When she stepped back outside, the sunlight was glaringly bright, even though the entire place was cast in shadows, it seemed an unnaturally bright light had filled the area. She shrugged it off, believing it to be the way the place was created, without having any ability to create flashlights, and keeping fires burning constantly in a desert so impractical, they had to have created alternate ways to survive other than living in complete darkness.
She set about exploring the rest of the place and was soon joined again. The crunching of their boots against the dirt the only sound between them, they walked along, continuing to explore well into the evening until the sun began to set.
Neal pulled her along, back out of the valley, with a gentle tug and a "Come on, it'll get dark soon." He led her back up the rock they'd slid down earlier, but when he made it to the top he stopped, shrugging off his pack.
He pulled out a blanket this time, spreading it out against the top of the giant rock, "I thought we could enjoy dinner here before we hike back."
Emma nodded in agreement, her stomach growling, she hadn't realized how late it had gotten to be, or that she'd forgotten to eat all day. Food was normally of the utmost importance to her as she was almost always starving. He laughed, and began pulling out containers of food.
"It's nothing fancy but…" He trailed off, shrugging, and Emma began to open up containers, trying to stifle a laugh.
"So, you were serious about me making you a sandwich?"
"Yeah, completely serious."
Emma let out a faked exasperated sounding sigh, hiding the smile that was actually on her face, and flung herself down on the blanket, a look of concentration forming as her brows furrowed.
She carefully pulled each meat out of its respective container, added on some lettuce, tomato, pickle and smeared mustard across the top slice of bread. Neal, meanwhile, had pulled a bottle of wine out of his never ending pack and popped the cork on it. He studiously poured two glasses of the red liquid, trying to match the serious look Emma currently sported.
Emma handed him a sandwich, and he passed her a glass, they toasted, to good times and future dates, and for once, Emma did not regret what she was saying. They ate their sandwiches, laughing, joking, relaxing as friends, and enjoying the sunset, a peace had surrounded them.
In the distance, a coyote howled, sparking a chain of howls, long and high, celebrating the night as it fell. "Guess that means we should get moving, wouldn't want to meet them later."
Emma had to agree, she did not want to try fighting off a pack of hungry animals later, and helped Neal pack up everything back into his bag as the last stretches of sunlight faded beyond the horizon. Night had fallen around them, and Neal grabbed two flashlights out of the smaller side pockets, handing one over to Emma.
She quickly flicked it on, and looked around, the sounds of the desert taking on a new life in the dark. Her mind had started to run wild with thoughts of an untimely demise out here and wished she'd thought to bring something to protect herself with.
A small breeze came tearing through the desert, and Emma had to fight back a shiver, she really hadn't planned on being out this late. And apparently, she wasn't the only one, she pulled out her phone, curious to see what time it really was, 7:38pm and she'd gotten a message from Regina of all people, asking if she was okay, if the date was going well, trying to make sure she hadn't been murdered by this strange guy Emma found online, which really seemed strange to her.
"You alright?" Neal called over to her, a hint of concern seeping into his voice, it was there at the edges.
Emma suppressed another shiver, "Yeah, just starting to get cold."
Neal, who had been zipping up his pack, stopped, and unzipped it again, pulling out a thick blue jacket (seriously, did it ever end?), he handed it over to Emma who took it and immediately pulled it on, zipping it up, savoring what warmth it did provide.
The sleeves fell over her hands and the bottom ended past her shorts, but she was thankful it was too big for her, enjoying the extra warmth it provided. Neal flipped on his flashlight as he slung the bag over his shoulders, and took her hand, guiding her back out of the desert.
His hand was large, and calloused, but gentle and safe, fully engulfing hers, she let him lead the way, eager to make it back to civilization alive. It seemed like it took less time to make it back to where his car sat in the parking lot, waiting for their return. They'd left the trails behind pretty early on in their hike, and she had to admit, it was impressive that he'd managed to get them back safely.
Neal pulled his keys from his pocket and unlocked the vehicle, opening the door for Emma, she had to admit he was a perfect gentleman and it was nice for a change. She could definitely get used to this, she thought for a second and it would be sad when the time came to end his life, almost, she told herself, she couldn't get too attached, not with what was at stake.
And before she knew it, she was suggesting to him that they stop for drinks somewhere, unsure as to what had come over her. She'd get him drunk, and then start probing for information, he seemed willing to talk earlier, hinting at things, she'd get more with a little help.
