Chapter 2: A Grand Adventure

Warnings: brief language

….

She had been wide awake for hours, listening to the sounds of the early morning. Justin wouldn't be up for a while yet, and everyone else would probably sleep longer. She couldn't, not today.

Today was the start of an adventure.

They'd been planning this for months, years if you counted the off-handed comments of taking "a big trip, just the four of them" way back in high school. Now though, it wasn't just the four of them. She was bringing Marc, Rusty was bringing his latest drug whore Natalie, and Amanda had invited her boyfriend Blake and his sister Crystal. She'd known Amanda since before elementary, their mom's had been friends and wanted their daughters to get along so they'd have an excuse to drink wine and gossip during playdates. They would play dolls or try to braid each other's hair, and all the while she could hear her mother's sly voice coming from the kitchen.

"Realllllly? She knows he's watching her every move! The whore's already been caught cheating before"

"See, you'd think that wouldn't you Loretta? But I don't really think she cares about Greg anymore"

"But her children? If nothing else she should be thinking about her children! I don't care how good the dick is, if you have kids their needs are above your own, surely the twat knows this"

She smiled at the memory, also recalling Marc, her boyfriend of four years, had never cared much for her mother. She could definitely see why. The woman craved gossip, bathed in it, the more depraved and debauched the better. She used each piece of information like bullets in a gun. That would also be the reason why most of the town didn't like her mother.

She finally decided to actually get up and not just lay in bed. She still had some last minute packing to do, and then maybe she'd call Marc to see if he was awake. The man was an early riser usually, that was when he used to do all of his homework back in high school or he'd spend time tinkering in the garage whether it be weight lifting or shining up his car. He was always busy with something.

She was amazed he actually realized her existence junior year. She was sure that boy would grow up to be some movie star and date models for the rest of his life. Then one day out of the blue, it seemed, he asked her to the first homecoming dance of the year. They'd been inseparable ever since.

She loved Marc, had loved him for what seemed like a long time. He was funny, caring, and though the man had his faults she was willing to let him by with the occasional pity party, or the loud banging that symbolized him throwing tools out in the garage to quell his anger. Marc was a prideful man, though he didn't let it show often, and when you hurt his pride he would either burst into angry flames or sulk in a corner for hours.

"Get over it, Marc"

"No! That fucker he- you know what nevermind, you just don't fucking get it"

She grinned, "Oh I get it, he pulled out his metaphorical dick and pissed on your shoes. Get over it Marc, it's not the first time Trevor Ferguson has showed you up and it won't be the last. The dude just doesn't like you"

"I thought you had my back, you're my girlfriend so you side with me"

"Not if being on your side means I have to listen to you mope about this supposed 'injustice' for five years"

Being the first one up meant shower privileges- hot water, zero wait time, and no rush. She took her time and braided her long hair, the brown strands thick and heavy with the water. No makeup today, not for the woods. She'd bring her cosmetic bag but she doubted she would use it. Maybe on a night out though they'd hit up the small town that surrounded the campsite and find a nice place to eat.

Once she was officially ready, packed, and dressed she found her phone and called Marc. Justin had finally crawled out of his room and was shoving suitcases into the van. As usual the boy looked like he just rolled out of bed and wandered downstairs to shove his shit and go. She rolled her eyes.

The line was picked up on the fifth ring. "Hey Babe, you ready to go?"

A sleepy, deep rumble greeted her ears, "Mmmm… maybe in ten? I just got up like five minutes ago, had a long night"

She glowered into the phone "Get your ass in gear, Marc. We'll be over in about twenty minutes."

"Aw, that's plenty of time Sugar Bug. See you in a few"

"Love you" she wished for a brief moment that she could have 'slammed' the phone on him. Marc was the biggest procrastinator she knew, and it drove her stark raving mad. Her anxiety went off the charts when they'd be paired up for an assignment and he'd manage to do ALL of it the morning before class.

Her heart rate skyrocketed just thinking about it.

"Bastard," she muttered.

She came out in time to see Justin slam the back doors. He turned and threw a sheepish grin at her. "Ready, little sis?"

"Aye, aye" she replied, and climbed into the front passenger's side seat.

It took twenty minutes on the dot to reach Marc's place. He was sitting out on the porch, a rather large suitcase propped up beside him. They had to pack enough for a week out in the middle of a campsite. They weren't even totally sure the place had running water. It was a place she herself picked out, at the request of everyone else. They wanted something secluded, and a bit out of their comfort zone but not so far away into the wilderness they all died of a rabid bear attack. Just somewhere with no rules, no parents, and zero responsibilities.

"Here's a good one, Camp Crystal Lake in New Jersey. That's not too far… It does say there's bears though. What do you think?"

"Simple solution Buggy Bean, just trip Rusty's whore and book it"

She waved at her boyfriend to hurry the hell up and get in. He was a tall man, in his early twenties with dark hair. She'd known him to be quite the gym rat but that had waned a bit since he graduated, and he had just the slightest bit of pudge on his stomach, probably from all the drinking. She thought it was cute, and she liked his figure just a bit softer. Granted, she liked his body when he was pure muscle and could carry her around with one arm, but she liked his ever growing 'dad bod' as Amanda liked to call it. He greeted her with a kiss through the window, weaving his fingers into her hair rather unsuccessfully due to the braid.

"OW! Ya big dick, let go!" She tried to pry his hand off.

He winced, "Why did you put it up? I like it down. Now I'm stuck to your head." He gave that easy smile, his eyes twinkling with that mischief she secretly adored.

"Shut up and let me detach you!" She growled and carefully maneuvered his fingers out of her weaved death trap. Now she'd have to redo it.

"Good going. Now she'll be pissy the rest of the trip." Her brother chimed in, a large grin eating his face. She reached across and jabbed him in the ribs, something she knew her brother hated.

After Marc shoved his suitcase in the back, he seated himself and they were ready to depart. The plan was to meet the others at a family restaurant a few miles from the campsite. They all thought it would be best to drive separately, so they had more room to bring what they wanted. She wasn't all too sure who was driving with who, but she did know the only person who Rusty allowed in his camaro was the person he was fucking. Not even Justin was allowed to step foot near the obnoxious, grey monstrosity.

Though, despite all the excitement and happiness that swam around in her gut, there was something nagging on the back of her mind. The website for the camp made mention of the frequent bear attacks that went on inside the grounds. Many people were either missing or found dead, mauled and half eaten by the time anyone stumbled across them.

She had once heard a teacher say that you had a 1 in 2 million chance of getting attacked by a bear, that you were more likely, in fact, to drown then actually getting mauled while out in the wilderness. She wasn't sure how true this was, but to say that close to sixty people had been killed by bears all within the same area? For some reason that didn't sound right.

She turned to the boys, her voice small "Hey, did we bring anything for- ya know, the bears?"

Justin shrugged, not noticing her sudden drop in mood. "Thought I heard Rusty saying he was bringing his dad's shotgun. But I'm not a hundred percent on that one. I think he only said he'd bring it because his whore wouldn't stop whining about rapists and murderers"

She felt a warm hand engulf her shoulder as her boyfriend gave a gentle squeeze, "No worries, I have my hunting knife. Plus, there's what, eight of us?" He pulled playfully at her braid, "Don't worry, Buggy Babe. The only thing we'll have to fear that far out are your eating habits. God help the peanut butter and carrots."

….

Author's note: Please read and review! I wanna know what you guy's think so far!

To my guest reviewer: thank you so so much! Your review wasn't bad at all! I'm glad my story was good enough for you to drop in and tell me what you thought. Hopefully you'll stay with me for a remainder of this smutty ride ;)

IiR