Chapter Eighteen – What the Hell
They lay side by side, she could feel the cold wind from outside, and it gave her goose bumps. She had just told him everything there was to tell. He didn't flinch, or look at her differently. He just simply reached his hand down to meet hers, he interlocked their fingers and with that small gesture she knew that no matter what she did, he was the one person that she could count on forever.
"Are you kidding me?" She reached down and picked up the first thing she could find, a bottle of bug spray, and hurled it as hard as she could at him. "You are such an ass hole!"
"I'm sorry okay, it just happened."
"NO!" She said, now throwing an empty beer can. "It doesn't just happen, you're a selfish douche bag who always takes what he had for granted." Next she threw a bag of marshmallows. "You make some really shitty decisions and that is how it happens." She picked up an empty glass bottle and hurled it at him, just narrowly missing his head but connecting with a tree behind him and smashing into little pieces.
"Jesus Christ! Would you stop throwing things at me?"
"Are we actually doing this?" she asked, laughing nervously. He had already removed his shirt and pants, and was now working on his socks.
"Yes, we are. You need to live a little, now lose the clothes." She smiled and rolled her eyes, yet she pulled off her top as well as her shorts. When she looked up she saw him running towards the water, completely naked. Once she had shed all of her clothes she happily followed him, unable to believe she was actually about to do this.
*****12 HOURS EARLIER.
"Are you sure you're up for this?" Jude asked as he placed his bag in the back of the jeep.
"For the last time I am fine. I've been fine since I woke up almost two weeks ago." Davis replied, as he too loaded his bag in the back of the jeep. Davis had woken from his coma almost two weeks ago, and thankfully there wasn't any permanent damage to his brain or his body. He was sore for about a week, but now he was back to being the Davis that everyone knew and loved. Everyone was ecstatic that Davis had woken up, and wanted to celebrate. Since the last party didn't turn out to well, they figured they probably shouldn't have another, not to mention Brooke and Julian were never going to let another party take place at their house again. So the gang decided that since the weather was staring to warm up they would all go camping.
Davis, Jude, Alex, Lydia, Sawyer, Jenny and Johnny were all going camping together for the weekend. They hoped it would bring them closer to the group that they used to be. While some had grown closer, like Jenny and Alex others had drifted apart, like Lydia and Sawyer. This weekend was meant to be full of fun and no drama.
"Who's riding with who?" Sawyer asked, as she searched through her purse for her IPod. They were bringing Davis and Jude's jeep and Johnny's Ford Escape. Riding arrangement were crucial, as certain people didn't want to have to sit through and awkward four hour ride with each other.
"Davis, Jude, Jenny and I in the Jeep, and Sawyer and Alex can go with Johnny in his car." Lydia suggested. Alex didn't really want to ride alone with Sawyer and Johnny, but if he protested he would have to explain why, and that wasn't really something he could do.
The seven teens climbed into the two cars and headed off to enjoy what they were sure was going to be a fun and relaxing weekend.
Jude sat next to Davis on the dock as they watched Lydia and Sawyer splash around in the water. Lydia was trying incredibly hard to get Sawyer to tell her about Johnny, she was doing everything but asking point blank but nothing was working. Jude knew something was bothering Lydia, but she wouldn't admit it; he figured she just didn't want to worry him, now that he had just gotten his brother back.
"So I guess the whole world didn't fall apart without me?" Davis asked, leaning back on his elbows.
"It almost did. Everyone was pretty lost without you man. The team couldn't even win a game without you."
"No worries, I'll be back on that court in no time. How was the rest of the world without me?"
"You're kind of the rock man, everyone was a little lost without you. So just no more slipping into comas alright?"
"Sure thing man, so are you going to fill me in on all the drama I've missed?" Jude debated it, but instead he reached out and shoved his brother off the dock and into the water. He then stood up and jumped in too. It was good to have his brother back.
Alex and Johnny were sitting in a canoe, floating in the middle of the lake. On the car ride up the two agreed it would be fun to go fishing, and now here they were. The atmosphere was anything but fun. Alex was a nervous wreck and Johnny couldn't figure out why. Alex wanted to tell Johnny that he liked Jenny, and this seemed to be the best opportunity.
"I've been hooking up with Jenny." The words were out of his mouth before he could stop himself. Johnny turned slowly to look at Alex. He was hooking up with Jenny? His ex-girlfriend Jenny? His first instinct was to be mad, but he took the time to think about it. He broke Jenny's heart, and she deserved to be happy and he couldn't think of anyone more deserving than Alex. Plus he was hooking up with Sawyer, who he knew Alex used to have a crush on. Johnny was bad guy in the situation, yet Alex looked scared out of his mind.
"Good." Johnny said.
"Good?"
"Yeah, you guys both deserve to be happy. I broke up with her so I don't really have the right to be mad when she starts dating someone else."
"But were friends man, you're not supposed to date your friends ex." Alex knew he should keep his mouth shut; he was basically getting a free pass to do whatever he wanted with Jenny.
"We are friends, and that's why I'm happy for you. I want you to be happy and if Jenny is what makes you happy then I want you to have Jenny. I don't know how serious you guys are, just promise that you're not going to screw her over like I did."
"Of course man, and for the record I do really like her."
The sun had set and all the kids were sitting around the campfire, passing around some beers and other various liquors. The kids were bundled up in blankets and each of them was covered head to toe in bug spray. After several complaints from Lydia that she was board, they decided that they would all play I Never. Everyone had to go around the circle and say something that they have never done, and if someone else had done it they had to take a swig of their drink.
"I'll go first," said Sawyer. "I've never been skinny dipping." Everyone took a drink, except for Lydia.
