Fuck, I’m late… ok… underpants, socks, and toothbrush. He ran from side to side assembling his collection. He picked up some shorts, smelled them, and threw them back. He wasn’t the messy type, but he struggled with doing his laundry a lot. Putting on his cargo pants, his almond journeyman jacket, and hiking boots, he was ready. As he descended the building he took the steps by two to three at once. 

Descending the last staircase, he slipped and barely caught himself by the railing. The sweat on his forehead turned cold, his wavy, middle-long, brown hair bathing in it. He ran for his life around the block down Cambridge Street where the last few passengers were boarding the train. Shawn ran as fast as he could, his backpack swinging on his back, heaving like a racehorse. 

He heard the conductor’s whistle. Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck. I can make it, I can make it! Shawn thought as he made his way through the pedestrians, shoving one of the phone addicts, “Watch out, idiot,” the guy yelled. When the conductor saw him he smirked and without saying anything waited another fifteen seconds for Shawn to make it. 

Would have been quite embarrassing, Shawn thought as he sat on the train. Excited as he was, even a mere hour of traveling felt tedious. He arrived at the airport in Harford. Anxiety blended with his excitement as he saw a small group of six, plus an old man, standing in front of the building. With his hands in his pockets and his shoulders in a shrug, he walked his way to them. 

Chest out, shoulders back, breathe, he reminded himself, then executed the confidence maneuvers. He was about a hundred steps away when he noticed the long dark-red hair of one of them. “Fuck,” he said aloud as he felt a stab. Ruby. He and Ruby spent their teen summer nights talking on Skype or sitting on the swing in Gallie until Shawn confessed he had a crush on her, that is, then their relationship ceased in awkward silence. 

Part of him wanted to just turn around and leave, which he didn’t hesitate to judge himself for, but they already noticed him, so that option was off the list. Whatever, he thought and surrendered to life. It was about twenty steps now when Pat noticed Shawn and gave him a smirk. The smirk of Pat not only gave Shawn his confidence back but also filled him with excitement. Shit, I am going to the Amazon, no way. His heart jumped in his chest. 

“Morning,” said Shawn.

“Morning… surprised you caught the train,” Ruby said.

“Almost didn’t make it,” Shawn said and laughed.

“Thought so,” Ruby laughed with him.

Just then he noticed Truman standing sort of behind everyone else. Their eyes met and they exchanged nods followed by tiny smiles. 

He didn’t know the other students standing in the circle, but before he got to check them out Pat broke the silence,

“We all here? I better check… Truman Davis?”

“That’s me.”

“Tiffany Chasey?”

“Here.”

“Shawn is here,” Pat answered himself.

“Ruby Puff?”

“I’m here.”

“David Wright?”

“Here.”

“Frank Shortle?”

“…”

“Frank Shortle?” Pat repeated.

“Oh…,” he replied, ”I’m here.”

“Good morning, Mister Shortle.”

Frank’s chubby cheeks reddened. Some in the circle laughed.

“Alright, alright, let’s get going then,” Pat said in his old and raspy but mischievous little voice. “Don’t stray, or you’ll stay. That counts for the terminal as well as for the Amazon.”

As they walked to the terminal, Shawn was eager to check out the others in the group, but too much was going on. First of all, Pat looks sick, Shawn thought, looking at Pat and his biologist’s look. That’s a real…scientist. Cool. He shook his head in admiration. He couldn’t help but stare at the brown flannel shirt and north face jacket. The matching hat and, of course, a magnifying glass sticking from inside his chest pocket. Considering Pat’s small stature and rather narrow shoulders, his stumpy legs were just disproportionate, peering from under his, also brown, shorts, they looked like legs forged by countless miles of hiking. And the calves, bro, he thought. He shook his head once again and resolved to do more calf training, or at least to hike with intent. 

“So, how have you been? Long time no see, huh?” Ruby shoved Shawn out of his daydream.

“I guess… I’m ok? I get by as usual, but nothing big besides this. What abou—”

“Hey, stop it,” Ruby said, stumbling, for David tripped her.

“Didn’t do anything,” David lied. 

“Right, mister ‘I-am-oh-so-funny.’”

Over his shoulder, Shawn threw a disturbed look at him. David’s hair was middle-long in the front, with his sides short. Some signs of beard growth. He seemed to be well-trained, or at least his posture appeared healthy. He was about the same height as Shawn, wearing the hood of his jacket over his head. His bright blue eyes didn’t go unnoticed, and he wore a tough-guy expression, which did not fade even when their eyes met. Unimpressed, Shawn stifled the urge to curse at him, bringing his tongue under control, turning his head back, and catching up with Truman while Ruby cackled around David. 

God, if I have to listen to this the whole way, there will be fewer of us when we get back, I swear. Shawn thought, unaware that he was right. To Shawn, it was disrespectful that David tripped the person he was in a conversation with, for it was clear he was demanding attention, and to do it with such nonchalance rubbed him the wrong way. Rivalry arose where words had yet to be exchanged, such was the world of young men. 

“Up for an adventure?” Shawn nudged Truman.

“I guess, feeling more nervous than excited right now.”

“How so?”

“I don’t know, just got a weird feeling.”

“Yeah me too, weird, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, hopefully, the plane won’t crash.”

“Yo, don’t manifest it into existence. Don’t even think about it,” Shawn joked.

“We will crash, and you will be the only one to survive.”

“God, now you did it.”

“What would you do?”

“I don’t know, cry myself to sleep I guess.”

“Really?”

“Nah, I don’t think I would sleep.”

They laughed and Shawn gave Truman a look, realizing how glad he was to have him around.

“Fair,” Truman nodded in affirmation.