"Alright, so we got the tent up, firewood in place, and the grill all set. You ladies go get ready; everyone else should be here in a few." AJ chirped excitedly. We had all only just met, but we were all having so much fun. Aaron and I agreed to join AJ and Jessi at their barbecue tonight. They had invited a few friends from town who were coming out to sit by the fire and hang out, so we figured it sounded like fun. The guys seemed to be manning the fire okay... or AJ was, and Aaron was trying to help, so I took his suggestion and ran toward the RV to get ready. This would be my third outfit today. I had to throw on flannel pajama bottoms and a tank top after my rendezvous and adventure in the water. I stared at my open suitcase, thumbing through outfits. I settled on a gorgeous purple dress with a knot in the center that made my cleavage look amazing. The best part was the dress wasn't really dressy, so I still fit in at a nighttime barbecue. I decided to dress it up a bit by wearing my freshwater pearls, and throwing my hair into a half bun. Loose strands circled my face. I looked pretty good. Admittedly, a small part of me wanted to take AJ's breath away. I sprayed on some perfume, my purple flip flops, and strutted back out of the RV. Good thing I had showered two hours ago. When I emerged, Aaron was the only one outside, and had a fire started. It looked incredible in the twilight of the evening. He stopped me from taking in the beautiful scenery with a low whistle.
"Honey, you look amazing," he said, impressed. "You realize we're camping, right?" he gave me a skeptical look.
"Yes, but they did say it was a party, silly!" I gave him a quick peck on the lips. He laughed and pulled me in for a deeper kiss, but was startled by the slamming of the screen door. Jessi was coming back outside, and didn't look half bad herself.
"Wow, you look great!" she said, coming over and slapping me playfully on the arm. She had done her hair, and had it braided back into a French braid. She was wearing a low cut blue top, and a denim skirt. I eyed Aaron as if to say 'ha ha'.
"So do you!" I said honestly, nodding in approval. "Blue is your color."
"I tell her that all the time, but she never listens," AJ said, emerging from the RV. "She just-" I noticed he was staring at me, frozen. He looked like someone had punched him in the ribs. Hard. Jessi and Aaron followed my gaze.
"Hey, man, I got the fire started!" Aaron called to him excitedly, rushing back toward his work.
"Hon, you okay?" Jessi asked, concerned.
"Uh- yeah... I just probably shouldn't have eaten that hot dog." He answered, still eyeing me.
"Oh, well then go take a peppermint from my purse." Jessi cooed. Somehow, this upset me. I sat down on one of the beach chairs the guys had placed around the fire. AJ went inside, presumably to grab a mint. Jessi came and sat next to me and we watched Aaron go to start putting burgers on the grill. "These friends that are coming always bring a ton of booze. Do you drink?"
"No, no I actually try not to, maybe one. Aaron does however." I smiled at her.
"Well, neither does AJ. But I do. So don't mind me if I pass out. I'm a sleepy drunk." She laughed.
"Yeah, so is Aaron. If they bring the right stuff, he'll be out like a log by midnight." We laughed and continued talking about her friends, what they were like. All I could think of is what would happen if Jessi and Aaron were passed out drunk.
Jessi and I were making a salad inside their RV. It was nice, and only a little older than ours. It had a nice flat screen TV, and an awesome stereo, which we had moved outside for the party. The guys had set up a table with chips, sodas, burgers, hot dogs and marshmallows. Jessi and I came outside with the salad.
"Looks good ladies," AJ said coming up behind us. We giggled. He leaned forward and breathed into my ear, barely audible. "Looks temptingly good." I shuddered a bit in spite of myself. I heard him chuckle.
"Sweetie, they're here!" Jessi called from a few yards away. A red SUV was making its way toward us. There had to be at least four people in there.
I was right. Three guys and a girl, a friend of Jessi's. A new round of introductions began. The girl's name was Sharon. The guys were Rob, Jason and Tony. Aaron and the guys made fast friends, as they had brought a poker set. Jessi and Sharon were chatting away. Which left me to eat. I nibbled at a marshmallow, warming myself by the fire.
"You said you have seen my face before- in your dreams." AJ said casually, sitting down next to me with a marshmallow.
"Yes, I have. But, it's kind of embarrassing," I mumbled, not wanting to tell him what kind of dreams these were.
"No, my love..." He looked over at everyone else, to make sure they weren't listening, then back to me. "You are not alone... I have seen you in my dreams as well. For years, I wondered who the mystery woman was that I dreamt about. And then we come here, and I find her..." He gently traced a soft finger against the curve of my face. "I never sleep without thinking that there is someone there...watching. I feel the softness of her touch as she holds me and gently lures me into dream. A sense of safety befalls me, and once again a whole other life emerges. Yes, it is here that we can become one with the angels. It is here that I am complete." He whispered softly, eyes locked on mine.
I trembled, and held the arm of my beach chair for support. "That's beautiful," I breathed. It had been years since I had heard a man recite poetry, and I loved it. He was reminding me more and more if the man from my dreams- him. "Who wrote that?"
He grinned. "No one. I just thought of it when I looked at you." He gazed at me with sparkling eyes.
"Just now?" I stammered. "What are you?"
"I am just a man," he raised an eyebrow. "A man that happens to have a huge ego, and considers himself a bit of an intellectual." He grinned at me shyly.
"Oh, so you're naturally this witty?" I laughed softly, placing a hand on his arm.
