Carry On

"I just need to find myself! I have to get away from here," Rea thought as she left the note on the coffee table in her parents living room. "It's all for the best"1

Rea closed the door, and her old life behind her and headed for her car. She threw her suitcase in the trunk and hopped into her car. She backed out and was tempted to look back. "Never look behind you, it'll bring bad luck" she reminded herself. Maybe one day she'd return, but not until she knew who she was. All her life she had been defined by what she did: strait A student, captain of the colorguard and a state qualifying runner. It was a life she was tired of.2

Sunrise brought with it the Colorado border. Rea stopped for some gas in a quiet, lazy town. She filled her tank and then went in the store for some food.3

"Hey there stranger," a voice said. Rea looked up to see the cashier standing right next to her. "What brings you to this town?"4

"Oh I'm just passing through on my way to the mountains." She replied brushing her brown hair out of her face. The guy was handsome enough, tall, built, grey eyes and brown hair. What was a guy like him doing in a town like this? Rea roamed the aisles looking for some chewing gum and a Mountain Dew.5

"Can you believe I've lived in Colorado all my life and never been to the mountains. All I get is a really hazy glimpse of them sometimes if the air is clear. All my life has ever been is being on the farm. And most recently this job." He mused.6

"By the way, my name's Rea" she said extending a hand, "haven't you ever wanted to get out? See what the world's really like?"7

"Yes, but try telling my parents. All they ever talk about is how I'll take over the farm someday. They won't ever let me go anywhere lest I leave forever." He laughed.8

"That sucks." Rea commented. "You ever thought of just running out on your own?"9

"Yeah, actually. Many times." 10

"Then come with me." Rea said impulsively. "Just leave it behind and come with me."11

"You mean just pack up and leave?" 12

"Exactly. That's what I did. I couldn't stand being at home. I had to get out." Rea explained.13

The guy thought for a moment then said, "Ok....and my name is Rhys by the way." He threw his cashier's vest at the counter and followed Rea to her car."My parents are probably out, so if you don't mind I'd like to stop by and pick up a few things."14

"Ok," Rea said. She followed Rhys' directions and pulled up to a large white farmhouse. He was in and back in no time at all. "Have everything you need?" she asked as he hopped into the car.15

"Yeah, I also picked up all the money I've made. Let's go." Filled with excitement they started down the interstate towards the mountains.16

................17

Two hours later Rhys was asleep as Rea drove through the eastern Colorado countryside. She flipped through the radio stations and found nothing but fuzz. "What is this, the buttcrack of America?" she thought as she turned off the radio. She looked over at the sleeping Rhys. He stirred and woke up.18

"Morning gorgeous." she joked as he looked at her.19

"I try," he laughed,"Nothing on the radio is there?"20

"Absolutley not. I think you live in the buttcrack of America." she sighed.21

"That's why the great people at MacIntosh made the iPod," Rhys said, "And it just so happens, I brought mine with me." He plugged his iPod into the cigarette lighter and finally music filled the car.22

"So Rea, tell me about yourself. Where are you from? How old are you?" Rhys asked.23

"You want the whole story?" Rea asked and Rhys nodded. "Ok here we go. My full name is Rea Elaine Townsend. Tell anyone my middle name and I'll shoot you. I'm 18 years old and my birthday is October 29th. I come from Palco Kansas and I've lived there all my life. I've done competitive AAU running since I was 10 and I was a state qualifying track and crosscountry runner. I'm also the captain of the colorguard, and crosscountry team. I was also a co-valedictorian." Rea finished.24

"Wow.....competitve running since 10?"25

"Yeah. Running isn't really fun for me anymore." she sighed.26

"Why did you keep doing it then?" Rhys asked.27

"They never let me quit. I'd say I just want to run for fun, and they'd go all psycho." Rea explained. Not wanting to go further into the subject, she changed it. "Enough about me, what about you?"28

