them and stop any creepies crawling into them. Water next to her cot.
God. She was in trouble.
As she crawled into the porch area she found a small metal bowl with what looked like a cut up cactus in it, goop oozing from it. She picked the bowl up and made her way over to her best friends, who were tucking into a breakfast of granola and fruits out of similar bowls to that in her hand.
âHey, Ingrid. Nature lover. What's this?â She holds the bowl up with a curious eyebrow.
âI think you mean Hola Ingrid, How are you this morning?â Mapi grumbles, whilst her girlfriend rubs her knee and shushes her kindly, Alexia looks at her expectantly.
She takes the bowl and a smile overtakes her face, âThis is Aloe, Ale.â âAloe Ale? Are you making fun of me?â Ingrid smiles again, âNo, Ale, it's Aloe Vera, it's the gel from the Aloe Vera plant. It's got healing properties and⊠good for sunburn, reducing irritation and swelling, some may say good for insect bites?â
âOh, well thank you then Ingrid, that's really kind.â Alexia hums, happily.
âAle. I love you, but I didnât collect this.â Ingrid smiles, Mapi looks on in glee and not-at-all subtly points in your direction.
âIt was the jefa de montana!â She whisper-shouts, âI woke up early and saw her coming back with that cool knife of hers⊠Hey⊠IngriâŠ?â
âNo Maria. You cannot have a knife.â Ingrid lets out, not looking away from her breakfast.
Alexis misses Mapis' sulk, as well as the loving bickering between her two best friends, because she is distracted by you, sitting across the camp entertaining Jana and Vicky. Seemingly a boundless source of energy and knowledge. You must feel someone's eyes on you because you look up and it feels like you look directly into Alexia's soul.
She holds the bowl up with a shy smile and mouths thank you, and she re-iterates to herself how well as truely fucked she is as as you send a wink her way which makes her knees weak.
âOh estoy jodidaâ
â-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You smile as you waved the girls off from camp, it being your turn to stay behind and finish packing up the provisions and bringing up the rear of the group. With Mario leading the charge down into the gorge where you would make camp tonight.
It was your favourite day of the trek today, and you were excited about the girls reaction to the camp set up this evening. You expect that you would get there earlier than expected with these super-fit professional athletes, which would give you all more time to explore the lake. You found yourself looking forward to a certain blonde's face as she took in the view, the mountain above reflecting into the water.
It really was beautiful.
You knew yourself very well. That's the thing about being an explorer. You have to know yourself, you spend a lot of time alone and with your thoughts. You need to know your limits. Assess your feelings. Is this the half-way mark of my endurance? Do I need to turn around now? It was important for survival.
And with everything you've done you're not sure youâll survive the next two days with Alexia Putellas.
You found her disarming. She was stoic but kind. She was serious but hilarious. Strong but vulnerable. She was stern but looked at you so softly it made your heart melt.Â
She was a woman of contradictions in the best way.Â
And you wanted to wrap your arms around her and keep her safe. Yeah, it was your job to keep everyone on this trip safe. But it wasn't your job that made you trek back 2 miles this morning to harvest the Aloe you saw yesterday. Or take an extra 20 minutes to set her tent up making sure she had everything that she didn't know she needed.
You knew why you did it, but you donât think you were ready to be that honest with yourself yet.
You finished packing up camp and making sure there was no trace of your group and then continued along the trail. You thought you had a few hours before you encountered any of the famous fucking footballers you were guiding on account of most of them all being fucking olympians, but it hadnât been more than 90 minutes before you spotted the same person who was clouding all of your thoughts.
âHola Capi!â you shouted down the trail below you, you didnât want to spook her and get to close as she looked lost in her thoughts, gazing down to the lake below.
âAh, Hola Jefa de montañaâ a smile overtaking her features. âI didn't expect you to be at the back, Capiâ you tease, nudging her and continuing along at her side, âthe youngâuns making you feel old?â
There's that laugh again. The one that seems to fill a hole in your heart.
âno por supuesto que no, solo soyâŠ.â she trails off as you look at her curiously.
âAh, lo siento, you donât speak spanish, Iâm just taking my time, enjoying the view, no rush, si?â she asks you, completely misinterpreting your look. You go to correct her but she speaks before you have a chance,
âSo, where's your favourite exploration been?â and if there's anything that you can yap on about. It's your adventures.
Alexia loves the way your face lights up, loves the way that your whole body thrums with excitement. The way you describe the sights, sounds, smells of your travels. Her heart drops when you tell tall tales of alligator attacks in the south american swamps, her laughter bubbles as you tell her about accidental orders of bizarre and unusual foods in china, she blushes as you describe being run out a village in mongolia for sleeping with the mayor's wife (completely accidental of course).
You tell a story with your whole body, arms flailing and actions where appropriate. The time flies and the environment around Alexia is lost to the beauty she finds in your excitement.
You finally pause for breath and the silence makes you realise how long you have been speaking for.
âOh my gosh, I am so sorry, I haven't stopped talking - pleâŠâ
âDo not apologiseâ Alexia interrupts, âI like to hear you speak, your stories are soâŠâ she struggles to find the word and takes a moment â...colourful. And exciting.â she snaps her fingers, happy with herself.Â
âExciting, me? Maybe. You though. Football, huh? That must be amazing. Free to travel the world⊠all of your adoring fans, huh?â you wiggle your brows and nudge her again, but her coy smile doesnât appear like you expected it to.
