Page 59 of Guarded Love

She's right. Even through the tinted glass, the sky is a different kind of blue. The best way I can describe it is that it’s deeper and more intense. It’s absolutely stunning.

The shuttle fills up quickly. I spot Tyler coming aboard, looking much more awake than he did the last time I saw him. Still, he drops into a seat near the front, immediately leaning his head against the window. Poor guy.

Just as I'm thinking I might have escaped further awkwardness for the day, Blaise steps onto the shuttle. Because of course he does. Because the universe isn't done testing me yet.

He has a few choices about where he can sit, but he chooses the one directly across the aisle from me. Our eyes meet brieflybefore he looks away. I, in turn, force myself to stare out the window, pretending to be fascinated by the airport parking lot.

Someone at the front of the bus clears their throat and I look over to find Professor Wallace standing there. "Welcome, Group B! Our ride to the hotel should take about thirty minutes, depending on traffic. Once we arrive, you'll receive your room keys and have a couple of hours to freshen up before our welcome dinner at a local restaurant."

Two hours. One hundred and twenty minutes to shower, change, and try to become a functioning human being again. It doesn't seem like enough, but I guess it will have to do.

As the shuttle pulls away from the airport, I make sure to focus on the scenery outside of my window versus the man who decided to sit across from me. It feels like we’ve barely left the airport before I’m able to really pinpoint how much Puerto Rico differs from Virginia. The buildings aren’t super tall, but they’re bright and include many colors like peach, turquoise, and yellow. Some look freshly renovated, others are cracked and worn, but they still look very much a part of the same community. There’s a bakery on one corner, a hardware store on the next, and a wall covered in a mural I only catch part of. It might have had waves and birds, but I blinked and it was gone.

"It's like a beautiful postcard, but better," Madison whispers beside me, her breath slightly fogging the window as she leans closer to get a better look at all of the sights.

"Exactly," I whisper before I’m hit with a thought. Why the hell am I not taking photos of what I’m seeing? I pull out my phone and start snapping photographs through the window. The colors, the buildings, the palm trees lining some of the streets. It all feels surreal after leaving the gray winter of Virginia behind just hours ago.

"You should put those on your socials," Madison suggests as she glances at my screen as I swipe through what I captured.

"I will and send them to my mom and Abue," I reply, snapping a few more.

The shuttle winds through the city, eventually turning onto a road that hugs the coastline. It takes another few minutes before the shuttle slows and turns onto a palm-lined driveway, and I quickly figure out we’ve arrived at the place we’ll be staying for the week.

"This is really nice," Madison whispers as our driver parks the shuttle.

Professor Wallace stands and I know it’s time for us to get more instructions. "We've arrived! Please collect your belongings and head to the reception area. Professor Moore will meet you there and will hand you your hotel keys."

Once we do what Professor Wallace says, I follow Madison toward the reception area, a breezy space with ceiling fans spinning lazily overhead and potted plants in every corner.

After a brief check-in process, I'm handed a key card with "Room 212" written on the paper sleeve.

"Looks like we're on the second floor," Madison says, flashing me her identical key. "Want to head up?"

I nod and start walking before I can say a word. We quickly find out that the hotel is arranged in a horseshoe shape around a central courtyard filled with plants and a small pool. Our room is on the second floor, accessible via an open-air walkway that overlooks the courtyard. When Madison unlocks the door, I'm happy at what we find.

The room is simple but beautiful. Two queen beds with crisp white linens, wooden furniture, and large windows that let in plenty of natural light. There's a small balcony with two chairs overlooking the ocean in the distance.

"Dibs on the bed by the window," Madison says, but I get the vibe that she'd switch with me if I asked.

"Take it," I reply, dropping my suitcase beside the other bed. "I prefer being closer to the bathroom anyway."

Speaking of which, the bathroom is small but clean, with a walk-in shower and toiletries lined up on a shelf. I’m already mentally preparing for how luxurious this shower is going to feel.

Madison flops onto her bed with a dramatic sigh. "I can't believe we're actually here."

"I know. It doesn’t feel real yet," I say, unzipping my suitcase. It sticks for a moment before giving way. "I might unpack before I shower." And text Mom and Abue. Can’t forget to do that.

"That's a good idea." Madison is already pulling clothes from her pink bag.

As I remove my folded clothes, I find myself categorizing: tops in one pile, bottoms in another, undergarments tucked away in the drawer. I’m doing my best to remain as organized as possible because I’m sharing a room with another person. If I wasn’t? Clothes would be thrown all over the bed Madison has claimed as hers for the duration of this trip.

Madison tells me about her classes last semester, her family that lives out in Texas, how she's never been this far east before let alone to a Caribbean island. I make the appropriate noises at what seem like the right moments and that's enough to get Madison to think I'm fully invested.

"You're really organized," she comments, watching me arrange my toiletries on my side of the bathroom counter.

"I’m only doing it because we are sharing a room," I say, lining up my face wash, toner, and moisturizer. "My brain is full of chaos and my stuff usually is, but I don’t want to be rude to you."

"That's really nice of you. Thanks," Madison says as she unzips a pink makeup bag covered in purple stars. "I have fourolder brothers, so I’m used to…things being messy for lack of a better word."

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