Camp Out

I’m standing here staring at myself in the mirror, my heart drumming loudly. I don’t want to go but, I can’t tell them. They wouldn’t understand even if I did. Or they would tell me I’m being paranoid. We go every year and have always come home with great memories. But, I can’t shake this gnawing feeling in the back of my mind. I know something will go wrong. My friends always pick on me for trusting my gut, my sixth sense. However, my gut is never wrong. I took one last look before turning out the light and shutting my bedroom door, the sound encasing my heart in dread.

“Thorn, hurry your ass up!” My best friend Megan shouted up the stairs.

“I’m coming, stop your bitching or you’re not going!” I shouted back.

“Girl, who do you think you’re talking to?”

I let out a short laugh, that sounds exactly like Megan. Megan and I have known each other since grade school. We met when I walked into class for the first time and sat next to her. She invited me to sit with her at lunch, we’ve been inseparable ever since. We were riding together, everyone else is meeting us there. Every summer after school gets out, we go camping in the woods for a week. It started during our freshman year of high school. It was a school night, my mom and I had gotten into a fight again. She kicked me out so, I called Megan and we went for a drive. We drove and drove until we ended up running out of gas. Our car stopped right by the woods.

Of course, we were scared of being out there in the middle of the night alone. We heard voices in the distance and climbed hesitantly out of the car. There was a fiery orange campfire and the smell of smores filled the air. I didn’t know about Megan but, my stomach was ravenous. A few older couples were sitting around it, laughing. The two of us explained to them what happened and asked for help. One of the men stood up and smiled at us. He looked a tad younger than the rest. The others looked to be in their forties where he looked closer to thirty.

“Have no fear ladies. I have a gas can in my trunk for emergencies. I’ll go fill your tank up for you while you wait here.” The man smiled again and walked away. One of the women gave us some smores and root beers for the drive home. When he finished we thanked them and headed back home. We fell in love with that camp spot and have returned every summer since. It was our safe haven, our home away from home. So, why could I still not shake this feeling of unease?

“What are you so lost in thought about?” Megan asked as we piled our bags in the back of my jeep.

“I was thinking about the first time we ever went there. Our car running out of gas and how we were so stupid to just walk into the middle of the woods and ask random strangers for help. They could have been stalkers or ax murderers.” I dramatically gasped as she laughed. Even though I laughed with her, the humor didn’t reach my voice.

“They definitely would have killed you first, you’re the ditsy one with the huge tits.”

“Oh yeah? Well, you’re the blonde and blondes always die first.”

“Get your ass in the jeep and let’s go.”

“Aye-aye captain!” I exclaimed as we climbed inside the jeep and started the drive to Overgrown Forest Park. I’ve always loved this drive, everything is so green and peaceful, purely beautiful. It’s part of the reason we decided to keep coming back. It was a great place to relax, blow off steam, hide from our parents. The memories of those camping trips got us all through some tough times. I was going to miss this place when we all graduate.

“I know you better than you think. So, what is really on your mind Thorn?” Megan sighed as she turned her head towards me.

“Oh, that’s right. How could I ever forget? I just have this feeling like something bad is going to happen. I don’t know, I can’t shake it though.” I replied, keeping my head pointed towards the window.

“Honey, I think you’re just overthinking it. You’ve been through a lot lately and no one your age should have to live through what you did. I think you just need to clear your head, relax, and have a little fun. I promise you won’t regret this trip.”

“Don’t make a promise that you can’t keep,” I whispered to my reflection.

“Hey, we’re here!” Megan shouted with joy.

“I know, I can see that.” I stuck my tongue out at Megan and she flipped me off. We laughed as we pulled off on the side of the dirt road. Everyone else was already here, guess we were running late. We had just gotten out of the car when I felt someone grab me from behind. They clamped their hand over my mouth and whispered into my ear. My breath caught in my throat and my body erupted in goosebumps.

“Be quiet, and you’ll go quickly.”

“Nice try babe.” I grinned.

“How’d you know it was me?” Sage whined.

“We’ve been together for how long? I know your voice baby.”

“Ruin all of my fun why don’t ya?” Sage grumbled as he pulled me into a tight hug. I wrapped my arms around his neck and hugged him back. When he pulled away, I pressed my lips to his. His lips were so soft and warming, it almost made me forget about the quicksand in my gut. Almost.

“Okay guys, get a tent!” Logan yelled.

“Up yours, Logan!” Sage yelled back.

“Get control of your man, Megan.” I laughed.

“Have you met him?” Megan glared, her smile still reaching her eyes.

“Come on babe, help me get everything out of the car.” I tugged on his hand and pulled him to the jeep. We pulled out our luggage and Megan’s. Sage and I live together and everyone else crashes with us a lot. We’re both emancipated, which I think is part of the reason we get along so well. Sage took his truck to go pick up everyone else. No point in wasting gas and making everyone drive separately.

“Okay everyone, grab your stuff and let’s go! I’m starving.” Sage shouted. Everyone grabbed their bags and we began the slow trek to the camping spot. It’s about half a mile from our cars. I could hear everyone talking and laughing, having fun on the way. But, the further we walked, the more all I could think about was the pit in my stomach. It grew with every step we took.

