Chapter Three: Camp
Jack gazed at the rolling green meadow that was set in the middle of the woods. It was funny how something so gorgeous could be hidden deep inside something considered to be so dangerous. He had to admit though, this was one helluva a campsite. Besides the perfect green of the grass, there were wild lilies growing alongside the small stream that cut through the grass on the south side. The leaves on the tall trees were a deep forest green and the bark a wonderful shade of auburn. The sun shown down on the kids square of heaven without a cloud to block it, though there was a small breeze. And somehow, staring at the beauty that was nature and the most perfect Sunday morning Jack had experienced in the longest time, all he could see was a tan little blonde girl whose eyes matched the sky above.
Jack didn't get much time to stay in his state of reverie before Gabe and Clu came barreling at him. Carey had remembered to bring a football and at the moment his girlfriend and best friend were attempting to play a two-man game. Fi was laughing at their lame attempts from her spot on a large rock next to the stream. Carey was besides her restringing his vintage acoustic guitar. Jack had never really picked up too much on guitar make or model through all his trips with his mom so he couldn't identify exactly what type Carey caressed with his hands. Fi's giggles grew louder as Clu sideswiped Jack and tumbled downhill into Fi and, consequently, the water.
Two petite arms circled Jacks waste and a small mouth placed an open sloppy kiss at the base of his neck, "Good morning beautiful."
"Morning Gabe."
Silence.
"Lots on your mind? Cuz I was thinking maybe later when everyone has gone for a hike or something we could spend some quality time in our tent. Alone....." Gabe's voice was husky and laced with ill concealed lust.
For a split second Jack felt guilty, it had become a usual reaction to Gabe's innuendos over the past ten months. Whenever he and Gabe came close to doing anything remotely sexual he would tense or feel panicked. He had never mentioned the kiss with Annie, always secretly hoping to get caught. He thought if she broke up with him it would make things a lot easier. But she had never found out, if anything she had grown much more attached. She called nearly every night and left him sweet emails and text messages. The whole thing made him feel guilty really. He knew he would inevitably succumb to his baser instincts. He reminded himself that it was ridiculous to feel as if he were cheating when he was with his own girlfriend. That Annie was a dream in his past and Gabe was his present. Sweet. Loving, innocent Gabe.
"That'd be really great Gabe, but I think I'd rather wait til we're at my house and I know the doors lock so no one accidentally walks in. Plus Fi has been kinda bummed about Annie staying with us again" It wasn't a total lie but for some reason he was more jittery today about a simple make out session then he had been since the first time he'd attempted to make out with any girl.
Wait a minute did he just say....
Gabe stiffened. "Annie's staying with you? For how long?"
Gabe might not know about the kiss but she wasn't stupid either. She could see the way Jack and Annie looked at each other and it pained her weak heart. "She'll be here for two weeks. Her parents are on a Safari in Africa, they didn't want her to catch anything. It's no big deal really. She'll be on the couch downstairs and you'll be upstairs right next to me in Fi's room."
It was a lame attempt to make her feel better but it seemed to work because the next thing he knew he was being dragged down the small hill to go for a swim with Fi and Clu.
Later that evening Jack and Fi were lying next to each other on a large flannel blanket that Gabe's dad insisted she bring despite the warm August weather. Jack could tell Fi was bummed about Annie being around but he couldn't figure out why. At the moment, Fi was gazing up at the stars as if she'd never seen them before. There was a whimsical look in her eyes and she seemed almost at peace. A rarity for Fiona Phillips.
"Fi..." Jack called out tentatively not really wanting to disturb her.
"Yeah Jack?" Fi had a soft smile on her face. The long hair from years past had been cut to her shoulders with a few soft layers. The light bounced off her like an angel and Jack had to smile. His baby sister was the closest thing to an angel he had ever seen.
"I know your going to get angry, because you do every time I bring her up, but why are you so bummed about Annie?"
Fi's features quickly twisted into something Jack recognized very well. His own face often reflected that very emotion when he saw Annie with Clu. Jealousy. "Because she's taken everything that was alaways mine and mine alone and made it into hers. Because mom likes her more then me. Because you adopted her as your little sister. Because Clu thinks she's the hottest fucking girl on the planet. Bbecause... Because..." And then she couldn't speak anymore as soft sobs racked her body.
Shock was definitely the adjective to describe Jack at this moment. Shock to hear Fi swear. Shock to know she thought those things. Shock he hadn't seen it before. "Three things, "Jack whispered as he made Fi look at him, "One, mom does not like anyone on this planet more then her baby girl, myself included. Two, I could never replace you, EVER. Three, Clu, he's an idiot."
"I wish I could believe you but mom has so much more in common with Annie then I do with her. And well you and Annie did everything together, Clu told me so. And clu...." Fi blushed.
"Mom loves you because your not her and you don't chase her around like her biggest fan the way Annie does. Annie and I did everything together because, well, because I developed feelings for her..." It was Jack's turn to flush pink.
"I think we've had enough deep conversations for one night." Fi smiled at her brother. She could truly find peace now knowing he and mom hadn't replaced her. And that they both still love her with all their hearts.
"Yeah me too." Jack stood up wearily and pulled his sister to the fire to roast marshmallows with everyone else.
