by Lewis, D. C.
As far as Larissa was concerned, Kiera wasn't going to live her life in fear. If she did, Larissa would win, and she wasn't going to have that. The idea that Larissa could have any influence in her life made Kiera furious.
Another thing was weighing heavily on her mind. She had finally gotten up with Brandon. He had sounded detached on the phone. Especially when she invited him to come on the camping trip, he seemed to become even more distant, answering in one-word sentences and giving the impression that he didn't wish to be on the phone. He just wasn't himself.
After they hung up, Kiera was feeling concerned but also guilty. Had she taken his friendship for granted? Had he finally grown tired of her and the way she would blow so easily in and then out of his life? She knew that the way she had treated him for so long hadn't really been fair, expecting him to be at her beck and call whenever she needed him without any regard to his feelings. Her expectation that he could continue to invest his time and attention into her with no reciprocation was unrealistic. She was well aware that he had developed some strong emotions for her over the years and she for him but her constant fear of his rejection held her at bay from expressing them. The fact of the matter was that she needed him more than he needed her. He was her constant, her rock, the one person she knew she could trust, the one person she really wanted to tell her secret to. There was no replacement for him. No one could come close, not even the group of friends on their way now. She feared she was on the verge of losing that connection.
It seemed like things had started to change between them after their kiss, but it wasn't Brandon to blame, it was Kiera. She had pulled away from him because she hadn't figured out how she felt about it. Even after replaying the experience multiple times in her head and reliving the electricity they shared when their lips met, Kiera just couldn't be comfortable with having any romantic inclinations towards Brandon. She had seen too many situations where good friends who became lovers ended up losing not only the romance but the friendship as well. It wasn't a risk she was willing to take.
As she had done so many times in the past, she vowed to make it up to him, and this time she fully meant it. She would repair the damage that had been done to their friendship, whatever it took, she swore. She just had to survive the next four days.
Twenty-Nine
"Are we there yet?" Pete asked for seemingly the thousandth time. He and Alan thought it would be a good idea to bring along a bright blue ninety-six quart cooler. The thing was massive, probably four feet long. Even though Kiera had bought a bunch of freeze-dried camping food, the kind of stuff that is designed to keep you alive more than taste good, she thought that a cooler with fresh food in it was a good idea. What she didn't think was a good idea were the three cases of beer that Pete's older brother had bought for him which were nestled in the icy confines of the cooler. The whole thing had to weigh close to one hundred pounds Pete on one side and Alan on the other, a massive burden even when its transporters weren't carrying hiking packs, so Pete and Alan had their work cut out for them.
Yet Kiera had no sympathy. She had told them she didn't think that bringing all that beer was a good idea, an unnecessary encumbrance. They would also be walking several miles into the woods, the majority of it at an incline and that the cooler, loaded as it was, would get heavy quick. She was reassured by both males of the group to not worry, that they could handle it. Now thirty minutes into their hike, Pete and Alan looked like they were going to die from exhaustion, but being of the male gender and incredibly stubborn, they would not admit they were wrong, simply struggling to lug the large container to the campsite. None of the girls volunteered any help - it was the boys' chore and tough love was called for.
Added to the weight of the cooler was a small compressor that Pete had installed. It produced and circulated cold air that blew through the plastic coffin, keeping the ice frozen and the contents cold. Pete said that it would keep the items packed within at near freezing for about five days before batteries died and new ice would be needed, more than enough time for the trip.
Kiera thought it was pretty ingenious but had to stifle a laugh each time she heard the compressor click on. She imagined the hum from the fan repeating the phrase "I told you so" over and over. When the boys in unison asked her what was so funny, she failed to completely mask her amusement and burst out laughing while responding "Nothing". The boys didn't find it as amusing and glowered back, which just made Kiera laugh all the harder.
Other than the griping by the male component of the group, things had gone very smoothly. Katrina stayed away from home the day the group arrived, so Kiera didn't have to worry about the interaction between her mother and her friends.
It had been really good to see them as they pulled through the gate and into her driveway, all piled into Pete's old Bronco. All the anxiety, discomfort, and other negative emotions that Kiera had been feeling over the past week or so seemed to instantly disappear as she saw her quintet of friends for the first time in almost two months.
With her heart racing, she ran out the front door to greet them. Even in her excitement, it wasn't lost on her that Pete was driving with the petite Lyndsey sitting in the passenger seat, while the remaining three were seated in the back. She doubted it was simply coincidence and made a mental note to ask Lara about it.
Speaking of Lara, she had been ecstatic to see Kiera after so long, and climbed out of the back seat before the Bronco had come to a complete stop. Squealing and running, she burst from the car running towards her best friend. Even though the squealing typically got on her nerves, Kiera couldn't help but feel a little bit was justified and braced herself for the impact of Lara's embrace. Crying, laughing, and talking, somehow all at the same time, Lara's enthusiasm at simply seeing Kiera made Kiera feel good, like she really mattered. She felt almost as if Lara would still feel the same about her even if she knew her secret. Almost.
