Gansey's Greatest Idea

glampers

After many dedicated hours of thoughtful speech writing, Gansey's charisma and preparation won the posse over. "A backpacking trip," Gansey presented his well thought out idea for the sixth time (or so it seemed), "On the ley line, of course, to continue searching for caves Glendower being our priority." Gansey continued his speech for several more minutes, his words brimming with importance. Noah had disappeared, Adam, Ronan, and Blue ceased to listen. Without any realization, they had suddenly signed up for a three day backpacking trip in rural Virginia.

The backpacking trip as of Gansey's planning, was set for the following weekend. As this outing meant the world to Gansey, Adam had rearranged his work schedule in order to be bitten by bugs, sunburnt, and rot away in filth. Blue followed suit.

-

Ronan had thought the trip to be bullshit, and had not believed this rich, pretty-boy, this Richard Campbell Gansey the III, was actually making them go backpacking. But alas, the day of departure arrived and Gansey, being Gansey, was enthusiastic as ever."Ronan and Jane, divide the snacks evenly! Adam, get the water filter filter and maps!" Gansey ordered, looking down at his messily written list.

"Fine J. Crew. But I'm taking extra Clif bars." Blue answered, though she realized it wasn't a time to be a smartass.

As Ronan and Blue stockpiled the snacks in their own bags, Gansey finished his gear check, okaying everything only after a thorough search, marking off things on his list as packs were being stacked in the back of his suburban. With a last look around the Monmouth Manufacturing lot, the crew squeezed themselves into Gansey's bigger car and away they drove into the glorious spring afternoon, a perfect Friday. 'Stupid Noah!' Gansey thought, 'Refusing to come with us! He doesn't realize what he'll miss!', mentally scoffing at Noah's disobedience.

-

They started on the trail a quarter till five. Gansey's relationship with both perfection and anxiety had brought them ahead of schedule. Adam whipped out a map of the area, a desolate patch of wilderness that surrounded them. His brilliant eyes scanned the laminated, oversized paper until he found the pink line, their trail. Tracing it, he explained their route to Blue and Ronan. "Therefore, we must hike three miles today," Adam pointed to an illustration of a pink tent located on the map, "To get here!" He finished.

"Three whole miles!? Are you fucking with us, Parrish!?" A high pitched squeak escaped Ronan's voicebox, the statement oozing with sarcasm. Adam began to open his mouth, most likely to respond with logic and great reason, however, saw it to be for the better as to not reply. 'Don't fight with Ronan' , he reminded himself, his inner train of thought focusing on that, 'Don't fight with him.' Blue merely shrugged, and, while struggling under the weight of her pack as she hoisted it onto her shoulders, trying to find her center of gravity, stalked over to Gansey, who was applying his useful, rich-boy and I can handle this 'cause I work out strength to unload the unending amount of gear.

Adam's gaze fell on Blue and Gansey, who were simply unloading stuff, yet their eye contact said so much more, and their happiness in each other's presence was uncontrollable. He let out a great sigh, full of sadness, and found his eyes on Ronan. he sighed again, wishing...longing for his own happiness. Adam Parrish had longed for a happiness a time to long to recount.

-

Hiking was surprisingly easy for the rich kids. They even had the energy to chat. Small talk was exchanged back and forth, the retelling of stupid stories ever present. Tramping through the woods at a solid pace, running on adrenaline, neither did realized the early stages of dehydration set in, nor how parched their throats were. The gang stumbled into camp with forty-five minutes of daylight to spare. Blue took an energy bar out of her pocket, devoured it, and in looking for water to wash the stickiness down, found none. She called out to the rest of the group, just wanting water, a drop of fucking water. As if Blue's request were a que, the other three noticed their own dried tongues, and quickly searched their own bags. Without luck, Blue, Adam, and Ronan turned towards Gansey, looks of disbelief, anger, and tiredness plastered to their faces. "You checked over the gear how many times?!" Blue began, the stern and annoyed tone in her voice was not new, though Gansey was shocked - this voice had never been used on him! "And we DON'T have water?! Honestly, your parents should be ashamed of themselves and of you! You decide to go camping and forget to bring WATER!"