"So, how about we go back to your place and have a couple of drinks?" She added a wink on at the end when she saw him look over at her.
However, he managed to surprise her when he declined the offer, "Maybe next time, I wouldn't want to give you the wrong idea, but I think we could have something special and I don't want to ruin it."
She actually had to fight to hide her disappointment, it wasn't often that she was turned down on such an offer. Neal sensing her mood fall, reached over and gave her hand a gentle squeeze, "Really, it's nothing against you, but I don't want the opportunity to ruin this, not before it's had the chance to begin properly."
This was just not fair, it was like he knew all the right words to say. She'd have to come up with another plan somehow to get to know him and know his secrets, but that would have to wait. She'd settle for a good night kiss instead, she wanted him to know she was serious about keeping him around.
He dropped her off at the hotel, walking her up to her room, he left her at the door, and she gave him a short and sweet good night kiss, feeling his unshaven scruff against her face.
He left her, at the door, she felt bad, shutting it on his face, but he had once again, declined her offer to come inside. A true gentleman, and one rare to find in today's society. She felt herself drawn to him even more.
Well, she thought, time to report in, at least enough to let Regina know I'm alive. She'd pulled out her phone to see a barrage of messages, each seeming more desperate than the last, and she'd had yet to respond to any of them. It seemed to be causing even more panic in Regina who was used to constantly hearing from her friend in the short amount of time they'd been a part of the others life.
She tapped out a quick message to Regina, informing the other that she was still alive and had survived her date successfully.
A reply came rapidly back, Thank God, I was about to call the police and report you missing. Don't do that to me again!
Oh really? Wouldn't that have been embarrassing, to be found out on a date instead of actually missing.
So, how'd it go? He didn't take advantage of you did he?
No, he was a perfect gentleman, refused to even come back to my room tonight.
You what?!
What? Are you surprised? A woman's gotta get it from somewhere.
But you? With a man? Please tell me you're not that desperate?
Would it bother you if I was?
This reply didn't come back as fast as the others had, leaving Emma questioning what kind of response she could be getting from the other woman. The seconds passed slowly as Emma continued staring down at her phone's screen, not wanting to look away. Finally, her phone dinged, and she frowned down at the short message that appeared.
Maybe.
Emma paused for a couple of moments, unsure of how to respond, before at last, she shrugged to herself and bit her lip as she typed out a message. How come?
She stared down at the message, debating, questioning, erasing it and typing it back out a few times before she pressed send and held her breath, waiting for a reply. It came across her screen a couple minutes later (thank God she wasn't actually holding her breath the entire time, it just felt like it).
But the reply got her no new information. Because. That was all it said, just because. She felt her blood begin to boil, it was making her angry, but she was unsure why, the message was simple, but it gave nothing away, like they were playing a game of high stakes poker, and she felt like she was losing, trying to figure out a way to call her bluff.
Because why?
Because you shouldn't have to be that desperate, plenty of women would sleep with you.
A moment passed, Emma thought to herself, Here goes nothing, before typing out the next message. It was loaded, and would get a response, doubling down on the last card before finding out what their hands actually held, knowing she had next to nothing but just a hunch.
But not you.
It was very loaded, and she knew it. Her heart stopped, her breath caught, and she sat perfectly still, waiting for the response. Only to be met once again with disappointment, tonight really wasn't going in her favor.
Emma, you know I'm married.
She felt sadness overtake her body, If you weren't? It was a long shot and prone to fail, but she had to know.
But I am, so does it matter?
Emma was going to put her heart out there, once again, and hope and pray that against all, she didn't fail, that it wasn't going to get stepped on and broken and thrown back in her face in a million pieces.
It matters to me. She could feel tears bristling at the corners of her eyes, threatening to spill, just say the word, the next message could it be it, it could make or break her, and she knew it was too much too soon, that she shouldn't expect anything especially not here, but she had that thought, ghosting at the corner of her mind, that if Regina rejected her, she really wouldn't care if she failed this job after all.
The reply came, faster than she'd thought it would, and her tears managed to fall as she placed her phone down, but they weren't the same tears she thought they'd be.
I would've already.
She hadn't expected that response, but her heart swelled with joy upon reading that. She hoped above all, that there was still a chance for them, at some point in the future, whenever it may be. She thought, in the back of her mind, nagging at her, that she could find a way to keep her alive, and they could be together, maybe years from now, but she could be there, they could manage to be together, and she had hope. That was all that mattered, it would be enough to keep her carrying on.