“Oh yea, glad to see you Duarte.”  Ashley muttered.  The brunette noticed a change in the Latina’s demeanor.  Instead of standing aggressively before her she was laid back, calm, and inviting.  Ashley in return dropped her defensive posture and smiled genuinely.

“Thanks.  I wasn’t sure if I should actually come or not.”  Just then Kasey rounded the truck and extended her hand to Madison.  “Ah, no worries, you’ll have fun.  I’m Kasey by the way.  Aiden’s only sane relative.”  Aiden nodded and closed the truck’s tailgate.  Madison gently gripped her hand and shook it.  They had met before, obviously, but the circumstances were not favorable for proper introductions.  “I’m sure I will.  And I’m Madison, the resident… crazy cheer-bitch as Ashley had once put it.”

Ashley blushed slightly and shrugged.  “Heh, yea. Sorry about that.”  She rubbed the back of her neck slightly embarrassed.

“Anyway, pack ‘er in folks!  Let’s hit the road!”  Kasey raced Aiden to the driver’s side cutting him off before he could enter.  “Awww c’mon Kase! Let me drive!”  He whined.

“Again, you scratch it dude and I will be forced to murder you.”  She handed him the keys and took a seat on the passenger side while Kyla sat between the two of them.  Aiden pranced around like a child gripping a lollypop and pounced into his seat.  Spencer sat between Madison and Ashley.  Oddly enough there was no tension between the two.

The group made small talk for a few hours as they reached the side road they needed to turn off into.  “Whoa, it’s completely grown in.”  Kasey’s eyes widened as Aiden continued to trek closer to the barely noticeable road.  “No wait! Let’s turn around and head back! Don’t scratch my truck Dennison.”  She turned and glared at Aiden who smiled.  The rest of them giggled as Kasey looked on horrified.

She covered her ears as the twigs made contact with the vehicle, like nails on a chalkboard running across the beautiful yellow body of her beloved Avalanche.  “Oh…my…God..”  Is all she could say as they drove down the narrow trail.

A few miles in they found a clearing that edged a small lake.  Near the shoreline was a huge flattened boulder where a tire swing hung from one of the bigger trees bordering the lakefront.