Chapter 13: Boy Troubles

"So, do we have everything we need before we do this?" Nakili asked as the girls begin to spread out their sleeping bags.

"What does it matter?" Dana replied. "It's not like anybody's going to want to go all the way back down again."

'I sure wish I at least had my pocket computer,' Rockett thought. 'I really need to email Meggie and Ruben. Not to mention write in my journal.'

"Hey, Arrow," Dana said. "Why don't you have like, anything to sleep on?"

"Nature's supplied me with everything," Arrow answered. "A bed of soft grass, a rock pillow, sounds of nature to lull me to sleep - what more do I need?"

"That's a good way to think of it," Nakili said. "Arrow's right. It's totally relaxing out here."

OOOOOOH-HOO-HOO-HOOOO-OOOOH!

"Uh, what was that?" Nakili asked nervously.

"It sounded like an owl," Miko said.

"I love owls! Quick! Does anybody have a camera on them?" Rockett asked.

"Don't take too many pictures of the animals," Arrow said. "Don't get me wrong, I love owls too, but they don't deserve to be exploited like that."

Rockett nodded. She had to admit, so far, the mountain wasn't so bad. Now that she and Dana were getting along, it was really like one, big sleepover! Too bad Jessie wasn't getting in on the fun.

"Jess?" Rockett asked softly. "You okay?"

"Yeah, you've been kinda quiet lately," Dana noted.

"Oh, yeah, I'm alright," Jessie said absently. "Just a little tired."

"Well, you're in the wrong place for that, girlfriend," said Nakili. "Welcome to the mountain girls slumber party! Not like we're actually going to sleep. We're gonna party all night!"

"Yeah!" Arrow exclaimed, slapping Nakili a high-five.

'This is going to be great! But, I'm still concerned about Jessie. She doesn't normally act this way. I need to ask her about the note, but how?'

"So, Jess? Did you, uh, open the note yet?" Rockett asked.

Jessie quietly looked down at the note in her hand. "Ohh, Rockett, I can't. I'm too nervous!"

'Jessie? This worked-up about a guy? Have we like, entered some kind of parallel universe or something?'

"Well, it's totally up to you," Rockett said. "But just know that no matter what it says, I'll be here for you. Whether it's good or bad."

Jessie smiled at her gratefully. "Wow, you mean that? Thanks, Rockett. It means a lot to me."

Rockett smiled back. "No problem. Well hey, don't let it get to you. Let's just party, and at the end of the night, then you can open it, if you still feel like it."

"That's a good idea, Rockett," Jessie said as she stood up. "Alright, let's do it!"

"So...anybody have like, a boom box or anything?" Rockett asked the girls an hour later.

"No," Miko answered.

"Nope," Jessie replied.

"Nix," Nakili said.

"I wish," said Dana.

"Arrow?" Rockett asked.

"Shhhh," said Nakili. "I think the girl has finally crashed."

"I'm not asleep," Arrow said.

The girls all looked around, trying to pinpoint where the voice had come from. "Where are you?" Rockett finally asked.

"Over here."

"You guys," Nakili said. "I know I said this was going to be an all-night party, but let's just forget about that for now. I'm actually getting kind of sleepy."

"Ha-ha I knew you'd cave. Yeah, well, me too," Dana agreed. "Good night!"

"Good night," said Miko. "Night, Jessie!"

"Good night, Miko," Jessie replied.

"You guys?" said Rockett. "I'll be right back. I'm gonna go find Arrow."

Nakili yawned. "Okay, see ya in the morning."

Rockett quietly stood and walked over to the edge of the mountain, where Arrow was sitting.

"Hey, there you are," Rockett said. "Whatcha looking at?" She followed Arrow's gaze, until she saw what her friend had been staring at. A big, gorgeous full-moon.

"Wow," Rockett commented. "That's really beautiful."

"Yeah, it is. I always like to look out my window before bed. It helps me sleep," Arrow said.

Rockett laughed. "I can't tell if you're more like a night owl, or if you're more like a wolf, with the way you watch the moon and everything."

"Wolf," Arrow answered. "Definitely...hey, Rockett, can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Well, speaking of wolves...Wolf, I mean. I wonder why he didn't come tonight. Do you think he found out that it was my idea for him to come?"

Rockett shook her head. "He was already hiking with Bo."

"I know, but still...I don't think he really gave it a fair chance. It seemed like he brushed the idea off all of a sudden."

"Don't take it personally, Arrow. I'm pretty sure he didn't even know it was you who'd wanted him to come," Rockett pointed out. "I think Cleve might have just asked him to go hike with him and Max. You know Wolf - he doesn't exactly hang around either of them."

Arrow nodded. "Yeah, I guess you're right. I don't know, I guess I took it the wrong way and it sort of bothered me. But, thanks."

Rockett smiled. "It's no big deal. I've kinda been helping out a lot in the guy department tonight, anyway. Now if I could just fix my own guy problems."

"What do you mean?"

"Well..." Rockett hesitated, but she knew she could trust Arrow. "When we first got here, I met this guy..."

"Davis."

"...Yeah. And he's really nice and cool and everything. And he's like, a totally great artist. But, I guess Jessie kinda saw me hanging around him and got like, the wrong idea or something. I think she thinks that I like him more than Ruben."

"Well, do you?"

Rockett blinked. She definitely wasn't expecting that. Arrow could be pretty to-the-point.

"No way," she responded. "I mean, I like Davis and all, but not like that. Just as a friend. He's really cool and creative and stuff, but..." Rockett sighed. "I don't know. I just wish Ruben would have been here with us this summer. None of this would have happened."

"Actually," Arrow said slowly. "I'm pretty sure it still would have. Even if Ruben had come, Davis would have been here, too."

"I guess."

"Well, I don't know if this helps you out at all, but Ruben really likes you. And I happen to know that Davis really does, too."

"He does?" Rockett asked, shocked.

"Obviously," Arrow answered. "But, that's not so important right now. It's really up to you, actually. You have to decide who you like more."

"I already told you, I like Ruben."

Arrow said nothing.

Rockett sighed. "Anyway, thanks for talking to me about all this. I appreciate it."

"No problem, Rockett," Arrow replied. "Do you feel better?"

She didn't, but despite that, Rockett was glad Arrow was willing to talk to her. Since she hadn't been writing in her journal, it had been hard keeping in all her feelings.

"I'll be fine," Rockett said, as she stood up to leave. She wasn't tired, but she didn't really know what else to say at this point. "Are you going to bed anytime soon?"

"You go ahead. I'll catch up," Arrow said, just like she always did.