Bad Things

|Chapter Twenty|

"Get up fuckers, we have a day off and I want to explore," I yell to the bus, carrying on a tray of coffee's from a local shop around the corner.  I hand one to Percy first, because I am unofficially his favorite.

"They're not going to like that," he tsks, taking the coffee.

"Ask me if I care," I shoot back over my shoulder.

"Thanks for the coffee," he raises it to me and I wave him off.

"Come on you lazy fuckers, get up," I bang on the wall of the bunks.  There's a chorus of angry noises coming from the closed curtains.  "I have caffeine," I coax and two arms reach out from their bunks.

I've already been up long enough to hit up the local Planet Fitness for a shower and I had time to stop and get coffee and breakfast.  It's not early by any means, so I don't feel bad at all.  Furthermore, these assholes promised me we could go hiking.

"We discussed this," Andy groans, he's the first one to emerge from his bunk.

"It's almost 11," I retort and hand him his tea.  I did promise them I wouldn't wake them up too early.  I am always the first to go to sleep and the first to wake.  Although I always make sure to make it to my bunk before passing out, that was a mistake I only made once.  No amount of makeup wipes could remove the permanent marker mustache that was drawn on me.  Shevy was kind enough to fill it in for me until it faded completely.

"Okay, okay.  We're getting up," CC groans, swinging his legs over the side of his bunk.  I hand him his coffee while he lets his legs dangle.

"I got breakfast too," I tell them, and watch as they scramble out of their bunks.

"Why didn't you lead with that?" Lonny complains, brushing passed CC who is also suddenly awake.

I hand Andy his food, which is bagged separately, since he's Vegan.  "You are the best," he tells me and takes the bag from me.

"Get your shit together, fuckers, the Uber will be here in 30 minutes," trying to get Uber's for so many people is absurd. I grab my camera bag with my old F1, my heart squeezes painfully when I think about the day that I got this camera.  A shutter runs through me when I remember how Noah made me feel, still makes me feel.

I had hoped absence would make me feel better, like I didn't need him at all.  However, I'm starting to see that the hole I feel in my chest is just getting worse with time.  The only thing I'm getting better at is hiding my feelings.

The six of us load into a van but only one of use wants to be here. Everyone is still sipping on their coffee, the bags are prominent under everyone's eyes. I haven't slept in a real bed in over a month, but my exhaustion doesn't help me sleep on the bus any more soundly.

It's freezing when we get out of the van, the trail to the falls is frozen over and CC has to reach out for Jinxx to not fall. My camera is already around my neck and I take a picture of them in the embrace.

"Not cool, Quinn," CC reprimands me. I stick my tongue out at him.

"This isn't even a real hike, I literally went as easy on you guys as I could," I roll my eyes at him.

You can access the first bridge from the parking lot and the guys groan at me when I make them line up.

"Hey, I have to update your stupid Instagram a hundred times a day, everyone has to be bored with y'all performing everyday."

"She brought out the y'all, guys. She means business," Andy jokes, but makes everyone line up on front of the falls. Their pale skin in stark contrast to their tattoos and rosy cheeks.