The Nightmare of Belton Lake

CHAPTER 2

"Did you have detention today?" Cassandra's mother asked her at the dining table.
Cassandra froze while in the middle of chewing her carrots. She slowly looked up at her mother with a guilty look as well as a surprise one.
The thing she fear the most had now happened. Had the principal or perhaps the teacher called her mother and told her Cassandra had skipped detention?
A mix of fear, guilt, and surprise filled Cassandra but she knew she needed to confess now.
Cassandra swallowed her carrots and cleared her throat. She finally looked up at her mother who was sitting across the dinner table from her. Her mother had her arms crossed and was giving a disapproving look at Cassandra. She already knew the truth but she wanted to hear her own daughter admit to it.
"Yes ma'am I did." Cassandra said.
Cassandra's mother opened her mouth, then closed it and then looked down at her own feet. She sucked in her cheeks and finally after a long moment, she looked back up at her daughter.
"And why didn't you tell me when you got home? Much more, why didn't you attend to detention?" She asked Cassandra.
"I was going to attend detention but Savannah took me away before I got there and I just.. I don't know! I just went with her!"
"So you allowed Savannah's actions to influence you?" Her mother said.
"I just.. I didn't want to attend! It's the Friday of Spring Break and I didn't want to go to detention!" Cassandra said to her mother.
Her mother shook her head. "That still doesn't make it right to skip it. And you also didn't answer my first question. Why didn't you tell me you skipped detention when you got home?"
"Because I thought you would make me stay home and not go to the lake with Savannah." Cassandra admitted sadly.
"And that's exactly what's going to happen. You're not going to the lake."
Cassandra felt the blow but had already embraced for it. She felt saddened by this but she knew this was fair. She had lied to her mother and as well had broken school rules.
"And you're not going to talk to Savannah or see her anymore."
"What?! Mom!!" Cassandra pleaded.
"As a matter of fact, you're going to be staying under this roof for the whole week of spring break. You're going to be doing chores around this house and you're going to also be attending detention when you get back." Her mother explained.
"But Mom me and Savannah go to the same school! You can't just force us not to speak to each other!"
"YES. I. CAN." Cassandra's mother said, her tone of voice turning deeper and more dark. Her eyes flashed red and her brown skin began to slowly melt like ice cream. A terrible evil satisfacted grin covered her mother's face as her skin began to melt away.
"Mom? MOM!" Cassandra yelled out.
Cassandra jolted up from her bed and opened her eyes. She looked wildly all around and realized she was still in bed.
Her heart was racing and she was sweating. She clutched her hands together and pressed them against her chest. It had all been just a terrible nightmare.
After spending several minutes of calming down she finally moved herself to the side of the bed. She grin slightly as she knew today was Saturday morning and it would be the day that she would get to go to the lake with Savannah.
And Garrett and Carlos. She thought to herself.
The principal had never called to Cassandra's house. No one did. So far there have been no notification from the school saying to her mother that Cassandra  had skipped detention. And for this, Cassandra was relieved. If she behaved and everything went well, she could still go to the lake with Savannah.
With a relieved smile on her face, she began to get ready for the weekend ahead of her.

                              ***

"Got everything you need for your trip?" Cassandras mother asked, appearing in her bedroom.
Cassandra turned away, looking away from the large blue backpack she had on her bed.
It was now 10am and still nothing from the school. At this point, Cassandra had a feeling to believe she was on the clear. Yet she still felt guilty about skipping detention and keeping her mother out of the loop.
Cassandra continued to keep quiet about the whole scenario. Especially with the part where boys were now involved in the trip.
"I think so." Cassandra replied to her mom. She didn't turn to look back at her backpack. Inside the backpack was a change of clothes, a beach towel, sunscreen, bug spray, a flashlight with fresh batteries, a swiss army knife, and her portable phone charger. Cassandra herself wore clothes that she planned to wear to the lake as well as her bikini underneath. Her long braids were placed in a bun on the top of her head. On top of her bun was her shades.
Her mother had her a small bottle of peroxide.
"Here. It helps to have this on hand. Since I know y'all will be doing a lot of swimming, it never hurts to be prepared for swimmer's ear." Her mother said.
