Disclaimer: Oh man, I sooooo wish I owned this show!
The song in this chapter is Babylon by David Gray, I recommend listening to it while you read.
"Mmmmm, I can't believe I missed out on these as a kid. Forget tennis, I sooooo would have joined Girl Scouts if I had known about this!" Adena licked the last of the marshmallow off her fingers. It was around ten o'clock and they were all sitting around the campfire. Most of the food had been devoured but no one was anywhere near ready to fall asleep.
"So Squib, when are you gonna tell us what the pickles are for?" Cameron asked.
"In due time my friend," the grin on Squib's face spoke volumes.
"Or," Cameron said thoughtfully.
"We could always just have Tanis beat it out of you."
"Then again, now seems like the perfect time," Squib went to the van and came back with the large jar of pickles.
"Thought maybe we would have a bit of fun tonight. Introducing the fabulous, somewhat modified game of…drum roll please Cody…I'VE NEVER!"
Tanis rolled her eyes and the look on Adena's face read blank.
"What is this? Explain please," she requested.
"Well," Squib started, kneeling down next to Adena.
"It's quite simple really. We go around in a circle and someone starts by saying something that they've never done that they think other people have done. All the people who have done it, have to a drink."
"Wait, a drink of what?" Squib held up the pickle jar in front of her face. The look on her face was one of utter disgust.
"Please tell me you're kidding!"
"Afraid not princess," Squib couldn't help the smile that was spreading across his face. He moved and sat beside Cody who also looked a bit doubtful.
"I don't want you guys throwing up in my car tomorrow."
"Will you guys relax? It's perfectly fine; no one is going to get sick. But on the rare chance that you are feeling sick, you can stop playing," Squib insisted. He gave Cody the sad puppy face that he knew she couldn't resist. Finally, she caved.
"Okay, fine. I'm in."
"Any other objections? No? Okay good, let's get this started. Who wants to start?" they looked around the circle at each other.
"I'll go," Cameron volunteered. Squib passed the jar across the fire to him and Cameron paused for a moment, thinking.
"I've never been to Disney World," he admitted.
"Really?" Cody was shocked.
"I thought you guys were rich?" Squib argued. Cameron gave a shrug.
"That doesn't mean anything. So who's drinking?" Cody was the only one who raised her hand.
"Oh come on guys! I can't be the only one!"
"You are the honorary first," Cameron laughed, passing her the jar. Cody twisted the lid off and made a face as the scent hit her nose. Wincing as she brought the jar to her lips, she took a sip and quickly passed the jar to Tanis as the others laughed.
"That's disgusting," Cody wiped the back of her hand across her mouth, trying to get rid of the remnants. Tanis stared at the jar carefully.
"I've never been in a boat."
Cody glanced at Squib and smiled slightly, not minding so much this time as the jar was passed to her again. Squib drank too, as well as Cameron and Adena. Cody thought about going to get her camera from the car, just so she could capture their faces, but she doubted that she would ever forget it. After about another half hour of questions, Squib began to whine.
"This is getting boring, no one is getting anything good out of anyone!" It was now Adena's turn and he stared at her, hope on his face.
"Come on Adena, let's get the dirt."
Adena thought for a moment, considering her options. She smiled and held up the jar proudly.
"I've never kissed anyone in this circle." They all looked guiltily around the circle.
"So?" She smirked.
"Who's drinking?"
Slowly, Squib and Cody raised their hands.
"Oh come on Tanis," Squib complained.
"If I'm drinking, then so are you." Tanis shot him a dirty look.
"Wait a minute, I get them," Cameron said, pointing at Cody and Squib.
"But unless you kissed Cody…" he trailed off. Tanis focused her eyes on the ground, pulling her legs up to her chest.
"I don't believe this," Cameron muttered.
"It's not what you think," she insisted, touching his shoulder. He shook her off.
"You kissed Squib! I'm pretty sure that's what I'm thinking!"
"Wait? What!" Adena demanded. From the look on Cody's face, she hadn't known either.
"I need a walk," Cameron got up and angrily stalked off.
"Cameron wait!" Tanis took off after him, leaving the other three in silence. Cody and Adena stared at Squib who was nervously rubbed the back of his neck.
"She was teaching me how to box a while ago. It just happened, it didn't mean anything!" he insisted. Still no one spoke. Adena looked at Cody.
"Well…I guess the game is over…I'm gonna go use the bathrooms…or outhouses or…whatever," and she scampered off in the direction that Tanis and Cameron had gone moments earlier. Cody said nothing still, staring at the fire as if it would give her the answers.
"Cody?" she knew what he was asking her.
"I'm not mad," her voice was monotone, not what he was used to.
"Are you sure?" Squib could tell that she was lying.