She grows quiet, hand playing with the long grass as you both stroll by.
âAh. Maybe. I thought so, but now⊠Iâm thinking, maybe I am not so free?â she poses it as a question, and eyes lift to your face, and then her surroundings.
âI love football. Football is my life. But the other things⊠ah. I donât know. Sometimes I wish I could walk down to mi Mamis without wearing a cap, or a hood. Just⊠go. You know?â
You do know. You couldnât imagine such restrictions. Your spirit is a free one. And Alexia seems caged. Caged and wanting to break free.
âI get it, Ale.â your use of her name brings a blush to her face. And a smile you want to keep there. âTell me about football.â you request, simply.
âWhat about it? It is the most beautiful game in the world! You are English, a good football nation, itâs coming home? No?â
âI have no idea what youâre talking about.â you do. âIâm from the countryside. Football is played in cities. I cannot think of any football team not named after a City.â
âFootball is played everywhere! It's the game of the Earthâ
âIs it?â you ask, âtell me.â you request again.
And off she goes, she tells you how she loves her team, the fans, Barca, how the game brought her close to her father and she feels closer to him as she continues to play. You enjoy the excitement in her voice as she makes you both stop as she uses a stick to explain the offside rule. You force a cereal bar into her hand and make sure you both drink water as you go. Seamlessly, as she continues to talk about her life's passion.
Before you know it you notice the placement of the sun and realise you have nearly completed the miles for the day. You are shocked that you havenât run into any of her teammates, though you suppose, you have both been walking slower as you chatted.
Though, that does mean you have left Mario with 23 clients. Fuck you owe him.
âThe way you talk about it, It does sound like a beautiful game, capi.â you summarise, as she finishes telling you about the football camps for underprivileged kids she visits.
She pauses and looks into your face. The moment grows less jovial than the whole day had been and you hear Alexia whisper, âEres hermosaâ. âHuh?â you let out, surprised. âOh, da nada, nothing. Sorry, I donât usually speak too much EnglishâŠâ
âAh, Capi!â you hear a third voice, raised across the clearing you had just entered, a canopy of trees above and now you are at the lake shore.
You are both shaken out of your trances as you realise you have made camp, and by the looks of it, the rest of the group had been here for a while. God, you really did owe Mario.
âAh, chica!â you hear Marios best as he makes his way towards you, âyou left me! These girls, they are loco!â you laugh as you see the sweat beading across his brow and his face still red, âthe walk and walk and walk, they walk so quick!âÂ
Jana now makes her way over, taking Alexias backpack from her shoulders,
âWe walk quickly because Capi told us whoever won she would give first dibs on shower privileges all seasoâŠ.â Jana is silenced by Alexia, who shoves her hand over her mouth. âAy, Jana, sheâs an iditoto, doesnât know what she's talking about, Si. Vamos, Jana. You can help me set my tent up.â
Jana is practically dragged away as you focus your attention again on Mario.
âlo siento mi amigo,â you tell him, âI didnât mean to.. I think I just got carried awayâŠâ you eyes follow the tall blonde as she makes her way across camp, Jana having abandoned her on route.
âDa nada my friend. I have not seen you like this beforeâŠâ he smiles at you. âI think she is good for you.â
âOh stop Mario. You know me. I canât.â
âYou wonât. That is different to you canât. And I notice you do not deny, now, vamos, help me anti-bear this place.â
Your next hour is spent helping Mario set up camp, you're close to a huge water source now, and whilst bears will only come looking for food you need to take extra steps to not spook your clients, you keep the provisions away from camp, high in trees, you sprinkle ash from the fire around and you place dry leaves and twigs around, you and Mario are light sleepers, any visitor to camp will make you up.
Alexia has been abandoned by her team. âTeam building, sure⊠you all have fun guys, Iâll be hereâŠâ she mumbles to herself as she struggles to feed the poles of her tent through the holes in the canvas. She takes a look up and sees you, lifting logs for the fire. All short, shorts and rippling muscles. Those same damn old boots on your feet so sexily rugged.
She gets lost in her thoughts, images swimming around her mind of making you sweat for different reasons, imagining being stood above you as you drop to your knees in front of her as she gathers your hair in her handâŠ.
âDo you need me to help you with your pole?â you ask. SNAP. Huh? Alexia looks up from the daydream she had embarrassingly got lost in. Ignoring the heat between her legs. She looks up, flustered.
âQ..Que?â she asks you, she looks down and sees the metal pole she was trying to thread through in two pieces in her hands.
âOh⊠oops.â she continues. âOh Ale⊠that's the centerframe pole. That's keeping the roof over your head. I can try to patch it up with some twine⊠but Iâm not sure it will hold.â you tell her, examining the two pieces in her hands.
âOh. Sorry. I donât know what happened there.â Alexia tries to distract to get out of this awkward situation. âNo problem, I will share it with Ingrid and Mapi. They wonât mind.â
You cast your eyes over to where Ingrid was walking into the lake in a two piece swimsuit, Mapi watching from the fire and almost setting her boot on fire as she paid no attention to her surroundings. You think they may mind.