"When was this naked swimming party, and why weren't we invited?" Lydia asked.
"It was last year at the classic. Before you guys joined the squad. The players dared the cheerleaders, and then decided to join us." Jenny informed them.
"You never told me that." Lydia said, pretending to give Jude a hard time. All he did was simply smile, wrap his arm around her shoulder and place a small kiss on her forehead.
"My turn," said Jude. "I've never had sex in a public place." Johnny, Davis and Sawyer all took a drink.
"Well. I guess we know who the wild ones in the group are." Said Lydia, secretly happy that Jude didn't take a drink.
"I'll go," Jenny chimed in. "I've never had a secret boyfriend or girlfriend." She meant it as an innocent question, but the entire atmosphere of the game had changed. Johnny's eyes immediately went to Sawyer who quickly looked down. Lydia saw this exchange and immediately knew that they were together. When no one made a move to drink Lydia took a small sip from her cup.
"What, who was your secret boyfriend?" Jude asked.
"Benjamin Tyler in grade six, we dated for eight whole days." Jude let out a small laugh.
"I don't think that really counts." He told her.
She shrugged, "I'm just being honest." She cast her gaze to Sawyer who gave her a pleading look.
"Okay, I think it's my turn." Davis said, trying to break the tension.
"Actually I want to go." Said Lydia. She turned and looked directly at Sawyer "I've never lied to my best friends face." The mood had gone from slightly awkward to completely hostile in a matter of seconds.
"Lydia please don't do this." Sawyer begged.
"You're unbelievable." Lydia stood up and angrily walked away from the fire towards the lake. Jude called after her, but when she ignored him he followed behind her. He thought maybe he should give her some space, but decided against it as it was dark and she didn't know her way around very well.
"Okay, I know I was in the coma for a while, but what the hell happened?" Davis asked. Usually he wasn't one to pry into others business, especially when he knew they didn't want to talk about it, but he was getting sick of being in the dark.
"Johnny and I have been hooking up, for a while now." Sawyer tried to think of a way to fix what Lydia had done, but she couldn't think of one so she decided her only other option was to tell the truth. "It started at the One Republic concert and I am so sorry Jenny." Johnny hung his head; he never wanted Jenny to know that he cheated on her. "We never went further than kissing when you guys were together and I know that doesn't make it any better. You have to know that I feel terrible. I initiated the whole thing, I went after him even though I knew you guys were dating, and I am so sorry." When no one said anything Sawyer stood up and ran to her tent, she didn't want everyone to see her cry.
Davis stood and followed Sawyer. Sure what she did was wrong but he didn't want her to be alone right now. He walked into her tent where she lay on her side, sniffling like a child. He simply lay down next to her, and remained quiet. Eventually she turned on her back and stared at the top of her tent.
They lay side by side, she could feel the cold wind from outside, and it gave her goose bumps. She had just told him everything there was to tell. He didn't flinch, or look at her differently. He just simply reached his hand down to meet hers, he interlocked their fingers and with that small gesture she knew that no matter what she did, he was the one person that she could count on forever.
Johnny, Jenny and Alex still remained seated around the fire. Jenny hadn't said a word, so Johnny thought he should break the silence.
"Jenny, I am so sorry."
"Are you kidding me?" She reached down and picked up the first thing she could find, a bottle of bug spray, and hurled it as hard as she could at him. "You are such an ass hole!"
"I'm sorry okay, it just happened."
"NO!" She said, now throwing an empty beer can. "It doesn't just happen, you're a selfish douche bag who always takes what he had for granted." Next she threw a bag of marshmallows. "You make some really shitty decisions and that is how it happens." She picked up an empty glass bottle and hurled it at him, just narrowly missing his head but connecting with a tree behind him and smashing into little pieces.
"Jesus Christ! Would you stop throwing things at me!"
"We were still together! How can you say that you ever loved me?"
"I did."
"No, you didn't. Because you don't cheat on someone you love." Tears were streaming down her face; she was the picture of a broken heart.
"Lydia, wait up!" Jude jogged after her and eventually caught up to her, gripping her shoulder to stop her from going any further. "I have some ideas, but would you mind telling me what that was about."
"Sawyer and Johnny have been hooking up. I saw him leaving her house late one night. I tried to get her to tell me about it but she wouldn't. She lied to me, she lied to everyone, she has been for months." Jude sighed. "I am so pissed off right now."
"Just calm down, I know how you get when you're angry." Lydia gave him her evil eye and punched him in the arm. "Violent." He placed his hands on her shoulders, "breathe in, and breathe out."
"This isn't helping." She told him.
"Maybe you just need to take your mind off of it." Suddenly, Jude got an idea. "Let's go skinny dipping."
"You're not serious."
"Hell yes I am. You've never been, and who knows, maybe once we get out there we can check off the sex in a public place thing."
"Oh my god, Jude!"
"What, why not kill two birds with one stone?" He began untying his shoes.
"Are we actually doing this?" she asked, laughing nervously. He had already removed his shirt and pants, and was now working on his socks.
"Yes, we are. You need to live a little, now lose the clothes." She smiled and rolled her eyes, yet she pulled off her top as well as her shorts. When she looked up she saw him running towards the water, completely naked. Once she had shed all of her clothes she happily followed him, unable to believe she was actually about to do this.
The water was freezing cold, Lydia dove under and came up to see Jude just a few feet in front of her. She swam to him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. She pulled his head towards hers and kissed him passionately. His hands slipped under the surface and began to feel her body. He pulled her body right up against his as she granted his tongue access to her mouth. He knew he was about to kill that second bird.
Thanks for reading, and please don't forget to review. Let me know which couples you want to end up together, I haven't written the end of this story yet and I would love to hear what you all think.