Ecstasy

Chapter 50

Tyson:

A/N Wowzers guys. Up to Chapter 50. 60,0025 words. This is a milestone. Tell me what you think

We spent what was left of the morning setting up and unpacking. It was weird being back here. I hadn't been here since I was nine. We came down here on the Christmas break and camped a weekend. Frank was Dad then, Mum was still around and we were the closest we could come to being happy. I remembered it was hot, just like today. It was the last family holiday we had.

"Hey?"

I looked up at the voice, jumping out of the sad memories. Calla was looking at me with a concerned expression. I suddenly became aware I had frozen in the middle of unpacking some camp chairs.

"Are you okay?"

"Uh, yeah." I dismissed her question without thought and pulled off the cover of one of the chairs.

"Hey." She walked over all the bags to stand in front of me. "Are you sure?"

I looked into her eyes for a moment. She didn't miss anything. "Yeah. I'm fine." I flashed a smile to reassure her but she didn't look convinced.

She took hold of both my hands in hers. "You would tell me if anything was wrong wouldn't you?"

I had to look away from her genuinely worried face so that I could lie. "Yes. Of course."

I pulled her into a hug and her hair tickled my neck. I just wished I could tell her everything. Instead I released her, turned my back and continued to work.

***

It was later and we were sitting around the little fire we poked into flame. Calla was sitting beside me, her golden hair dripped onto our entwined hands in her lap. We had all just spent the afternoon in the lake, and it was just as refreshing as I remembered.

The heat of the day was gone, replaced by a stillness that brought mozzies and the citronella candles out. The fire wasn't really needed for warmth as much as entertainment. The smell of smoke filled the air, it stung my eyes and irritated them no matter how many times I blinked. I leaned into Calla and hid my face in her neck to get away from the smoke. Her hair was a fragrance of salt and sunshine, her skin was dewy from the heat of the fire and tasted like summer when I kissed her shoulder. She squirmed when I moved my lips to her neck. Her hand slid up my arm when I kissed the spot below her ear.

"Okay I'm going to go start on dinner before this gets a bit awkward. Keep it PG kids." Mitchie stood up from her chair next to Sam. I broke away from Calla and watched her cheeks turn the sweetest colour of pink.

"I'll help you." Phoebe stood up too.

Calla locked eyes with me. "I'd better go and help too."

"Okay," I said a little disappointed.

She smiled that sexy smile and gave me a quick kiss on the lips before waltzing off after her friends.

***

The sun had disappeared hours ago, the girls had gone off for showers at the toilet block more than an hour ago and I was sure they had all gone to bed. Us guys sat around the bonfire fending off mosquitoes and getting slowly drunk off warm beers.

"Man what happened to us?" Sam suddenly started. "We all used to be inseparable."

I sighed and stared into the charred remains of a coke can still fluttering flames in the bonfire. I didn't exactly remember how or what happened to end our friendship.

Cade snorted, "Remember that time when Nate fell off his skateboard in front of Tiffany Bridges?" He laughed and I turned to look at Cade. I smiled.

"Yes! And then you Ty." Sam slapped me on the shoulder. "Tried to pick her up at the school dance a week later."

I laughed then. "Didn't you get totally smashed at that dance and try to feel up that student teacher?"

"Ha-ha, I don't remember." Sam looked embarrassed. "I only remember the morning after."

That made both Cade and me laugh.

We fell silent for a moment. All of us remembering the memory of fourteen year old Sam, completely off his face and Nate sulking in the corner. I snorted laughter again at the memory of Nate ignoring me for a week later because I got the girl he liked.

"What did happen to us?" Cade's voice was low and his face serious.

We sat there for a moment listening to the crickets in the trees and the fire crackling at our feet.

I finally spoke. "I don't know."