âOkay Ale.â she knows her friends better than you, you suppose. âNow come, come look at this view.â
You lead her to the lakeside where most of the girls were settled, and you explain to the group some of the geography of how the gorge and lake was formed. And, to be fair to them, most of them did pretend to care. But you could tell they were just dying to jump in.
âGo on then Chicas! A few hours til dinner. Go have fun!â
The cheer that the group let out made you laugh, so did watching them as they scrambled over each other in the water as you and Mario made dinner. Lucy having produced a small ball from somewhere they all start to play in the water. Somehow, you felt like you were all of a sudden guiding 12 year old boys.
You could make Ale out, in the middle of the fray, contemplative nature fully unleashed as she laughed and played around with her teammates. You loved seeing her so free and open. Especially after your chat today.
You find yourself at the campfire again, plating up dinner for the group and you see an open space next to Alexia.
You make your way over but before you get there the seat is taken by Vicky, you miss the scowl that takes over Ales face as she slaps the back of her younger teammate's head.
âThat space was being saved!â she sulks, watching as you change direction and settle yourself next to Lucy. Quickly being drawn into conversation. âYeah, Lopez, that's her girlfriend's seat!â Mapi sniggers.
âLo Siento Ale, I didnât know.â Vicky looks so apologetic that it tugs on Alexia's heart as her gaze softens and she pulls her head into her chest in an aggressive hug, she kisses her hair. âestĂĄ bien pequeñaâ.
After another night of singing, card games and this time smores you get the attention of the group; âOkay girls, serious now. We are in bear country.â a gasp goes through the group, âMe and Mario have made the camp safe but there's always a chance a bear may wander into camp. Iâm not saying this to scare you. Iâm saying this to keep you safe.â you point down to your calf, where a slither of scar tissue can be seen,
âIâve been on the wrong side of a hungry brown bear before. They are good creatures, just hungry. They hate humans. If, and this is a big if a bear wanders into camp you need to just make noise. That will be enough to scare it away and bring mine and Marios attention to you. Si?â
The group is quiet for a moment until Ingrid lets out an affirmative noise.
You think your little bear chat scared them because quickly it's just you, Mario and Alexia who remain awake, as Mario tells stories of his family and the mischief his children get up to. He lets out a big yawn.
âMario, you can get to bed. I will sort thisâ you point down to the dying embers of the fire. âI owe you after today.â âYou doâ he smiles as he stands up and makes his way across camp to his hammock.
âI will go to bed also.â Alexia stands, and you offer to walk her to Mapi and Ingrids tent with your headlamp so she doesn't trip on any ropes.
That smile again. She nods and as you move closer to the tent you hear a noise. You put your hand on her arm to stop her, and cock your head to one side, that wonât be a bear, surely?
There! That noise again. Louder this time. Wait. A⊠groan?
âOh my god.â Alexia whispers, a laugh in her voice. You're confused and then you hear it again, this time, it sounds suspiciously like a groan of a name. Maria. Oh. Oh for god's sake.Â
âMaybe they took the âmake noiseâ instruction too seriously, si?â Alexia giggles into your ear. This makes you bark out a laugh, quickly hidden behind her hand that raises itself to your mouth.
âQuĂ© fue esoâ you hear from the tent. For some reason, this fills both you and Alexia with childish excitement and glee. As you pull her hand with you as you sprint away from the tent as though you are 9 in a school yard and have just been told someone has cooties.
You guide her to your hammock, and stand there, giggles subsiding, suddenly unsure of what to do.
âMaybe they forgot you were in with them tonight?â you ask the blonde, who shrugs and replies âwith those two I donât think much can stop them.â this makes you laugh lightly and then a beat of silence.
âErm, you can take my hammock, sorry, some people don't find it comfortable but it keeps the mosquitos away and I can set up a roll matt by the fire.â
âNo.â
âSorry. I didnât mean to make yoâŠâ
âNo, I mean. I am not kicking you out of your bed. I will go on the matt⊠â
âNo Ale. With your blood youâll be eaten alive without a net⊠maybe..â
âSi?â
âMaybe we can share? The hammock is huge and it's normal for people to share in survival situations, you know, to keep warm and stuff.â
âCreo que tener calor serĂĄ el problema.â âPardon?â âAh, nothing, I just said yes we should share.â
This keeps happening, and you think it's hilarious, and you let out a coy smile, âroomies?â you ask, Alexia matches your smile as she nods.
You let her get settled into the hammock in her sleeping bag before you pull it wider, there being plenty of material to hold you both comfortably. You forgot, the design of the hammock encapsulates you both, the canvas bowing upwards forcing you both into the middle, and creating a shield around you, mosquito net a curtain around you.
Suddenly, all your senses are full of Alexia. Alexia beneath you and stars above you. God. Have you died and gone to heaven? No. In heaven you wouldn't be separated by 2 layers of polyester sleeping bags.
You shuffle around to try to take some of your weight off her and lie by her side. âSorry,â you mutter, feeling a type of embarrassment you never do when usually sharing this space, probably with another explorer, usually in some death defying situation.Â
You donât know how this perfectly safe encounter makes you more nervous than those. In those situations, you donât have time to be embarrassed by how heavy your weight is on the other person, how it's been 2 days since your last showerâŠ. How your breath must smell.
