"Mark, would you move over so Bridget can get in, please?" Roger asked him, as Bridget came running out with her duffle bag, sleeping bag, and pillow.
"All right, fine," Mark said, and he moved over reluctantly, so Bridget could have a place next to Roger in Benny's Range Rover.
"Hey, Baby," Roger said, getting out to help her put her things in the back of the Range Rover.
"Hi," Bridget said, smiling at him. "So are you guys ready to hit the beach?"
Mark, Maureen, Benny, and Collins nodded and smiled at her. Bridget put her stuff in the back of the Range Rover and then climbed in next to Roger.
"Yeah, definitely," Benny said, smiling at her.
"We're so going to get busted for this," Mark said worriedly. "You all know we have no biology projects that need working on to speak of."
"Oh, Pookie," Maureen admonished him, "stop worrying. No one will find us. Besides, if anyone asks, we can always say it was Benny's fault."
"Mine?" Benny exclaimed. "But it was your idea, Maureen!"
Maureen grinned and snuggled up next to Mark. "I know," she said, "but you're the one who's more likely to get blamed."
Benny rolled his eyes. 'Ugh," he said, "I can't believe I'm doing this. We could have used Roger's Firebird, and then I wouldn't have to be driving you guys."
"How did you get a Range Rover, anyway, Benny?" Bridget asked.
"It was my sixteenth birthday present," Benny replied, looking over at her before he began to drive off.
"See, I told you," Roger whispered to her, "he's rich."
"I heard that, jackass," Benny said, looking through his rear-view mirror at Roger.
Roger laughed. "Benny, you know I only mean the best for you," he said.
"Oh, shut up," Benny said. "Now you're starting to sound like my mother."
Roger grinned. Bridget noticed a blonde-haired girl sitting next to Benny, in the passenger seat. "Who's this, Benny?" she asked, indicating to the blonde.
"Bridget, this is Catherine, a.k.a. Cat," Benny said, and he turned onto the freeway. "Cat, this is Bridget, Roger's new girlfriend."
Cat smiled. "It's nice to meet you, Bridget," she said.
"It's nice to meet you, too, Cat," Bridget said, smiling back at her. They sat in silence for a while, and then Bridget decided she was uncomfortable with the silence and asked a question. "So what are we going to be doing, since Biology is out?"
"Oh, you know, swimming, bonfires, the whole works," Roger said, smiling down at her. "There's a dock and everything."
"That sounds like fun," Bridget said. "I used to go camping with my dad all the time."
Roger nodded. "Do you miss him?" he asked cautiously.
"No," Bridget said firmly, "not at all. But I don't really want to talk about it."
"OK, Baby," Roger said, kissing the top of her head, "it's your choice."
"Thanks for understanding, Roger," Bridget said, looking up at him.
"No problem, Baby," Roger said, and he leaned down to kiss her.
"Hey, no making out in my back seat," Benny said, looking at them again. Roger scowled and smacked him on the side of the head, making Cat laugh.
"Oh, shit," Roger said, frustrated, as the marshmallow he had been roasting was suddenly engulfed in flames and quickly began to burn.
"Roger!" Bridget exclaimed, laughing, and she rushed over to him as he blew out the flaming marshmallow. "What are you doing? Have you not yet mastered the art of marshmallow roasting?"
"Not exactly, Baby," Roger said. "Remember, I'm a small-town city boy."
Bridget laughed. "Well, here, give me another one and I'll show you how," she said.
"OK," Roger said, and he got another marshmallow. "All right, show me the money."
Bridget laughed. "OK, I will," she said. "See where there are hardly any flames and just coals?" Roger nodded and Bridget pointed the makeshift marshmallow roasting stick directly above the coals. "Well, you go like this and turn it slowly. That way, you'll roast all sides evenly, without a chance of burning it."
"OK, let me try," Roger said, but instead of letting her give him the stick, he wrapped his arms around her and closed his hands over hers. "Like this, right?" he asked, turning the stick slowly with her.
"Right," Bridget said, smiling at the feel of Roger's touch around her body. "Now you keep that up. I'm going to get another marshmallow."
But when Bridget tried to duck out from within Roger's grasp, she found he wouldn't let her go. She turned around in his arms and looked up at him. "What are you doing?" she asked, looking up at him.
"Oh, nothing," Roger said, smiling down at her, and he leaned down to kiss her. Bridget laughed after they parted.
A few hours later, they put the fire out, and everyone got ready for bed. Roger bade Bridget goodnight. "I'll see you in the morning, OK?" he asked, caressing her face.
"OK," Bridget said, smiling up at him, and he kissed her goodnight. She, Maureen, and Cat were sleeping in one tent, and Benny, Collins, Mark, and Roger were sleeping in the second tent. Bridget kissed him one last time and then she went in with Maureen and Cat. That night, it took her a long time to fall asleep. Thoughts of Roger were running through her head and wouldn't leave her alone. Finally, a couple hours later, after much tossing and turning and even Maureen snapping at her in frustration once, Bridget relaxed and fell into a peaceful sleep.
