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CHAPTER THREE OF ??

❝ the campsite ❞

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THIRD-PERSON POV. THE JANUARY OF 2005. LOUISIANA, AMERICA.

THEY'D HAD TO DRIVE THROUGH A REMOTE SWAMPLAND-TYPE AREA AND ACROSS A RICKETY BRIDGE LIKE THE ONE FROM SHREK TO FIND A CLEARING. The clearing was private and also actually in the middle of "butt fuck nowhere" according to (Name). It was a large area in the forest with tree surrounding it. It felt like something out of Friday the 13th or something.

(Name) felt relief wash over her as everyone got out of the car. Everyone began to pitch up tents and grab stuff from the backs of Wade's car and Blake's SUV, like a cooler and sleeping bags and pillows etc "Paige, (Name), come with me," Carly beckoned, "We'll grab this stuff. Well?".

The three girls carried fold-up chairs, as they walked to the front of Blake's SUV to talk in private about a major thing that would affect Paige. "I couldn't. There's no point in freaking him out now," Paige said, as the trio put down the fold-up chairs they were carrying and began to talk alone, as the boys set up the campsite.

"As opposed to when he finds out you are pregnant?" (Name) queries, leaning against the hood of Blake's SUV, "If you are, can I be godmother? Cause, like, I'd be a pretty cool and kickass godparent, to be honest, like telling your potential kid about good music like Queen or Alice Cooper or David Bowie and all the essential movies like...Labyrinth or Pirates of the Caribbean,".

"Guys," Paige says, seriously but smiling at (Name)'s comment, "I'm not sure. Okay? And sure, (Name) if I am you can be godmother,". (Name) smirked, letting out a small "yes!" at Paige's approval.

Once again, Carly deadpanned. "Look," Carly said, seriously, "I just think that you should have a conversation. At least,". Paige's face was blank at the touchy subject of a potential pregnancy. (Name) knew about a pregnancy scare and it was terrifying. The whole thought and concept.

Paige's head darted over to where Blake, Wade, Dalton and Nick were by the campfire they'd lit before looking back at her two best friends, "He's been looking forward to this stupid football game for months," Paige said, "I don't wanna ruin it for him by starting a fight,".

"Paige," Carly sharply sighed, shoving her hands in the pocket of her denim jacket, "He's not gonna marry you, his parents won't let him-". (Name) cut her off with another scoff (rhyme not intended). "Who says I wanna get married?" Paige says in reply, "Besides, I've been late before. When I know for sure, I promise that I'll talk to him,".

"Yeah, screw marriage," (Name) says, "It's not the 1950s, you don't need to get married to be happy. And besides, it's too much commitment and divorce is expensive, just ask my parents,". (Name) let out a dry chuckle at her dark humour, "Anyway, let's go,".

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THE NIGHT WAS SPENT PARTYING IN THE WOODS AND HAVING FUN, WITH DALTON RELIGIOUSLY FILMING THINGS AND PEOPLE DRINKING BEER, EXCEPT PAIGE AND (NAME). (Name) was sat by the campfire with Paige and Carly, just casually talking and trying to help (Name) swallow pills so she can take her ADHD medication, whilst Dalton, Blake and Wade played some football (the American one, not the British one), whilst Nick sat on the sidelines with some beer and a lit cigarette.

The football landed near Nick's foot and the game went silent, with some generic rock music playing in the background from Dalton's stereo from the 1990s. Nick looked Wade in the eye and flicked the cigarette down onto the floor near the football, singeing it a little. Wade awkwardly approached Nick as (Name) fiddled with untangling the cord for her headphones.

Crickets could be heard in the distance, signifying how awkward it was and the time of night. As Wade reached for the football, Nick stood up and threw it at Blake, who caught it in his hands. The football also hit Blake's chest before he composed himself. "Nice arm," Wade said, as Nick sat down on his fold-up chair, "I see why they gave you a scholarship,".

"Yeah, a real tragedy ain't it?" Nick asked sarcastically, casually flipping Wade off, as (Name) rolled her eyes at his immaturity. Wade towered over Nick, but Nick wasn't one to lose any kind of quarrel or fight. Carly was about to get up to stop any conflict but (Name) beat her to it.