âEstas bienâ she lets out, softly, and those two words calm you more than a half a bar of phone signal after days of trekking in the Atlas Mountains ever could. One of her arms envelopes your shoulder and your head settles onto her chest. âLo siento my arm is in the wayâŠâ
âEstas bien.â you reply, softly.
Alexia has never been more comfortable in her entire life. The warmth of your body weighs on hers, the smell of you infiltrating her senses, the stars above and the gentle sway of the hammock.
Sleep is already dragging her as you whisper, âbuenas noches que duermas bien aleâ.Â
â-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alexia wakes to the feeling of movement on her chest. Before she opens her eyes she takes stock of her body. Her arms now fully wrapped around you. Hands tangled in your hair. You burrowed into her chest. She is warm.
She is happy.
She knows you're awake. But there's no springing apart in embarrassment. God no. She's not ashamed. She wants this moment to last forever.
But it canât.
You groan in her arms as you both hear Mario clanking pans to start breakfast. You pop your head up like a meerkat to take note of the surroundings. It's early. Dew still in the grass and an early morning fog over the lake. The light is dim, the sun not yet as awake as the occupants of your hammock.
âMorning Aleâ you croak, morning voice in full effect. You finally turn to her and your breath is nearly taken away by her beauty. Her face is open, hair bedridden and eyes bleary from sleep but smile tugging on her lips as she looks at you with that look.
âCĂłmo estĂĄs aĂșn mĂĄs hermosa por la mañana?â she asks, in a whisper trying not to break the silence of the morning, it just comes out of her mouth without thinking, and she canât stop it.
You freeze in her arms, and for a moment she tenses.
â...pardon?â you ask. Ale covers herself, âAh lo siento, I asked. Did you sleep well?â you hum in acknowledgement and she isnât sure what to make of the look that you sent her way.
âYes, very well thank you. At least youâre softer than the floor.â you joke, eyebrow arched.
âI am not soft!â she replies, affronted, âI am all muscle actually!â She sits up and begins to tense her biceps jokingly. This is the Ale that frightens you the most. Frightens you how deep your feelings will run. All jokes and soft edges and smiles. You need a moment.
âAlright alright superwoman. Go put the kettle on, will you? Iâm going to jump in the lake to wash off before your girls wake up.â and with that you lean out of the hammock and pull your shirt off as you go, leaving you in a sports bra and Alexia with her mouth hanging open.
Which is why, not 6 minutes later, Ona is awoken to the sound of her tent unzipping.
âLuciaâ she hears whisper-yelling, into the entrance of the tent. She freezes, sleep-addled mind confused⊠is that⊠Alexia?
âLucia!â more urgent this time. Ona rolls away from her girlfriend and sees Alexia's head popped through the tent. Looking around urgently.
âWhat do you want, Ale?â Ona groans. Her girlfriend is dead to the world, an atomic bomb wouldnât wake her up.
âI need Lucia!â
âWhat for. What has happened⊠it must be⊠6am?â Ona grabs for her watch, confirming her suspicions.Â
âSi, pero eso no importa, I need Lucia to translate for me.â
âYou speak better English than she does Spanish.â One is very very confused. âWhat needs translating?â
âI do not need English, I need British.â Ah. This is making sense now, The whole team had seen how love sick their capi had been over the mountain boss. It was unnerving for them, but all of them wish nothing but happiness for their well respected leader, still, itâs always fun to tease.
âAh, mi Capi. This has something to do with the jefe de montana, si?â a teasing smile enters her face, âpor favor, tell me, what's happened?â
Alexia looks frustrated, looking at something outside of the tent, but seems to accept her fate as she lets herself fall into the tent, practically on top of Ona, whilst holding a⊠kettle?
âShe asked me to put the kettle on. But Ona, I donât know what Iâm putting it on! Is it a special kettle? it doesn't do anything, look!â and with that the young defender gets a metal kettle thrust into her face as though it's a rubix cube that she has 30 seconds to solve
Her captain looks at her so urgently it would be sad if it wasnât so hilarious. Ona canât help herself as she bursts out laughing. All this does is further aggravate her captain.
âOh, olvĂdalo, idiota, voy a despertar a Kiera.â
âNo, No, No, lo siento mi Capi. You forget, I lived in England for years. She means for you to go boil the kettle. For hot drinks.â
Alexia looks at her dumbfounded, âthen why didnât she just say that!â
âI knowâ Ona looks at her with faux sympathy, as she passes the kettle back to her she looks so determined to complete the little task she's been set that offers her a lifeline.
âCapi, wait.â Alexia turns to look at her expectantly, âI have⊠experience? With the English.â her eyes dart to the lump that is Lucy sleeping beside her. Well Alexia canât argue that.
âMake her a Tea. Just trust me.â Ona continues, sagely, as though she had just passed on the wisdom of the universe.
Alexia looks at her, about to question untilâŠ
âTea? Someone's making tea?â Lucy grumbles, rolling over into Ona, seemingly awoken from her deep slumber like a dog who's just heard someone mention a walk.
