"Are you sure we have everything?" Ally fretted, pacing beside Austin's car.
He chuckled at her worried demeanor. "Calm down Ally. We've gone over the list five times. I think we'll be fine."
"But maybe we should check it one more time." She suggested. "Just to be sure."
He groaned and pulled out the list, skimming over it and mumbling incoherently. "Tents, sleeping bags, bugspray, snacks, bathing suits, sunscreen, pillows, matches, jackets, first aid kit… wait…. Why is bear repellant on here?" He held up the list.
"We're going camping." Ally answered as a matter of factly. "You can never be too sure."
He gave her a strange look and laughed as they continued packing. No less than five minutes later, Trish and Dez joined them. Dez was dressed in his old boy scout uniform, which was a bit small on him now. Trish wore a purple summer dress with flip flops and sunglasses.
"What are you guys wearing?" Ally asked, skimming over their fashion choices. "Nevermind Dez, Trish, what are you wearing?"
She looked over the lenses of her gaudy sunglasses. "We're heading to North Carolina, aren't we?"
"Yeah, but-"
"And that means beautiful beaches and fabulous shopping malls!" Trish interrupted. "I can't wait to chill and relax in the great outdoors!"
Austin and Ally looked at each other and shook their heads. They wouldn't tell Trish that 'the great outdoors' meant they were going camping in the Appalachians, and they weren't going anywhere near the shore. They were sure that Dez knew where they were going.
They had just graduated a month ago from Marino High. Trish would be staying in Miami, Austin would be off on tour, Dez would be moving to L.A., and Ally was going to Harvard. They would be going their separate ways soon, and it would be hard for all of them. Therefore, they wanted one last vacation all together before they would be separated. Austin and Ally arranged a camping trip in North Carolina, because they both have always loved the outdoors and wanted to experience something new. Also, they were famous and they didn't want to go somewhere overly populated. They told Trish and Dez about their idea and they agreed. Well, Dez agreed. Trish mumbled a 'whatever', and turned her attention toward her phone. She would find out soon enough.
After they jammed everything into Austin's car, they hit the road. It would be a good twelve hours until they reached Charlotte, and that counted traffic. They decided to take shifts driving, because they didn't want Austin to be exhausted. The only person Austin really trusted with his car was Ally, not because she was his girlfriend or because she taught him how to drive.
It was because Trish had crashed three cars within six months and nobody trusted Dez to drive.
Austin got on the highway, starting to drive out of the city limits. Everyone was excited and ready for adventure. Ally put on the radio and starting singing along. Soon, Austin joined, then Trish, and then Dez. The car was loud, which was ironic, because the song they were singing was titled "Loud".
C'mon get loud, loud, let it out.
Shout it out from the rooftops,
C'mon get loud, loud, till they shut us down
Austin sang loudly, and Ally harmonized.
C'mon get loud, loud, let it out.
Show me everything that you got,
C'mon get loud, loud, I need you now.
Dez started to lipsync, which was a lot funnier than it should've been. Ally started tearing up from laughing so hard while Trish and Austin continued singing 'na na na'.
By the time the song was over, they were on the road that would lead them to North Carolina. They were pumped up with adrenaline.
"Woo," Ally took a deep breath and looked at her boyfriend. "You're really good at singing that song. You sound exactly like Ross Lynch."
"Really?" Austin replied. "You think? I bet he isn't as good looking as me, though." He winked at Ally, who rolled her eyes and playfully shoved him. He had a big ego.
They spent the next three hours looking at clouds (with the exception of Austin), listening to the radio, and playing the license plate game. They sunroof was open, the windows were down, and the wind blew past them, making them feel free. It was now seven, and they decided to stop at a waffle house. Only a half an hour until they would be in Georgia.
Ally, who was sitting in the passenger's seat, fell asleep for two hours. She would take Austin's shift afterwards and drive the rest of the night, so she wanted to be rested. Austin offered that they could stay in a hotel and continue in the morning, but Ally didn't want to waste another minute.
"Ugh…" Trish groaned as she stepped in the parking lot. "We were on the road for like, four hours… My feet are killing me."
"Speak for yourself." Dez commented as he got out. "At least you're short, I'm tall and my legs were squished. I don't want to be constricted. I want to be free, like a bird…" He did his bird movement and glared at Trish.