Thanks Mom." Cassandra said, taking the bottle of peroxide. She placed it in a small pouch on the side of her backpack.
Cassandra silently now again prayed that her mother wouldn't bring up the missed detention. She knew the school would be calling her eventually  and Cassandra would have to answer for it. But she also still really wanted to go to this lake and she was determined not to let anything get in her way of that.
"Do you have your bikini?" Cassandra's mother asked her.
"I got it underneath my clothes right now." She responded.
"Bug spray?"
"In the bag."
"Toilet paper?"
"The lake has public bathrooms." mom.
"Just bring a roll just in case." Her mom said. "Is your phone charged completely?"
"It's at 90%." Cassandra replied.
"Do you need extra towels?"
"Mom! I got everything I need." Cassandra whined. "Besides, Savannah said she'll be bringing everything else, like the tent, money and food."
"Savannah....." Cassandra s mother said shaking her head. "I still really don't like that girl."
Cassandra sighed and said nothing. Her mother never approved of Savannah due to her bad behavior and habits. She believed Savannahs ways would rub onto Cassandra eventually.
Cassandra paid her mother no mind right now and continued to prepare herself for the trip. She grabbed her backpack and placed it over her shoulder. She placed a hand high over her head, feeling for her sunglasses. Once she felt them, she let her hand down.
"We'll be okay, mom. We promise."
"Oh, this is just the first time you've been on a trip without me or a parent to watch y'all." She said. "I'm just... Nervous I guess."
"Nervous about what?" Cassandra asked nervously.
"Oh nothing.... Just, please make sure you text me when you get to the lake." Her mother begged. "I just want to know you made it safe."
Cassandra smiled at her. "I will. I promise."
There was a long honk heard from outside and Cassandra knew it was Savannah.
"That's her! I better get going!" She said eagerly. As she turned away to the bedroom door, her mother stopped her once more.
"What's wrong?" Cassandra asked.
Nerves pricked her again as she pondered if the teacher had called. Was her mother waiting for Cassandra to come out about it before leaving?
"Just.... Please.... Be careful. You girls are in high school and people can take advantage of that." Her mother said.
Cassandra looked at her in slight confusion. A part of her felt relief that her mother wasn't asking her about the detention but she was still confused by what she meant.
Regardless, Cassandra smiled at her mother and gave her a big hug. "Don't worry Mom, me and Savannah will be perfectly fine. We won't do anything dumb I promise."
Cassandra's mother sighed and returned her hug. "Just please come straight home on Monday morning." She said. "I can make you and Savannah breakfast when you get here."
Cassandra pulled away and nodded her head. With this, Cassandra's mother finally allowed her to pass through the bedroom door and through the house. Upon arriving at the front screen door, Cassandra saw a yellow Jeep parked out in the front of their driveway. She recognized Savannah in the driver side.
Cassandra remembered about Carlos and Garrett and silently prayed that Savannah had not picked them up first. She let out a sigh of relief as she exited out of the house and saw that no boys were in the car.
Savannah rolled down her window and waved at Cassandra's mom.
"Have fun you two." Cassandra's mom said, staying on the front step.
"We will!" Savannah said. She rolled up her window as Cassandra got inside the jeep.
Savannah began to back out of the driveway as Cassandra fastened in her seatbelt.
"Did your mom say anything about the detention?" Savannah asked as they began to drive away from the house.
Cassandra shook her head. "I thought all morning it would come up. I was dreading any phone calls." She said.
"Yeah, my mom didn't get any phone call from the school either. It is Saturday so the teachers don't really have access to the public phone records at the school. All that stuff is locked up whenever the last bell rings I think." Savannah said.
Cassandra sighed and leaned back into her passenger seat. It was a terrible thing but they had gotten away scott free.
Savannah smiled at her and patted her on the shoulder. "I told you we would be okay." She said
"Are we still going to get Carlos and Garrett?" Cassandra asked.
Savannah smiled and nodded. "Yeah," she said. "Carlos told his parents he's going over to Garrett's house for the weekend. And Garrett's parents are out of state so they don't know anything. We'll be picking up them both at Carlos's house."