Alexia doesnât have time to open her mouth when she hears from the next tent over where she saw Keira set up last night, a thick english accent,
âEy wait, Is someone brewing up?â
â-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Itâs half an hour later and, with intervention from Lucy when Alexia tried to rip open a tea bag into your cup, that you have a warm enamel mug shoved into your hands. Alexia looked at you as though she had just handed you a pot of gold, all shining eyes and happy smile.
You feel much fresher after your early morning dip, trail shorts and vest back on and in two loose plaits that fall down over your shoulders. You look at the mug curiously, before you take a heavenly sniff of the liquid inside.
You thank the blonde, bashfully, and canât help but place a grateful kiss on her cheek as you move past her. You pretend that your lips arenât on fire from the contact. For her sake you also pretend that you didnât see her stumble over a non-existent log at your action.
What you do miss though, is Ona sending her a wink, and the smug âi-told-you-so.â look at her face as she leans against her own girlfriend, who is happily drinking from her own mug.
You finish helping Mario make sure that all the girls are fed for the day before you stand in the middle of them and clap to gain their attention.
âAlright ladies! I hope you all slept well,- â a mumble of affirmation goes through the group,
âI think Ingrid did not sleep so well.â Pina shouts across the group, âSi,â Parti joins in, âDid you see a bear Ingrid? Just I heard you screa-â
A rock is then thrown at Patris head, âouch!â and you turn to see was directed by Mapi, Ingrid's face in a deep blush. The girls all burst into laughter.
God you were going to miss this group.
âOk, Ok, Ladies calm it down. So, we have a choice today. Last full day on the hike⊠if you want it to be.â a curious mumble goes through the group. âSi, so, when we plotted this route someoneâŠâ you eye your partner âfailed to mention that you are all literal athletes, so, weâre actually ahead of schedule, Iâve spoken to the bus company and if you want to then we can actually make it to the rendezvous spot today. It gives you a day back in Barcelona to yourselves before you start back at your trainiâŠ.â
âNo!â youâre interrupted as the group turns to Alexia who looks as though youâve just asked her to never kick a ball again.
She takes a moment and realises that she's on her feet in front of the group, half of which are looking at her as though she's lost her mind, and the other half are looking at her with wry grins like they know exactly what's going on.Â
âI mean, we should not. We need to bond. As a team. Si?â she asks the group âThat is why we are here, and we should do that. Yes.â She looks at her teammates determinedly, nodding, as though daring anyone to question her.Â
âBut, Ale, you said that you hateââ, you see why Alexia is the best football player on the planet as you witness the speed in which she moves over to Jana and covers her entire face with her hand, stopping her words.
âNo Jana, shhh pequeño. You look unwell. Are you feeling okay?â All Jana can do is nod under her giant hand as Mapi sniggers behind hers.
Okay, maybe you wouldnât miss this group too much. They can be a bit weird. But you pretend that you donât put more enthusiasm into your next sentence.
âOr, we can take the long way round to the rendezvous point, weâll get some great views of the lake from that ridge over thereâ you point upwards and 23 eyes follow your movement, âset up camp for one more night, me and Mario can set up a Bonfire for our last night, yes?â he nods, âand then back to the bus in the morning if we would prefer?â
âSi, That we would prefer!â Alexia answers for the whole group, though the enthusiastic nods behind her assure you that they agree with her.
âOkay then, let's pack up campers, we'll have some elevation gains today!â you smile, clapping your hands together and a groan settles through the group as you move to pack up the breakfast items you hear Mapi and Alexia talking,
âTodos estamos haciendo esto por ti y por tu capitĂĄn de vida amorosa, recuĂ©rdalo el dĂa del entrenamiento en circuito.â
Alexia responds in a tone you haven't heard from her before, âLo sĂ©, gracias Mapi. Simplemente no estoy listo para decir adiĂłs todavĂa, ella es especialâ she looks direct at you as she responds, no attempt to hide her spanish words, and the intensity of her gaze makes you look away.
â--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All you wanted to do was a repeat of yesterday, hang at the back of the group and walk with Alexia. Maybe let your hand brush against hers a few times more than necessary and learn all about her life in Barca.
But, you were the best guide on this side of Europe for a reason. And you think Mario would push you off the mountain if you left him to do it again, even if he tells you he wouldnât, you still felt bad about yesterday.Â
So today, you found yourself at the front of the group. Weirdly, Alexia by your side with a few of the older girls, as well as Jana and Vicky who were hanging off Alexia's every word. It was cute, watching her with them.
Whatever fatigue she was suffering from yesterday which slowed her down so much seemed to have lifted, as her strong legs carried her with the rest of the group upwards. The elevation not bothering any of the women.
You were just hanging back with Mapi and Ingrid for a moment. Mapis backpack was bothering her, probably on account of her trying to carry all of Ingrids kit, you were teasing her as you helped to re-adjust the weight as Mapi was grumbling about how she definitely was strong enough to carry two sleeping bags, a tent as well as two sets of clothing whilst Ingrid was literally carrying a pillow, when the hair on the back of your neck stood up.
Something didnât feel right, you looked up and could still see the front of the group, Alexia and Vicky chatting, going off Aleixas hand movements there was some deep football discussion going on.
