Chapter 8: Chapter 8

Ethan slowed down the van near a perfectly shaped sand dune. We were in the middle of nowhere, but somehow, I liked this place. It was quite creepy yet an amazing place for camping. Michael opened the door before the van even stopped and hopped out.

“So, what now?” Erica asked, pulling down her sunglasses from her hair to cover her eyes.

“We put up the tents,” Jared replied, shrugging.

“No, you guys put up the tent, we just wait,” I replied.

The guys chuckled and walked over to the trunk to remove our camping supplies. They walked over to a good spot and started putting up one tent while we got engaged in our conversation.

“Oh my god! I love you so much Ash. I’m here! Camping! With Michael!” Abby said in a high-pitched girly voice.

I grinned at her and said, “I love you too.”

“I totally feel the love guys,” Erica interrupted.

Laughing, Abby gave her a side hug.

“Michael is like your prime reason to come camping with us, isn’t it?” Erica asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

“No!” Abby replied firmly.

“Do you think we should help them? They haven’t even figured out how to read the manual yet,” Erica asked, squinting at the boys through her shades.

“Yeah, they’re never going to figure that thing out,” I said, getting out of the van and walking towards the boys with Abby and Erica.

“Felt bad for letting us work alone?” Jared asked while bending and picking up a pack of pegs.

“Nah, we just thought we have a better chance at manual than you do,” I replied, taking the instructions from Ethan’s hands.

I could feel Ethan’s gaze on me while I was reading the manual. Feeling a small blush take over my face, I turned and walked towards Abby. After forty-five minutes, we managed to put up the tents. We should have just slept in sleeping bags. It was getting more humid and hot.

"I think we should collect some timber for the bonfire," Michael suggested.

I nodded in agreement along with Ethan and Jared. The boys agreed and started walking deeper into the woods along with Michael trailing behind them.

"What if a bear comes out from the woods?" Erica asked creepily.

"Or," Abby added in one of her own scenarios. “The big bad wolf comes out of those creepy, dark trees?"

“Abby, isn’t that what Erica just said?” I asked.

"But that won't stop the wolf from coming and attacking us," Abby defended herself.

"Guys!" Erica yelled out for Jared, Ethan and Michael who were not that far.

"Oh my god, this is just absolutely lame," I said.

They stopped and turned behind. Jared raised his hand questioning what's wrong. I rolled my eyes.

"We're coming with you!" Abby yelled.

"No! We're not!" I yelled.

The guys stood there giving us confused looks. Erica and Abby started walking towards them while I groaned and followed them. Erica, Michael, Jared and Abby started walking but Ethan waited behind for me and I smiled at him.

Abby, Michael and Erica were laughing about something and couldn't stop myself from smiling; Abby and Michael looked really cute.

"What are you thinking about?" Ethan asked, looking down at me.

"Abby and Michael; they look really cute together." I said, looking at them.

Abby was playfully hitting Michael's shoulder while laughing. Erica and Jared seemed to be engaged in a serious conversation.

"Not the answer I was looking for," he replied, clearing his throat.

"Why?” I asked, a smile taking over my face. “Were you expecting me to be dreaming about hot you are?"

"So you think I'm hot," he stated, grinning at me.

"I did not say that!" I defended myself.

"You sure did," he replied, his smile getting wider.

“I did not!” I repeated.

“We know what the truth is, Ash,” he responded confidently.

I hit his shoulder and continued walking faster.

*

"Then Mary appeared in her dad's room and he freaked out," Jared continued the story he was telling us.

So, there was this girl named Mary who had a mom who was really sick and no matter how many doctors they consulted; she couldn't be cured. Her dad was a doctor too and he was sick and tired of everything. One day, he gave his wife an injection that killed her. Mary found out and she was furious with her dad, she threatened him by saying that she would report this to the police. He got afraid since that would result with him losing his job. Hence, he dosed her with some medicine and buried her alive. She was still breathing and tried digging with her way out with her nails. Her pinky finger’s nail broke and eventually, she died.

