***
The sunshine streaming through my French doors seemed brighter than usual the next morning. I was full of nervous energy, which wasn't exactly uncharacteristic for me. The reasons were just different today. I didn't know how I was going to stay busy until tonight. Cleaning my room would kill the majority of the day, considering I hadn't touched it in a while. "What the hell," I thought. I stripped my bed, tossed the sheets in the hamper, and hastily made my bed with a new set. I was too keyed up to make it the way I normally liked. I pretty much just tossed the sheets on in a half-assed manor, not bothering to smooth them out. Typically, the wrinkles would have set my teeth on edge, but it just didn't seem to matter as much today. My deep plum-colored comforter covered them anyway. That was about all the focus I could muster. The rest of the time I basically fluttered around my room, leaving a bigger mess than what I'd started with. I think I started like ten different tasks, but didn't finish any of them. Finally, I stood in the middle of my room which looked like a tornado had ripped through it. It turned out to be a disgusting waste of time, and after another half hour of mindlessly moving my belongings around, I stomped out of my room.
"Morning, sunshine," Krista chirped, taking in my scowl.
"Whatever," I muttered, pouring myself a steaming cup of pumpkin spice-flavored coffee. After I had doctored it up to my liking, I slumped down on the stool at the counter.
"Bad morning?" Krista laughed. "I thought you'd be all sunshine and daisies today."
"I feel like such a doof, fluttering around my room like a confused butterfly because some guy is coming over. Not to mention the fact that the butterfly has taken up residence in my belly," I griped, taking a sip of my scalding drink. I welcomed the way it burned my tongue and then resumed its fiery journey down my throat. The heat brought some of my hazy senses back into focus.
"Aww, that's so sweet, you're nervous," she teased. "Don't worry, from what I've witnessed, the Soul Trader seems quite enchanted with you."
"I am not nervous," I said, glaring at her over the rim of my ceramic mug. "As long as Haniel and Mark behave, I'll be fine."
"Not nervous, gotcha," she said, shooting me a knowing look. "Don't worry about the guys. I'll kick them if they get out of control. We just want to get to know him, which is okay, right?" she added. Even though she acted like she had my back, she also had her own agenda for the night.
"Yeah, I guess," I agreed, rinsing out my coffee mug in the sink before placing it in the dishwasher. "I think I'm gonna go do some training," I added, heading out of the kitchen.
"Be careful," she called after me.
"Sure," I lied. Careful was the last thing I planned on being.
Haniel was waiting for me when I stepped out on the patio.
"I'd like to do some terrain training today," I greeted him.
"Terrain training?" he asked, knowing my usual distaste for it.
"Yes, the tougher the better," I clarified, bending down to double-knot my boots.
"I assume a warm climate?" he asked, noting my black yoga pants and white tank top.
"Either, it doesn't matter," I answered, bouncing slightly on the balls of my feet. I was ready to partake in an activity that would shift my focus and speed the day along.
"You will need warmer clothes and your running shoes," he stated, picking up on my agitated mood.
"Okay, I'll be back in five," I said, racing off to my room to grab my favorite hooded sweatshirt. It had a picture on it depicting a zombie chasing humans with a caption that read "Zombies hate fast food." I pulled off my combat boots and tossed them toward my closet. After lacing up my Nikes with deft fingers, I raced out of my room. "Be back later," I called out to Krista who was leaning against the kitchen counter sipping a mug of hot chocolate.
"Be careful," she repeated like I didn't hear her the first time.
"Sure," I lied again, jogging back out to Haniel. "I'm ready," I said, skidding to a stop in front of him.
He nodded and grasped my hand within his. Our patio disappeared and was replaced by lush green grass.
"Where are we?" I asked, shivering as I pulled my hoodie on over my head.
"Inukjuak," Haniel answered, waiting for me to adjust my sweatshirt. "Quebec," he added when I raised my eyebrows, confused as ever. He knew that I liked to keep track of my geographical locations. I kept a journal in my room of all the places I'd visited with date, time, temperature, and terrain listed in it. I also made it a point to try to bring back a small piece of the location, whether a rock, a leaf, or even a stick. Anything that was tangible proof that I'd been there.
"It's chilly here," I said, rubbing my hands up and down my arms.
"The locals believe it is warm," he said, pointing down into the village that rested in the valley below where we stood.
If I squinted, I could make out children running around playing tag in shorts and t-shirts. Not a jacket in sight that I could see. "It has to be forty degrees out," I said.
"Current temperature is forty-seven degrees," he clarified.
"Sheesh, they're crazy," I said, turning back around to take in the rolling terrain that surrounded me. Gentle rolling hills stretched out as far as the eye could see. I smiled with satisfaction. Haniel had done well. Running was the sure-fire way to take my mind off certain thoughts of a hot Soul Trader.