"Why would I be?" Cody asked, getting up and walking to the van. She pulled a portable radio out from under the seat.
"It's not like there's anything going on, we're not going out."
"So you're really not mad?" he sounded confused.
"Nope, you can kiss whoever you want! Although, I didn't know you had feelings for Tanis, that is a surprise."
"I didn't! I don't! It just kinda happened! I stopped it though and I told her that I didn't think of her that way!" Squib was desperately grasping for anything that would make Cody understand. He was upset that she was acting like this didn't matter to her, pretending to ignore that there was something going on between them. She had acted like she was okay with it when she questioned him about Tanis back when it happened. That bothered him too. But her face softened slightly after he explained and he could see the confusion appear on it.
"I need to use the bathroom too," Cody put the radio on the grass next to the sleeping bags and walked away, leaving him to watch her retreating back.
Cody returned twenty minutes later after clearing her head. The radio was on softly and the others were all spread out around the fire in their sleeping bags. Adena was between Cameron and Tanis, who were still far away from each other despite the barrier. Squib was still sitting in front of the fire and glanced up at her as she approached.
"Why aren't you sleeping?" Cody asked.
"Well, there's only one sleeping bag left and you've been driving all day, so you should take it. I'll sleep in the car tomorrow," He insisted. Cody sighed and went over to where the sleeping bag lay. Unrolling it, she unzipped the bundle and laid it out on the grass, revealing a large blanket. He looked at her questioningly, not wanting to assume anything.
"We all need to rest. We can both lie on the blanket," Cody said. Squib nodded and went and lay down as Cody situated herself at the opposite end. The only sound amidst their silence was the radio in the background.
Friday night I'm going nowhere
All the lights are changing green to red
Turning over TV stations
Situations running through my head
Well looking back through time
You know it's clear that I've been blind
I've been a fool
To ever open up my heart
To all that jealousy, that bitterness, that ridicule
Cody rested her head on her arm and felt tears prick her eyes as she listened to the words. She did care that he had kissed Tanis, of course she did.
Saturday I'm running wild
And all the lights are changing red to green
Moving through the crowd I'm pushing
Chemicals all rushing through my bloodstream
Only wish that you were here
You know I'm seeing it so clear
I've been afraid
To tell you how I really feel
Admit to some of those bad mistakes I've made
He wished that he could take it all back, the whole lot of it. While Squib knew that nothing had happened between him and Tanis, he wasn't sure that Cody did.
If you want it
Come and get it
Crying out loud
The love that I was
Giving you was
Never in doubt
Let go your heart
Let go your head
And feel it now
Babylon, Babylon
She knew that he was probably telling the truth about what had happened between them, but still, she couldn't believe that it had happened in the first place. But she couldn't even very well be mad, it's not like there was something established between them.
Sunday all the lights of London
Shining , Sky is fading red to blue
I'm kicking through the Autumn leaves
And wondering where it is you might be going to
He saw her shiver slightly and moved cautiously towards her.
"Hey," he whispered.
"Are you cold?"
"A little," she confessed. They were after all, the only ones lying in the open air with no covers. Cody felt him move behind her and pull her to him, her back against his chest with his arm draped over her waist. He felt her tense slightly, and was relieved when moments later sherelaxed, just as he was considering going back to his side of the blanket.
Turning back for home
You know I'm feeling so alone
I can't believe
Climbing on the stair
I turn around to see you smiling there
In front of me
"You know what this reminds me of?" he asked, enjoying the feeling of having her in his arms. A small smile crossed her face, he knew it was there, even if he couldn't see it.
"The boat," she answered. Cody was always being reminded of that night, even little things made her think about it. Part of her wished that it had all turned out differently in the end.
If you want it
Come and get it
Crying out loud
The love that I was
Giving you was
Never in doubt
And feel it now
"Hey," his breath was warm on her face.
"I'm sorry."
"I know," she whispered.
And the song played on.
Let go your heart
Let go your head
And feel it now
Let go your heart
Let go your head
And feel it now
Let go your heart
Let go your head
And feel it now
Let go your heart
Let go your head
And feel it now
Babylon, Babylon, Babylon
Author's Note:
Wow, that was long! I'm making up for my lack of updating the last few days. Thank you soooooooo much for the reviews! You guys are great! Especially Allybally for continuing to post my story for the enjoyment of everyone and dedicating a chapter of her story to me after my accident, you are so sweet! I was feeling awful the day that I read it and it totally made me feel better! I really do appreciate the support! In case anyone is wondering why the certain choice of song, I heard it today when I was starting to write this chapter and it just felt like it somehow belonged in this chapter. I really do recommend that you listen to it while reading that part, it is much more effective. Well, hope you all liked it and please review so I know what you think! I also appreciate the suggestions that some of you have sent me! I will try to use them if I can! Enjoy!