While Lara was babbling on, the rest of the crew filed out of the car, seeking refuge from the close confines of the steel box after being in its innards for over eight hours. Everyone looked pretty much the same, Kiera noticed as she hugged each one, and smelled the same too. Kiera would have been able to identify her friends by smell alone. The only difference was that Pete had traces of Lyndsey on him, and vice versa. The smell was far stronger than what simply riding in a car together would provide. Kiera was definitely going to have to ask Lara about it.
"So this is the palace, huh?" Pete half-stated, half-asked, his thick Southern accent fitting in well with the locals. "We gonna get a tour or what?" he asked, smiling his big smile.
"Oh well, I guess so," Kiera responded sarcastically, her own smile ruining the effect.
Laughing loudly, Pete put his arm around Kiera's shoulders as they walked to the front door, the others trailing behind, their faces split with smiles. It felt good to be back with her friends. Her Lycoan side, silent and waiting, thought it felt good also, but not to be with friends, but with packmates.
After a thorough tour of her mother's house and hearing her friends compliment every aspect of it, Kiera took them to the kitchen to get them something to eat before they got going. Earlier that morning she had gone to the grocery store to pick up a few things for them, stuff she wouldn't eat herself, but things she wanted to have readily available for her friends if they so desired. It also gave the semblance of normalcy for them to see frozen pizzas and other quick microwaveable meals, piled high in the freezer,.
As they sat around the bar in the kitchen, eating and talking, Kiera found herself explaining why she had a new car, that a deer had ran out in front of her while driving home one night and she had creamed it. This was not an uncommon occurrence in her hometown and one that would be easily believed should it be circulated around town. Her friends readily believed it and after offering their condolences, the subject changed to other matters. Kiera was relieved, for she hated lying to her friends.
As they prepared to head to the campsite, Lara admitted that she d
idn't have any essential camping gear, primarily being absent a pack and sleeping bag, not realizing she would need them. Kiera, anticipating this, had already bought these things for Lara. She presented them to her when they went outside to finish packing the last few items into the two cars.
"You know me too well," was all Lara could say as tears threatened to return to her eyes once more, and embracing her friend and giving her a big squeeze.
Kiera was pleased with herself and wasn't at all surprised when Lara jumped into the passenger seat of the Range Rover when everybody was ready to go. Doing one last mental check to make sure she had everything packed, Kiera climbed into the driver's seat and started the car. Lara was already inspecting everything, playing with all the knobs and other gadgets. Kiera noticed her friend taking in deep breaths through her nose, inhaling the new car smell that never seemed to last as long as you wished.
Glancing over at her excited passenger, Kiera smiled. "Ready?" she asked.
"Absolutely!" came the excited response as Lara reached around to her right side to put on her seatbelt.
As per normal, with Kiera in the lead and the rest of her friends following close behind, they pulled out of the front gate.
The campsite was a popular spot for tourists and locals alike. Named Sugarloaf, its white sands, uncommon for this area, looked like granulated sugar, hence its name. If one didn't have some type of watercraft, the area was only accessible by a bridge that spanned the waterway, the same waterway that ran behind Kiera's house. In fact, Kiera had passed their camping spot the day she went blasting up and down the water on her WaveRunner.
The car ride would only take about fifteen minutes but would provide more than enough time for Lara to catch Kiera up on all the happenings. Rattling off at a mile a minute, Lara filled her best friend in. Lara had met a boy a few weeks ago at a party and she was interested in him, Hillary had joined a Gay and Lesbian support group, and Alan had submitted a "top secret" story to a magazine, which left only Pete and Lyndsey. Lara confirmed Kiera's suspicion that Pete and Lyndsey were sneaking around seeing each other. They hadn't made an official announcement to the group but everyone knew. The amusing part was that Pete and Lyndsey didn't know that their friends knew about their secret romance; instead, they thought they had their friends fooled. How those two could actually believe that when their affection for each other was so apparent blew Kiera's mind.
"Even the smartest people can be delusional," she thought.
It was nice listening to Lara talk, although many wouldn't agree. Her speech resembled one of those auctioneers she used to see at the town's annual tobacco auction. Those people talked so fast that it seemed to be pure gibberish, yet if you didn't try to understand it, and just let the sound waves flow into your ears, it would suddenly make sense. Lara's current rate of speech was very similar, Kiera really didn't focus on what her friend was saying, just letting Lara's voice wash over her like a tidal wave, and nodded her head now and then to provide positive feedback and encourage her friend to keep talking. Kiera lost herself in its cadence, letting her mind go blank for the first time in a long while and just let her instincts guide the car.
Before she knew it, they were cresting the bridge to the island, the vantage point allowing anyone to see miles in all directions, even those without Kiera's keen eyesight. Driving on the decline, Kiera picked up speed, racing towards the bottom and giving herself that feeling of freefall that manifests in the pit of your stomach, the kind you get on a fast rollercoaster. It plummets to the ground, only to change direction at the last second to avoid impacting with the quickly approaching ground.
Apparently Pete had the same notion as Kiera saw him follow in kind in her rearview. Flashes of ivory filling the mirror showed her friends' enjoyment of the simple pleasure, similar to the expression of her current passenger, Lara had laughed and giggled as much as Kiera had.
