A Scenic Connection (BoyxBoy)

CHAPTER FOUR

After I dropped Hadley off, I decided to start getting some things packed and ready to go even though it was Saturday afternoon and we weren't leaving until Monday morning. It would be a couple hour's drive away so not only was it a camping trip but a road trip too. 

I went to my closet and took out a big black nike bag and started stuffing some clothes in it. Some sweatpants in case it got cold, a jacket, socks, underwear, shirts, gym shorts. All of the usual stuff. I also made sure I had some sandals and shoes to wear in case we went hiking or swimming. Which reminds me, I needed my swimming suit. Just thinking about swimming made me slightly nervous about how I'd look, since it'd been a while since I'd been swimming. I fished my blue and black shorts out of one of my dresser drawers and slipped them on. I went over to the mirror to check myself out. Not too bad, I thought. Could be better though. I sighed before slipping them off and into my bag. Maybe we wouldn't even go swimming anyway. God I'm so self conscious about everything it's ridiculous. 

My phone beeped from where I left it on my bed so I went over and picked it up. Hey man, are you for sure going on the trip with us?  It was Zaiden. I quickly texted him back. 

Haha Hadley talked me into it. I hit send and watched the ellipsis as he wrote a reply. 

Sweet sounds good! It's gonna be fun! Yeah, it should be fun, I thought. 

Do you know how many people are coming? I asked him. 

Haha are you asking just so you can get out of coming? He texted back. I scowled at my phone. 

Nah I was just wondering. Okay so maybe Zaiden knew me better than I thought he did. 

I should probably bring a good book if I have some time to kill. Especially if I don't always feel like socializing. Who ever said getting out in nature had to be about that? Sometimes it's nice to just kick back and enjoy the peace and quiet. Which reminded me, I needed to make sure to take my own tent and sleeping bag. I think we kept the tent in the garage on a shelf, so I'd have to get that later. 

I jumped onto my bed and grabbed a blanket. I'd have all day tomorrow to finish up packing, for now I just wanna relax. I turned on my tv and settled in for the evening. 

                                                                  * * * * 

The next night I couldn't sleep. We were leaving early in the morning. Zaiden said he would drive as he had an SUV. He was gonna pick up April first since he lived close to her, then get me before picking up Hadley last. Apparently some of the other people they had invited they knew from school, and I didn't know any of them. 

I tried to calm myself and turn my mind off so that I could fall asleep, and eventually at around 1:30am I started to doze off. I had to be up at 6 to be ready for Zaiden to get here around 6:30. We wouldn't be coming back home until next Monday so it was going to be a long trip. 

Beep, Beep, Beep, Beep. My alarm was blaring and it literally felt like it had been an hour since I fell asleep. I sleepily wiped at my eyes and rolled over to turn the alarm off. I yawned and laid there for a couple more seconds before slipping out of the covers and padding across the hall to get in the shower. I thought the hot water would help me wake up but after getting out and toweling off I still felt like curling up and falling asleep. Perhaps I'd fall asleep in the car. I wrapped the towel around my waist and hurried back to my room to get dressed. 

After getting dressed in some black joggers and a black shirt, I zipped up my bag, making sure I had everything. I walked quietly down the stairs careful not to wake anyone and set my bag by the front door. Zaiden said he'd text me when he got here so he wouldn't honk. My stomach growled so I hurried to the kitchen for a granola bar. My phone vibrated in my pocket. 

I'm almost to your house, read Zaiden's text. I quickly threw the wrapper away and hurried towards the door, picked up my things and slipped outside, locking the door behind me. I sat down on the step and waited. 

About 5 minutes later Zaiden's car pulled into the driveway. I jumped up and grabbed my stuff and hurried down the front steps. 

"Hey man," Zaiden said, getting out of the car to help me load my things in the back. 

"It's so early," I groaned. Zaiden chuckled lightly as he helped me pack the stuff in before closing the hatch. I climbed in the backseat as April was already sitting up front, her brown hair perfectly curled and everything. It was almost annoying how awake she seemed. 

"Hey Griffin!" She said cheerfully as I opened the door and slid onto the seat. I tried not to cringe at the loud sound of her voice. I didn't really know April super well but she seemed nice enough, if not mildly annoying. 

"Hey," I said quietly, as if trying to show her how to use a quiet voice. 

"Are you excited?" She asked in her loud voice. I rested my head on the head rest as Zaiden put the car in reverse and we headed off to pick up Hadley. 

"Uh sure, " I replied. I closed my eyes and let out a deep breath. I was so tired. 

* * * * 

"Grif. Griffin," a voice was whispering in my ear. 

"Hmm?" I mumbled and turned my head. I heard laughter. Someone's hand was on my shoulder. 

"Griffin wake up!" 

My eyes shot open and I blinked a couple times, looking around. Hadley was sitting next to me in the back seat of Zaiden's SUV, but it was starting to get light outside and we were parked somewhere. 

"Where are we?" I asked groggily. She chuckled. 

"Morning sleepyhead! We're at a gas station," she answered. 

"What time is it?" I said.

"It's almost 8," she said. I closed my eyes again and breathed deeply. 

"Clearly I'm not a morning person," I said as Hadley chuckled again and nodded her head. "So are they inside?" 

"Yeah they went in to get some soda and Zaiden had to pee," Hadley said, shaking her head. "Do you need anything?"

"Nah I'm good. If anything I need more sleep," I answered. She rolled her eyes. 

"You act like you've never had to get up early before you dork!" She said, smacking my head playfully. 

"Hey! I have. But that doesn't mean I don't value and need sleep," I said. Just then the front passenger door opened. 

"Oh Griffin you're awake!" It was April. 

"For now," I muttered. Hadley smacked my arm. I cleared my throat. "How much longer until we get there?" 

"Um. I'm not sure. Zaiden said a couple hours maybe?" April replied. 

"Where are the others?" I asked, turning to Hadley. 

"Oh they're on their way too, but I think they're like a half hour behind us?" Hadley said. 

The drivers side door opened. Zaiden set his bottled Coca Cola in the cup holder. 

"Sorry about the wait guys, ready to go? Oh Grif if you need to pee do it now because I don't wanna have to stop again," Zaiden said to me over his shoulder. 

"I'm good," I replied. Zaiden smiled back at me in the rear view mirror, his teeth looked so white against his dark skin. His grey eyes sparkled. 

"Alright then. Let's get this show on the road again!" He said, putting on his seatbelt and starting the engine.