Impromptu Shopping Trip

The way back down was just as enjoyable as the way up. While it was the same trail as before, it felt like a whole new trail because of the different perspective, and the fact that we were walking downhill now.

I was just thinking about getting some new equipment, maybe some hiking shoes and a better backpack, when I noticed that Liam had gear that looked specific for hiking.

“Where’d you get all of this?” I wondered, gesturing at his equipment.

“There’s an outdoors shop in town.” He explained, sending me a link to the address.

I noticed that it wasn’t far from the trail’s parking lot, and decided that I’d go there after we finished our hike, while what I would want is still fresh on my mind.

“Want me to go with you?” He asked, catching me off guard.

I wasn’t expecting him to suggest it, especially since we’d spent a lot of time together already.

“Yeah, that’s be great.” I said, before asking if he was able to go right after we finished hiking.

He agreed to the impromptu shopping trip while I noticed my phone buzzing in my pocket.

Tea had sent me a few emojis, expressing her excitement over the picture I’d sent her in a language only she fully understood.

I turned off my phone and put it back in my pocket, giving all my attention to the present.

The last part of the descent was pleasant and gave me a sense of accomplishment. It was a fun hike that made me look forward to more in the future already.

Not long after it was over, we found ourselves standing in front of the entrance to the store Liam mentioned earlier.

Walking through the doors, we entered a world of outdoor equipment. There were tents, backpacks, and countless other bits and bobs that would take hours to sort through.

“What should we start with?” He asked.

“I guess some hiking shoes.”

I’d worn sneakers for the hike today, but realized soon after that they weren’t great on the uneven terrain. I’d also noticed earlier that the shoes he was wearing looked a lot different, and had been wondering how much better they were.

He led me over to a section that was notably uniform compared to the bright colors that mixed into the blend of beige and green.

I spent a little while trying on a few different pairs before settling for a relatively lightweight pair that wouldn’t restrict my movement as much.

Every now and then I would glance over to see Liam waiting patiently, seemingly having all the time in the world for my shopping trip.

“Is there anything you plan on getting while we’re here?” I asked, wondering if he wanted to come here for any other reasons.

He shook his head while leading me off to a section full of backpacks.

“Most of the stuff you get tends to last for a while, especially if you’re not using them too often.”

I guess that made sense, and I wondered if that was part of the reason he’d decided to make hiking a hobby of his.

We finished up the rest of the trip and I was starting to pack everything up for the journey back to campus when a familiar voice rang out from a few yards away.

“Ria?”

Turning, I saw Julio, who I hadn't spoken to since the group interview, where he was present as the baseball team’s captain.

“Hey, fancy seeing you here.” I said, continuing to organize my things.

Liam, who had brought the last of my things out to me, bid goodbye for the day and went off to his car, which was parked a bit further away.

I wanted to talk a bit more, but I’d already spent plenty of time with him today, and I wasn’t sure how much he wanted to be involved in a conversation with Julio.

As if on queue, Julio gave an unpleasant look in Liam’s direction as he was walking away, which thankfully Liam had his back turned from.

“Don’t get how you can stand that guy.” He said, having at least the smallest amount of decency as to say it once Liam was out of earshot.

“I like him quite a bit, actually.” I said, trying to keep my tone even.

People who spoke about others like that often got on my nerves, but even more so when the target of the speech was someone close to me.

You would think that might not be the case, since I liked a guy who happened to be a sports journalist, but I found those things to be much different. There was always a level of objectivity and professionalism in the way he presented criticism. Not to mention, it was always public and never behind one’s back or on a personal level.

Julio seemed at a loss of how to deal with my response, and ended up just changing the subject entirely.

“There’s going to be a big party tomorrow before everyone leaves for the break, you want to come with?”

I didn’t even hesitate for a moment before refusing.

I was already a little miffed by his first comment, and also had no intentions of letting loose and paying the price when I next train.

Tomorrow, I planned on getting one last workout in while I was still at school and had the facilities to use, before heading home for a week or two.

Our school didn’t require students to leave during break, so I wanted to return a little early after the holidays, and was looking forward to using that time to prepare for the second half of the season.

I got into the driver's seat, ignoring Julio’s additional comments about how I’d miss out on all the fun or really would enjoy it there, and took off. For the whole way back, all I could wonder about was when I'd be able to go hiking with Liam again.