Page 45 of Always

James wore a backpack like Anika’s, presumably likewise stocked with water bottles and few light snacks. Gwen had her camera bag.

Gwen was showing James the new lens she had bought as Marco and Anika walked up. Blaine was watching them sourly. Though he had won the battle for Gwen’s heart—for the moment at least—he obviously hadn’t forgiven James for the dual offenses of being handsome and interesting, and two hours in the car together had apparently failed to endear them any further.

Gwen introduced Marco and Blaine.

“Oh yes, Blaine!” Marco said, shaking hands. “I’ve heard all about you.”

“Really?” Blaine said hopefully.

“Of course!” Marco said.

Anika couldn’t imagine this to be true in the slightest, but it seemed to cheer Blaine up.

“Ready to go?” Hannah said to them all.

Gwen set her Apple Watch so they could track their distance and elevation. Both Gwen and Anika had made this hike before on separate occasions, but it was new to the others.

They set off up the first part of the trail, which was only moderately inclined and paved for the first mile or so.

“Feels good to be out in the fresh air!” Blaine said.

Marco had told Anika he’d been making use of the treadmill in his new apartment building so he wouldn’t be as tired on their next run, and he did indeed seem to have a good amount of energy as they headed up the trail. Gwen, an experienced hiker, led the pack, and Hannah, who did the majority of her Facebooking, Instagramming, and Redditing on the stairclimber, seemed to have no trouble at all trotting up the mountainside. Anika and James seemed to fall into the same complimentary long-legged stride, and for this portion they walked in companionable silence while Gwen showed Marco some of the native plants he might not be familiar with, with Blaine puffing along behind them.

“It’s a bit steep!” Blaine said as they entered the second mile.

Gwen laughed, and Hannah said scornfully, “We haven’t even started the real hike yet! This is just the paved bit. Look, we’re coming to the stone steps.”

The next portion was a series of rock slabs, not as regular as a real staircase, but allowing for a much steeper ascent up the mountainside.

“Oh...perfect,” Blaine said weakly, eyeing the apparently endless rise of rock ahead of him.

“Want a little water before we start?” James asked kindly, pulling a bottle from his bag.

“I’m fine,” Blaine said stubbornly. He doubtless regretted it a few minutes later. This part of the trail had very little cover, and they were all sweating as they clambered upwards.

Marco seemed determined to impress Anika this time around. He matched her pace doggedly all the way to the top of the steps, where they all paused to catch their breath.

“How many times have you done this hike?” he asked her, clutching his side.

“This is my fourth time,” Anika said. “It’s one of my favorites. There’s a lake right at the top. I love a hike that has a destination at the end. A real pay-off, besides a view.”

Hannah, who was in a silly mood, wanted Gwen to take a photo of her and James sprinting down the trail so she could photoshop in a bear behind them when she posted it later. James agreed to pose for a picture with her, but he wasn’t putting in the dramatic effort Hannah wanted, so she ended up taking that particular shot on her own.

“Look,” James said quietly to Anika, “an owl.”

He pointed upward to a half-dead pine tree. Way up near the top, a small brown owl was nestled up close to the trunk, asleep on its branch.

“How did you see that?” Anika asked in wonder. “It’s the same color as the bark.”

“What are you looking at?” Marco asked, stepping between them.

“There’s an owl,” Anika said, pointing up.

“You a bird watcher?” Marco asked James.

“No,” James said, “I just know Anika likes owls.”

James walked away to rejoin Hannah and Gwen. Marco looked after him with an irritated expression. Sensing that he might have an ally, Blaine walked alongside Marco for the next portion of the hike, trying to engage him in chat about authentic pizza. Since Marco was trying to stick as close as possible to Anika, he soon shook Blaine off, leaving him to doggedly plod after Gwen again.

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