She stood beside her car, her keys still in hand as the blades of the windmill cut apart the air above the hotel. She watched the white blades against the gray clouds.
Twenty-two year old Avery Eden had seen this hotel a thousand times but had never been. She often brought up Google Maps on her computer just to look at it, the soft brown walls, the red neon letters of HOTEL L. Those photos always helped, just knowing it was there waiting for her. Waiting for both of them. But those photos had been taken in a different season, in a different year. The grass was longer now, the sky more turbulent.
Avery looked at the automatic doors, still not ready to move. She checked her pink shirt and her jeans, still clean. She ran her hand through her long black hair, still smooth. There was nothing else to do but move. She grabbed the two bags that rested against the car. One was a backpack whose contents were rather boring, a simple collection of necessities: a journal, a phone charger, an old laptop that was beginning to slow. But the other bag, the other bag was filled almost entirely with underwear.
'It's gonna rain soon' It was that thought that finally propelled her forward and carried her through the doors. The air was warmer. The lobby stretched out before her, a couple of lounge areas with nice chairs, cute booths for breakfast, a cozy balcony outside.
'Where is she?' They had planned and unplanned and replanned this weekend a million times. So why wasn't she here yet?
"Hello?" A young man at the front desk called.
"Oh, Hi!" Avery approached him.
"How can I help you?" He smiled, his name tag revealed him to be Randy.
"I have a reservation. It should be under Eden, Avery Eden." Randy typed away at his computer for a few seconds.
"Yes, single room, queen bed, two guests." Avery slid her driver's license across the counter. As she looked at her past self, the tan shirt and the frizzled hair, she wondered if anyone had ever been ready for a government photo in the history of time. The man took a look.
"I'll grab your card."
"Thank you." Steve stepped away for a moment and then returned with a key card.
"Just swipe and you're in. Breakfast is from 6:30 to 9:30. The gym and pool are on this floor to the left, they are both open from 7 in the morning till 10 at night. We do offer room service and wake-up calls. We do ask that you refrain from the third floor, we have some repairs to finish, and if you need anything at all feel free to call the front desk."
"Thanks, Elevator?"
"To the right, down the hall."
"Thank you," Avery grabbed her bags and walked. She passed the white doors, reached the elevator, and hit the button. After a slow ride up, she was on the fourth floor and after a short walk she was in front of Room 423.
Avery swiped the card and pushed her way inside. She hit the light switch and took it all in. She had seen pictures of the room of course, but in person it looked so much better. The red curtains that blocked the view, the little dresser with the black phone beside the bed, the smooth writing desk and office chair in the corner. The large flat screen on the dresser across from the nice red bed. The closet near the bed was nice and roomy and the bathroom near the front door was pristine with new towels on the racks. Even the little refrigerator beneath the tv had its charms.
Avery sat on the bed and dropped her bags on the floor. She checked her phone. No New Messages. She tried to stave off the anxiety, she went to the window and pulled back the curtains. The balcony and a tall black fence were below her, and in front were long rows of green trees swaying in the breeze of a coming storm.
Her phone buzzed. I'M HERE! Avery ran her hands through her hair, checked her clothes again, and went to the front door. In just a few seconds everything would change. There was a knock at the door. Avery opened it and standing before her was 23 year old Emily Jones.
"Hey," she smiled.
"Hey." All their midnight conversations and planning and it hadn't prepared her for this moment. Avery couldn't take her eyes off Emily. She was taller than she looked in the pictures and video chats, the green vine tattoos curling around her arms were brighter, her green eyes sharper, her bright pink hair more vibrant. She was wearing a faded band t-shirt and black shorts.
Avery hugged her tightly. Emily was surprised but then hugged her back.
"Can I come in?"
"Yeah, yes, please," Avery let go and backed up. Emily stepped in. She dropped her bag beside the bed. She walked around the room and stopped at the window.
"I want to pay you back for the room," Emily turned, "it's too nice."
"You don't have to."
"I want to be equal in this."
"Listen, I wanted to do this. I had to. The minute I booked this place I knew it was real, I knew I would get to see you. Let me do this for you, let me give us this weekend okay?"
"Okay," Emily looked out the window again, "Does anybody know about me?"
"I told my roommate I was staying with a friend, which is not a lie," Avery
admitted.
"I told my parents I was hiking," Emily said, "Not cause I'm embarrassed by you, but because they're insufferable about relationship stuff." Avery nodded, she didn't mind being a secret.
"Guess what I'm wearing?" Avery turned around and raised her shirt, revealing a pink waistband sticking out of her blue jeans. Emily could feel the heat rise to her cheeks. Avery lowered her shirt.
"I think we should have some ground rules before we get, before," she gestured with her hands, "you know."
"Of course," Emily crossed to the bed and sat down. Avery sat beside her.
"Rule #1: Communicate. Let me know what you want, I'll let you know what I want. I like surprises and our safe word is..."
"Submarine," Emily squeezed Avery's hand.
"Yes," Avery blushed. "Rule 2: Don't talk about the future. Everything after this weekend is a black hole. I just want to be here, with you."
"Is that it?"
"That's it," Avery got up. She went over to the desk, leaning her hands against it, her waistband still peeking out.
