My hair whips around my face as I walk down the sidewalk. It’s the middle of October and the weather has made a drastic change. Leaves of yellow, orange, and brown fly across roads and yards. It’s about 4:00 p.m and it’s already starting to get dark out. My hot chocolate is barely warming my hand, let alone my body. I can feel my jaw start to shake in a shiver as I pick up my pace to get home. I pass by cars and houses where families sit all snuggled up next to fires. When I reach my front porch my friend Maria is sitting on the front steps.
“ Hey Nikki, how’s it going?” She asks.
“ Um it’s going well I guess. Trying not to catch a cold out here.” I laugh as another gust of wind blows my already messy hair around.
“ Are you ready to go camping?” She asks me as we make our way into my warm house.
“ I’m a little nervous, but I’m sure it will be fun.” She nods and I attempt to make my self some hot chocolate.
“ Do we have to pick up Mae on our way or is she coming here.” I ask her since I didn’t plan much of this. I just kind of went with the flow and agreed.
“ We have to pick her up because her car is in the shop.” I nod and pour the chocolate powder into the water. A quick glance at the clock makes me realize that we should leave now if we want to get there before dark. It was Mae’s idea that we all go camping, in the freezing weather may I add. I’m pretty excited, but part of me is a little apprehensive about spending the night in the dark woods. I’ve watched way to many scary movies for me to feel safe.
“ Are you ready?” Maria asks and I slowly nod my head. I pick up my things and follow her out to the car. I live alone so I lock the door with my spare key and jog to catch up to her.
“ Are you nervous at all?” I ask as I throw my things in the back seat.
“ No, what’s there to be scared of? It’s just the woods.” She looks at me and I just nod.
After we pick up Mae we still have to drive for about 10 minutes until we reach the place we are staying. It’s almost completely dark out now, and my nervousness is starting to really kick in. I can’t seem to sit still, all that’s running through my head is ways I might get murdered tonight.
“ Jeez Nikki, you’re rocking the whole car with your shaking.” Mae laughs.
“ Shut up, I’m just really nervous.” I laugh with her. We pull up to the edge of the woods and it is pitch black inside. Maria is the first to climb out of the car and Mae follows. I hesitantly step out into the cold night. With my sleeping bag secured under one hand and a flashlight in the other I lead us into the woods. We walk for about a mile before I’ told to stop. Maria starts to set up the tent, and Mae goes to search for twigs and sticks for a fire. It’s even colder now that it’s night and I’m shivering like crazy. I look at my surrounding and take in the darkness of the pine trees. Leaves crunch behind me and I spin around so fast I almost get whip lash.
“ Calm down Nik, it’s just me.” Mae setts the wood down and puts a littler to it. Within a minute the wood takes flame and a warm welcoming fire is built. Maria finishes the tent and throws our blankets inside before coming to join us by the fire.
“ What a beautiful night to camp huh?” She says as she takes her seat next to me.
“ Yep, sure it’s great being out here in the cold.” My sarcastic reply doesn’t go unnoticed.
“ Oh lighten up, stop being a baby.” They both laugh at me and I join in.
We’ve been out here for about 2hours now, and all my fears have seemed to vanish. After all the joking around we did, the bad thoughts left my mind. It’s even colder out now and my shivers are coming back. Mae is asleep on the ground and Marias eyes are slowly drooping.
