"Finally" Riley plopped down on the comfy mattress inside their campervan. The van was also an old model but with modern facilities like an AC and a small internal shower. A kitchen gas hob with two burners, an oven, and a kettle was also in the kitchen cabinet. A small refrigerator was also placed beside the cabinet.
"Cool" Shirley looked around and said. While Larra was still questioning her appearance and sexuality in the driving seat. Don't know how she avoids any accidents!
"You want?" Shirley extended the choco cookies she brought.
"Huh?"
"Gosh, Larra. Are you out of mind? Leave it already " Shirley said in disbelief. Larra spared a glance towards her and took a bit of the cookies.
"But, why he-"
"Because he is stupid" Shirley didn't allow her to complete and took the seat beside her. Larra chuckled hearing her.
"Can't you see how stupid he was? And you have a well-built body. Like he said, you are taller than us, beautiful and hot. Then why not? Sometimes I also think that you are hot" Shirley tried to comfort her cousin. Larra looked at her in a questioning way.
"I mean, not in that way. But in a good way," Larra finally gave her a smile, feeling at ease.
"Just leave all those negative things. We are here to blast, at least for a few days, to live our life in our favor" Shirley showed a fist excitedly. Larra showed a genuine smile.
"Okay. I will take a shower. I think I am stinking, " Shirley said, sniffing her clothes.
"Oh yeah. You won't stink if you don't wash for two days." Larra said sarcastically. Shirley looked at her offended.
"You didn't take a shower after you left India two days before, right?" Shirley showed a sheepish smile.
"Go and wash, gosh" Larra waved her hand in front of her nose. The two continued bickering before Shirley went to take a bath.
Riley laid on her stomach and looked outside through the big rear glass. A smile bloomed on her face when she saw the woods and clouds running away from them. The blue sky was adorned with scattered white clouds, and the green woods on both sides of that asphaltic pavement resembled a perfect canvas.
Riley narrowed her eyes when she started to see the shapes of some bacteria and viruses, in the sky. Maybe because of her job, she sees these microorganisms everywhere.
"Uhh," she got up from the bed and walked to the front. She took the seat beside Larra, who was blasting with her music while driving.
When I'm away from you, I miss your touch (ooh) You're the reason I believe in love It's been difficult for me to trust (ooh) And I'm afraid that I'ma f- it up Ain't no way that I can leave you stranded 'Cause you ain't ever left me empty-handed And you know that I know that I can't live without you So, baby, stay
"Oh, ooh-woah" Riley also joined the band.
Larra was a music addict. Whenever she goes, wherever she goes, music will accompany her there. She listens to music when she eats, cooks, travels, and wherever she can. She lip-synced with Beiber and The Kid LAROI.
"So, our first destination?" Riley asked when she saw their travel planner on the dashboard.
"We are going to burn some calories, babe," Larra said, winking at her.
"Today itself?" Riley asked surprised.
"Nope. First, we have to find a spot to take a rest and eat. Early in the morning, we have to make it up to the valley. Then trekking for two hours up. Rest, I don't know." Riley nodded as understood.
"You think she will get up early?" Riley asked mentioning the third one.
"I'm worrying about myself" Larra chuckled.
"Just sleep when we halt somewhere " Riley said munching the cookies.
The campervan came to a halt when they saw a perfect spot for them, near a lake. Larra and Riley came out after parking the van properly. Larra stretched her arms relaxing while Riley walked towards the lake.
It was a small lake surrounded by woods, providing a broadway to get near the lake, where they parked the van. The soft breeze made ripples in the water's surface, which touched the shore like small waves. The crickets and birds chirped from the words, giving a natural background music.
"Wow. It's beautiful" Shirley came out after taking a nap.
"Isn't it?" Riley seemed really excited to be there while Larra sat down on a stone nearby and watched her cousins with a smile.
Shirley went to the water carefully and dipped her feet, immediately pulling back in the reflex.
"It's freaking cold," she said with wide eyes. It must be, it's the spring season.
"Okay. I am gonna swim," Riley jumped excitedly.
"Be careful" Larra warned. They don't know how deep the lake was. Riley nodded and removed her t-shirt and jeans, only to be in her undergarments. Without wasting any time, she walked slowly toward the water.
"Ahh.. fuck, it's really cold" she laughed and clenched her jaws simultaneously. Shirley and Larra laughed seeing her freezing face. Riley took a deep breath, closed her nose with her fingers, went down, and came back after a few seconds.
"Now it's better," she said, panting.
"I am coming too" Larra got up from the stone and walked towards the lake, removing her clothes meanwhile.
"Fuck" she cursed the moment she touched the freezing water. She followed Riley's actions and felt better.
