Thunder // Jack Avery (Complete)

Camping (Pt. 2)

They arrived at the campsite at 11:18 in the morning. They decided to go on a hike before they set up camp because they had been sitting for so long and were anxious to explore. Preston led Jonah to his favorite trail, which as relatively close to camp. Preston grabbed a bag he packed specifically for hiking and stated walking. "You're forgetting something," Jonah called from behind him.

"What?" Preston turned around and saw Jonah holding up their matching hats. Preston laughed and jogged back to the boy, taking the hat from him and putting it on.

"Much better," Jonah smiled. He adjusted his own hat and encouraged the redhead to lead the way.

"You do realize we look like the gayest couple ever with these on right?"

"That's the goal," Jonah mumbled.

"What?"

"I said that's gold!" Joah laughed awkwardly and Preston joined in. Then, they stopped and allowed an awkward silence to settle.

"Jonah," Preston said as they started hiking on their desired trail.

"Yeah?"

"Why did you invite me, and only me? Why didn't you invite the rest of the gang?"

"They're all doing their own thing and none of us are too happy with Daniel right now. It's not just what he did to Miley either. It's... everything. That girl changed him. I also just wanted to spend some time with you, and only you."

"What do you mean by 'changed him'?"

"He used to be the sweetest guy on the face of the Earth. Now he doesn't care about who he hurts or how he hurts them. He says, 'Miami told me not to let anyone get in my way!' I don't even know him anymore, Preston," Jonah stopped and let out a sad sigh.

"Hey, he'll realize what she's doing eventually. He's in the middle of a big mistake, but it'll pass," Preston replied while hugging Jonah tightly.

"Thanks, P," Jonah muttered sheepishly.

"Let's keep going. There's a surprise at the end of the trail," Preston encouraged after letting go of Jonah and rubbing his arm.

"A surprise?" Jonah laughed.

"Yeah. Come on!" Preston started walking again and Jonah walked closely by his side.

"What kind of surprise?"

"The secret kind, like most," Preston sassed.

"It better be good," Jonah sassed back.

- - - - -

They were a few feet away from the end of the trail, so Preston clamped his hands over Jonah's eyes and lead him to the surprise. Jonah could hear the water flowing and crashing. Then, Preston uncovered his eyes and revealed a waterfall. It was beautiful. The whole area was surrounded by towering trees, but the sun shined through the holes and glistened on the flowing water below. The waterfall was at least 300 feet tall. "It gets better," Preston yelled over the crashing water. He grabbed Jonah's hand and pulled him towards the waterfall. "This is a part that not a lot of people know about because they stick to the trails," Preston yelled again.

"Are we going to climb that?" Jonah yelled back. he pointed to a rocky path that led behind the falls.

"Is that okay?" Preston looked back at him with worry. Jonah laughed and nodded. Preston immediately lit up again and led the way. They trecked behind the crashing water, getting splashed and misted in the process, to reveal an ice cave. The floor of the cave was completely iced over in a white sheet, there were columns and stalactites of ice in random places in the cave, and the ice poured over the edge of the cliff, dripping behind the pouring water. "Surprise!"

"This is amazing, Preston," Jonah yelled. "You're amazing," he whispered while staring fondly at the boy.

"If it weren't so noisy it would be perfect!"

"It's perfect just the way it is!"

- - - - -

Jonah and Preston worked together to set up the tent and get everything organized. They managed to get everything done before dusk. Jonah took some breaks to eat some snacks while Preston persisted. "If you keep eating all the snacks we'll starve by the end of this trip," Preston teased.

"I'm a growing boy!"

Preston had an impure thought and blushed intensely. "Just, don't eat everything before I have a chance to get a taste."

"What do ya want to taste?"

Another impure thought. "Uh, those chips we got. You know, the biscuits and gravy ones? I've never had them before."

"Why are your cheeks so red? Did you get burnt?"

"No. I'm just really hot." In more ways than one.

"You could take off your shirt," Jonah shrugged, though he really wanted to see Preston shirtless.

"I don't think so."

"Why not?"

"Uh, I don't know."

"I just don't want you to overheat or something," Jonah lied.

"Alright. Fine," Preston sighed. He stopped what he was doing and pulled off his shirt in one swift motion. He threw it to the side and continued working. His blush stayed as e thought of what Jonah was thinking. He was scared he was too pale or too skinny or too fat. He didn't have abs, but he kept in good shape.

Jonah admired Preston's bare chest with a smirk and sipped on his water. "Hot," Jonah hummed.

"Yeah. It is really hot right now. It'll cool down once the sun sets. A lot."

"I don't think it will," Jonah whispered to himself. "How cold will it get?"

"Almost freezing. I have a little propane heater for the tent, though."

"Oh, good," Jonah replied. He took another drink of water, then started setting up his side of the tent. Preston was starting to make dinner outside, so Jonah watched him through the mesh window. He finished setting up his side and smiled. "Hey, I just went through my bag and I forgot a hoodie. Do you have an extra one?"

"Yeah. I packed on for you just in case," Preston giggled. He left the open fire and walked into the tent after grabbing his shirt. He sat down by his sleeping bag and pulled out a navy blue hoodie with the word "Lit" written on the front in cursive letters. Jonah took it from him and smiled.

"Thank you."

"No problem," Preston replied. He grabbed the other hoodie he packed, an army green hoodie got from a gift shop in California with the outline of a palm tree on it. He set it aside for later and crawled out of the tent to resume cooking. He was making fajitas tonight, then they'd make smores for dessert. Over dinner, they talked about their lives and the problems they were having.

"Hey, P?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you still like O?"

"Huh? Oh, no. I'm over that. I think I was just confused."

"How so?"

"I've known her forever and for some reason, I felt like since we were so close and everything, I had to like her. We were beyond friends in my mind, and we still are, just not in the same way. She's my other baby sister."

"I guess that makes sense."

"How are things going with that guy?" Preston felt jealousy rise within him.

"You tell me," Jonah replied shyly.

- - - - -

A/N: An allergic reaction to grapefruit face wash, a cat kneading my face at 6 a.m., and a boy flirting with me later... here's an update! :)

-Mar