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Suzi drove down the dirt road at five miles per hour, swerving to avoid foot deep potholes that would potentially end her Toyota's viability. The road stretched on, growing darker as the trees became thicker and thicker, their leaves blocking out the burning sun. If she didn't know any better, she would think she was driving out here to meet a murderer, not her intended blind date.

Part of her still believed she could be driving toward certain death, but Taren promised he was legit. Suzi just had to go along with it. She survived the first three dates, hadn't she? And Taren had set up more than just one blind date for her. If she didn't live through this one, how could she go to the next?

She came to a parking lot fenced in by wooden logs and stopped at the booth positioned at the entrance. A sign that read donations was taped to the door and a metal box with a narrow slot hung beneath it. She searched around in her purse for some cash, finding two dollars bills and stuffing them in the receptacle. Then she proceeded forward, trying to find a spot in the crowded lot.

She chewed her bottom lip. Here she thought going hiking of all things on the Fourth of July was out of place, but apparently, the rest of the world thought it was a great idea. She finally found an open patch of dirt and pulled in, shutting off her car and closing her eyes. Breathing in, she readied herself. It wouldn't be too bad. She exercised. She was in shape. She wouldn't be huffing and puffing all the way up. She could do this.

Just as she reached for her phone, a tap sounded on her window. She jolted, whipping her head to the side, and seeing a tanned figure peering in at her. His hooded eyes crinkled as a pearly white smile stretched across his face. His very handsome face.

Suzi owed Taren big time.

She reached for the door and he backed up, allowing her to open it. She climbed out, pulling down her hiking shorts so they didn't ride up and accidentally flash him. He got bonus points for averting his gaze as she did so. Once settled she offered him her hand. "Jae, right? I'm Suzi."

Jae took her hand and squeezed it firmly. "It's nice to meet you. You're shorter than I thought you would be."

"I think you're just tall." It was true. Jae stood at least nine inches taller than her. He was also well built, not that she was that surprised. He chose a hike for the date, after all. His arms were muscular and tan, veins meandering up and then out of sight under the sleeves of his t-shirt.

Jae grinned. "Shall we? I want to make it to the top before sunset."

"Be warned, I'm not really a mountain climber. I'm more of a nice stroll down the block and yoga type of person," I told him as we crunched across the pebbles leading to the trailhead.

"Don't worry, this path isn't too bad. I just figured this was better than meeting up in a café and just sitting around. This way there are other things to focus on in case I bore you."

As he walked a few paces ahead, Suzu's gaze was drawn to the muscles in his calf. How often did he work out to be so toned?

"Every other day," he said.

Her eyes widened. "Did I say that out loud?"

He laughed. "Yes."

"I'm sorry. I'm just really impressed," Suzi told him. No use in denying it.

"It took a lot of work to get here," he told her, holding up the rope that sectioned off the trail so she could easily walk under it. "I used to weigh over two hundred and fifty pounds."

Suzie's mouth fell open. "No way!"

"Yep. Pretty much all throughout high school. I never thought I could lose the weigh so I didn't want to try. I always thought I'd be known as that fat, chubby Asian kid. But then I got to college and a gym membership was included in the tuition, so I decided that I could at least try to walk some of the weight off. So, I started going to the gym almost every day after class and started talking to some of the guys there. They taught me how to work out. And I just kept going all four years."

The trail began to steepen and Suzi's foot slipped on a rock. Jae steadied her before starting off again, this time walking by her side. She glanced up at him and he offered her a smile. "That's really amazing," she told him. "That's a hard thing to do. It's even harder to keep the weight off."

"I found a good balance. So now I can still eat the things I enjoy while staying fit."

"I should work out more."

"Why? If you're happy the way you are, you don't need to change," he said. "Of course, everyone should get the daily recommended exercise, but doing yoga would meet that."

"Daily recommended exercise? You sound like my fitness app."

He cringed. "Sorry. Habit. I do part-time work as a fitness trainer."

Suzi nodded, unsurprised to hear that. "So then do you like really fit girls, too?"

"Fit girls, fit boys, unfit girls, unfit boys. It doesn't matter to me. I like someone because of who they are. I don't have a specific type. What about you?"

"Me, either," Suzi agreed and couldn't help but feel a little relieved. Jae seemed like a decent person. And he was very attractive. It made her feel better than her average self could still be considered by him.

"Um. I'm really going on about myself. Taren told me you like finger painting?"

Suzi resisted the urge to slap her hand to her face. "I mean, I do. But I don't think that would be the first thing I tell someone."

"Naw, I think that's awesome," Jae said, shaking his head. "I haven't finger painted in years. I'd love to do that."

"Are you just saying that?"

"No! I love doing arts and crafts. I made this paper-mâché Death Star last week. It's pretty cool. Want to see a picture?"

Suzi eyed him suspiciously. Jae was too good to be true. Upbeat, gorgeous, and into Star Wars? Why had Taren never mentioned him before? Was this a setup? Was she on Prank'd? Jae took out his iPhone and searched through his pictures, not even bothering to shield his screen from her. He also had nothing to hide.