"Uhh. I shouldn't have taken a shower before," Shirley said, disappointed. She took a shower and dried her hair before taking a nap.
"It's ok Shirl. Swim in the early morning. We have to trek a long way," Riley said, giggling.
Riley and Larra swan and played with water for some time while Shirley walked around lazily.
"Shirl. Get us two towels" Larra yelled to Shirley.
"Go and get yourself," Shirley said sassily.
"Shirl," Riley whined, hearing her.
"What were you two thinking when you ramp walked towards water? Huh." Shirley said tho' tone.
"Come on, Shirl," Riley whined again. Shirley walked along the shore like a deaf person.
"Okay. I am gonna count to ten. After that, I will drag you to the water," Larra said with a grin. Shirley looked at her for a second and continued inspection for God knows what.
"One"
"Two"
"Three"
Larra began to walk towards her. Shirley side-eyed towards them and saw Larra approaching her.
"Four"
"Five"
Larra swayed her arms on the surface, making the water dance with her.
"Six"
"Fine" Shirley huffed and stomped towards the van. She knows that Larra will do that.
"Go baby go. You can do it," Riley encouraged Shirley, only to earn a death glare.
When the darkness took over the surroundings, the trio made a small campfire using the twigs from the woods. The wind wasn't that freezing cold, but cold enough to give goosebumps. The sky looked like a black canvas with scattered silver dots.
"It feels so unreal," Riley said dreamily.
"Yeah.." Shirley took a sip from her black tea.
"I miss this in New York. Moments like this, to take a break from my life. Even though I am doing my dream job, sometimes, it is not enough I want. I want this too. At least weekly once" Larra said to her cousins.
"Then, think about me. I am working in a hospital." Riley said chuckling. Being in a hospital, she doesn't have a regular schedule. Sometimes, she works a full day, and sometimes, a full night.
"We all are busy with our lives. I am glad we made it here. In the coming ten days, we're gonna forget about our past and future. We will live in the present, in southern Florida," Shirley said with a huge grin.
"Cheers," the trio clunk their glasses with black tea. They sat there in silence for some time, hearing nature's lullaby. They decided to call it a night since they had to get up early in the morning to do trekking.
The three cousins reached the valley at 4 am. Their aim is to watch the sunrise from the top, which is at 6.15 am. Larra had pre-booked online tickets to the trails. They showed their tickets and collected sticks from the counter. Each of them carried a small backpack that contained water bottles, snacks, and medicines.
"Hello my beautiful young ladies, I am your guide for today. Let's start our trekking from here. By the way, I'm Marcus. You can call me..." A man in his forties chirped enthusiastically. Larra and Riley, being the cautious ones among them, looked at each other with a weird smile.
"Marcus" when he realised no one had his enthusiasm, announced himself. Larra and Riley rolled their eyes and faked a smile while being the silly one, Shirley began to laugh.
"Ah, you are so funny," Shirley said to Marcus and started walking with him.
"Let's go. We are gonna rock it" Marcus showed a fist excitedly.
"Yeah," Shirley supported him with equal fervor.
"Are you sure we are gonna be with him for the next four hours ?" Riley whispered to Larra.
"Sorry, I chatted with AI, I guess" Larra whispered back. Riley sighed heavily and started walking.
Even though he was an over-enthusiastic man, Marcus explained the history of that place while trekking and the trio listened carefully. He also shared his experiences in his guide life. He was madly in love with nature.
Since it was dawn, they used torches to see forward. Different kinds of birds left their homes for food. Their family must bid goodbyes to their alphas. Nature's law!
They rested for a while in between and had a lesser amount of water. The geography was really interesting; in some places, it was flat, but sometimes it was too steep, causing inner turmoil in the trio.
"We are almost there," Marcus said when they climbed up a big rock. They nodded back and followed him, they passed a few pillar-like rocks, only to confront a breathtaking view.
They were on a cliff, which was the highest point where normal people could trek. On their left side, there was a series of a mountain with steep rocks, and on their right side, beyond the land, they could see the merging Caribbean and Atlantic. The sun was coming up and the mountainous rocks and clouds looked like they were bathed in gold.
Ethereal.
"Wow" the trio exclaimed in unison. They weren't in any state to exaggerate the view. The view snatched all words from their brain. They panted heavily, hands on hips, but their lips curled up when they looked at each other.
They made it.
They sat down on the grassy mat with contented smiles on their faces, their hands intertwined with each other's, absorbing the depth of the beauty around them.
Marcus sat down on the nearby stone. No matter how many times he sees this view, every time it feels like the first time. Every time it makes him happy.
*** So, the second chapter of our cousin's is here. Let me know your thoughts please.
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