[X] Pick up Sierra. She has been your friend since middle school, it is only right that you all get her first.
"Sierra. Her first."
Good ol' reliable Sierra. Nice, adventurous, and just a little bit snarky at times. Of your friends, Sierra is arguably the one you've known the longest. The two of you met during the seventh grade, and for a while the two of you
hated the other. You don't really remember why anymore, but you're sure it wasn't for any meaningful reason. You do remember when you started to get along, however. You remember there was one day where she was eating lunch alone, away from everyone else. You felt bad for her, even if you didn't like her then, so you decided to sit next to her and try to talk to her.
It was... a rocky start. The conversation started off pretty awkward, but as it went on it became increasingly more casual. After that day, little by little, you and Sierra talked more often, and eventually you'd start hanging out. Ever since then the two of you were the best of friends. Of course since your move to Seattle you've been talking less and less, with life in general being the main reason for the disconnect. You were sure that if it weren't for social media the two of you would have drifted apart for good as Sierra had a habit of either losing her phone or breaking it, forcing her to get a new phone and occasionally number.
"Perfect! I'll let her know we are on the way!" Danielle remarked cheerfully as she energetically typed away at her phone.
Eli turned the keys and the truck's engine roared to life, causing the vehicle to shudder from its rumbling. Soon the vehicle is put into motion as you faintly hear the opening riff to the song "Should I Stay or Should I Go" by the Clash from the car's radio.
It'll take some time to get to Sierra's home, maybe about 10 minutes. While the faint music would help erase the unease of a silent drive it wasn't a great alternative in lieu of conversation, so you figured to go start one up.
"Hey, Eli?"
"Hm?"
"What do you know about the camp ground we're going to?" You ask as you shift in your seat, trying to get comfortable.
"Just a few things," he shrugged as he turned the corner. "I know how to get there, and a little bit of the history of the forest."
"What kind of history?" You titled your head a bit; curious as to what he meant.
"Well, the forest has some urban legends and folklore to it, and-"
"Oh! Anything spooky?" Danielle spoke up, focusing her attention onto her boyfriend while sporting a grin that would make the Cheshire Cat green with envy.
"Yep! But, uh, you're going to have to wait until to night," Eli said, giving her a playfully wink.
"Lame..." muttered the black haired beauty, giving her boyfriend a pouting look as she sunk into her seat. Eli chuckled at the expense of his girlfriend's disappointment, which she responded to by playfully stick her tongue at him. These guys were dorks, but you couldn't help but love them all the same.
"Anyway," Eli said, focusing back on his driving. "Like I said, I know the history and the folklore about the woods, but I also know a few locations to check out there. I know somewhere in the woods there is a small lake, so if you are interested in swimming I hope you brought a swimsuit."
That... actually never occurred to you when you were preparing. Granted, you were preparing for what you would need out in the woods with your friends and weren't thinking about such things. Though, you don't know if any of your other friends prepare for swimming. Maybe they were all just like you and didn't think of it either. Well... maybe Eli and Danielle probably did given that Eli knew about it and probably told Danielle ahead of time. Though even if Eli didn't personally bring a swimsuit, Danielle most likely did. She was just that sort of person. Of course, it wouldn't surprise you if she brought it just to show it off to Eli. She was also
that sort of person.
Though you suppose it didn't really matter all that much so long as you all had a good time together.
"There she is!"
Danielle's voice, snapped you out of your thoughts. You leaned forward slightly, narrowing your eyes as you looked into the distance. Sure enough, in front of a white house was Sierra with a duffel bag at her feet and bobbing her head to whatever music she as no doubt listening to from her phone. Eli pulled the truck over to the curb, parking it in place. You popped open the car door for Sierra as Danielle rolled down her window.
"Get in, loser! We're going shopping!" Danielle shouted out. Sierra just shook her head as she picked up her bag and walked towards the truck.
Now that she was closer you could get a better look at her. Sierra was about your height, with brown eyes and shoulder length brown hair with black highlights, and wore a red flannel jacket with a black tank top under it with the Batman logo on the chest, jeans, and a pair of hiking boots. Contrasting Danielle, Sierra lacked any jewelry of any kind on her person.
You scoot over in the back a bit so she could sit next to you. Sierra hopped in the car and looked to you, and you looked back. The two of you smiled to one another, reached over and hugged. You two held each other for a good few seconds, embracing the old friend that neither had seen in a long time.
"Now kiss!"