"My full name is Rhys Alexander Cameron, and I too am 18, 19 in two weeks, which is June 13. I live in Burlington Colorado and have all my life. The farthest from home I've been is Grandma and Grandpa Franklin's house in Kanorado. All my life has been farm work, nothing else. Except for my job at the 7 Eleven." he laughed.29

"You never did sports?"30

"Never had the time. It's allways been work, work, work. I have one sibling, and he is younger than I am, so whenever I wasn't working, I was watching him." Rhys explained.31

Rea looked at the road ahead. Off in the distance the sillouhettes of mountains appeared. "Hey look Rhys, the mountains!"32

"As of now this is the closest I've seen them." He looked in amazement.33

Rea laughed inwardly at his wonder and awe about something that wasn't really all that special. Ooo, mountains, if you've seen one you've seen them all. Rhys was thinking about Rea. She seemed to have a dream life. Sports, travel, great grades, how could she ever want anything different than what she had?34

.............35

"Rhys, Rhys wake up! We're in the springs!" Rea said shaking Rhys.36

"Nnnnnnn. Five more minutes...." Rhys complained sleepily. Rea had an idea. She began screaming "Hit me Baby One more Time" as off key as possible.37

"What the...?" Rhys' eyes opened, then he smiled and playfully punched Rea in the arm.38

"Hey! I was only trying to tell you we are in Colorado Springs!" Rea said, shoving Rhys back, "and I'm driving here!"39

"So.." Rhys sighed, "What do you want to do now that we are in the Springs?"40

Rea spotted Pikes Peak as she glanced out the window. "Climb that mountain. Tomorrow of course, but I want to climb that mountain."41

"Wow, uh, Pikes Peak right? Isn't that quite a climb?" Rhys asked nervously.42

"What? Are you a pansy?" Rea teased. 43

"No. It just seems like quite a climb, " Rhys tried to sound cool. He'd never done anything like that before.44

"Well I'm not gonna lie. It is hard work. It's 12.8 miles to the top. But it's so worth it Rhys. Come on, it will be fun!" Rea looked at Rhys with puppy dog eyes.45

"Oh all right." Rhys conceded. "That still leaves a dilemma of what we are going to do tonight though."46

"Leave it to me. I've been here several times. I know where we can go." Rea said.47

.........48

That night around ten p.m. Rhys found himself in downtown Colorado Springs. The nightlife was nothing like he had ever experienced. People were lined up outside of clubs, and there were clubs everywhere. 49

"Are we going to one of these?" Rhys asked.50

"Yes we are, Mr. Cameron." Rea said as she pulled Rhys into the line of a club called Eden. Once they presented their I.D.'s to the bouncer, he marked their right hands with an X and let them in the club.51

"That's what I hate about clubs," Rea groaned, "They mark the people under 21 so that we can't buy a drink. Not that I would, but it's pretty degrading." Music began booming out of the large speakers. The interior of the club was white, but cast in a blue green color from the lights. "Come on Rhys, let's dance!"52

"I've never danced before!" Rhys remarked as Rea pulled him onto the dance floor.53

"Alright basically all you need to feel is the rhythm. Just sort of bounce around to it, and then I'll do the rest." Rea winked. Rhys scanned the rest of the crowd and began to mimic the movements of the crowd of guys. Rea began moving like an expert to the rhythm of the music. She really did look hott moving on the floor, he had to admit. Rea was probably the best looking girl he'd ever seen. He smiled and moved in closer to her. They danced the night away.54

...........55

Dawn was breaking as Rea woke up the next morning. "Today is the day!" she thought. This would be Rea's second time up the mountain, and before clubbing last night she had made sure they had all they would need for the hike. 56

"Rhys, you better wake up," she said shaking the sleeping man in the seat next to her, "Come on Rhys, we have to get started." 57

"Nnnnnnnn" Rhys muttered.58

"Great, now I have to do this again. MY LONLINESS IS KILLIN ME AND I, I MUST CONFESS, I STILL BELIEVE...."59

