Nature's Calling Pt. 02

Callie

For how simplistic the campground was, it was still rustically nice. The batches of grass matched the tops of the long, slim trees around us. Some of them were curved, perfect for hanging up trash bags, fairy lights, or other activities.

The guys who had stayed must have started a fire, because I saw a lot of smoke in the distance and a pile of wood sitting out. I grabbed a log and walked over to talk to Liam and Tina. They sat at opposite sides of the flame, trying to escape the smoke. Tina was poking the fire with a stick while Liam drank some orange juice.

"Why did you bring orange juice to a campout?" I asked Liam on his left. He spat out some of it in surprise onto the fire while I added the log to the small burn pile. "Why would you do that? Next time, warn a guy when he is literally right next to an OPEN FLAME, Callie! I could have burned myself or spilled some juice onto my shirt, you know?" He sounded a little pissed. He had on a body-tight white turtle neck, lime green shorts, and black sneakers. I raised my hands in surrender and, wide-eyed, said, "I'm sorry, okay? Plus, you were nowhere close to getting burned. Calm down." Tina's the one taking care of the fire anyway, you just overreacted, I thought to myself.

Changing the subject, I asked, "So what are you guys talking about?" Neither of them really talked that much, but Liam was definitely the more chatty one. "Hobbies," Tina piped up. She looked cute in her blue sports bra, green pajama pants, pink hair, and elf ears.

"I got these ears for my next fae cosplay; a sprite," she said happily.

Liam smirked, "Sounds more like a fairy if you're asking me, Tinker Bell."

She pointed the fire poker at him, "Sprites are typically associated with nature, she just happens to be an earth sprite. This whole trip was quite inspiring for me, actually. Plus, Tinker Bell is a pixie."

"I'm glad to hear that," said David, "frankly, I was wondering if I was ever going to hear why you brought fairy ears to the middle of the woods." This time it was my turn to jump in surprise. David had brought both of our lawn chairs. I heard Liam laugh behind me, so I glared at him. "Serves you right, Callie," he retorted.

He turned his attention back to Tina. "Whatever you say, Smokey the Pixie." "Drifter," Tina mumbled, poking the fire again. The fire let out a large cracking noise. "How about some food? Did either of you make some food? I'm starving." David cried out. "Since ya'll decided to go on a joy ride without me and took forever to get back, we made Shepherd's Pie Stew." Liam complained, "Don't worry, we at least thought of what YOU would need and set them aside earlier."

"She needed to use your jacket and helmet anyway, and you're a stickler to ATGATT. You had a hissy fit with her riding my bike with shorts on." David pointed out. Liam looked like he wanted to argue about something, but I cut him off. "Somebody give me some food before the blabbering loud mouth forgets that we still need to eat. Preferably before the stew gets cold." I state rhetorically, but a bit too harshly to be questioned further.

David

Dinner was mouthwateringly savory, full of potatoes, beef, veggies, and broth. Liam definitively defended his motorcycle safety stance until Callie and I apologized. After dinner, the fire was almost out, and both Tina and Liam seemed tired. I, on the other hand, was full of energy and wanted to explore something I had seen earlier during our trip.

"I'm still not tired, I kinda want to look around. Does anybody want to join me?" I ask the group.

"How do you still have energy? Plus, with the sunset set, how are you going to see anything? If something happens, how will we know to go rescue you? Remember, we don't have cell service out here?" Liam preys.

"Hey worrywart, how about you let those of us with youthful curiosity and knowledge of how not to be stupid have our fun?" Callie shimmed in.

"How about you show that you care about your safety?" Liam snapped back.

"I care about my safety, but I'm not going to loaf around if David found something interesting, especially if there's a lake or something cool like that." She countered.

"I do not care what you decide to do. I am so tired, I don't think I could even try to walk around. Good night." Tina acknowledged us and then went to her tent.

"Do not go and get yourselves drowned, you hear?" Liam asked protectively.

"Whatever, daddy. Now, will you let us go?" Callie quizzically mocked.

While walking away, Liam said, "You guys have a problem," leaving us to our own devices.

"What is it that you found, David?" Callie wondered aloud.

"I guess you will just have to find out, by the way, do you have a swimsuit or some clothes you do not mind getting wet?" I asked her, knowing exactly where I wanted to take her, but not wanting to tell her yet.

"Are you really that desperate to see a naked woman that you're willing to ask if you can see me in wet underwear? What is your problem?" she asked defensively. Damn my treacherous mind. Now all I could think of was how good she would look glowing after a good fondling.

"No, Callie, I am just trying to be safely prepared for anything, like Liam said."

"Then what about you, do you have swim shorts on or something?"

"In fact, I do. That is why it took me so long to get to dinner, not that you noticed."

"I was dealing with a Liam tantrum about his fear of fire and obsession with OJ."

"I'm just saying you might want a swimsuit," I suggested.

"Fine, then do you promise to take me to see whatever it was that you saw?"

"Yes, Callie, I promise to take you on an adventure of a lifetime."