mutuality | wroetoshaw

twenty three

FINALLY. YOU ARE WELCOME 

"Today is the day, Tilly. I'm telling you! There's literally no day better for it," he tells me, starting up his car, pulling out of our car park and onto the main road.

It's just gone five in the morning, and I honestly have no idea why I actually agreed to go on this hike with him, but there's definitely no backing out for either of us now.

"It's five in the morning. How are you this awake," is all I say, trying and failing to stifle a yawn, resting my head against the window of the car.

"Because...adrenaline! I don't know. I just love hiking," he says, and when I look over I see a smile so genuine on his face I instantly feel bad for complaining. This is clearly something he enjoys doing, and there have been countless times he's acted passionate about my own interests, so the very least I can do for him is to try my best to enjoy today.

"Well," I say slowly, rubbing my eyes, trying to make myself feel more awake, "hopefully I do too."

I can hear him continue to chatter excitedly, but I really am exhausted, so I don't actually take any of it in, even though I do try my best.

"Have a nap in the car, promise I don't mind," is the next thing he says, and I give him a small side eye, but he doesn't look annoyed or anything, so I take the opportunity, closing my eyes and hoping that the next time I wake up I'm in a bit of a better mood.

I have no idea how long I've slept for when I next wake up, but we are still driving, but now surrounded by quite a bit of countryside, so I know we aren't in London anymore.

A brief check of my phone tells me it's now nearly eight in the morning, meaning I've had around two and a half hours of sleep.

"We're still driving?" I ask with a yawn, but I have to admit that it does look really nice out here...wherever we are. Which also reminds me, I have no idea where he is driving us. We could be anywhere in the UK for all I know.

"Only around another half hour or so. Was wondering when you were gonna wake up," he grins, still concentrating on the road, which winds in front of us.

"Where exactly are we?" I ask, peering my head out of the window. The weather hasn't exactly done us any favours, but at least it's not raining. It just looks a little gloomy, also quite windy.

"Somerset. I thought instead of mountains, we'd do something a little different, but also something I've really wanted to hike. Cheddar gorge, have you heard of it?" He asks, looking at his phone for directions.

"No, no, I haven't. What the hell is a gorge?" I ask, knowing that it probably sounds like a dumb question, but I don't have it in me to care. I'm still tired.

"It's a valley that runs between mountains. It's really cool, it's been on my bucket list for a while. It's supposed to be really beautiful, I've had a few friends who have walked it," he tells me, and we really are out in the sticks now, driving through a village with no indication of any modern shops or anything.

"Looks like we've driven back in time," I comment fondly, but I like this type of town, village, whatever it is. It kind of reminds me of my own hometown in certain ways.

"I see what you mean. It's very different to London, isn't it?"

"Massively," I reply. Then a pause. "Do you ever wish you hadn't moved to London? You know, like, stayed in Guernsey?"

"All the time. But then I wouldn't have met you. Or, uh, you know, like Kon, Kirsty, everyone else like that. You know what I mean?" He asks, coughing a little, and definitely not meeting my eye.