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“It’s probably nothing,” I said, glancing at the non-threatening puffs of cloud above us again.
We turned toward the trees and started climbing.
The hike to the camping grounds wasn’t very far—it was just a couple of miles. I kept a close eye on Celine. She looked stunning in her tight leggings and flowing top, but her shoes looked uncomfortable despite looking like some sort of trainers. She didn’t huff and complain once, but her face was pinched, her lips parted, and she breathed hard. Her cheeks had bright pink spots with the effort, and there was nothing more beautiful in this moment.
The trees that surrounded us grew taller and older as we climbed. This part of the mountain was generally untouched. I liked coming out here where other people usually didn’t—it felt authentic. I liked being in parts of the forest where humans hadn’t ruined shit for everyone else.
“How big are the camping grounds?” Celine asked. “I expected there to be trailers, but if everyone’s walking…”
“What camping grounds?” Nicole asked.
Anna shook her head. “There are no official camping grounds up here. We’re pitching tents in the wild.”
“What?” Celine asked, her second horrified look in as many hours.
“Didn’t you know that?” Nicole asked, looking confused.
Celine only glared at her. Celine’s death stare was one to be wary of. Nicole’s survival instinct kicked in, and she glanced wearily at Anna, who just shook her head.
“It’ll be fine,” I said to Celine. “Look around you. There’s so much beauty out here.”
The trees rose above us like sentries, dark canopies of evergreen leaves far above us, blocking out the sunlight so that it looked like we wandered in perpetual dusk. The sounds of birds calling to each other in the branches above harmonized the setting, and squirrels chased each other up and down the tree trunks far enough away that they didn’t feel threatened by us. The mulch underneath our feet was springy and dry—a good sign that we weren’t here when it rained often.
We continued our climb. While we walked, I pointed out different trees and shrubs around us, the birds above identifiable by their calls. Celine didn’t say much. Nicole and Anna talked in hushed voices so we didn’t disturb nature too much.
I loved being out here, but it didn’t look like Celine was enjoying herself.
“We’re almost there,” I said to her.
She only nodded.
Finally, we broke through the trees into a clearing. A small lake lay along the edge of the trees on the other side of the clearing, and a few tents had been set up in a semi-circle on the near side of the lake. A fire crackled in the center of it, and Gino and Scott stood a few feet away, drinking beers. Morgan sat on one of the logs Gino and Scott had probably dragged closer to the fire and drank something—probably wine Gino had brought—out of a plastic cup.
“There they are!” Morgan shouted and jumped up. “The party is complete!”
Gino came to us and clapped his hand into mine before he turned to Celine.
“I’m Gino,” he said. “Nice to meet you.”
“I’m sure,” she said and held out her hand.
Gino glanced at me before he took it and shook it.
We made our introductions so that everyone knew everyone. Scott and Morgan were a couple I’d known for a couple of years, and they always joined us on our camping trips. Morgan had long auburn hair that hung in a braid down her back and big doe eyes. Scott was tall and reed thin, with a bony face and high cheekbones.
In my opinion, they didn’t belong together. They were great people in their own rights, but not everyone was compatible. Still, they’d made it work for the past six years and were still going strong against all odds.
We walked to the tents and arranged our things. I suggested Celine share a tent with me. She agreed, which made me do an internal fist pump. I loved waking up next to her.
“Is this it?” Celine asked when she ducked into our tent. “This is what we’re staying in for the next couple of days?”
“Yeah,” I said. “You won’t even notice how small it is when you’re asleep.”
“I’ll notice,” she said.
“Your eyes will be closed,” I said with a chuckle.
She just glared at me.