“You’re always hungry piggy,” Raven said as she walked up to my left side.

“That is Ms. Piggy to you,” I replied. Raven bumped into me and I bumped her back. I still thought about telling everyone to go back but, something stopped me. I don’t know why but, I knew we had to stay. Even though, I wish we didn’t.

“Honey, what’s wrong?” Sage asked as he stopped walking and grabbed my hand.

“Nothing, I’m okay baby.” I lied.

“Thorn, I know you okay? Please just tell me what’s wrong.” He gave me his sad, puppy dog face. I could never lie to that face or those amazing eyes. His eyes are so light they almost look grey, sometimes though they look blue or maybe green. His eyes are a mystery that I’m still trying to figure out.

“I don’t feel good,” I said simply.

“Sweetheart, we can go home. You know we can always come back with just the two of us.” He said as he pulled me close and kissed me. I moaned slightly when he slipped his tongue into my mouth and then traced it slightly down my ear to my neck.

“As much as I would love that, that’s not what I meant. I feel like we shouldn’t be here like something horrible is going to happen if we stay.” I whispered as I rested my forehead against his broad chest.

“I know how you feel about that stuff and I believe you. You know I believe you, no matter what. But with everything that has happened lately, I think you’re just stressed. Please don’t worry, you know I would never let anything happen to you.” He stated as he pulled my head against his, looking into my eyes.

“It’s not me that I’m worried about,” I whispered as I closed my eyes. He wrapped his arms around my back and held me. I breathed in his scent and felt a little better. Nothing in this world could make me feel better like he can. Sage is my world and I will not let anything happen to him. I won’t. I can’t.

“Hey lovebirds, you guys gonna hurry up or should we take Logan’s advice and get you a tent?” Megan laughed. She looked at me and nodded her head, which meant I did the right thing telling him. We laughed and took hands as we walked to catch up with everyone else.

“Hey guys, we’re here! Let’s go ahead and set up then we can take a break and make some smores.” I suggested. We all dropped our bags and began to hitch our tents. A little over an hour later we all had our tents up and a fire going in the middle. This was the one plus of having so many people, things always get done so much quicker. We set the chairs around the fire and I had Sage and Megan on each side of me. Logan sat next to Megan, Raven sat next to Megan with Ivory on her side. Jason was next to Sage with Millie next to him and then Victoria and Grant and then Zoey and Raymond. I curled up next to Sage and tried to forget about all of the thoughts running through my head.

“Bathroom break, Thorn go with me please?” Megan asked as she grabbed my hand and pulled me out of my chair before I even had time to respond.

“Sure Megan, I’ll go with you. Like I have a choice.” I said.

“Just stop talking and let’s go.” She replied. We grabbed flashlights and walked a little ways from the campfire and squatted behind some bushes to go pee. We found our usual bathroom bushes and both squatted to go. When we were done we grabbed some toilet paper we brought with us then threw it in a garbage bag.

“So, is there a reason you wanted me to go with you?” I asked.

“Girl, you know I ain’t coming out here by myself to pee. That’s when every blonde girl dies, watch your horror movies!”

“I thought you were badass and would survive a horror movie?”

“I would! I know what I should and should not do. For instance, if you hear a noise then you don’t go to it. You run away as fast as possible. Second, you always keep the lights on. If they burn out, you run away as fast as possible. Third, if a killer is chasing you then you do not run upstairs. You bust a window out and run away as fast as possible. Fourth, you always keep your phone on silent. If it goes off, you run away as fast as possible.” She smiled proudly like she just won a gold medal.

“So, you have common sense and run away as fast as possible. Oh yeah, that is how you survive.”

“See, I told you I did. Didn’t I?”

“Of course, whatever you say the all mighty powerful boov.”

“Boov?” She asked.

“Yeah, you know that kids movie with the purple aliens who run away because they’re afraid?”

“I am not afraid! It’s called being smart, thank you!” She walked off. I followed behind her laughing the whole way.

“Okay, so what’s really the reason you brought me out here? What’s going on?”

“Things with me and Logan aren’t really that great.”

“What? I thought things were great with you two. You’re supposed to be getting married soon. You are supposed to be getting married soon, aren’t you?”

“Yes, we’re still supposed to be getting married soon. We’ve just been arguing a lot and we haven’t been sleeping together either. He’s been sleeping on the couch, some nights he goes out drinking and doesn’t come back at all.”

“Oh my god Megan, why didn’t you say anything sooner?”

“I just couldn’t, you know? I mean there’s been so much going on and I really wanted to have fun on this trip. We just graduated our junior year and we’re about to be seniors. This is the year everyone looks forward too. I mean it’ll go by so quickly and we’re all going to leave and start new lives. We’ll never see each other again.”

“Meg, is that what you’re worried about? You know that’s not true, no matter what we will always be best friends. We may not see each other a whole lot but, we will never lose each other. We’re all friends for life, I promise you don’t have to worry about that.” I put my arm around her shoulder and we walked back to the campfire to catch up with the others.