Bridget felt like she'd barely lain down to sleep when she awoke with a start. Someone's hand was over her mouth. She looked around, startled, and saw Roger was kneeling awkwardly next to her sleeping bag. He put a finger to his lips, signaling to her to be quiet, and she nodded. A moment later, he let down his hand.
"What are you doing?" Bridget whispered nervously, looking up at him.
"Come with me," Roger whispered back.
Bridget frowned at him. "Roger, it's the middle of the night. Why?"
Roger shook his head. "No, it's not," he said quietly, "it's almost dawn. Come with me, I want to show you something."
Bridget looked at him suspiciously. "What?" she asked.
"I can't tell you, it's a surprise," Roger whispered. "Now come on, before you wake up Maureen and Cat. And if I wake Benny up at this hour, he'll be pissed."
Bridget frowned at him again, but obliged. "Oh, all right," she said. "Get out for a minute, will you? I'm going to get dressed." Roger nodded and climbed out of the tent, and she got out of her sleeping bag, quietly dressed, and came out of the tent. Roger took her hand and led her away. "Where are we going?" she asked.
"You'll see," Roger said, glancing at her. He saw she was giving him a suspicious look again. "What?"
"Roger Davis, if this is you trying to—"
"I'm not trying to seduce you, Bridget Kincaid," Roger assured her, almost laughing. "I told your mom we'd stick to the rules, and I intend to. Any rule breaking will be entirely your fault." He flashed her one of his heart-melting grins.
Bridget rolled her eyes. "Fine," she said. "So where is this surprise?"
"Not far," Roger said. "It's only a five minute walk. Come on."
Bridget looked long and hard at him, suspicious again. "Well, OK," she said, and she took his hand and they left.
When they were getting close, Roger said, "OK, Bridget, close your eyes."
"Close my eyes?" Bridget asked, looking at him.
"Yes," Roger said, smiling. "Go on, close them."
Bridget sighed, but closed her eyes obediently. Roger took her hands in his and led her further away. "Roger, where are we going?" she asked nervously.
"It's OK, Bridget," Roger said soothingly. "Do you trust me?"
Bridget nodded and continued to let him lead her. "I trust you," she said.
"OK, just over here," Roger said.
Bridget's head turned nervously to each side, hearing wood beneath her feet. "Roger, where are we?" she asked.
"Sit down," he said, and Bridget sat down slowly with Roger's help. "OK, open your eyes."
Roger sat down next to Bridget as she opened her eyes. A moment later, she gasped and her hands flew up to her mouth. "Oh my God," she said in awe.
Bridget realized where Roger had led her. They were on the dock nearest to their campsite. Bridget and Roger were looking over the lake, just as the sun began to rise. It rose over the horizon, red and gold beams streaking over the sky.
"What do you think?" Roger asked, looking down at her.
"It's beautiful, Roger," Bridget said quietly. "Thank you for taking me here."
"You're welcome, Baby," Roger said, and he leaned down to kiss her. "So you like it?"
"Yeah, I love it," Bridget said, smiling at him. "Can we stay here for a while?"
"Sure, Baby," Roger said, smiling down at her, and he lay down on the dock. Bridget lay down next to him and they soon fell asleep together.
"Mark!" Maureen yelled, sitting bolt-upright as she awoke in the night and realized Bridget's sleeping bag was empty. She bolted out of her sleeping bag and out of the girls' tent.
"What? What is it? Maureen?" Mark asked feverishly, coming out of the boys' tent, hearing Maureen yelling.
"Bridget's gone," Maureen said, going over at him.
Mark sighed with relief. "Oh, jeez, Maureen," he said, "I thought something was really wrong."
"What are you talking about?" Maureen demanded. "Bridget's gone and you're saying nothing's wrong?"
"Maureen, relax," Mark said, pulling her close to him and rubbing her back. "Roger's not here, either. I bet they just went for a walk or something. It's OK."
"Oh, OK," Maureen said, looking down. "I'm sorry. It's just that I was worried Bridget had gone off and gotten herself lost or something, especially since she doesn't know her way around Scarsdale or anything."
"Now why would Bridget do that, when she's got us?" Mark asked Maureen reasonably.
Maureen nodded. "I know, you're right," she said. "It was stupid, worrying like that." Benny and Collins came out of the tent in their boxers, rubbing their eyes. Cat appeared as well.
"Maureen, what the hell is wrong with you, yelling like that in the middle of the night?" Benny asked irritably. Collins smacked him. "Hey!"
"Shut it," Collins admonished him.
"Maureen, sweetie, what is it?" Cat asked gently, coming over to the group.
"I was just worried that Bridget's gone," Maureen admitted sheepishly, feeling foolish, now that they were all standing around her and it had been silly in the first place.
