"I'M COMING." He yelled, now a little less loudly as he was closing the distance. Seriously, why couldn't she get someone else to help her? He was no good at outdoor activities. The only reason he'd agreed to go camping with them in the first place was because he didn't want to deal with the annoying and persistent wrath of Milly scolding him for being "cold and aloof" and Shirley's sad puppy eyes. He had enough crap in his life and if he could do anything to cut down the amount he had to deal with, he would. So here he was, the back of beyond with Milly, Shirley, Suzaku, Nina, Rivalz and Gino.
This is hell, he thought to himself.
As he got even closer he saw why he was being called to help; the others were huddled under the camp shelter, refusing to come out "for fear of being hit by a tree" Nina yelled. Everyone except Suzaku, who had apparently gone to get his survival kit from the SUV parked half a mile away.
"Guh." he sighed disgustedly, now at Milly's side. What a bunch of losers. I can't wait to be home.
"Move over Nina your foot is jamming into my side!" Shirley whined, pushing at the younger girl.
"I'm sorry…" Nina said meekly, trailing off and curling into an even smaller ball.
The picnic shelter was doing more harm than good as the close proximity was making the disappointed campers even more irritable.
Shirley, who was getting particularly fed up with the close quarters, crawled to the edge of the cement floor to see if the tent was up yet. Seeing what she was doing, Rivalz slid up next to her asking in a gleefully dramatic tone if their castle had been erected. Shirely sighed and Nina moaned, having been stepped on for the fourth time by a careless Rivalz.
"No," she said defeatedly, "it's not."
"UUUUUUGH" everyone bemoaned in a melancholy unison.
"Hey!" Shirley whipped around. "Patience is a virtue!" That should shut them up for a while, she thought to herself.
—
After a very windy fifteen minutes, Lelouch and Milly had managed to get four of the six tent pegs into the ground and all the tent spines in. They, however, had not been able to raise it until the brazen hero Suzaku came jogging through the whirlwind of twigs and leaves with his survival kit.
Thank god. That idiot is good for one thing and one thing only. Strength. And for once, that's exactly what we need.
Panting, Suzaku slowed down to a plodding trot as he neared them, throwing his kit carelessly on the pile of unused shelter tarps.
"You guys need some help?" he said, smiling and wiping his forehead with the back of his hand.
Lelouch sighed again, inaudible against the gusting wind, closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose. How can he be so oblivious. These people….how am I even associated with them?
Swallowing back his acrid thoughts, he forced a smile. "Sure, that would be great. If you can give Milly a hand on the sixth peg I'll keep working on this one and we should have it up in no time."
Lelouch had always been a genius at giving people orders, and as annoying as it was to be pushed around, the others knew that he was almost always right. Even the stubborn ones like Nina complied to his commands, knowing that if they decided not to listen they'd most likely be making the wrong choice. He had a way of predicting outcomes on the dot almost every time, and it was no surprise that he was once again right in telling Suzaku to work on the sixth and final peg, because within minutes the tent was grounded.
"We're good to go!" Milly shouted to him from the other side of the tent.
"We're bringing her up, Lelouch!" Suzaku followed, hoisting at the nylon rope.
Ah, what a beautiful sight. He stood back and watched as the tent came to life, holding strong against the ruthless wind. Just two more days. If I can make it through two more days of this then I'll be a stronger man.
Suzaku ran around from the other side, waving and holding a hand to his mouth. "HEY EVERYONE IT'S UP HURRY BEFORE IT RAINS!"
Shirley, who was still at the front of the shelter, bounded forward almost tripping over herself in excitement to get out of the cramped mosh-pit and possibly possibly get to sit next to Lelouch inside. Everyone else followed almost as quickly, Gino having to run back twice to the shelter to first pick up his pocket knife and then his Rolex watch.
Who the hell brings a Rolex watch on a camping trip? I don't understand…nevermind.
Lelouch had learned to block out his depressing thoughts of the stupidity of mankind since it never did anything but make him more irritable.
While Gino had run back to get the watch, everyone else had gone inside the tent save Lelouch and Suzaku.
"Hey, aren't you coming in?" Suzaku slapped him on the back, while giving him a warm smile.
