- - oh simple thing , lara

[Grace Helen Hepburn]

- - i came across a fallen tree

I FELT THE BRANCHES OF IT LOOKING AT ME
is this the place that i've been dreaming of
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It wasn’t often that Grace planned her days well in advance. Something of a ‘free spirit’ she was much more inclined to make those spur of the moment, rash decisions that usually accumulated into plans that ended in complication rather than success. There was nothing, however, that cured that impulsive nature than regular meetings, and so earlier in the morning as she’d woke, it was with a clear confidence as to what it was that needed to be done. In an act of social independence, the woman was immediately gifted with the sense that however the day turned out, in some way it would always be down to her. It was a responsibility that had begun to unnerve her, someone who was usually dependant on others when it came to planning, yet to wake to such a day as this washed away any impending sense of doom in favour of a burst of positivity. True, it was like cooler than the light and sunshine fuelled morning would like anyone to believe, but with no indication of a grey overcast nor of promised rainfall, Grace could only see the day leading to one final destination- perfection. It was the forecast, handily displayed with the morning news bulletin that secured a brighter day for Walten, including it’s more isolated outskirts. Walten was her home now; she made no argument to that. Los Angeles was sunny and fashionable and only ever gaining more importance as one of America’s central hubs of activity, and whilst Grace loved all of that, moving away from a city that never slept and coming to the smaller Walten had been nothing but a breathe of fresh air. It was often that people asked the L.A blonde if she missed the vitality of her ‘home’, and it was with honestly she replied no. Business was good for some, but it was a lifestyle that Grace had found isolated her from those who completely immersed themselves in a lifestyle that held no room for just standing still. Impulsive and perhaps silly as she was, the twenty two year old admired the slower kind of lifestyle that called for walking through parks undisturbed and driving a short while away to just stroll through the local woodlands. L.A? It just didn’t welcome that sort of lifestyle that appealed to nature. The parks of Los Angeles had joggers who sized up the strikingly tall blonde, and the closet local woods were the Hollywood hills. As much as Grace loved a nature walk, she had never once signed up for a hike.

Glancing casually at the lit screen of phone, the other hand clasping a feather soft towel around her body, at 10am, Grace gave her an understandable time limit of half hour before she set off out the door. As a means to alert her friend, the woman tapped in a quick text with the promise to pick up within the later part of the hour, ending with a regulatory ‘x’ among friends before tossing the device onto her sheets when sent. Instinctively when her hair was freshly dried, she shook the golden mane at its roots as she wandered over to her closet, pulling open its doors and bypassing the array of flats and heels before centring on a pair of boots. As lovely as the day was, Grace doubted it would be practical to totter about in heels and a dress. Unlike last week, this wasn’t a trip to a spa, though ever since then Grace had felt even one of her bubble baths just couldn’t compare with a professional masseuses fingers, though even that wasn’t enough to make her scrap her much more earthly plans in favour of a bit of pampering. The overall look was decidedly casual in a way that didn’t draw much attention, yet somehow all round seemed much tailored none the less. Long ago had the taller woman begrudgingly admitted that her height would draw attention, no matter what she wore, and it was where she went that dictated how much attention she’d receive, rather than what she chose to model. Unless Walten had decided to host a spur of the moment annual picnic, or an infinite amount of tourists had cascaded upon the cabins, Grace was assured that the campgrounds and their surrounding woodlands would be inspiringly void of activity.

Pulling the zipper of the knee high boots in turn, with a final flourish, Grace stood, taking her trench and folding it over her arm. Now that she lived alone in the City, not even with the pretence of University, she was still getting use to leaving behind emptiness. Not that it seemed to affect Grace, who entered her car comfortably with a smile, starting the ignition and casting a look at her phone before moving off in first gear. What followed was a matter of timing. As much as Grace loved her friend, she was also aware that the term of fashionably late no doubt applied, and what better to lessen the blow of going into the middle of nowhere than a taste of home latte? Pulling off in the opposite direction to the route to the Ranaldi residence, Grace manoeuvred about the oncoming roads, pulling into a side street and quickly dashing towards the star bucks she was famed for visiting with Lara. There was no better luncheon than one starting with a latte and ending with a deliciously tempting chocolate fudge cake. All the while in the queue, the blonde checked her phone, the device in her hand checking the time until the point came wherein she gave her order. When the job was done her steps back to the car were quicker in pace, reflected in the subsequent haste of her putting the latte cups in the holders. Pulling off once again, this time her destination was final. As she pulled up at the side beside Lara’s residence in view, she felt eased that the other woman wasn’t tapping her foot in scolding for any kinds of lateness, and just to be safe Grace quickly sent a text announcing her own arrival. Eyes darted to the steaming lattes, the deal breaker in the blonde’s eyes. Lara was a woman who enjoyed spa dates and lunches in anywhere that offered luxury, asking her to go to a place on the opposite end of the scale was going to be a challenge. Fortunately friendship always won out in the end, though Grace presumed that same friendship may have waned if she’d told Lara there was likely no chance of a signal. Grimly aware of the situation should her friend find no such hold, Grace breathed deeply, assuring herself it was a white lie. The small kind that led to great things.

It had just slipped past 11 when the passenger door opened, and Grace greeted Lara warmly, gesturing towards the latte though hinting that she wouldn’t drink her own until she was out of the car. An easy flow of conversation, natural amongst two girlfriends, filled the car, with Grace occasionally glancing over when she didn’t have her eyes on the roads. Which, with keen driver’s awareness, she noticed was leading to far emptier surroundings and more natural landscapes. She doubted that Lara felt a rush of exhilaration, a kind of warmth at seeing the progression of a more natural setting, but Grace did. Nearing the campgrounds, Grace switched off the radio, feeling it somehow ruined the natural landscape, and as her car pushed along the gravel drive, she was thankful to the lack of cars in the parking area. Halting with the brake, easily she flicked off the engine, unbuckling her seatbelt and making a move to open her door. “Honestly, just think of it as nature’s spa. Fresh air can only do a world of good,” she assured, a trusting smile playing upon her lips before she exited resting her latte on the roof of the vehicle as she pulled her arms lightly through the trench. When Lara had left, Grace locked her car, knowing even in the middle of nowhere you could never count of a lack of theft, before walking round and beckoning with a gloved hand, “Here’s to the first of hopefully many nature walks?” she queried with a wry expression of uncertainty, mock toasting the latte in the air with a grin before walking off with Lara in the direction of the considerable forest that lay ahead.

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