You take stock of everything around you. In order to be in your line of work you needed to be aware of all of your senses, if one failed, another would pick it up, a smell in the air brought your attention and you turned to see droppings just off the trail. A large amount of droppings, and, oh no, green. You turned again and saw a tree bark torn up further away from the trail.
Fuck.
Bear droppings are green and quickly turn black as they oxidise, bears tear up trees and rocks as they pass through an area. These droppings were fresh, very fresh.
That, tied with your fantastic intuition, made you nervous.
The group had continued onward as you took stock and Alexia and Vicky had turned a corner just up the trail. You quickly help Mapi back into her backpack and move through the group quickly, making your way to the front.
âDetener!â you shout, wanting Alexia and Vicky in your sights. You turn the corner and your shout has caught their attention as they are both frozen, looking at you expectantly.
What they fail to notice, however, is a bear on the trail in front of them, not 20 metres away.
Itâs a young bear, that you can tell, which is good because of its size, but the worst possible situation because young bears, like humans, are stupid.Â
They are curious, they donât see you as a threat, but if there is a bear this young here, there will be a mother bear somewhere around which you definitely do not want to be on the wrong side of.
You need to separate your group from this bear as quickly as possible. But without freaking them out.
âAlexia, walk towards me.â you instruct, seriously, arm out reaching towards the two girls, whilst you hold your other arm out behind you. Stopping the rest of the group before they can move forwards.
âWhatâs the matteâ oh meirdaâŠâ Alexia has turned and seen what's on the path in front of her. Her back immediately straightens and grabs Vicky to pull her behind her. You hate the quick movement that they make as you inwardly cringe at their actions.
âAlexia, stay calm.â you slowly move towards them, âdo not make any quick movements.â you donât receive any sort of affirmation as both girls seem to be frozen in place.
âNo te muevas rĂĄpidamente, no corras. Caminar hacia atrĂĄs lentamenteâ your use of spanish seems to get through the fear as you see Alexias feet start to scramble backwards, pushing Vicky behind her, who remains shielded behind her back.
You move forwards, slowly, arms still raised and as soon as in touching distance, pull Alexia behind your back. You canât see her face as you refuse to move your eyes from the threat in front of you, but you can feel the terror running through her body.
Meanwhile, the bear is having a great old time, sniffing around and pawing at the ground. Heâs stopped on the trail and is looking at you, curiously, as he starts to move towards you, you hear a yelp of terror from one of the girls behind you.
Usually, you know, to make yourself big and back up as slowly as possible, but youâre in a group of 23 novice hikers, and you knew you had to get this threat away as quickly as possible.
So instead, you make yourself big, you raise your arms in the air and start to move forward. You feel a tug on the back of your shirt and a frightened whimper from the tall blonde who seems to have grasped onto your shirt.
You take a big stride forwards as you move a hand back to untangle Alexia's grasp from your shirt.
âOYE, OSO. LO SIENTO AMIGO, TINES QUE MOVERTE!â you continue to move forward and wave your hands around. The bear cocks his head at you, curiously, youâre still moving closer and an alarm is going off in your mind, heâs gotta start moving or youâre going to be too close for comfortâŠ
âSEGUIR. IRSEâ you clap your hands together sharply, and that seems to frighten the curiosity from the young bear, who quickly scurries off the path and deep into the bush on your right hand side.Â
The silence of the moment is suffocating. You take a moment and breathe some deep breaths. Filling your lungs and slowly releasing it. Once you feel your heartbeat settle down you turn on your heel and open your eyes to face the group behind you.
There, you are faced with 23 shell shocked faces. Mouths comically dropped as they all stare at you in awe.
The silence is interrupted as Mario catches up to the group, singing under his breath, you see his head pop up from the back of the group and an innocent smile on his face, âHey chicas? What did I miss?â
â------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Â
â...And then El jefe de la montaña practically tackled this enormous bear that was virtually salivating at the thought of eating Ales pert butt as a light snack!â
Mapi dramatically, and incorrectly recites her version of events for what feels like the 5th time for the rest of the group who were hanging back with Mario during the excitement of the day.
The whole group sat together at the bonfire that you and Mario had erected, youâd gone the whole hog and dragged logs over to create a circle around the fire. Youâd cracked out the marshmallows youâd been hiding deep in your backpack and you and the girls had had an evening of jokes, stories and, after Matio whipped his ukulele out again, songs.Â
Youâre sitting with Ingrid and you miss the warmth at your side that had been present over the last two days. Alexia is sat with Vicky, and, whilst sheâs been nothing but pleasant to you since the incident this afternoon, you feel like a barrier has come up between you.
You try to not overthink the situation, who are you anyway? She's Alexia Putellas, and, over the last 3 days you've learnt that that's a big deal. Of course she isnât interested in you. God. You need to be a professional. You try to stay in the moment and stop your mind from running away. You feel the heat from the fire on your face as you close your eyes.
â... and how did you learn to do that?â you hear, and as Ingrid nudges your side, you realise Mapis question was aimed at you.
You open your eyes and see the attention of the group on you. There may be an entire football team's eyes on you but you canât help but zone in on a certain set of hazel eyes which bore directly into your soul.
âI told you, Iâve been on the wrong end of a bear in my time.â you try to joke, pointing at the scar again running down your leg, and you get a few chuckles, but you note, Alexia's face remains stoic, and her frown deepens at your words.