Trish huffed and turned to Austin, who was making sure they had everything. "Austin, can I please sit in the front next time? I don't want to sit next to Dez."
"Fine, fine, just go inside and get us a seat." He begged, tired of their fighting. Trish and Dez complied and went into the waffle house to get a seat. Austin walked over to the passenger's side, where Ally was still sleeping soundly. He hated having to wake her, she was so adorakable in the way that she was curled up, like a sleeping kitten.
He opened the door and poked her side. "Ally, we're stopping for dinner… or breakfast… or brinner… whatever you call it."
Ally hardly moved, clearly sound asleep.
"Ally…" He spoke a little louder. "You have one more chance. C'mon," He nudged her. "Get up."
She mumbled something and turned to face away from him.
He sighed. "Okay, you leave me no choice…" His face twisted into a mischievous grin as he moved his hands to her stomach, tickling her mercilessly, causing her to jolt awake.
"Austin!" She scolded between deep breaths and giggles, "S-stop! I'm awake!"
He stopped and she glared at him, he raised his hands in defense. "I warned ya."
x.x
They sat inside a small booth in the waffle house, right in the corner. Ally loved sitting in the corner. She liked having her own space, even though it wasn't too spacious because her best friend was painting her nails, on the table, and her boyfriend was playing footsie with her underneath the table.
"I am starving!" Dez called out as they began skimming through the menu. "Do you think they have chicken pot pie here?!" His face turned hopeful.
"No, you doof! It's a waffle house!"
Austin's smile dropped. "So they don't have pancakes here?"
Trish turned to Austin. "No, you other doof! It's a waffle house!"
Ally sighed. "Will you guys please stop fighting… this vacation is supposed to be about bonding time. And Trish, please put away the nail polish… the smell is giving me a headache."
Trish rolled her eyes and put away the polish, letting her other hand dry.
"Hi y'all," A short haired, middle aged, blonde waitress came up to the foursome. "My name is Janice, I'll be your server. Is there anything I can get y'all?"
"A cup of ice water would be great." Ally smiled.
"Milk please!" Austin answered.
"I'll have an iced tea." Trish said.
Dez turned to the waitress. "Do you guys have any coconut milk or organic orange juice with a fresh squeezed pineapple and marmalade?"
The waitress looked at him. "Son, this is a waffle house."
Dez huffed. "Fine. I'll have a lemonade."
The lady jotted everything on her notepad and walked back behind the counter.
Ally looked at her phone. "It's almost seven thirty?! It was just four…"
"Yeah." Dez said. "Four hours ago. You slept forever. No one was there to protect me from Trish's abuse…" Trish shot him a death glare and Dez shifted so close to Austin, that he was almost on his lap. "Help me…" He whispered and clung onto his best friend.
"Austin, you can sit next to him the rest of the way." Ally said. "I can't stand their fighting anymore."
Austin laughed and muttered. "Wait till Trish finds out that they are sharing a tent…"
Trish looked up. "What was that?"
Austin's eyes widened and he was saved by the waitress, who came to deliver their drinks. "Here ya go." She spoke in a thick accent as she set down the drinks. "And what can I get ya to eat."
"Do you guys have pancakes?" Austin looked at the menu several times, but assumed they just misspelled 'waffles'.
"Sorry darling, this is a waffle house."
Austin pouted and put down the menu. "Awe… shoulda gone to IHOP…"
"Ignore him." Trish said. "I'll have the bacon egg and cheese Texas melt."
Dez smiled. "And I will have the chocolate chip waffles!"
Austin sighed, deciding to try something new. "I'll have the same."
"And I'll have a Ham & Cheese omelette with a side on grits." Ally smiled and handed the menus to the waitress. "Ooh! And a small cup of coffee!"
The waitress nodded and grabbed the menus. "Okay, we'll have that out soon."
"A coffee?" Austin repeated. "You'll be up all night!"
"That's the point." She said. "I'm driving, remember?"
Austin paused. "Oh yeah…."
x.x
After nearly two hours of eating and conversing, the four best friends were finally ready to head on the road. Austin had tried the chocolate chip waffles and actually did enjoy them, though he did miss his pancakes.
Dez stretched out. "I can't believe we have another seven hours. I think I'm going to sleep."
Trish mumbled. "Good, whatever gets you to shut up."
They all piled into the car and buckled up. Ally set up the GPS and Trish got comfortable with a pillow. Austin and Dez sat in the back, playing rock paper scissors.