"What the frick!" Rhys sat upright, "I HATE that song!" He shot Rea a dirty look, then smiled nervously. He was still apprehensive about the climb. "Ready when you are." Rea smiled at him and put the car into drive. 60

They drove in silence along the road when Rhys noticed Garden of the Gods in the distance. "Look at how red those rocks are! It's unreal!"61

"I know," Rea said. "Look over here at Pikes. See that glint at the top? That's the Summit house. That's where we will be hiking to."62

"Wow," was all that Rhys could say. Both fell into silence again until after a few minutes when they both saw the exit for the base of Barr Trail. "Well it looks as though we are here." 63

"Yup," Rea said. "This is so exciting!" Both exited the car, which was parked close to the warning sign at the base of the trail. The warning sign explained about the dangers of the trail, such as the weather. It also cautioned hikers to have a plan about getting down the mountain.64

Rhys eyed the warning sign. "How are we getting off the mountain?"65

"We're gonna do the WHOLE thing, silly!" Rea laughed. "I knew if I would have told you that before, you wouldn't have gone for it, but you are here now. Change your clothes in the bathroom over there and lets get started."66

In about fifteen minute's time both were back at the sign ready to begin the trail. Rea's dark hair was back in french braids and she was wearing a white tank top, blue jeans, and a sweatshirt tied around her waist. Rhys was wearing a grey Beatles shirt that made his eyes pop out even more. 67

"Strap it on!" Rea said excitedly. Both picked up their backpacks and started up the trail. The beginning of the trail was steep and full of switchbacks. Rhys and Rea had to move over every once in awhile to dodge runners coming down. Neither talked much the first two miles. After another mile they were well into the trees and at the beginnings of the relatively flat part of the trail. They both found a stone next to the trail to sit on. They sat sipping water with the sulight splashing through the trees around them.68

"This is pretty cool so far." said Rhys. "I'm actually hiking a mountain!"69

Rea laughed inwardly again at Rhys' excitment at this whole mountain experience. "It only gets better as we get higher. We should get going again." Both got up and continued the trail. This time they talked about their favorite bands.70

"Well I'm a pretty big 80's fan," Rea said, "Guilty pleasure you know? I love bands like REO Speedwagon and Kansas."71

"I saw a Kansas concert on TV once. My parents really liked them, so I have grown up listening to them, and they still rock it out." Rhys agreed. "The late 70s and 80s were the glory years of music. That was back when people could actually sing and didn't need computer aid."72

Rea laughed. "Yeah, you're right. There is still some good stuff today though too. I really like Paramore and the Used."73

"I'm more into Linkin Park and Crossfade myself. Thousand Foot Krutch is pretty good, and they are Christian."74

"I saw TFK in concert, they were awesome!" Rea said. They continued discussing which bands were good and which bands sucked. Rhys was beginnning to feel the altitude fatigue now. Up ahead there was a clearing in the trees and a group of cabins.75

"Barr Camp." Rea said, "We're halfway Rhys! Let's stop and take another break." Rhys completely agreed and they headed into the camp. There was a large cabin in the middle of the camp and a smaller one off to the side marked "Restrooms". "Better use the chance to go to the bathroom here, because these are the last real bathrooms before the summit."76

"Alright." Rhys said as he headed off to the restrooms. He met Rea outside the door, as she had gone herself. They found a log to sit on and munched on granola bars. Rea suggested they go to the Camp house to look around. Rhys noticed a large back room full of beds. "People sleep here?"77

"Yeah and if I remember correctly, free of charge as well." Rea commented. She eyed the map of the trail on one of the tables. "We are here. This is what the rest of the trail looks like."78

Rhys nearly choked on the water he was drinking as he looked at the map. A whole lot of zig zags were ahead, and the contour bars were really close together meaning steep switchbacks. A lot of steep switchbacks.79