âWhat happened?â Vicky asks, next to her. She receives a light slap to the head from her captain, âAye, donât be rude pequeño.â
âI donât mind Ale.â you say, heart warming at Alexias protectiveness, âwell, little football superstarâ you address Vicky, âI was on a 6 month trek through the Andeas, we wanted to see if we could find any further remains from the Incas. We did by the way. Anyway, I was young, and stupid and we hadnât stored our food safely, which, youâll note, me and Mario have done today.â you reach across and give your partner a fist bump, âa mother bear wandered into our camp whilst I was alone. I was an idiot and got between her and an open packet of cheetos.â
âCheetos!â Vicky asks, incredulously.
âYes! Turns out they love those cheesy snacksâ you wink at her, âshe attacked and luckily, my camp leader was just coming back and managed to deploy his bear spray just as she managed to take a good swipe at my calf. I was lucky. But it wasnât her fault. I was in her land and didnât protect myself properly.â
Vicky waxes lyrical about your story for a while, asking you a million and one questions. The conversation across the campfire moves onto the upcoming season for the team as you and Mario start to set camp up for the night around them.
âHey, Al, Me and Ing are heading to bed, I promise weâll behave tonight, but I canât promise I wonât cuddle you.â you hear Mapi address to Alexia,
âGreat, look forward to itâ Alexia replied sarcastically. Mapis retreat to bed seems to have set off a chain reaction amongst the team who all start to say their goodnights.
You canât pretend that you arenât upset that you wonât have a repeat of last night in your hammock. The sadness swirls in your stomach, but you remind yourself that the whole thing seemed to be a fantasy youâd made up in your mind.Â
You look up to the sky and with your head torch can see that it seems to have darkened somewhat. You move away from camp and string a rope above your hammock, you throw over a tarpaulin which covers your hammock and protects you from any rain.
As you move back to the fire you decide youâll wait it out instead of throwing water on to drown the fire. You have some excess energy from the excitement of the day and you know youâll just lie awake in your hammock anyway. As Mario squeezes your shoulder in goodnight you notice that Alexia seems to be hanging around the edge of the circle.Â
âNight Ale.â you say, kindly. Itâs not her fault you have a massive unrequited crush on her.
You donât know her well but she seemsâŠnervous? Hands playing with themselves and feet unable to stay still.
âNig⊠actually⊠Can we talk?â she asks, chin turning upwards and vulnerability showing on her face.
You nod and you are surprised when she sits next to you and asks, âwhy do you still do it?â
You look at her, curiously, she is so beautiful. Sharp angles of her face illuminated by the dying embers, perfect lips, the arch of her nose. She takes your breath away. You have a question in your eyes.
âThis. As a job. You got hurtâŠâ her hand moves, and god it's only been a few hours but you feel like youâve been touch starved for years, as she lightly traces the scar on your calf. Leaving behind a wake of goosebumps. âYouâre so braveâŠâ
Maybe it's her touch that makes gives you the confidence but you dont think before you reply,
âI could ask you the same thing.â She has a question in her eyes now, so you repeat her action, hand moving to touch her knee where you can see the surgery scars that pull tight against her skin.
You feel her take in a breath and you think you may have overstepped until she takes your hand in her large one, keeping your hand resting on her knee.
You look into the fire as you continue; âI love my job. I canât imagine my life without it. It gives me air in my lungs. It's my reason to live. And yeah. I got hurt. I've been hurt before and Iâll be hurt again.â Alexia squeezes your hand at that, âbut that's why we do what we love, isnât it? Youâre so brave every time you step out onto a pitch againâ you direct your question to her, âwe learn from our mistakes, come back stronger from our injuries, not just in our skills but as people? No?âÂ
There's that look again, those open eyes, that expression you canât place.
âFootball is the same for you Ale. I can tell. When you talk about it. Think of that feeling you get. That's why I carry on. I love it, and it wasnât that bears fault I got hurt, It was mine. Just as it wasnât the rocks fault as I slipped 200 feet down Mt Kilimanjaro. Theyâre all lessons on how to adapt, on how to come back stronger.â
She nods, a look of understanding in her eyes and turns her gaze towards the fire. But doesnât let go of your hand.Â
You don't know what Alexia is thinking. You don't know that she feels like every word out of your mouth feels like you've plucked it straight from her heart. You're deep. She feels like finally someone gets her.
âYou spoke Spanish today.â she lets out into the silence.
Ah, you think, she hadnât missed it like you thought that she may have done in the heat of the moment. And, as usual, you try to break the tension with a joke.
âHe was a Spanish bear. I wanted him to understand me.â
Alexia doesn't laugh but instead turns to you again, âI feel stupid.âÂ
There's that vulnerability again.
âNo. Never feel stupid Alexia, you are the most intelligent person I have ever met.â you reply, instantly, and turn your body to hers,
âYou didnât tell me that you spoke spanish⊠everything I have saidâŠâ
âI meant to! Honestly I did, I mean I told you I lived in Peru for two years.â she raises her eyebrow at you⊠âAle they speak Spanish in Peru.â âOh.â
Her eyes drop down to the floor and you canât physically allow that look of sadness to sit on her face for a moment longer.