"She's probably out somewhere with Roger," Benny said.
"Yeah, that's what Mark said," Maureen said. "I'm sorry I woke you guys up. That was stupid of me."
"Don't worry about it," Collins said. "We need to get up anyway, we're burning daylight. We can't waste precious hours sleeping when we've got daylight to use up. I mean, look at Bridget and Roger— they've been up since before we were, and it's risky to wake Roger up before Noon. I guess Bridget is cause for him to get up early, eh?"
Maureen smiled at him. "Thanks, Collins," she said. "So where do you think Bridget and Roger went?"
"No clue," Benny interrupted her, an evil smirk on his face. "But I think I have a hunch. Come on, let's get dressed first."
Maureen nodded and pulled away from Mark. "OK, good idea," she said, and she went with Cat to get dressed.
"Aw, would you look at that? How cute," Benny sneered sarcastically, as he, Cat, Maureen, Mark, and Collins located Roger and Bridget sleeping on the dock.
"Oh my gosh," Maureen said, her hand over her mouth. "Maybe we should leave them alone? I mean, they're OK, after all... Roger will be so pissed if he wakes up and finds us watching the two of them..."
"What's to be pissed about?" Benny asked, looking at her. "It's not like we caught them after they had sex or something." He looked at the others. "Come on, let's push them in."
"What?" Mark and Cat said together.
"You know, into the water," Benny said, grinning evilly. "Come on, please? It'll be funny."
"No, Benny!" Maureen said, a little too loudly. "They could drown or something."
"OK, which one of you is plotting to have us drowned?" Roger asked, without opening his eyes, making them all jump. Benny laughed and Roger realized who the culprit was. "Benny, I'm gonna kill you!"
"Pick your method," he teased, and Roger opened his eyes. Roger carefully untangled himself from Bridget's arms and ran off after Benny.
"Come on, you guys, chill!" Mark called after them, but he knew they weren't listening.
Maureen looked at Cat, Mark, and Collins. "We really should get her up, I think," Maureen said. "It looks like she's a heavy sleeper, but we don't want to startle her or anything."
Collins, Mark, and Cat nodded. "Yeah," they said, and the four of them went over to Bridget.
"Bridget, sweetie, wake up," Maureen said, shaking her lightly. But it didn't help. Bridget was still sound-asleep. Collins got up and went over to go try and break Roger and Benny up.
All of a sudden, Maureen heard Collins yell, "GUYS, DUCK!"
Mark and the girls looked up and ducked just in time, as Benny and Roger came charging toward them. Benny and Roger dived over Mark and the three girls and went plunging into the water. The three girls were drenched with water, and Bridget woke up with a yell.
"ARGH!" she yelled, sitting bolt-upright. "What going on?"
"Benny, you are such an ass!" Maureen yelled at the boys, who were fighting in the water and yelling at each other. "You guys, knock it off!"
But neither would quit before the other would give up, so Maureen decided to stop it for them. She walked off to the dock to the water's edge and picked up a large rock; not too big for her to carry, but big enough to make a difference in the boys' fight. Without saying a word, she went back over and grunted as she threw it into the water. It landed inches from Roger's and Benny's heads.
"Mo, what the hell are you trying to do, kill us?" Benny snapped, glaring at her and seeming to forget for a moment about Roger.
"Would you two stop it?" Maureen yelled at them. "You soaked Bridget when you fell into the water, you assholes! Stop fighting, OK? You two are so stupid!"
Roger and Benny looked at each other. They realized Maureen was entirely right. Roger looked at Benny. "She's right, man," he said. "This was really stupid. Are we cool?" He held out his hand for Benny to shake.
Benny nodded and they both treaded water as they shook hands. "Yeah, we're cool," he said. Benny looked at Maureen, Cat, and Bridget, all three of whom were looking disgusted. "Well, care to join us, ladies? Besides, Bridget, you're already soaked."
Bridget rolled her eyes and almost laughed. She sighed. "Well…" She saw Roger was giving her a pleading look. "Oh, all right, we can join you."
"What?" Cat exclaimed, aghast.
"What, you're saying you've never swam in your clothes before?" Bridget asked them mischievously.
Cat looked at Maureen, who was grinning. "I say we go for it," Maureen said, smirking at Cat. "It sounds like fun."
Cat laughed. "OK," she surrendered, and the girls stripped down into their underwear and bra and, with Collins close behind, jumped into the water after Benny and Roger.
I know quite a few people have been reading this story, but no one's reviewed. I would really appreciate hearing what people think of this story, especially since it's one of my first tries at a pre Rent story. The first one I had put up, I didn't like much, but I really like this one so far. I hope you like it, too. I would really like to hear what you think of it, so please review. Thanks. Next chapter may be up by tonight, but I'll have to see. It will be at least one more part about the lake, and then it's back to Scarsdale. Please tune in to see what I've got planned.
Until next time, lots of love,
Renthead07