The End.

4

I felt an intense twinge of surprise circle through me and began to pinch the bridge of my nose a little, as I did in habit very often. I then squinted my eyes in confusion, with that feeling of having a million questions but not being able to think of just one.
"So do you all have any questions? Concerns?" My dad said.

I still couldn't put my thoughts into words, so I just stayed silent. My mother was looking down at her hands placed neatly on her lap side by side. Kyle was on his phone, apparently texting his girlfriend, Hanna. -Hanna's dad worked with my dad, and they were good friends. Surprisingly enough, Hanna and I were pretty good friends, and since we basically grew up together, my parents trust her with Kyle. Little do they know, that every time Hanna and I 'hang out,' her and Kyle just make out; and I don't even want to think about the time Hanna and I went to the movies and not even halfway through, I walked into the women's bathroom to find them both in an intense make out session in one of the stalls.

Just a few hours ago, I was eating breakfast when I was told that we were leaving. That reminder brought me to the realization that it's around lunchtime. Sure enough, I pulled my bright-blue, band-decorated, fangirl-worthy-encased IPhone out of my back right pocket in my jeans and clicked the lock button, it was twelve o' seven. Just then, heard a giant rumble come from beside me, I laughed realizing that it had come from Alison. She was a petite girl, as was I. But, that girl could eat!

"I'm starrrrr-vingggggg" She groaned.

My mom passed back 'the bag' as we liked to call it, and Alison and I both reached in and pulled out some various snacks, we then passed the bag up to my mom and feasted on dill-pickle potato chips, chocolate chip cookies, and a share-it bag of M&M's, my favorite. When we were finished, Kyle looked at my sister and I and snorted, "oink-oink!" I suck my tongue out at him and he rolled his eyes, looking away.

"Sweeties? Get some rest, you'll need it. I know it's not nearly bed time but when we get to our first stopping point, we have to set up camp and stay the night."

"What state are we going to mom?"

"Virginia." She called back.

Whoa, I thought. Virginia was on the other side of the country. My family had lived in California since my grandparents-grandparents were born. I sighed once again, closing my eyes in exhaustion from the stress of the day. I leaned my head against the window of the truck and dozed off to the sound of my dad telling my mom that everything would be okay soon.

*four hours later*

"Carter!" Alison shook me awake.

"Dad says you need to help set up our tent. We're staying here with a couple other families tonight and we have to set up our own tent since Dad and Mom have their own."
"Uhh fine. How long have we been here?"
"Long enough for me to realize that there's no bathroom and to have to piss behind a tree."
"Oh, gross."
"Just come on Carter!"

There was no freaking way that I was crapping behind a tree, so I knew that this was going to be a long night, and possibly a long few months. All I can hope for is that there's bathrooms with running water where we're headed to.

I yawned, ran a hand through my hair, and opened the car door. Alison was carrying, or more like dragging, a giant bag with probably a tent in it. I know how to pitch a tent, that's for sure, however that nap has somehow made me even more exhausted, mentally and physically. Then, I walked faster to where Alison was so that I could help her with the tent.

Once we were finished with putting up the tent and setting up our sleeping cots with our thermal sleeping bags and pillows, we dragged our suitcases out of the truck bed, nearly crushing each other's toes in the process, and when we were finally done, Kyle appeared in the small doorway and asked if he could help. Since we were already done getting our stuff including his, he has no work to do.

"Neither of you better interrupt my sleep tonight." My brother boomed, obviously trying to sound like he was some sort of prince.
"What would we do to interrupt your sleep, your majesty?" I questioned.
"Oh just shut up Carter. Since we're all done here let's to help dad with the fire. All of the other families are still setting up."

We walked out of the tent, zipping the plastic 'door' closed so that no bugs would get in, and slipped our shoes back on. Knowing how clean of a person I am, I made my siblings leave their shoes outside of the tent on a welcome mat my thoughtful mother must have slipped in the truck.

The sun was just beginning to set, and the sky was a wonderful swirl of bright orange, yellow, pink, and a just a bit of blue peeking out from the top of the sky. I stared in awe for a few seconds, because sunsets were one of my all time favorite things, and California sunsets have never ceased to amaze me. As quick as I got out of the truck, I ran back to it, grabbed my camera and snapped a photo of the beautiful sky. Then, I slipped the camera back into the truck, and set the developing photo propped up against the inside of the window to develop and not get lost.

---------

I plopped onto the red bag-chair my dad had set up for me, and gazed into the fire. A few families that introduced themselves to me were also sitting in chairs around the fire. The Martins, who were in their thirties and had one four year old girl and a seven year old boy, were roasting hot dogs on the fire. Their adorable blond hair-blue eyed children were running around around their tent and playing tag.
The other family camping out with us were the Hood's. They had thick Austrailian accents and were the sweetest people I think I've ever known. They had a son who looked a few years older than me and a daughter who was probably twenty. The parents names were Joy and David, and their kids names were Calum and Mali-Koa.

Joy was sitting beside my mother and Katie Martin and they all had surprised looks on their faces.

I introduced myself to Joy and Katie, and picked my chair up to move it beside Alison's.

After we ate our makeshift dinner of sandwiches and snack foods, we sat around the fire and got to know each other. I met Mali-Koa and we had a really nice conversation. We were a lot alike and it turned out she's twenty-four and Calum is nineteen. My brother evidently was off somewhere hanging out with Calum, since they're the same age. But as long as Kyle wasn't annoying me, he could be hanging out with anybody for all I care.

I went to bed at around ten, but I couldn't sleep at all. I tossed and turned to the point where Kyle told me to either shut up or get out, so after what seemed like an hour of silence and uncomfortableness, I carefully unzipped my sleeping bag, slipped on my favorite hoodie from the beach, and tiptoed outside. The fire was almost out, but everyone was tucked quietly away in their tents, silently sleeping. I went back to my dad's truck to luckily find it unlocked and I pulled out my phone and a flashlight that I had set aside for myself. Then, I clicked on the flashlight and began making my way away from the campsite and towards the sound of rushing water. My dad hadn't mentioned a creek, but I'll leave it up to myself to find the noise.

When I approached the flowing water, I found a slightly large creek that had a small waterfall-type-thing, but since it was pitch black dark, I couldn't see very much, other than the things in the direct line of my flashlight, so I couldn't quite appreciate the beauty of the water.

I became so mesmerized by the constant rhythm of the water crashing against the rocks that I barely noticed the approaching figure that plopped down beside me onto the boulder I had taken residency on.

I nearly jumped out of my skin when I saw who was sitting beside me. He had dark hair with blond highlights in the front, dark eyes, tan skin, and was wearing a black muscle tank-top. He was extremely attractive.

"Boo." He whispered.

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{an}

Teaser; Arrival at the fallout shelter!