Favorite Season (Spring)

If you survey 100 random people asking them what their favorite season is, I think you would be surprised by the results. Turns out Spring is the favorite, beating out Fall and Summer, with Winter being least favorite. I can't pick one over the others myself. The first snow in late fall, after the leaves have changed is beautiful. Snow covered mountain peaks in Winter can take your breath away. A warm summer breeze at night watching the stars is a magical experience. I will admit that the week in Spring when the lilac bushes are in full bloom might be one of my favorites though. Each season brings its own beauty and struggles. Picking a favorite is just too hard. Jack on the other hand would disagree with me wholeheartedly. She lives for the spring. For the moment the last of the spring snow melts, but before the heat of summer has made itself known. The time of campfires and fields of wildflowers are in full bloom. That's how we met, in a hidden meadow of wild flowers, I was lost. I am always getting lost. I don't mind it so much anymore though.

"Come on! Why does this always happen?" I sigh, looking around the meadow. I pause, "At least it is really pretty."

"Sure is."

"Holy shit!" I jump back as a head rises from the ground about ten feet in front of me. As she stands, I take another step back. My heart beating a million miles an hour.

She turns to look at me, looking unimpressed by my outburst. "Sorry. Didn't mean to scare you." The smirk suggesting otherwise. I look this stranger up and down, stalling for a moment to cover just how scared I was. Her gray long sleeve shirt hugs her body perfectly, the henley top unbuttoned and the hem just a touch short exposing her mid-drift. The faded jeans also seemed to be perfectly tailored to her slim body. Looking back at her face I see a few stray leaves in her short untidy brown hair. Her head tilts to the side and concern plays across her face. "Are you alright?"

I nod my head and take a deep breath. "Yes, sorry. Just wasn't expecting anyone out here...Wherever here is." I look around again and sigh out the last of my fear at being surprised. "I think I am lost." The laugh that leaves this woman's throat is deep and full of joy. I can't help the smile, but it quickly turns to annoyance as the laughing continues. "Look, I am sorry I disturbed you. I'll be going." I turn in a huff ready to back track the way I came and hoping for the best.

"Wait." A hand gently touches my shoulder and I turn back around to her, she is very close and there is a soft smell of pine as I turn to look at her hand. She is a tiny bit taller than me and when I look back towards her face, in her green eyes I can see concern in them again. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have laughed." She smiles gently and I feel my heart pick up, wow, is the only thought that passes through my brain as she continues speaking. "It is just funny. The first time I found this place...I had gotten lost too. I liked it so much that once I got my bearings, I made sure to come back. You happened to stumble upon my secret spot."

I feel a heat creep up my neck at her words. I feel like I should apologize. I open my mouth to say something of that sort but she turns quickly her hand finding mine and pulling me toward the center of the meadow. There is small creek running right through the middle of the meadow that couldn't be seen from the edge. I hear it before I see it. Once we reach it, she steps over still holding my hand, she turns helping me over it. Her other hand touching the small of my back for a brief moment, before she turns again leading us to the opposite side of the clearing. "Um...where are we going?"

She turns a little, placing a finger to her lips, in a keep quiet gesture. Her pace slows and she begins to tread more carefully. I slow too following suit, still not sure what was happening. 

Then I see them. Two baby deer, just on the edge of the clearing playing and completely oblivious to our presence. A small, oh at the beauty of the moment leaves my mouth, just as I see the mom walk into view. She freezes seeing us, but we have frozen too, just watching these three beautiful animals in this amazing place.

I am not sure how long we stand there. Eventually, the doe moves back into the tree line, her twins following her. I breath out, not realizing I had been holding my breath. "Wow." 

"Right?" I jump again not realizing how close she was standing. "Sorry." She smiles, letting go of my hand and taking a step away. I immediately miss the heat.

"Oh no. Thank you! That was amazing." I pause looking around again. "This really is an amazing place."

This time when she laughs, I laugh too. How can I not? I am lost in one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen with a super attractive woman...and that laugh, wow. When she stops laughing a comfortable silence settles before she looks at me. "I thought I would be mad...if someone else found this place and I had to share it...but seems I was wrong."

I feel a blush creep up again. "Maybe getting lost all the time isn't so bad...Um, I'm Shay by the way." I offer up my hand in greeting.

She takes it, the sly smile back on her face. "Jack. Nice to meet you."