You and Sierra broke off the hug, the latter gave Danielle an annoyed look and reached forward to try to smack the grinning girl upside the head. Danielle however was too quick and ducked out of the way of Sierra's open hand, laughing all the while. Eli, meanwhile, was sighing and shaking his head in exasperation at their antics, and you felt as though you should join him. Whenever these two were always like this when they got together, almost like they had a secret pact to be a Straight Man/Wise Guy comedy duo.
Once the two had settled down Sierra relaxed in her seat and focused her attention back on to you.
"Been a while, Medea. How are you?"
"I'm doing alright," You say with a shrug. "I'm glad we all get to hang out again."
"Same here," she nodded as she took off her jacket. "I need to work on getting my driver's licence so me and you can hang out more often."
"Why haven't you yet?"
"Procrastination, mostly." She says with a sheepish grin, rubbing the back of her head. "Plus I've been trying to find a place of my own lately."
"Any places you have considered?" You ask.
"Not really," She signs. "I've been wanting to get out of town for a while but don't know where I would like to go."
You reach over and give Sierra a reassuring pat on the back.
"I know you'll think of something," You said while giving her a smile. Sierra smiles back, happy that you're there fore her.
The drive to Lucas' house was rather uneventful, as you, Sierra, Eli, and Danielle chatted freely among yourselves. The conversation flowed from simple catching up, to talks about upcoming movie, music, and more. Nothing really solid to keep the conversation fixed for the entire ride over to Lucas. As Lucas literally lived on the other side of town, the ride over was significantly longer than going to Sierra's.
By the time you all arrived to his house it was just a little past 1 o'clock. Once Eli had pulled up to the house he stepped out of the car.
"I got to help Lucas grab a few things. You guys sit tight."
With that he shut the car door and headed towards the house. While Sierra and Danielle busied themselves with making small talk while they waited, you focused your attention to Eli walking to the house front door. You see Eli knock on the door, and almost immediately it opens up. You can't tell who opened it, but you were sure it was Lucas. About a moment or two of talking to whoever answered the door, Eli entered the house and then exited with a ice chest in his hands, heading back to the truck.
Shortly after he was followed by another figure out the door who was carrying two pairs of lawn chairs in his arms. It didn't take you long to reconize him as Lucas. He looked a little different than when you last saw him. First off he grew out his dirty blond hair to about neck length, and got himself a tan. He wore a black AC/DC T-Shirt and a pair of tan cargo pants with pockets stuffed to the brim, to the point you were honestly surprised he wasn't having things fall out left and right as he walked towards the truck.
"Hey, Lucas!" Danielle shouted from the truck.
"Hey, Dani! Looking good as always!" Lucas said, giving her a wink as he placed the chairs into truck's bed.
"You know it! Now get in the truck and say hi to Medea!" The girl in the front she demanded as she rolled up her window.
Without needing much coaxing, Lucas shrugged and moved to the other side of the truck and entered into the back seats. Taking his seat, Lucas gives you a smile and wraps an arm around your shoulder, pulling you into a brief hug.
"Danielle told me to say hi to you. So hi." He chuckled as he let go.
"Hm, I heard the rumor." You said, chuckling yourself.
"Sup, Sierra!" He said, directing his attention to your long time friend on the other side of you and giving her a flirtatious grin. "How've you been, girl?"
"I was doing fine until you got into the car," Sierra replied sarcastically.
"No need to be like that," he said with a pretended hurt expression. "It is not everyday that you ladies get to seat with a gentleman such as I. And it is not every day I get to sit next to two lovely ladies such as yourselves."
"I'm sure on some planet, you are
quite the gentleman, but your weak link is this is
Earth." Sierra said with a grin and a roll of her eyes. You and Danielle couldn't help but laugh at the expense of Lucas, who for the most part took Sierra's ribbing rather well as he joined in himself.
Lucas was the friend from high school you've known for the shortest amount of time compared to everyone else. He was a transfer student in the senior year of high school, meeting him through Eli. He was a good guy, both polite and patient with people, and with a sense of humor. He was a major flirt, however, and would hit on any girl he found attractive, including you, Danielle, and Sierra. He would thankfully knock it off when it became clear he was being annoying or if he got himself a girlfriend. Outside of that, he was a pretty chill guy to be around, and would fondly gab on about his favorite movies, music, or shows if the subjects ever come up. You remember this one time the two of you were on a bus and he talk for thirty minutes about Godzilla. You don't even remember what set him on his rambling about the giant radioactive dinosaur, but it was rather adorably nerdy you could hug him to death.
