Sanity || j.d

19

A week later, both our parents and siblings had arrived home again and much to our dismay, both families decided that we all needed to go on a camping trip. Sure, him and I had sorted ourselves out, but our relationship was really on the rocks; we spoke once every two days - less if we could help it, but I made us both lunch, left his in the kitchen at his place and found myself an afternoon job at the surf shop. So far, my summer had been the best and worst thing that ever happened to me.

“Is this everything?” I asked as we packed in the last of the camping gear.

“Yup.” Clare, Josh’s mum gave me a thumbs up and came out with drinks for all of us before we got in the two cars to go. “Okay. Has everyone been to the toilet? It’s a three hour drive and there will be no stops along the way. Hear me?”

Everybody nodded. My mum, dad, little sister and I all climbed into the car while him and his parents (his brother was interstate with the state basketball team) got in their car and we were off.

My sister, Connie, was thirteen turning fourteen and would rather be spending the next week on the beach, not in a tent. But her being an annoying younger sibling, I really didn’t have time to pity her especially when I was about to lose my best friend. Of course she’d always teased the two of us about getting together, apparently we’d be a really cute couple in her eyes. Now it was going to be just awkward.

“Who’s in which tent?” My mum asked, directing the question more at me. I could share with Connie or Josh, both families had two tents, each big enough to fit two people.

“I’ll ask.” I replied blankly. Are we sharing?

Sharing what? He replied back.

Tent.

*shrug*

“We can’t decide.” I finally told my mum.

“Well hurry up and decide, because we would like to set it up so that you’re comfortable.” She rushed. When nothing else was said, finally she broke the silence again. “Connie do you want your own tent?”

“Yeah.” She replied not ecstatic nor bored.

Connie wants her own tent. That means we’re sharing. I texted him.

Fair enough. He replied back.

“Yeah, him and I are sharing.” I concluded, informing my mum.

“Okay, well I’m glad that’s sorted.” She sighed, relaxing a little bit more. She was a mum, more importantly my mum and I think she knew that there was tension between the two of us, but she couldn’t pick exactly what it was.

We would both sacrifice ourselves for the other, so in the end we’d both be dead.