Walk the Line

20 - The Time They Go Camping

A/N: This one is a lil steamy... 

20 – The Time They Go Camping

It was finally the fourth of July weekend, and it meant that I got a few extra days off. I was ready to not have to go to work for a few days. I really didn't mind working at the Franklin News Agency, but I could use just a little time off from worrying about deadlines.

I walked in the door to find Ford lugging a case of beer.

"You want to go camping?" he asked.

"Me?"

"Yeah...?" he looked at me with a smirk. There was no one else here that he could possibly be talking to, so it was a silly question to ask.

"With who?" I asked.

"Me, some guys from the shop, some guys Kyle and I graduated with," he said.

"Will I be the only girl?" I asked, laughing.

"Some are bringing their girlfriends, so I doubt it," he said, "We would have to share a tent though because I don't have two tents."

"That's fine," I laughed, "When are we going?"

"Now," he said.

"Oh, um okay," I said, "I'll go pack." I laughed, going upstairs to pack a bag of shorts and tank tops and bikinis in case we went swimming. I packed some basic toiletries and my birth control. I thought about grabbing my anxiety medicine, but I decided against it. I would be okay.

I changed quickly into a pair of jean shorts and a navy blue tank top. I pulled my hair up into a ponytail and raced down the stairs. I tossed my bag into Ford's truck, helping him load up the rest of the stuff we needed for the weekend.

"Why such short notice?" I laughed as I climbed into the passenger seat of his truck.

"I didn't think you would want to go," he shrugged.

"I love camping, are you kidding me?" Just something about being outside made me feel better. I was always the type to spend the day looking out the window while I thought through things or daydreamed.

"Alright, I'll remember that," he chuckled.

The campsite wasn't too far away. It was near the lake on a private spot near the woods. The area included a fire ring and three picnic tables, as well as waterfront access to one of the rivers that fed into the lake. When we got there, a couple of Ford's friends were already there.

"Hey, this is Jacob, Jacob, this is Ellie," Ford introduced us.

"This is Amanda, my girlfriend," he gestured to the dark haired girl holding the instructions to their tent. "You're one of Kyle's sisters, right?" he asked.

"Yeah, I'm the middle child," I laughed.

"Damn, how doe Kyle feel about you sticking it to his little sister?" Jacob joked to Ford.

"Oh, we're not...," I said, shocked.

"Sure," Jacob said like he didn't believe us, "Don't worry, I won't tell Kyle." He winked.

I didn't even know how to respond. I looked to Ford, who just shrugged and shook his head. There was another guy named Mason there, and we were just waiting on two more people that Ford worked with at the shop.
While we waited, I tried to help Ford set up his tent, but he already had it pretty well taken care of. He had always been good at stuff like that. Building things, fixing things, practical things. He was good with his hands. After a while, two more guys showed up, and one brought their girlfriend, so Ford was right in saying I wasn't the only girl. I was just the only non-girlfriend.