We loaded as much of the stuff we could into the trucks. When those were full we moved to the UTVs. We made sure all of the vehicles were filled with gas from the pump behind the shop then we headed out of town. The further we drove the less of a war zone the town looked. Soon as we reached city limits it looked exactly the same.
It took us twenty minutes to reach the woods and we drove until the trucks couldn’t go anymore. We all then packed more into the UTVs and climbed in. I turned the key in my jet black one and began to drive off into the woods. I looked at my compass and headed northeast. I stopped and made sure I had everyone behind me. Trevor was right on my tail.
“Why are we stopping?” he asked.
“I’m making sure we have everyone. Up ahead is the difficult part,” I answered.
“Aren’t we just headed toward that cliff?” Sasha asked. She was his passenger, and she had never been here before.
“It is on an overhang. It is northeast on a compass. You have to know what you are looking for. It’s hidden,” I answered. Aaron pulled up, then Justin followed behind.
“We good?” Justin asked.
“Yes. Now, guys, this part is going to get tricky. We have to drive slow. There is a valley and it is wet up here. Justin and Aaron no showing off,” I said and started up my ride and moved forward. This trek was scary when you were walking, but with a UTV it was twice as scary. The speed I was driving was slower than a walk. It took a full hour to get around it. “Alright, guys, we are here,” I said cutting the engine and climbing out of my ride.
“Where?” asked Meagan.
“It’s right above our heads,” Max answered.
“Great so now after all of that we are going rock climbing?” Sasha asked.
“It’s not as bad as you think. There are tons of hand holds. Once you get right there it’s just like walking up a hill,” I answered. I pulled a pair of climbing gloves out of my pocket and clasped the clasp on my backpack. Years ago my dad marked the path with black paint that has been chipped away, but it is still visible.
“Just look for the flecks of black paint,” I said and started my ascent. Recent rain made the rocks a bit slippery, but everyone reached the top safely. “Alright everyone welcome to the family cabin,” I said walking up to a sturdy two story log cabin.
“This is not a cabin,” Sasha said, “This is a house,”.
“Now there are three bedrooms, so I don’t know how we are going to do this because the rooms all have two beds in them except for the master which is a single queen, ” I said.
“Well, I like the couch,”Max said.
“Alright Max has the couch,”I said, “There are two beds in each room, except the master,”.
“How about me and Meagan share a room. Aaron and Justin, and you and Trevor,” Sasha said.
“Hey, why do you get to decide?” Trevor asked.
“I didn’t, I suggested. You and Soph go camping together all of the time. Why are you making a big deal on you two sharing a room?” she asked with a humorous smirk.
“This is different,”Trevor said getting annoyed.
“Not really, man. You guys have both grown up together, taking baths, and had naps together,” Justin chimed in.
“This is different,” Trevor said clearly realizing he was loosing battle. “What do you say?” he said finally turning to me.
“I honestly didn’t think anything of it until you said something,” I replied even though I knew it was a lie.
“Fine, you and I will share the master,” he said picking up my stuff and his. I hear the door close.
“I will talk to him. Why don’t you guys go get settled, then we will unload all of the stuff,” I told the others. I walked up the stairs and knocked on the door. There was no answer. I took a breath then walked in. “Are you going to give me the silent treatment, or are you going to explain what your deal is?” I asked closing the door and sitting on the other side bed. He was looking out the window down at the valley.
“It’s just the realization of everything is sinking in,” he said still looking out the window.
“Wrong, try again. You forget I know you about as well as you know yourself,” I said continuing to look at him. He is silent for several minutes then his shoulder fall and he turns around.
“Why are all of them always trying to push you and I together?” he asked.
“Are you seriously mad about that?” I ask.
“I’m not mad at the fact that that's what they are trying to do. I’m mad at the fact that I can’t have you,” he said walking out of the room. I sit in stunned silence for several minutes until Max comes in.