A/N: Hey there, this is the most I'll speak for a while. This piece started based off a prompt over at the Fic Lab on FB. The prompt was to write about outdoor activities, and what started as a little blurb of just a few hundred words, generated with the thought of breaking a writing slump, soon grew out of control and I ended up with over 7,000 words. So here we are. I've split it into smaller bits that hopefully are easier to digest, and I'll upload one a day until done (there are six parts in total for those who want to wait).

I would not have been able to even think about doing this if it weren't for the encouragement of Ronnie, Meg, and May, so thank you, ladies! Any mistakes are solely my doing and responsibility.

I don't own Twilight or its characters; we all know who does.

~NT~

Chapter 1: Change of Plans

May 24th, 2019

Cranberry Lake Campground, Upstate New York

The rays of the setting sun cast shadows through the grass and dirt of the campsite. Tents formed a semi-circle around the two lots the group of friends had acquired to spend the holiday weekend. It was originally planned as a couple's weekend—an opportunity for the five pairs to let loose and reconnect, a chance to forget the responsibilities of the daily grind that made gatherings such as these an oddity nowadays. Unfortunately, things hadn't quite gone as planned.

Bella's eyes flickered around the group—at the couples huddled together around the blazing fire, their faces illuminated by the amber glow. Blankets were thrown over shoulders and across laps; fingers were interlaced or brushing hair away from smiling faces. But the space next to her was empty. In a way, it was representative of the hollowness she felt, deep in her chest, especially in moments such as these. Moments where she couldn't help but reflect on all the things that had transpired to take her from part of a couple to a party of one. She let out a sigh as she rose from her perch to walk over to the cooler and grab herself another beer.

"Do you mind grabbing me one?"

She startled, her shoulders raising to her ears as she let out a squeak before she turned and caught sight of the beautiful face that belonged with that velvety voice.

"Of course, Edward. Here, take mine." She handed over the frosty bottle, their fingers grazing one another, an electric current rocketing up her forearm.

"Thanks." He shot her a crooked grin as he used the opener to pop the top off the bottle.

Suddenly, Bella wasn't feeling much in the mood for alcohol, so she settled on water instead. She took a swig and fidgeted with the cap. Meanwhile, Edward sipped from his beer, staring off back to where their friends had broken into a bag of marshmallows.

Emmett was juggling several marshmallows, trying to catch them with his mouth. He failed more often than not, creating piles of the sweet confection in the dirt and in the folds of his t-shirt. Rose had a stern look on her face, but Bella could tell by the way her eyes crinkled that she found his antics to be amusing.

Alice was licking sticky white fluff off of her fingertips—not sure why Jasper didn't stop her since they all knew Alice plus excess amounts of sugar was a recipe for midnight skinny dipping and other wild events.

Based on the look on Jasper's face—the slow grin that spread across his lips, the way his eyes were hooded—the weed he and Jake had smoked had taken hold of his senses, lulling him into a serene state.

Jake's newest girlfriend, Vanessa, was glued to her phone, pausing every now and then to take a selfie, making duck faces at the screen. Jake always did have a thing for girls that were just a little too young and a whole lot too vain. Eventually he'd have to settle down because serial dating when you're in your twenties was all well and good, but when you're pushing thirty and change your partners more than you change your underwear, it might be time to get it together.

Bella, on the other hand, would be considered a serial monogamist. It was also what had led to her current predicament, so it wasn't necessarily better than the fast and loose lifestyle that Jake had adopted. As she took in her friends, content and playful, she couldn't help but reflect on everything that had taken her to this point. Sometimes settling down with one person really wasn't all that it was cracked up to be. But as Bella glanced over to one of her newest and best friends, taking in the way the sunlight created a golden halo around his head, she couldn't help but wonder if maybe she had just been choosing the wrong people to settle down with.

~NT~

A/N: Would love to hear your thoughts. Not your thing, that's okay—there are tons of really great stories out there to read. Thanks for reading as much as you did!