Chapter 4: First Adventures

Carl’s phone alarm woke him before five Monday morning. At first he couldn’t remember where he was, or why had set an alarm so ridiculously early. Then the soft sounds of Labrador Pond reached his ears: the rustling from nearby trees, the birds singing, and the now-familiar call of a loon.

Climbing out of bed, one of the floorboards creaked loudly as soon as Carl’s bare foot pressed down on it. Carl winced, hoping he hadn’t woken anyone. Dressing in shorts, a t-shirt, and a pair of sneakers, Carl slipped his phone into his pocket and grabbed his glasses before slipping out of his bedroom door.

The cabin was silent as Carl made his way downstairs, using his phone for light. Marcus and Sofia were likely still asleep, their bedroom doors firmly closed. Slipping out the back door, Carl was immediately greeted by the smell of pine, damp earth, and fresh water. He took a slow breath as he headed for the dock.

He stopped halfway down the dock when he realized someone was already there. A young woman sat at the end dressed in shorts and a camisole. Long blonde hair caught in the early morning light as her feet dangled above the water, a steaming mug cradled between her hands.

Carl instinctively started to turn around.

“I was wondering if you’d come.”

He froze, looking forward as Amelia glanced over her shoulder.

“Good morning,” she smiled softly.

“Oh!” Carl gasped lightly. “G-good morning.”

“You don’t have to sound so surprised,” Amelia laughed softly.

“I thought I was the only one awake,” Carl mumbled, impressed he managed a full sentence.

“I did say I wanted to watch the sunrise,” she reminded him, her blue eyes sparkling. “I figured the astronomy guy would be out here.”

Carl rubbed the back of his neck nervously. “You r-remembered.”

“Of course,” Amelia patted the empty spot beside her. “Come watch the sunrise.”

Carl briefly hesitated before nervously walking toward the end of the dock. He sat down, leaving what he hoped was the appropriate amount of space between them. Neither of them spoke as the sky shifted from soft pink to brilliant orange, the early rays of the sun reflecting across Labrador Pond.

“It’s beautiful,” Carl whispered, surprised he was feeling less nervous than before.

“It is,” Amelia agreed as a fish jumped, sending ripples across the surface of the water. “I’ve always loved this part.”

“The sunrise?”

She nodded. “Everything’s quiet. There’s no phones, no rushing around.” Amelia took a sip from her mug. “It feels like the world’s still asleep.”

“I’ve never really thought about it,” Carl said carefully. “I guess I’ve usually been asleep too.”

“I suppose that’s true for most college students,” Amelia laughed.

“I’m not a college student yet,” he sighed.

“Nervous?” she questioned softly.

“Yes,” Carl admitted, thinking he was also nervous around her.

“You’ll be just fine,” Amelia assured him, reaching out to squeeze his knee. A sudden splash drew her attention, preventing her from noticing how red Carl’s face had gotten. “There!”

Carl looked where she was pointing. A loon surfaced about thirty feet from the dock before disappearing beneath the water again. A few seconds later, the bird resurfaced slightly closer.

“There it is!” she sounded as excited as a young kid. “Oh! Oh! Oh! My phone!” Amelia leaned over to get her phone out of her shorts, her shoulder brushing against Carl’s.

“Y-you really like bird- ah, wildlife,” Carl stammered.

“I love it,” she breathed, taking a picture of the loon as it swam closer. “My parents used to take me hiking almost every weekend.”

“That sounds nice,” he replied as she adjusted herself on the dock and took another picture.

“It was,” Amelia nodded. “My mom taught me the names of wildflowers, and Dad showed me how to identify animals and their tracks. I think that’s when I fell in love with being outside.”

Carl listened carefully, enjoying hearing Amelia talk about something she genuinely loved.

“I think that’s why I collect pressed leaves,” she continued passionately. “They’re little reminders of a hike or vacation. Or maybe just a random Tuesday.”

“So they’re like souvenirs,” Carl nodded.

Amelia smiled at him. “Yes.”

Carl looked toward the trees, then up toward the sky. “I guess astronomy’s kind of the same.”

“It is?” she asked. “You got a few stars hidden in your suitcase?”

“No, no stars,” he laughed lightly. “But every time I see a constellation I remember where I was when I first found it.”

“So your memories are in the sky,” Amelia’s smile grew.

“I guess they are,” Carl nodded slowly.

“You know,” she began as a soft breeze brushed across their skin, “I’m really glad you came out here.”

“Me too.”

He assumed Amelia was glad to just have someone to watch the sunrise with her. Carl was just grateful she was nice and didn’t mind talking to him. He never noticed the faint blushed that crossed Amelia’s cheeks before she turned back toward the lake. For the first time, Carl wasn’t thinking about how nervous he felt around Amelia. He was simply enjoying being around her.