"Alright, we're all set." Eli said as he entered back into the driver's seat. "Let's go!"
Danielle let out a cheer as the truck began to move once more, turning up the volume of the radio and the song "Highway To Hell" blasting out of the speakers. You winced from the sudden loud music, but you quickly adjust. Danielle starts rocking out in the front seat, banging her and singing along to the chorus. It doesn't take log until Lucas jumps in and starts singing along with her, Eli and Sierra bobbing their heads to the rock music playing, slowly joining in themselves.
You and all your friends, gathered together and already their having a good time. It warms your heart and a smile creeps onto your face.
You can tell that this trip is going to be great.
You find yourself jerked awake as the truck drove over unpaved road, being shaken left and right, colliding into Lucas and Sierra. You looked around groggily, rubbing your eyes. At some point during the trip you must have fallen asleep. The last thing you recall was all of you conversing while on the freeway. Nothing all that new, just more of the same from earlier: catching up, upcoming movies, video games, music, etc. You weren't sure when you started to doze off, but looking at your phone you saw it was almost 4 PM, so you were probably asleep for... You don't know, a few hours. You just woke up and your brain isn't awake enough to do time math.
As you put away your phone, a hand comes down on the top of your head, ruffling your hair.
"Morning, Sleeping Beauty," Lucas chuckled. "Get a good rest?"
Not fully awake yet to give a proper response with words, you just nod and yawn in response.
"Considering how much you wanted to hang out with us on this trip, I would have figured you would have gotten more sleep last night to avoid this." He said as he retracted his hand.
"Sorry, I tend to doze off when I'm riding in a car." You say as you stretch your arms above you head, which just bump up against the top of the truck. "If I'm driving I don't have that issue, but the moment I'm the passenger I'm out like a light in 30 minutes."
"Hey it's not all bad," Sierra said, taking your head into her hand and directing it to look outside. Now that you were a little more aware you could see that you had made it to the forest as stretches of trees pass by. "You get to wake up just as we arrived."
Suddenly the truck began to slow down before coming to a complete stop. Eli shifts the truck into park and cutting off the ignition.
"Alright, let's get moving," He says as he opens his door and steps out into the outdoors.
The rest of you soon follow, getting out of the truck and putting your feet to the dirt floor of the campsite. You take a deep breathe, letting fresh air and the aroma of the forest into your lungs, and stretched your arms high above your head, causing your joints to give out a satisfying cracking sound. You looked around you, taking in the surroundings. The campsite was pretty bare, all things consider. It was large circular shape, the ground beaten into a fine dirt road to allow cars to traverse upon it, and allow them to move in and out without difficulty. In the very center was an old metal fire pit, the inside of which was blacken by fires from an untold number of campers. Surrounding the fire pit were four old logs, lined around the fire pit in a square, obviously to act as seating for those who didn't bring any of their own.
You turn back to the truck, seeing Eli unload the supplies from the back as the others surrounded him.
"You want us to give you a hand, man?" Lucas asks as he takes his ice chest from the back.
"Nah, I got this." He says as he pulls out a folding lawn chair from the back and hands it to Danielle, who gives him a kiss and saunters off with it. "You guys go relax, I'll set up camp."
Sierra and Lucas looked to one another then shrugged, walked off and leaving Eli as he request. This wasn't really surprises, Eli always did like doing the heavy lifting himself. Though he liked to claim it was because he wanted everyone else to relax, you sort of suspected it was because he was a bit of a control freak and a perfectionist when setting things up, even to the point when it would be self-defeating.
You looked around to see what everyone else was doing. Danielle had set up her lawn chair just outside the log seating arrangement and was now stretched out on it like a cat. Lucas had taken a seat on a log, facing Danielle's direction, with his ice chest next to him. He reached inside the chest and pulled out a bottle of beer, popping off the cap with a bottle opener he had fished out from one of his stuffed pants pockets.
Sierra was heading towards the edge of the camp towards the forest.
"Sierra, where are you going?" You call out to her.
"Just for a bit of a hike," She calls back. "Figured it'd be a good way to both check out the forest and to stretch my legs out after that drive."
Seems like everyone was doing their own thing. What should you do?
[ ] Write-in
[ ] Help Eli set up camp
[ ] Hike with Sierra
[ ] Hang out with Danielle
[ ] Drink with Lucas