Cassandra nodded and felt jitters run through her. She could hardly wait for Garrett to be with them.
With luck Garrett would find Cassandra just as amusing and attractive as she did to him. With even greater luck, the two would find a connection this weekend.
"I got the tents. I got the cooler. I got snacks. I got sleeping bags and I even brought some Buzz balls." Cassandra announced.
"Buzz balls?" Cassandra repeated repeated. "Isn't that alcoholic?"
"Yeah duh." Savannah replied.
Cassandra looked at her wide eye. "Savannah we're not even 21! What if we get caught with those?!"
"If we get caught with those." Savannah reminded her "As long as you don't get pulled over, get someone to  search the car, then nothing is going to happen. Besides you don't think all teenagers actually wait till they're 21 to drink right?"
"Oh... Uh.." Cassandra started but trailed off.
Savannah looked at her wide eyed. "You are my best friend and I am just now realizing you have never sipped alcohol before."
Cassandra shook her head.
Savannah place to hand on her shoulder while keeping her eyes on the road.
"Cassandra, I only speak of this as your best friend but this weekend, we will fix you." Savannah said with a determined voice.
"There's nothing wrong with waiting!"
"No there isn't but this is spring break. And besides, these balls aren't even that high in alcohol. If anything they'll give you a light buzz. Hopefully."
Cassandra shook her head and got comfortable in her passenger seat.
About 15-20 minutes later, they arrived in a nice apartment complex further down in Temple. The complex was a locked gate community so upon arriving, the gates were closed. Savannah took the phone out of the cup compartment and ringed Carlos.
After a few seconds of ringing, Carlos answered.
"Hey, we're at the front gate but it's locked today."
After several seconds of listening, she nodded.
"Okay fine, be quick." She said.
Savannah then hung up the phone and placed it in  the phone holder connected onto her dash. She typed in Belton Lake in her GPS.
Meanwhile, the gates slowly opened before them and Cassandra saw Carlos and Garrett walkout with the gates.
Butterflies filled her stomach as she saw Garrett look up ahead and wave at her. Cassandra smiled and gave a small wave back.
Carlos placed himself in the seat directly behind Savannah while Garrett placed himself in the seat behind Cassandra.
"Morning ladies," Carlos said. "Do we need to get gas on the way? I stole a 20 from my dad's wallet."
"Yeah, we could use a little gas. It won't hurt." Savannah said.
"I know a place nearby the lake entrance. It's a gas station and a gift shop. We should go there." Garrett said.
"I'm assuming you've been there before?"
Garrett smiled and nodded. "Yeah, usually every summer me and my dad go fishing there quite a bit."
"Your parents sure do travel often. Is it for business or just pleasure?" Cassandra asked.
Garrett shook his head. "Yeah it's for their business. It requires them to have clients all over the world. I get to see them maybe twice a week sometimes. One time, I went a whole month without seeing them."
"That's so horrible!"
"No not really. I've kind of gotten used to it and I like being on my own. Gives me a chance to figure out what I want to do without my parents breathing down my neck." Garrett explained.
Savannah smiled and then looked over at Cassandra. Before Cassandra could read her, Savannah then turned over to look over at Garrett.
"You know, Cassandra has been wanting to learn how to fish for some time. I did bring a small fishing pole with us on the trip why don't you teach her how to fish when we get there, Garrett?" She asked.
Cassandra shot her a look of horror and embarrassment and then gave a shy look over at Garrett.
This was all a bold lie. Cassandra had never thought twice about fishing but if it meant spending time with Garrett....
Garrett smiled and chuckled a little bit. He looked over at Cassandra.
"Yeah sure I can definitely show you a few things about it." He said.
"Oh okay, thanks." She said
After another minute of taking main roads, the Jeep made its way in a direction of Belton lake.
Driving down the busy road, Savannah turned on the radio and began to blast pop music. The boys in the back began to scroll through their phones and talk about the latest baseball practices and singers that they liked.
Cassandra smiled and watched the stores and cars go past her window.
The journey was now official. The lie was now made. The teens were now heading to Belton Lake.