Why did I ever make friends with this guy….he's such a nuisance …such an extravert…
"Of course. I wouldn't have helped set it up if I weren't planning on joining the little party. I was just waiting for Gino." What a lie. I'm actually just waiting for a god-sent bolt of lightening to strike the whole damn campsite and fry us all.
As if God had heard his thoughts, lightening struck, although far away, and sheets of rain began shredding through the clouds. In a matter of seconds both of the boys were so soaked that they barely noticed the blur of white and blue that streaked between them and into the tent. The girls inside squealed as Gino rolled on top of them unintentionally in his dash from the rain.
"C'mon, lets get in before we get any more drenched." Suzaku stepped in and Lelouch followed behind.
Meanwhile…..
Kallen scrolled through her iPod looking for her angsty get-pumped-up-to-do-something-badass playlist, the ticking sound of the scroller speeding up and slowing down in unison with her thumb, making sure she didn't miss it. Finally she reached it after going through the hundreds of playlists she created and plugged in the iPod to her stereo.
This is one thing I absolutely will not let CC disturb. I *will* listen to Fall Out Boy while I cook. The two are one and the same….
Kallen had loved Fall Out Boy ever since their first album. She loved the lyrics, the beat, the angst, the power….Everything about them played to a very distinct part of her. Although she didn't always show it, she was fiery like her hair and loved anything that played to that. To that passion. Her music was an essential part to who she was, a vital organ, almost as vital as her own heart. Despite her sometimes unfortunate ability to hide her feelings, she was a deep and complex person that really only felt safe revealing herself by sharing her music with others. When they rejected that…well, they rejected her.
Of course, she didn't show her entrancement with the song as she stepped back from the stereo, turning her back on it and returning to the kitchen. She would never be so free to let her emotions show through her body language, even when she was alone.
I'm in my own world now, CC or not. I'm not in my room anymore, I'm floating through a dark vortex coloured by polychromatic musical notes. This is the real reason I wanted to be alone. To feel things.
As she closed her eyes for just a second, her deep and introspective thought pattern was once again interrupted unexpectedly.
"I brought some booze." The cool voice was back.
Kallen didn't have to turn around this time as CC was already walking into the kitchen with a large bottle of Jack Daniels at her side.
She was so shocked that she remained speechless for a second. CC drinks? I never would have thought. I mean I guess I'm not that surprised cause she's eternal and all and doesn't have to worry about liver damage and all, but still.
"I have some shot glasses too that I took from Lelouch's cabinet before I left." she said, setting the bottle down on the laminate faux granite countertop.
Lelouch drinks?!
As if she were reading her thoughts again, CC said "He doesn't drink but he won them in some tournament and won't get rid of them. We may as well put them to use." she said with a surprisingly human wink.
Ok, at least I wasn't wrong about that. I never have pegged him as the type to drink; he's too worried about remaining focused to have any fun that involves brain impairment.
"You drink, don't you?" CC spoke again, setting the shot glasses on the table with her other hand. "I know the Black Knights go out drinking and I doubt you'd be one to turn down a good time." she said, this time without a wink but her eyes still sending a phantom of one.
"Well…" Kallen began, trailing off as she traced her finger along the rippled counter top, "I do on occasion. Only if we have something to celebrate."
CC cracked the black metal seal on the bottle and poured some into the first glass. Before taking a swig she said "I'm going to drink. I don't really care if you want to or not. You can stay sober all weekend for all I care." She tipped the caramel coloured alcohol into her mouth. Coughing a little, she finished "Just don't come crying to me when you realize that I've made more of this time alone than you have."
Alone. Ha. She's seriously playing that card.
The two stood in silence as CC unenthusiastically poured another shot for herself.
"I'll have a shot." Kallen finally said, determined not to let the other girl win in the power play, even in something as silly as a bottle of whiskey.
CC looked unsurprised. "Ok. Pour it yourself." She slid the the glass to her and motioned to the bottle.
Kallen took the bottle and confidently filled her glass almost to the brim.
Holding it to her lips and cocking her head towards CC, she gave a sly grin. She'll see I'm just as tough as I look. "Bottoms up."