âI think youâre more beautiful in the mornings too.â you whisper, the only noise around you the crackling of the drying embers around you.
Alexia looks up at this, eyes somewhat, hopeful? And it's that look that gives you the belief that maybe maybe she feels the same way?
âSi? Even though you made me smell like garlic?â she asks, before the syllable is even out of her mouth you reply. âSi, tan hermoso. Aunque tal vez sea mĂĄs hermoso ahora con la luz del fuego.â
You stood in front of a bear today.
But the scariest moment of your day is as you move your head towards hers, slowly, more frightened of this rejection than any wild animal.
You look deeply into her eyes and the permission you seek is gained there, she gives you a small nod as she closes the distance between you both. Her lips finally meet yours in a gentle and sweet kiss.
It's like fireworks have gone off in your stomach.Â
Your mouth tingles where it presses against hers, your lips softly encase her lower lip and you hear her squeak of satisfaction which is the cutest fucking thing you have ever heard in your life.
You kiss as though you have all the time in the world. It is gentle and slow. Until it is not. And then you kiss like a pair of horny teenagers as it deepens and you groan into her mouth as her tongue seeks permission in yours.
You would have continued all night had mother nature not intervened.Â
Youâre good with your senses and you hear the fizz of the fire going out before you feel the drops of rain on your skin. You pause your movements and look deep into Alexia's eyes.
âY hueles deliciosaâ you whisper, enjoying the way her eyes crinkle as you make her laugh.
âWill you sleep with me?â you ask, her eyes widen in panic at your question and it takes your lust-addled brain a moment to catch up, âwait. No! No Lo siento, no soy un asqueroso! I mean. Will you stay with me tonight in my hammock? No funny business, I promise!â.Â
Your hands move off the taller girls hips where they seem to have found themselves as she settled onto your lap, and you hold them high in surrender.
Alexia saw you face a bear today.
And the look on your face now is more panicked than it was then.Â
She smiles at you, god she has it bad she thinks.
âSi, I will, and⊠maybe some funny business?â
Youâre lucky that your bark of laughter doesnât wake up any of your campmates.
Content that the rain which is now falling more heavily will take care of the fire, you rush the blonde to your hammock, lifting the tarpaulin above her head so she could duck down and she settles herself into the material like a seasoned pro.
You open up your sleeping bag and turn it into a blanket which will cover you both as she opens up her arms and you settle into them. Itâs pitch black in the tent and you feel as though your other senses are working to make up for it. The rain patters against the plastic sheet above you and you enjoy the sound as you enjoy the warmth beneath you, the hammock still swaying gently.
You shuffle in the blondes hold, moving so that you can lie stomach to stomach. Your face close to hers, you exchange gentle kisses and enjoy the feeling of her hands on your back as you gently scratch against her scalp.
Your head on her chest as sleep starts to take you, still enjoying the heat of her body and the ministrations of her hands which have moved beneath your t-shirt.
âMaybe the outdoors isnât so bad.â you hear her whisper as sleep takes hold.Â
â----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Life is funny sometimes.
You think to yourself.
You think about how you got here.
Not 24 hours ago stood in Arles, a minibus packed with footballers in front of you, and, in most cases, gawking at you, faces pushed against the windows, comically, as Ingrid moved through the inside of the bus, slapping heads and pulling them back into their seats.
Youâd held Alexia's hands. Youâd followed her lead this morning and since you both woke up and made breakfast at the campfire, she hadnât stopped being affectionate, seemingly, no hint of hiding her affections from her teammates.
Sheâd hung behind with you and helped you pack up camp, as you both spent what you thought potentially was your last morning together.
It was light, you both had laughed easily and teased each other relentlessly.
Until that moment, when reality struck. You, due to fly back home to England in a few hours, and Alexia, about to board a bus which would take her miles away from you.
Youâd already scribbled your number onto a trail mix wrapper and secured it into her hand. She had promised to message as soon as she could and you had promised to keep in touch, trying to keep the tears that teased your eyes at bay as you settled your face into her warm palm.Â
But it hadnât felt right.
It wasnât fair. It was too soon. This had felt too right.
So you hadnât been able to control yourself, as you faced her back as she boarded the bus when you asked; âHey, Ale?â sheâd turned and you knew you hadnât misplaced that look of hope in her eyes, âHave you ever been to an 82nd birthday party?â
The grin that overtook her face could only be matched by yours.
So here you now found yourself. Standing in your nanâs garden under a gazebo as the English rain lightly drizzled, only 2 hours fashionably late for the event you actually arrived back in England for 4 days ago.
As your brother had opened the door earlier, you laughed at the shock on his face when he took Alexia in. All blonde, lean and mediterranean and very out of place in the middle of the drizzle of the English lake district.
Your whole extended family had popped up behind your brother, smiles and coy grins on their faces. Your mum broke the stunned silence at your arrival, more specifically, at the blonde by your side.
âIâll put the kettle on.â
Alexia's face broke out into a huge grin that literally warmed your heart.
âI know how to do that!ïżœïżœ she had replied, excitedly, her spanish accent thick.
Well, maybe not that out of place.
fin. Â
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Does any of you have an idea how to found a school trip to London (abroad)? Like organisations that do that, companies that could help, anything legal.
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