True to his words, his Death Star looked amazing. They chatted about Stars Wars for the entire trek up the mountain. Fortunately, Jae hadn't been lying when he said the trail was easy. Suzi's breathing increased a little, but she hadn't needed to stop for a break, nor did she fall behind. And even though the parking lot was so crowded, they hadn't seen another hiker on the way either. They made it to the top just as dusk was beginning to settle in.

"Just past here," Jae said, pushing aside a tree branch for her. "This is my secret hideout."

"Aren't we a little old for secret hideouts?"

"No one is too old for anything. Just because we grow up doesn't mean we have to let go of things from our childhood. Plus, this is a perfect date spot."

"You take a lot of your dates here?"

"Only the cute ones," he said with a wink. "And today there's a special event."

Suzi grinned. "Oh yeah?"

They walked around a boulder and Jae made a grand sweeping gesture. "Ta-da!"

A checkered red and white blanket lay strewn across the rock surface the mountain, complete with a cooler and straw lunch basket. There were two folding chairs propped up against the rocks that led higher onto the mountain, hidden in the shade. Suzi looked at Jae who beamed at her. "Fourth of July picnic?" she asked.

"Good idea, right? I'm going for the sweet guy type. Is it working?"

"Hmmm, it's working," Suzi decided with a laugh. "I don't think I've ever been on a first date like this before."

"I like to stand out," he said with a wink. "But this isn't even the best part."

Suzi raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

"Just wait a little longer. Now, come on, have a seat. I have water, wine, beer, sandwiches, Doritos..."

Suzi sat down in the proffered lawn chair and Jae handed her a bottle of water. She swallowed it down, thankful for its chilliness. "You're really prepared, huh?"

"I was excited."

Suzi blinked at him. "Really?"

"Yep, still am. Why do you sound surprised?"

"I don't know. I just... I'm not that interesting," she mumbled.

"Hey, I've known you for what? About an hour now? And I definitely think you're interesting. I'd like to know more about you, even," Jae told her, folding his hands and resting his chin on them.

She tapped her fingers against her thigh. "I didn't hate climbing this mountain like I thought I would."

"Oh yeah?"

"Surprisingly. Someone once told me I was too close to new ideas. I'd like to see her face now."

"I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing," Jae pointed out. "If you had been really uncomfortable with the idea, I would have figured out something else. People like what they like. If someone doesn't want to try something new, it's rude to push it."

"Well, not that you pushed me or anything, but I'm glad you decided to hike a mountain," Suzi said. "I found something I think I actually could enjoy."

"I'm glad to hear that. And I'd be more than willing to have you join me on other hikes in the future."

"It'd have to start off easy though," Suzi warned him.

Jae put his hand over his heart. "You have my word. Although the show is about to start, so we'll have to chat about this later. Or a second date."

Suzi didn't respond, unsure of what to say. He was talking about second dates already? She already had so many other dates to go through first. Now that she was thinking about it, could this be considered leading him on?

"Don't worry though. I know about the whole thirty-one blind dates this month or whatever. I just hope I'm a strong enough contender for you to still think about even by the end."

"You knew and still came on the date?" she asked. Wouldn't most people shy away from that?

Jae nodded. "Yeah. Taren has talked about you before and I've always wanted to meet you. And turns out you're super cool. I won't regret this even if we just end up becoming friends. And I think going out and meeting new people is a good way of deciding what you want in a partner. I'd love to do what you're doing."

"You don't know what you want in a partner either?" she asked him.

"Oh, I think I do now."

"What's that?"

"Someone who digs finger painting and Star Wars."

Suzi jerked as a boom echoed from behind her and she turned her head just to see the bright red colors of a firework fizzle into the sky. A second shot off, this time only causing her to blink her eyes. Here up on the mountain, they were so close. She could already smell the sulfur in the air.

"This is the best spot for fireworks," Jae nearly shouting to be heard over the firework exploding. "Best of all, it's free!"

Suzi leaned back in her chair, taking in the fireworks. She'd never been this close to them before. It felt totally different. There were no crowds around her. No bright lights from food trucks. No little kids parading around animal balloons. Just a serene stillness, only broken by the grainy report of each firework.

It was... actually pretty cool.

Jae scooted his chair closer and she glanced at him, seeing his smile lit up by the colors. He made no attempt to grab her hand or put an arm around her. He seemed content to simply be near her. She liked that. "Thanks for this!" she called to him over the noise.

"Any time!"

Any time, huh.

Maybe she'd take him up on that. Even if it didn't lead into a romantic relationship, she'd settle with simply creating a new friendship.

But first, twenty-seven more dates to go.

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This one-shot is part of the 31 Blind Dates anthology from more than two dozen Wattpad writers including members of the Stars program, published authors, Ambassadors and Wattys winners. You will find the next story in the collection on the profile of bensobieck ! 

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