Chapter 11:

Meditation

The next morning Sasha woke up early from discomfort. She just couldn't sleep on the ground. At this point she couldn't wait until she was back at home in her queen sized bed. She reached for her phone but realized there was no cell reception a then tossed it back and lay on the pillows annoyed.

The sleeping bag next to her where Yasmin had been was empty. She remembered Yasmin had wanted to meditate and out of curiosity she went to go find her.

Everyone else was asleep and the sun was just rising. She went towards the lake and found Yasmin sitting on a blanket in front of it.

"Hey Yas," Sasha said.

Yasmin looked up at her with a smile on her face. "Good morning Sasha. I'm glad you decided to join me."

Sasha sat next to her with her legs crossed. "So you're just sitting here?"

"Sitting here breathing and reflecting inwardly," Yasmin said calmly. She had her eyes closed and her hands resting on her knees as she breathed deeply.

Sasha wasn't one to meditate herself but she figured she had nothing else to do at 6:30 am since she had no phone. She mimicked Yasmin's posture and looked out at the lake.

The lake was vast and the rising sun made it sparkle. It was actually very beautiful. A slight breeze blew through everything. Some fish jumped out of the water. Birds tweeted in the trees seeming to be singing a song. A bunny hopped past them followed by a line of baby bunnies. There was even a deer in the distance.

A butterfly landed on Sasha's hand. She held it up and looked at the pattern of blue and black wings. It fluttered it swings then flew away.

It was actually really beautiful out here. It was rare that she ever saw nature like this. The city was like a concrete jungle. Full of tall buildings, hardly any trees, and not a star in sight. Outside of her house in the mornings she hardly ever heard birds sings, mainly just cars.

But out here she realized there was so much more to the world. And so much more to have appreciation for once she got past the technology, likes on social media, and latest designer clothes. Of course those things were important to her, but in that moment she had a newfound appreciation for the natural world.

*WW*

Later that morning they were packing up their things to get ready to go.

"I can't wait to take a hot bubble bath and sleep in a warm bed," Cloe said as she helped to take down the tent.

"Same here. I think I've got bug bites," Dana said.

"It wasn't that bad guys," Sasha said.

They looked at her surprised. She had been the main one complaining about it.

"You think so Sasha?"

"Well yeah," she said with a straight face so as to not lose her pride. "We made a fire, got drunk, told some weird ass stories, and proved our teacher is a moron. What more could you want?"

"Electricity," Dylan pointed out.

"Hey Dyl, I just realized you lost the bet," Jade said.

"How did I lose the bet?!" He said in disbelief.

"Actually you both lost the bet," Cameron said.

"What?!" They said.

"The bet was whoever is the first to get scared and want to go home loses. Well you both ran away from Bigfoot as fast as you could screaming and crying and saying you wanted to go home at the same time. So you both lost the bet. Dylan, you have to carry Jade around, and Jade you have to do Dylan's homework."

"Damn it!" Dylan exclaimed.

"I'm never making a bet with you again!" Jade said to him.