Chapter 1
I woke up to cold water splattering across my face. I sputtered and jerked into a sitting position on my bed.
I looked around in confusion. I was not a morning person. My brain goes into foggy mode. I was trying to figure out why water had been poured onto my face.
“Cameron?” I managed lazily. She ignored my question and continued getting dressed. We shared a dorm room. It was our senior year of college, and we were supposed to be on winter break.
I pulled the covers back over me and laid down in bed.
“Get up.” She said impatiently yanking the sheets off my body, causing me to shiver from the cold air.
“But we’re on break.” I whined.
“Well I thought we might take a trip.” She explained as she walked into the bathroom to put on make-up.
“But I haven’t packed.” I said sitting up.
“Just for the day,” She winked at me, “We could go to the mall, a karaoke bar, you name it.”
I stepped onto the wood floors and trudged towards my dresser. I grabbed my phone and quickly checked the weather, then picked out an outfit.
Cameron was touching up her make-up when I entered the bathroom. Neither one of us are morning people, so we mostly function in the morning with few words to one another. Of course, Cameron is able to process everything more quickly than me and wake up quicker in the morning though.
I sighed and looked in the mirror, I dabbed on some make-up and then pulled on my shoes. I packed a little bag with my phone, money, all the necessities.
“Your car?” I said sleepily.
“Yup.” She said grabbing her key off the desk and we walked out the door.
We got downstairs and hoped into her car.
“Coffee?” She asked me.
“Coffee.” I answered in relief.
Once we had stopped by Starbucks and had our caffeine for the day, I especially was much more awake.
“Do you want to go the lake?” she asked, sipping quietly on her Cappuccino. The lake was out in the forest, a place we would sometimes go to with other friends to take a quick swim.
“Didn’t bring a bathing-suit.” I sighed drinking up the last bit of coffee left in my Starbucks.
“It’s still nice to walk through the forest.” She said stirring her drink.
“Oh no,” I said shaking my head.
“What?” She demanded defensively.
“You have that look in your eye, and you stir your drink like that when you are up to something.” I explain, “It’s too early for me to focus.”
“Come on,” she said as she pulled me towards her car, “How bad can it be?”
“Cameron,” I said with a deadpan expression on my face, “It’s winter break, WINTER break. We will be freezing, stumbling around in the forest.”
She ignored my comment and opened the passenger door for me, and I got inside. She walked around to the driver’s side and hopped in. She took off in the direction of the forest and I just watched the buildings fly by from the car-door window.
We were arrived at the “entrance” to the forest, she quickly parked on the side of the rode and we both stepped out of the car. We both grabbed our bags and headed into the forest.
I looked around at the trees with barely a few leaves left on them.
“Why are we out here again?” I asked in frustration.
“It’ll be fun to explore.” Cameron answered.
“In freezing conditions?” I said sarcastically, “No thanks.”
We continued walking through the forest, me complaining most of the way. Don’t judge. My feet were killing me, I could’ve been sleeping in, and it is like exploring a freezer.
Finally we reached the lake. Honestly, it was beautiful in winter as well. Not quite sure why we call it a lake instead of a large pond....
I set down my bag and stood in front of the water. Suddenly I was shoved from behind...into the water.
“Cameron!” I sputtered as I resurfaced, “What’s your problem?”
She was laughed and pointed a me like a little child would. I splashed her, and she all the sudden stopped laughing.
“Not so funny now,” I grinned cruelly.
She started running towards the water and cannon-balled next to me, spraying my face.
“JJ,” Cameron exclaimed, “I am wear shorts. I was cold before, but when we get out we’re going to be freezing.”
“Same here.” I sighed and sunk into the water, “Least I’m being fashionable, no one wants to see your hairy legs, you need to wear leggings next time anyway.”
She laughed and kicked water into my face...again. Then she waddled as fast as she could towards land.
I giggled and started chasing her. I caught up to her and tagged her. I sprinted full speed to the lake and started climbing the rocks on the side of the lake. She stumbled after me and all I could do was laugh.
Suddenly, she stopped dead in her tracks. I looked back at her. First I thought she was trying to trick me into slowing down, but she looked nervous.
“What’s wrong?” I called down, still climbing the rocks until I had a good jump down into the lake.
“I thought I heard twigs snapping.”
“Is a bunny gonna attack you.” I cooed down causing her grin back up to me and start climbing, “Oh no! The bunnies are going to attack us, run for your lives!” She laughed as I jumped into the water.
I resurfaced on to hear a loud splash behind me, I started swimming towards land again, hoping to get away from the tagger.
I stood up on land and looked down at Cameron swimming towards me rapidly.
“Okay!” I exclaimed, “I call a truce, we will keep going around in circles if we don’t agree on something.”
“I never lose.” She shook her head and continued towards me. I laughed and ran towards the rocks again.
“Funny thing,” I announced “I don’t lose either.”
“Liar,” she lounged towards me, “I beat you in everything.”
“Just dance?” I demanded as she tagged me.
“Fine,” She huffed, “You beat me in Just Dance, but only Just Dance.”
“Victory is mine!” She shouted as she ran away.
“You’re going to wake a bear or something.” I exclaimed.
She shook her head grabbing her bag.
The only threat I see around here is a pile of trash that is a terrible influence.
"Me, a bad influence?” I demanded incredulously, “Your the one who pushed me into the water!”
We were about to walk out of the forest when suddenly out walked two men. Both without a shirt on revealing their toned muscles.
I turned hesitantly towards Cameron who was looking at the two men who could easily beat us in any fight, race, or...anything. We didn’t stand a chance.
“Hello,” I stepped forward, always the tension-breaker, “We were just passing by.”
I couldn’t help but notice the dirty-blond haired man. He was very muscular and looked like a demi-god.
“We can’t let you do that.” the black-haired man stepped forward. He carried an aurora of authority.
“Sorry to let you down.” Cameron said defiantly, “but we’re leaving."
The black-haired man raised one eye-brow. Suddenly a bunch of men surrounded us and a cloth covered my mouth, then I black-out.
