Lust for Love

Chapter 3

It was a nice and bright summer 14 years ago when we decided to go on a camping trip together, the Wyatts and the Grants. Nathan and Gray were around 12 years old and I and Tyler were around 9 years old. Sherry and Juvi were one year younger than Nathan and Gray. Our destination was the forest of Cherry state park which was a famous camping site for families particularly.  We had booked two attached cabins for multiple families so we could all be together even then. I told you we always were together to the point someone would think our families were married together. Well, it was normal for us anyway so it didn't matter, all we were in the mood for was something adventurous and dangerous.

(Disclosure: the resort was pretty safe, but they provided a camping experience in a forest setting. Therefore the cabins were remote meaning far distanced, and that's why we booked one for two families so we could enjoy it together.) 

The plan was simple. We hike through the forest and set ourselves up. During the day we had activities we could choose from from the list given to us by the resort and by nightfall, we'd have campfires and songs, my dad was pretty good with the guitar to boot. Gray and Owen who loved horror genres, had planned to have ghost nights every day but we reduced it to only a few nights since among a few others, myself included was not a fan of the scary stories. Of course, barbeques and smores were a must. It was 10 days in the wild and we were kids hungry for action and our little adventures. 

Of course, we met friends there too as it was a safe and enclosed park many families visited the area and were completely isolated.

We met Jacob during that camp. I think the first boy I ever had a crush on would have been Jacob. Jacob Dominic. He would have been the same age as Nathan and Gray and was as charming as a girl could fantasize. He had dark brown hair complimented with a slightly tan complexion and sea-green eyes with light freckles around his nose, contrary to Tyler's jet-black hair and blue eyes that he inherited from his mother. I think partially the bias was in favor of Jacob because of the slight resemblance with Nathan for some reason and also how sweet and kind he was to me throughout the camp. Was it because both Nathan and Jacob gave off a caring vibe or their age? Not sure.   

He was caring although he did come off as too passionate sometimes. He and his father, although I don't remember his name or face except that he was pretty tall and buff and scary for a kind man like him, had started joining us sometimes after we were introduced during one of our fishing outings at the nearby creek. We invited them over a couple of times for the activities that were established for kids and campfires and swimming! 

Over the span of just a few days, we had grown quite close and of course, it was a very good thing for me! I got to spend more time with my crush. Hehe! 

And just like that one day, probably the 5th day, Gray, Tyler, and Juvi threw a fit over wanting to go swimming and fishing at the creek. Yes! They were like best buds back then, I mean Juvi and Gray still fought and bickered even back then but they were a pair of bubbly and cheerful kids contrary to their twins, Nathan and Sherry, the mature older siblings who often cared for me who was left out of all the unruly bunch! 

And so it was decided that the kids would go along with my dad and Jacob's dad while Rosaline and Owen would go restock the supplies and mom would stay at the cabin to rest for a bit. 

It was a little before noon and still pretty hot so spending time near a waterbody was pretty refreshing. While the rowdy bunch was busy goofing around in the shallow waters of the creek, Jacob kept me company as we crouched down to collect different colored stones scaring the small fishes. Gray as usual kept pestering us and pulled me away from Jacob for some reason a couple of times. Maybe he decided to act like a brother on a whim abruptly. And looking back on it now, I guess I learned to be a troublemaker from him. 

Regardless of the innumerous attempts of Gray to trouble us Jacob stuck to me like a leech and kept me company. He would even stay in the sun while I collected the stones even though his cheeks turned red from the sunlight and probably wanted to take shelter under the shade. What a sweet kid. Nathan and Sherry in the meanwhile helped my dad find a safe shady spot to set up our mats and supplies for fishing while Jacob's dad kept a watch over us. 

After playing for a while, we decided to take a break. While I was busy drooling over Jacob and forcing him to keep me coming and Gray and Tyler were busy ganging up on Juvi as they soaked her in the cold water, we didn't notice Nathan had disappeared until we heard him panicking, "DAD! DAD!" he screamed followed by some mumble and jumble. 

They moved over to a distance to avoid panic as dad tried to calm him down so he could understand what he was rambling on. I couldn't hear him nor understand the cause for his hysteria but I knew he was terrified of something and was scared. I immediately ran to him seeing him frightened cause it was rare for him to panic like that as if he had seen a boogie man, even then I knew that. His cheeks were flushed probably from running all the way there and his knees were bruised too. Did he trip on his way back? Dad assured him even though he looked troubled but he stroked his head as if to say 'Good job' and basking him in a warm smile he said, "It's okay. Don't worry. Everything will be alright. Thank you for being brave. Take care of the kids for me will ya." and patted me on the head too before turning around to leave in the direction Nathan came from.

Nathan stood there still trying to catch his breath as Sherry took it upon herself to calm him down while instructing us kids to gather around and not wander off. I tried asking Nathan but he wouldn't say anything except "everything was okay". I knew he was lying but I gave up when he suddenly slouched on the ground as if exhaustion caught up to him. All I could do was try and console my hurt brother, "Pain Pain Fy Away" I chanted as I hugged my crouched-up brother and blew gently at his bruised knees while Gray made fun of him for crying like a baby. 

Gray you jerk!

We waited in anticipation for my dad or any of the other adults to return to us smiling, telling us it was alright and that nothing was wrong. My mom would be then caring for my brother's wounds and I would apply my hello kitty bandaids on his bleeding knees and scraped palms when we returned to our cabins. And how they would tell us that we'd prepare a nice feast with all the fishes we caught and the potatoes I mashed along with Jacob and in the evening sing and dance around the campfire until I was tired enough to fall asleep into my mom's arms just like we had planned on our drive to the camping resort. 

Yes, we all waited in anticipation hoping to enjoy all of those things until we heard the heavy scrunches of the fallen leaves as Jacob's dad approached us as if the burden in his heart weighed down on the earth. His disheveled self appeared out of the woods with a grim expression which made him look even scarier than I already imagined. He had tears flowing down his eyes as he hugged me in his huge arms and then gathered the others one by one. I think his shirt was torn somewhere. Why is he crying? Why are you sad and looking scared? Why do you smell weird? I wanted to ask him but I was already squished in his arms along with the other kids except for Nathan who was lying on his bum but I couldn't get a look at him. As soon as Jacob's dad loosened his grip and let us go, Nathan immediately pulled me into another bear hug. Geez, what is all this about? Did we decide on a hugging competition or something? 

I squirmed in his arms but he pressed my face against his tummy as if he wanted to not let me see something. Of course, Nathan and the others inquired where the other adults were but I couldn't hear them properly. Nathan's tummy was shivering lightly though and I wondered what his face looked like. I still remained as oblivious as a newborn child while all hell broke down. 

It was like any other sunny day but it felt extra hot and taxing on the skin but chilly and empty in the heart as we stood in front of a burning cabin half charred and broken. 

There was no sign of mom, dad, Rosaline, or Owen. Just us kids, Jacob's dad, the howls of crying children, and the crackling of the fire as it burned our loved ones and their bones. 

As if imitating the pain and loneliness of the others from missing our parents' tears welled up, my nose runny and my small hands grabbed onto my brothers' T-shirts as hard as they could as if trying to stop them from leaving me behind too . . .