"Hey, Wade," (Name) says looking at Wade, "Uh, you wanna go help Dalton? I'll deal with this, dude,". Wade walked away as Nick let out a "Bye Wade" to annoy him, followed by a quiet "asshole". (Name) turned around to look Nick in the eyes, "Look, you can be a dickhead to Wade and Carly, but they didn't do anything to you, you big man baby,".

Nick shortly laughed at (Name)'s comments. "So, you admit that you did something, baby?" Nick asked, a little sarcastically. (Name) groaned at his childishness but decided to be serious at this moment. The "baby" pet name was used only to get a rise out of (Name).

"I admit that in your little version of the world," (Name) said coolly, folding her arms, "I did something. Sure, I'll say that,". Nick looked into her eyes with a straight face. "You dimed me you," Nick said, simply, like an uncaring confession in church.

(Name) scoffed, rolling her eyes. "I did not dime you out," (Name) said, "When the Sheriff came to my house and asked me where you got the car, I said I didn't know, because it was true. I didn't even know the car was stolen! And you're blaming that on me? Grow up!".

"You could've covered for me, huh?" Nick asked, raising his voice, offended. (Name) sighed heavily in annoyance at his mannerisms, "You were my girlfriend, (Name)! You could've thought about us-".

(Name) held her arms around her torso and sighed before looking at him. "You get caught for stealing a car and it's my fault," (Name) began civilly, "You resisting arrest and it's the cop's fault. If you get kicked off the football team, it's the coach's fault. Your parents kick you out of your house and it's their fault. You can't keep a job for more than two weeks because it's every manager's fault. It's always someone else's fault,".

"I'm surrounded by idiots," Nick said, shrugging as he looks at his ex-girlfriend, "Don't you get it, (Name)? Carly's the good twin, and I'm the evil one. Or take us, you're like the angel on someone's shoulder and I'm like the devil on the other shoulder,". Nick chucked a bottle of beer lightly onto the ground, before making a 'hmm' noise.

"Grow up, you big, annoying, immature man baby," (Name) hissed, "You are so afraid to take responsibility,". Nick scoffed, as (Name) rolled her eyes. She decided not to further boost her ex-boyfriend's ego from their argument anymore, as she stalked off over to the campfire.

Nick Jones thrived on seeing his ex-girlfriend riled up. (Name) mentally compared him to a demon who sucked the lives out of its victims sometimes, when he was like that. (Name) sat back down with Paige and Carly, whilst Wade, Dalton and Blake continued their football game.

A large gust of wind blew in suddenly, as the leaves on the surrounding trees flowed with the direction of the wind. Then came the most horrible thing that (Name) Anderson had ever smelt in her nineteen years of existence. The smell was strong and pungent, and enough to make anyone with a weak stomach keel over and vomit about six times.

Everyone smelt it. It smelt like rotting flesh or a dead carcass. Human or animal, (Name) didn't know. Everyone began to complain at the foul stench, as (Name) clasped her hand over her mouth and nose, trying to block the smell that burnt her nostrils and made her eyes water.

"Jesus fucking Christ," (Name) groaned, as she covered her nose and mouth with the sleeve of her purple and grey hoodie. Nick was the only one seemingly unfazed by the stench, casually leaning back in his fold-up chair away from the rest of the group, with a beer bottle in his hand and his hood up.

"Dalton did you crap your pants again?!" Nick yelled. (Name) would have laughed at the comment, and the others would have too if the circumstances were different. (Name) bit back a half-attempt at a laugh, as she breathed out her mouth.

Dalton sniffed his clothes, asking a quick "Huh?". "I don't know, maybe," Dalton shrugged, sniffing his clothes, as (Name) rolled her eyes, "I mean, I'm wearing my work clothes,". Wade shone a torch into the woods, as the smell continued to come towards the campsite with each gust of wind.

Carly stood behind him, as (Name) peered into the dark woodlands that bordered the campsite. "Something's dead out there," Wade said, his expression crinkled into one of disgust, mirroring the other six people at the campsite. "No shit Sherlock," (Name) muttered.

"No, something's dead right here," Blake says, trying to revive the party-like vibe they all had going on before the smell arrived, "And we need to drink it back to like. Bless me, dog,". Nick tossed Blake a bottle of beer and that's when the party was jolted back to life.