They reached the clear at mid afternoon, days were getting longer, and even if the sun was getting down, there was at least a good hour until sunset. They're met with the sight of the three other groups already settled, the space was much larger than their last stops, and the tents were spread messily through the green grass. The air was thick and hot, making skin sticky and each step more agonizing than the last, and now there were no leaves to protect them from the burning sun.
"I really need a shower" Taylor mumbled, cleaning her forehead from a layer of sweat.
"You're not the only one" Karlie implored, grunting at how damp her shirt felt under her backpack.
They had spent the whole ride together, being too tired to overthink their words or their actions, the company was pleasant as ever. Their witty remarks were on point, but they never reached the point of offense, and Karlie was getting used to the presence of Taylor being more less nice to her, getting her brain to the concept that maybe, just maybe, Taylor wasn't messing around with her brain as much as she thought. Not enough to let all her defenses down though.
A loud scream made everyone jolt their heads up, Karlie and Taylor exchanged a knowing look, guessing who was the source without having to look. As they suspected, a very hyperactive Cara was jumping up and down in front of them in no time, engulfing both in a bone crushing hug, saying something about missing them and Jourdan being a bad influence. Cara had to stand in her tiptoes to hug properly the two girls, but at some point she got tired, because the next thing Karlie knew was that they were both being dragged to the ground.
"Ew, you are sticky" Cara finally separated from the mess of tangled bodies, wrinkling her face in disgust.
"Oh really? I had not noticed that" Karlie pushed the smaller girl away, her whole palm encapsulating her face, not even caring when the dirty blonde licked her hand as a defense mechanism. Not that she cared with all the dirt she was already carrying.
Cara finally got away, ignoring her like she was a stranger, standing up in a swift motion and going directly to met all the people she didn't know, forgetting them as fast as she came. Karlie shook her head, standing up as well from the grass, and offered a hand to Taylor, who was still half sat up in the ground. The girl mutely gazed at her, and then at her hand, eyes narrowing.
"What?"
"I'm not touching the hand Cara has liked, am I?" The question was rhetorical, knowing that the blonde wasn't even touching her yet, nor attempting to. Karlie swallowed a curse, she wasn't in the mood for Taylor right now, preferring to turn her extended hand into a middle finger, which made Taylor gasp in exasperated offense.
"How dare you?" Her hand flew to her chest for more dramatism, and Karlie sighed, knowing the show she was about to perform "Showing that? To me? I thought we were friends"
"Fuck off" Karlie let her hand drop next to her, accepting the fact that Taylor wouldn't take it.
"Now I may cross your name from my list" The blonde stood up with difficulty, the huge bag in her back not helping at all her gravity center stabilization. The sight was delightful.
"Please, and thank you"
"Rude" Taylor sighed dramatically "It's such a honor to be part of the list" She shrugged "your loss"
"Are you a theatre kid?" Karlie questioned, following Lily who was already giving orders to where they had to set up the tents, not waiting for Taylor, who was still gazing at God knew what.
