A Dim Glowing Light

The Camping Trip

"Are you sure that we are allowed to be camping here?" Josie asked her best friend Hayden. Josie followed behind Hayden through the secluded area from the forest. It was obvious that they were no longer in the designated camping grounds where other fellow campers had settled. The two waded through the tall dry grass with the sun shining on them, illuminating the bright cotton blue sky and fluffy marshmallow white clouds. The two had been walking for more than an hour and Josie started to get a bit paranoid.

"Oh hush will ya? It's totally legal and tonnes of people come here. It's just a few more minutes and then a weekend with an amazing lakeside view!" Hayden exclaimed while tying her black hair into a ponytail. She looked down at the paper map that she was holding and looked back up. "This way!" She said and pointed east. Her bestie rolled her brown eyes, pulled her backpack up and followed behind the raven haired girl. The two trudged through the tall grass and were met with a view of the lake and tall mountain peaks in the background. The water was crystal blue and glistening with the blue sky

"Woah..." Josie said and dropped her bag. "This place is FUCKING AMAZING. It's so much better than spending the weekend back in the college dorms" She bounced up and down and her bubblegum pink hair bounced with her. Hayden smiled at her best friend's excitement and felt her heart flutter. She's had feelings for her for nearly 2 years now but the pink haired girl did not know that she even liked girls in the first place.

"It's amazing....like you," Hayden replied while whispering the last part. Josie turned her head and looked at her best friend.

"Huh?"

"Nothing!" The raven haired girl said with wide eyes and pink cheeks. She couldn't believe that she actually said that. Her biggest worry now was whether or not Josie had heard her. "Anyway, let's set up our tent and then go swim in the lake!" She exclaimed and started to open the bag which contained the tarp for the tent. She tried to avoid eye contact with her best friend in fear that her cheeks would turn redder.

Little did Hayden know, Josie did in fact hear her. To save her from humiliation, Josie kept her mouth shut. She always had the 'what if' scenario of whether or not Hayden liked girls. The two set up the tent in silence, not knowing what to say or how to bring up the topic. Within 10 minutes of awkward silence, they had managed to set up the tent and sat outside, panting like two dogs on a hot summer day.

"The water. Looks. SO. TEMPTING,'' wailed Hayden, reaching her hand towards the freshwater body in front of them but too tired to actually get up. Her black hair was now tied up in a messy bun with unruly wisps of hair cascading down her face. Her best friend thought to herself and decided to take advantage of the situation by testing the water.

"Hey, let's go and swim in the lake!" Josie said and got up, waiting for her bestfriend to get up. The raven haired girl looked up at her with wide eyes and mouth open. "Whatcha looking at bug eyes? Come, it will be fun and you said it before, it's tempting and it is very hot today!"

"Oh-oh u-hm h-how do . How are we supposed to swim in the lake?!" Hayden sputtered and stammered. Josie looked at her for a few seconds before removing her shirt. "OH MY GOD, what are you doing?!" Hayden exclaimed and turned around, showering a pink blush on her cheeks.

The pink haired girl laughed at her best friend's antics. "Removing my clothes. Isn't that obvious?" She said while wearing a smirk on her face. "How else are we supposed to swim, with everything on us?"

"B-but that doesn't mean you go full on a birthday suit?! JOSIE!"

"Just chill out. I'm not stripping entirely. Well I don't know about you but I am gonna go for a swim in the lake. If you are such a baby, I've packed a swimsuit for you. It's in my bag. You can change in the tent and meet me by the lake," Josie said and walked to the banks of the lake in her bra and boyshorts, swaying her hips on purpose while trying her hair up into a ponytail. Hayden sighed and watched her best friend make her way down to the lake. She bit her lips and wondered how on earth she hadn't combust into flames and scrambled to the tent with Josie's bag.