One night, her dad was awake at 2 am and he heard the bell, which he had placed near Mary's grave, ringing. He ignored and went up to his bedroom and Mary appeared.

"Then he ended up yelling Bloody Mary three times, Mary chickened out and she hid in the mirror of the room. That's how Mary became Bloody Mary," he concluded.

“You need to work on your story telling skills,” Erica said. “That was supposed to make us scared not sleepy.”

Jared scoffed, “Like you could do any better.”

“Actually,” Abby interrupted. “She could.”

Erica smirked and gave Abby a high five. No matter what Erica and Abby say, the story was good enough to send shivers down me. Yeah, I'm a chicken.

"Scared?" Ethan asked, sitting beside me and handing me another marshmallow.

"Pfft, no," I replied, trying to shake away freaky thoughts.

He smirked at me, "Don't worry, I'll protect you."

I gasped dramatically, "My hero."

He chuckled, shaking his head.

"Who's up for another story?" Michael asked.

"I am!" Abby replied happily.

Abby was wide awake and the most hyper amongst us, especially since I made sure she was sitting next to Michael.

Yeah, I know, I’m a genius.

*

I rolled in the tent again. Since the past 42 minutes I have been trying to sleep but I just can't. I looked at Abby and Erica, they were sleeping peacefully. I sighed and quietly unzipped the tent, got out and zipped it again. I searched for a clean spot to sit, opened 'The Last Song' and continued reading.

It was so cold. I forgot my purple jumper on my bed, should have let mom annoy me with her questions.

I continued reading, I was almost in the end and silent tears were rolling down my cheeks. I wiped them with my sleeve.

After 30 minutes, I closed the book and sighed loudly. I needed water, my throat hurt. But I didn't feel like getting up, I just wanted to sit there and sob. It's like that moment when you finish a book, look around and realize that everyone is just carrying on with their lives as though you didn't just experience emotional trauma. I buried my hands in my face and cried a bit more.

"Can't sleep?" I heard someone say behind me.

I jerked upright and wiped my face. I looked behind and saw Ethan standing behind me, remember when I mentioned how gorgeous he looked in sunlight? Try imagining the same gorgeous face under the moonlight.

“No” I replied hoarsely. I cleared my throat to make sure he didn’t know I was crying.

“Do you need some water?” He asked softly

“Yes, please” I replied with a fake smile.

He walked over to the place where we kept all our things and bent down while searching for water. Meanwhile, I tried to take deep breaths to control my breathing. He sat down beside me with water and yawned. He actually looked cute with the messy hair and sleepy eyes.  I took the bottle from him and took a long sip.

"Why are you up?" I asked. "You look sleepy."

He shrugged, "I just woke up and didn't feel like staying in the tent since Michael won't stop snoring, so I just came out."

I chuckled.

Ethan smiled and said, “Did you know tha-”

“Boo!”

I screamed while Abby laughed like a maniac.

“Abby! Why would you do that?” I yelled.

Abby sat down and continued laughing hysterically. Ethan started laughing with her too.

“I knew it,” Abby said between giggles.

“Knew what?” I asked loudly.

“That you and Ethan had a thing for each other.”

“What?” Ethan and I exclaimed together.

Abby shrugged.

I rolled my eyes, “Shut up Abby.”

“What did I miss?” Jared asked slowly, joining us.

“Nothing,” I said and narrowed my eyes at Abby.

Abby continued laughing while Jared gave her a curious look and I rolled my eyes. Ethan seemed to be the calmest.

Abby got up and pulled Jared’s T-shirt, “Come on, let’s leave these love birds alone.”

“Um, what?” Jared asked.

Rolling my eyes, I walked past Abby, “Night guys.”

Usually, I upload on weekends but since I am sick with a viral flu -.- and at home, I had some free time so here is Chapter 8!

So, liked it? :3 Don't forget to COTE! <3