The Clearing

Chapter 1

I woke up to insistent pounding in my temples and the pounding on the apartment door didn't help any. I groaned. 'Who could it be at this hour?' I thought, 'How dare they interrupt my sleep' I knew that getting drunk last night had been a bad idea but there was nothing left to do now except take some asprin. 

"Are you even in there? Open up Janet!" Chole yelled through the door. Chole is my best friend and I tell her almost everything but sometimes she can be really annoying. 

"I'm right here stop with the pounding" I yell back and instantly regret it as my temples protest the volume of my voice. 

"Come on then, open up" from the sounds of it she's pouting. 

"Fine" I grumble and open the door.  

Instantly Chole rushes past me. She studies me taking in my bedhair and pajamas and says, "Don't tell me you forgot." 

"I didn't forget I just..." I stumble off lost for words.

"Just what?"  

"I thought we were going to meet up at your place and were leaving until noon." 

"Its already 1 in the afternoon. I was waiting for you for an hour and called you about a gazillion times" 

"Well my bad then just let me get ready and we'll leave" 

Good thing I had left everything packed and had set out today's clothes yesterday. I ran into the bathroom brushed my teeth and tried to get all the knots out of my hair. While in the progress of doing this Chole shouts, "I'll be waiting in the car!" 

After Chole leaves I finish up with my hair and shove it into a sloppy ponytail and pull on my jeans and tank top. As I'm putting sunscreen on I hear Chole yells, "Hurry up Janet!"  

I sigh at Chole's excitement; after all it's just a weekend camping trip in the boring old woods. I regret even telling her about my 'secret' camping place. 

In reality it's just a little camp ground my parents used to take me to as a child. I used to love camping because I got to spend more time with my dad. My dad was a workaholic, he would spend most of his time at work and barely even glance at me at home but whenever we went camping he became mine. While camping we would sing, laugh and generally do all sorts of camp activities. My favorite part about the camping was when me and my dad would take long walks in the forest he would show me the properties of plants, like what I could and could not eat. He would also tell me about my grandmas healing plants and their special qualities. I loved spending quality time with my dad but after the incident we never went back. 

"Coming!" I shout back while balancing my bags in one hand and keys in the other as I lock the door I forgot that my phone was still inside and on my bedside table so I had to unlock the door go in grab my phone and charger shove it in a bag and relock the door. 

I make my way outside and toss the bags into the back of the car. No later than I closed the door Chole reved the engine and we were off.  

Don't get me wrong I love my best friend but she talks about the dumbest things usually I would play along but in my condition I snapped and said "If you don't take me to a liquor store and get me something to drink there will be consequences." She does as I say and as soon as she's back in the car I take a beer and chugg it down. Like my uncle used to say 'the best way over a hangover is to get drunk again.' I take this rule to heart and its helped over the years. 

After about an hour of driving and Chole's unending flow of words I tuned her out and stare at the pasing landscape.

Hugs & luv -Lucy