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Chapter 6

The first thing that registered in my sleep riddled mind was the heat. A blasting heat that surrounded my entire body and made my skin prickle with sweat.
"Ughhh.." I groaned as I stretched out my muscles. As I arched my back to get the kinks out, I felt my shoulder blades push into something solid and warm. I opened my eyes and looked around. Events from last night came flooding into my mind. The water, the fire, s'mores and a game of truth. The tent and everything that followed. I shut my eyes again and tried to shut out the memory of how ignorant I had been.
It could have been worse. He could have left you out here alone.
As I was mentally telling the voice in my head to shut up, I heard a yawn from behind me. I turned over and propped myself up on my elbow. I watched as Daniels eyes fluttered open slightly and his gaze swept over me before his lids fell closed again. His hands came up and covered his face, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. After a few moments his eyes opened again and they locked with mine.
"Good morning", he said sweetly. He turned and wrapped his arm around my waist pulling me to him. I smiled and then let myself be pulled into a lingering kiss.
"Good morning to you too," I said once we separated. I rested my forehead against his and just stared into his eyes. Being this close I could see the pattern of his iris's and how the different shades of color swirled together. His eyes were beautiful, like his soul.
"You know you're all cross eyed right?" He said with a smirk on his face.
"So are you", I said leaning back. I sat up and reached for my bag as Daniel stretched and rolled over, watching me. I pulled my phone out my bag to check the time. 12:15 pm. Damn. I had way overslept. A notification popped up, alerting me that I had a new message. I checked it.

Q: Hey I have to work today. My shift starts at one. Can you stop by for a little while?

It was from Quin. It wasn't unusual for her to want me to stop by while she was working. The diner was a small building just off Main Street that had been there since my grand parents were kids. When Quin and I finished our freshman year we began looking for jobs. The first place we tried was the diner. They gave us part time work for the summer and if we wanted more time the next summer we could come back. I stuck it out for one summer, but that was enough for me. Quin stuck with it and went back every summer until she graduated and they gave her a permanent spot year round.
Quin was like me and got bored easily so I tried to stop by for awhile while she was working to make it easier on her. Her texting me to let me know she was working was completely normal. So I typed out my reply and sent it.

A: Sure. I'll be there in a few hours.

I waited for a reply, knowing it wouldn't take long. Yet when the message popped up on the screen I paused. This was odd.

A: I need you to come asap actually. I need to talk to you.

Quin was always the mother hen of our group of friends. She worried if we didn't show up to school without telling anyone we wouldn't be there. If one of us got sick she was there. She helped us with every problem and gave the best advice. Quin was the strong one; she kept us together even when we felt like falling apart, even if she felt like falling apart. The most astounding thing about her is that you could never tell what Quin was feeling. She was always laughing and happy no matter what so you never knew if she was sad or worried. She hid her emotions well. There were only a few times Quin has actually broke down in front of me. That's what was so surprising about her message. She sounded urgent. And an urgent Quin wasn't anything good. It meant her anxiety had kicked in so that could only mean that something had happened to trigger her to feel some type of way. Getting her to tell me though would be a miracle.

A: Is something wrong? Want me to call?

Q: I just want you to come by the diner. I need to see you.