The parking lot of the campgrounds was crowded, it being a popular time of the year for people to be outdoors. Anticipating this, Kiera had called weeks ago to reserve the camping spot, number fourteen. It was a two-mile trek into the woods but it would be well worth it once they got there. Kiera felt as if this was the best spot on the island but said nothing, wanting to surprise her friends.
"Are we there yet?" Alan asked this time, sweat running down his fact to collect at his chin and drop at terminal velocity towards the ground.
"No," Kiera answered.
"Are we close? Please tell me we are close, I feel like we have been walking for hours."
The pain in Alan's voice threatened to break Kiera's resolve and she almost started feeling sorry for him. Lara must have seen it in her eyes and came to her friend's rescue.
"Well why don't you drink one of those beers you just had to bring with you, it should numb the pain," she said in a voice that offered not the slightest bit of sympathy.
Figuring it wise to not further antagonize the girls, Alan chose not to respond, simply acting as if nothing had happened. To avoid any further complaints from the boys, Kiera made the decision to take the girls and go on ahead, so the boys could then complain all they wanted, but not be heard.
"We are going on ahead," she announced as the other double-x chroms put their hands to their mouths to hide their laughter. "Just keep following this trail, hopefully you'll get there before we have to turn back around to leave."
The look on the boys' face was priceless. It looked like someone was strangling them as their complexions darkened and veins started to stand out in their temples, pulsing with each heartbeat. Before they could collect their thoughts and unleash the fury that was surely bubbling inside them, Kiera quickly whisked the other three girls up the sandy path and around a corner, out of sight and earshot from the boys. Hilary was doubled over in laughter, her sides hurting.
"Did you see the look on their faces?" she asked in between breaths. "I thought they were going to pass out on the spot!"
"They are going to be okay aren't they?" the petite Lyndsey asked, concern written on her oval face.
"They will be fine," Kiera assured her, noting that Lyndsey's amusement at the boy's predicament wasn't genuine. "They are young and healthy, a little sweat isn't going to hurt them."
Lyndsey was placated by the reassurance and the concern that marred her features was replaced by the merriment the others were feeling. Locking arms to form a line four abreast, the girls started skipping to their destination, singing the "Wizard of Oz" theme song at the top of their lungs and off key - four friends, happy at being reunited, who didn't have a care in the world.
The gals had been at the campsite for almost of an hour before the boys finally drug themselves in. Panting and sweating, the smell of beer polluting the outdoors with each exhale, Kiera surmised that they had taken their time and enjoyed a few cold drinks before making the last leg of the trip. Whether it was lack of concern about time or whether it was in some way to pay the girls back for leaving them, Kiera didn't know. If it were the latter, it didn't have any effect, as the girls had been so caught up in the view from their home for the next four days that they had temporarily forgotten Pete and Adam. Even Lyndsey had gotten entranced with their surroundings. Their spot was at one of the highest points on the island, overlooking the waterway, the tall dunes dropping off like the sheer face of a cliff. With the extension of the canal cutting a deep swath in the ground, the dunes rising fifty feet from the water in some places, it was no surprise that this place was called "The Cliffs". An uneven path zigzagged down the face of the dunes to the beach below. Luckily the sand below was an ample cushion for anyone who misjudged a step and tumbled down - while they would be bruised and battered, they most likely wouldn't break any bones. One of the trees standing watch over the sheer drop off had been outfitted with a wrist-thick rope with a massive knot at the bottom. The adventurous sort could grab this, get a running start and swing out over the side, fifty feet in the air, with nothing to break their fall except the beach below. At high tide, thos
e brave enough could let go and at the apex of their ride, and fall safely into the embrace of the water below, it being deep enough to allow you to crash gently into its brackish depths. Kiera decided not to tell the boys about the rope yet and hoped that they wouldn't notice it. Alcohol and gravity didn't seem to be the safest combination to her, and the last thing she wanted was someone getting hurt.
Her cohort seemed pleased with the location. Even the boys, their previous drama already forgotten, smiled and complimented Kiera on her choice. Kiera was pleased that her friends were pleased. After everyone had ample time to soak in the majesty of their surroundings, the preparation of the camp began. The gals had already emptied the vital items from their packs, leaving the more personal items stuffed inside. A large part of Kiera's burden had been the 35-pound Paha Que' Perry Mesa 8 person cabin tent. This she had bought the same day she purchased the extra pack and sleeping bags. Everyone was amazed when she pulled the monstrosity from her pack and deposited it on the ground. Lara walked over and tried to pick it up, barely getting it an inch off the ground before it came crashing back to the ground.
"How in the world were you able to carry this?" she exhaled, panting heavily.
Kiera hadn't anticipated this question. She couldn't tell them that, in fact, it wasn't a burden at all, that she could carry ten times that with ease. Scolding herself for her lack of foresight, her brain worked quickly to formulate an answer.
"The pack frame distributed the weight even across my back so it doesn't feel heavy at all," was the first explanation she could come up with. The look of doubt on Lara's face caused Kiera to panic slightly. "Even you could tote this with the right pack, here let me show you," Kiera crouched as she reached for her pack frame.