After nearly two hours on the road, they were all asleep, except Ally of course. She drove in the middle of Georgia and hummed to herself. She couldn't help but think of the future… of her and Austin's future.
The road was empty, with only three cars within miles of each other. Ally took the opportunity to glance back at her boyfriend, who was sitting diagonally from her. He was passed out, his head rested against Dez's head and Ally couldn't help but smile at the cuteness of their friendship.
She would be going to Harvard… so far away from him, for four years. They didn't talk about it often, they were too scared to. They all saw how Trish's long term relationship with Jace worked out, and they were scared that something similar would happen to them. They were best friends. Their friendship would always come first, no matter what the nature of their relationship was.
Ally didn't even know how long her mind was debating this, but it must have been awhile, because soon enough, it was midnight, and they were in South Carolina.
"Hey…"
Ally slightly flinched at the voice, having had complete silence for the last few hours. Austin leaned over toward Ally and reached over to kiss her cheek.
She smiled. "Hey.. we are in South Carolina now."
His eyes widened. "There's a South Carolina?!"
She rolled her eyes and handed him the map.
"Huh…" He said. "You learn something new everyday."
Dez started to wake up. "Hmmm.. that was a good nap. Are we there yet?"
"Not yet, Dez." Ally answered. "We still have a couple more hours."
"Okay." He replied. Five minutes had passed. "Are we there yet?"
Austin and Ally both groaned, waiting for the moment when they would finally arrive.
x.x
After nearly two hours of Dez's endless chatter and Trish's endless complaining, they finally arrived. Tall woods bordered both sides of the narrow road as they drove deeper into the mountains, unable to see the horizon. Dez started bouncing up and down in his seat.
Ally smiled. "Awe! Are you excited too, Dez?"
Dez shook his head, his lips in a tight line. "Nope, I just really gotta pee..."
Austin sighed. "Don't worry, we are almost there."
Trish looked around. "Are you sure? All I see are woods…"
Ally chuckled nervously. "Yeah, about that…"
Trish looked at Ally, waiting for her to explain herself, but everything was self explanatory as Ally pulled into a drive called "Carolina Campgrounds".
"Surprise!" Dez grinned. "You have no idea how hard it was to keep this secret from you… You thought we were going to the beach, but nope! We are here to enjoy ourselves in the great outdoors!"
"WHAT?!" Trish boomed angrily, she turned to Ally. "Why didn't you tell me?!"
Ally cringed and parked the car. "Because I know you wouldn't have come if you knew where we were going…"
Austin leaned over. "And we live in Miami. We can go to the beach anytime. We wanted to explore a different side of the country."
"Yeah," Dez joined in. "We tried to tell you, but you weren't listening to any of us."
Trish groaned. "Why are we going on some stupid camping trip? This is our 'big' vacation? Why couldn't we have done something we all like, like going to Hawaii or going shopping in Europe?"
Ally shook her head and instead of answering, she got out of the car and slammed the door, walking off into the woods.
"What's her problem?" Dez mumbled.
Austin narrowed his eyes and glared at them both. "Guys, do you realize that this time is the last time that we are all going to be together? We are all going our separate directions next month… and none of us know when we will have time like this again. This was so important to Ally… This was supposed to be special for all of us, but this whole time has been nothing but fighting and complaining… Maybe we shouldn't have gone on this trip at all…" He also climbed out of the car and ran off to find Ally.
Trish and Dez sat back in their seats, feeling guilt overwhelm them.
"Wow…" Dez said. "I guess I never really realized how important this trip was to them…"
"Yeah…" Trish agreed. "I feel terrible.. I know that I hate camping, but I want to try and make this trip memorable.."
Dez nodded and held out his arms. "Hug it out?"
Trish rolled her eyes but still gave him a quick squeeze. "Alright, moment is over. Let's go find Austin and Ally." She got out and shut the door, not waiting up for Dez.
Dez struggled to get out of the car, because his foot was stuck underneath Trish's reclined seat. "Ahem! A little help!" He called, but Trish was nowhere in sight. He sighed and looked around.
"Alright… Guess I'll stay here then…"
To be continued...
This story was inspired by a moonlit walk that I took. I am planning for this to be a four-shot, and I'll upload as soon as I can. BYSF will be uploaded first and should be done by next week. Please review? I wanna hear your thoughts!
-Evelyn