Rea spoke again. "Here is where A-Frame is. That stop means only 3 miles to the summit." She looked back at a nervous Rhys. "You can make it, I promise. It was hard for me the first time, but if I can do it, I know you can." Rea took Rhys' hand without meaning to, and quickly dropped it. "Let's get going. Strap it on!"80

Rhys felt an electric zap, and followed Rea out of the cabin. "Why do you keep saying "Strap it on" all the time?"81

"It's the call to keep moving. It's what one of my sponsors said when I hiked Pike's awhile back." Rea explained. They continued down the trail, and almost immediately it became steep and full of switchbacks. Rhys was feeling the fatigue from the altitude even more so. He had to stop about every ten minutes for water and a bit of a rest. Neither he or Rea spoke much until reaching A-Frame and the tree line. Rhys was majorly impressed with the view of the valley below.82

"Wow...I can't even....it's amazing." Rhys finished in awe.83

"It's a valley Rhys. Nothing that special."84

"Rea, you ever realize that you take too much for granted?" Rhys asked her. "I mean seriously. You don't understand how lucky YOU are. I mean, come on! The God of the world made this for you to enjoy. Take it in!"85

"You know what, Rhys? My life isn't the bed of roses you make it sound like. I wish in a way I could be like you. You haven't lost your sense of wonder."86

"Yeah I might not have lost my sense of wonder, but that's because I have never had the chance to marvel at something before. Being cooped up in a town your whole life isn't exactly fun either. Rea, what makes you think that your life is so horrible?" Rhys continued up the trail.87

"Everything I have ever done was for someone other than me, Rhys. When I was in grade school we had track and field day. I loved to run, and I was good at it too. That's when my parents decided to put me in AAU. At first I loved it, but then my parents hired this trainer. Soon I was caught up in having to train all the time. If I wasn't training, I was doing homework because I had to get into a good school and become a Doctor. Yeah I got to do colorguard, but only after some tough convincing. I had to run a certain time to get that privelege."88

"And I would get grounded for not reaching my time goals for the week. Once I missed my goals for two weeks because I wasn't feeling well, and my parents threatened to take me off of the colorguard even though they knew that I was needed for competition. I would tell my parents that I didn't want to run anymore....but they wouldn't listen. I got depressed because I wasn't ever allowed to see my friends anymore. And this happened Rhys. Look at my wrists."89

Rhys noticed the scars and a few recent scabs on Rea's wrists for the first time. "Rea....I'm so sorry."90

"I had to get out Rhys. I was going to die if I didn't. And to be honest, before I pulled into your gas station, I was thinking about ending it all because I didn't know what to do."91

"God was watching out for you, Rea." Rhys said. "He's watching out for the both of us. Like you, I argued about staying on the farm with my parents. They just said it was this phase I was going through. I want to be a photographer, but Dad says that won't pay enough. I just want to tell him that the farm barely pays enough. I was going crazy cooped up there. If you hadn't come I might have snapped."92

Rea noticed the sign for the Sixteen Golden Stairs, the final stretch of switchbacks before the top. "Let's "git er done" Rhys." They began up the stairs huffing and puffing from the lack of air. Finally they reached the top.93

"I DID IT!" Rhys exclaimed. "I hiked a mountain!" 94

Rea couldn't help but catch Rhy's excitment. She had helped someone accomplish something, and she couldn't help but feel happy about that. She jumped into Rhys' arms. "You sure did, Rhys, you sure did."95

"I couldn't have done it without you Rea."96

"I wouldn't have gotten this far without you Rhys."97

"Hey look at the view!" Rhys pointed to the valley below. The view stretched for miles, and one could even see the curve of the earth. Rea was struck by how overwhelming the view was.98

"It looks like the whole world is laid out, ready for the taking." Rea said.99

"It's amazing," was all that Rhys could say.100

"Where do we go from here?" Rea asked.101

Rhys turned and took Rea's hand in his. "Anywhere we want."