Unintentionally Falling

chapter fifty-three

Iris

Aaron and I's little Christmas trip to San Bernardino was great, we made it just in time to have dinner with my dad. Mateo was down in New York doing an interview for his band for some good publicity because he and his band have just started working on their official debut album. So he wouldn't be spending Christmas here with us in San Bernardino.

We spent the rest of the night with my Dad playing board games because my dad says playing them keeps him sharp and that you can tell a lot about a person on whether or not they like board games.

We first played Monopoly, which Aaron won because, of course, he would win. Yes, I sound like a sore loser because I am a sore loser. I don't care if it's just a game. Then we played The Game Of Life and Aaron was appalled that by the end of the game, I ended up with a whopping eight kids causing me to win the game because of those few extra dollars.

The next day, we had brunch with the Aguero's and we went to a local diner to eat together. After that, I took Aaron around San Bernardino, and we ended up in the middle of the national park.

When Alexia and I were younger, Carmen or my Dad would take us on hikes around here. And as we got older, it became a hangout spot for high school students. So, I grabbed Aaron's hand to show him the small spot.

It was a secluded area, with a small stream, this huge boulder you could sit on, and this tree with dozens of carvings on it.

"What are the carvings for?" Aaron asked, running his fingers through the jagged edges of the tree.

"It's Moonlight Rock, it's a bit of a hookup spot for teenagers at parties." I sat on the familiar boulder, "But the tree is considered different I guess. When you carve your name and someone else's in the tree it's considered undying love because of how old the tree is. The tree is protected and can't be cut down because of its age, so the names carved on it can't be removed."

"So did you ever come here with another guy after one of your parties when you were younger?" A hint of a smile played on his lips, and he crossed his arms.

I giggled. "No, I'm sure a lot of people brought one-night flings with them here but this place always was a little bit too serious for me with all the carved initials."

I hopped off the boulder and hugged the side of his body pulling him close to me. We observe all the initials carved in. Some in big handwriting and some in small. Carving with messy writing and others with clean handwriting.

But one catches my eye. It's so small, almost unnoticeable, but the carving job is perfect. It's so clean compared to the others. ' M + S ' is written and there's a small tiny heart beside it.

"I love seeing these little places from your childhood with you," Aaron spoke. "It's like something a part of your core memories has now become mine in a way."

"Does that mean one day I get to go do polo and eat fancy food like your academy days when you were younger?" I teased.

"I wish I knew you when I was younger."

I peered up at him, and his gorgeous face was one that I had come to love. But most of all his kind heart, which is hard to find in this world. "I would have terrorized you when I was younger with all my loudness," I joked. And then I thought about what it would be like to know someone who didn't view me for just what I had to offer physically. Maybe I wouldn't have been so obsessed with the thought that I wasn't good enough. "I wish I knew you when I was younger too," I admitted.

And we went and sat at Moonlight Rock for about an hour. Taking in the nice view, watching birds chirp at one another and the calming sound of water running down the stream.