Jack gazed at the rolling green meadow that was set in the middle of the woods. It was funny how something so gorgeous could be hidden deep inside something considered to be so dangerous. He had to admit though, this was one helluva a campsite. Besides the perfect green of the grass, there were wild lilies growing alongside the small stream that cut through the grass on the south side. The leaves on the tall trees were a deep forest green and the bark a wonderful shade of auburn. The sun shown down on the kids square of heaven without a cloud to block it, though there was a small breeze. And somehow, staring at the beauty that was nature and the most perfect Sunday morning Jack had experienced in the longest time, all he could see was a tan little blonde girl whose eyes matched the sky above.
Jack didn't get much time to stay in his state of reverie before Gabe and Clu came barreling at him. Carey had remembered to bring a football and at the moment his girlfriend and best friend were attempting to play a two-man game. Fi was laughing at their lame attempts from her spot on a large rock next to the stream. Carey was besides her restringing his vintage acoustic guitar. Jack had never really picked up too much on guitar make or model through all his trips with his mom so he couldn't identify exactly what type Carey caressed with his hands. Fi's giggles grew louder as Clu sideswiped Jack and tumbled downhill into Fi and, consequently, the water.
Two petite arms circled Jacks waste and a small mouth placed an open sloppy kiss at the base of his neck, "Good morning beautiful."
"Morning Gabe."
Silence.
"Lots on your mind? Cuz I was thinking maybe later when everyone has gone for a hike or something we could spend some quality time in our tent. Alone....." Gabe's voice was husky and laced with ill concealed lust.
For a split second Jack felt guilty, it had become a usual reaction to Gabe's innuendos over the past ten months. Whenever he and Gabe came close to doing anything remotely sexual he would tense or feel panicked. He had never mentioned the kiss with Annie, always secretly hoping to get caught. He thought if she broke up with him it would make things a lot easier. But she had never found out, if anything she had grown much more attached. She called nearly every night and left him sweet emails and text messages. The whole thing made him feel guilty really. He knew he would inevitably succumb to his baser instincts. He reminded himself that it was ridiculous to feel as if he were cheating when he was with his own girlfriend. That Annie was a dream in his past and Gabe was his present. Sweet. Loving, innocent Gabe.
"That'd be really great Gabe, but I think I'd rather wait til we're at my house and I know the doors lock so no one accidentally walks in. Plus Fi has been kinda bummed about Annie staying with us again" It wasn't a total lie but for some reason he was more jittery today about a simple make out session then he had been since the first time he'd attempted to make out with any girl.
Wait a minute did he just say....
Gabe stiffened. "Annie's staying with you? For how long?"
Gabe might not know about the kiss but she wasn't stupid either. She could see the way Jack and Annie looked at each other and it pained her weak heart. "She'll be here for two weeks. Her parents are on a Safari in Africa, they didn't want her to catch anything. It's no big deal really. She'll be on the couch downstairs and you'll be upstairs right next to me in Fi's room."
It was a lame attempt to make her feel better but it seemed to work because the next thing he knew he was being dragged down the small hill to go for a swim with Fi and Clu.
Later that evening Jack and Fi were lying next to each other on a large flannel blanket that Gabe's dad insisted she bring despite the warm August weather. Jack could tell Fi was bummed about Annie being around but he couldn't figure out why. At the moment, Fi was gazing up at the stars as if she'd never seen them before. There was a whimsical look in her eyes and she seemed almost at peace. A rarity for Fiona Phillips.
"Fi..." Jack called out tentatively not really wanting to disturb her.
"Yeah Jack?" Fi had a soft smile on her face. The long hair from years past had been cut to her shoulders with a few soft layers. The light bounced off her like an angel and Jack had to smile. His baby sister was the closest thing to an angel he had ever seen.
"I know your going to get angry, because you do every time I bring her up, but why are you so bummed about Annie?"
Fi's features quickly twisted into something Jack recognized very well. His own face often reflected that very emotion when he saw Annie with Clu. Jealousy. "Because she's taken everything that was alaways mine and mine alone and made it into hers. Because mom likes her more then me. Because you adopted her as your little sister. Because Clu thinks she's the hottest fucking girl on the planet. Bbecause... Because..." And then she couldn't speak anymore as soft sobs racked her body.
Shock was definitely the adjective to describe Jack at this moment. Shock to hear Fi swear. Shock to know she thought those things. Shock he hadn't seen it before. "Three things, "Jack whispered as he made Fi look at him, "One, mom does not like anyone on this planet more then her baby girl, myself included. Two, I could never replace you, EVER. Three, Clu, he's an idiot."
"I wish I could believe you but mom has so much more in common with Annie then I do with her. And well you and Annie did everything together, Clu told me so. And clu...." Fi blushed.
"Mom loves you because your not her and you don't chase her around like her biggest fan the way Annie does. Annie and I did everything together because, well, because I developed feelings for her..." It was Jack's turn to flush pink.
"I think we've had enough deep conversations for one night." Fi smiled at her brother. She could truly find peace now knowing he and mom hadn't replaced her. And that they both still love her with all their hearts.
"Yeah me too." Jack stood up wearily and pulled his sister to the fire to roast marshmallows with everyone else.