#hfap

Travis tries not to gawk at her. Laura is simply... fascinating.

Well, he’s always found her fascinating - he still remembers the very first message he got from her, how her knowledgeable comment on ducks had immediately caught his attention. But now, seeing her in the flesh, enthusing about the things she’s passionate about... this woman must be some kind of siren. Testing him.

Tempting him.

‘Maybe we should start going back the other way?’ she asks, gesturing back in the direction where they came from.

‘Yes, sure.’

He’s about to turn round when Laura’s voice stops him again.

‘Wait... I haven’t noticed that before.’

She’s taking a few steps in the opposite direction, towards the forest and towards a strange-looking shrub near the shoreline, where a single crimson flower has bloomed in the middle of it.

‘This doesn’t even look like it belongs here. It’s beautiful.’

Assuming she wants to take a picture of the flower, Travis waits for her patiently. He looks up the time on his phone - they still have around one hour before sunset, thus enough time to calmly make their way back to their respective cars.

He’s checking his notifications when he hears a scream.

It was Laura’s voice.

His head snaps up, and before he even has the time to react properly, he sees her stumble backwards, her foot slipping on a rock - making her fall directly into the shallow water.

Travis rushes to her, his heart hammering in his chest. He’s mentally praying that her head did not hit anything in her fall. Barely registering her hand which is still holding the camera sticking out of the surface, he dives into the ice cold water, grabbing her waist and pulling her out. As they both still have their legs underwater, he picks her up bridal style and carries her to the shore. She’s coughing in his arms. He looks down to her and notices with relief that she has no blood on her face.

He squats down, starting to lower her to lay her down on the ground, but she shoves him back, freeing her legs to stand up on her own.

‘I’m fine, I’m fine...’ she mutters.

‘You sure?’ he asks her, worried.

He inspects her carefully, his hands still placed comfortingly on her upper arms. Indeed, she looks fine, she -

Oh.

Travis drops his hands, taking one step backwards. 

He cannot take his eyes off her. Although her jacket still covered her arms and shoulders, her drenched white blouse is now completely see-through, clinging to her skin and revealing the lovely curve of her breasts. Which are barely covered by the delicate lace of her light blue bra.

‘Travis.’ she whispers.