Aiden joined in on fun while Madison sat back on her towel and eyes the group.  Kasey noticed her from afar.

“Is everything ok?”  Kasey asked, concerned as she had made her way next to the Latina.

“Hm? Oh yea, everything’s fine. I’m just a little surprised I’m here with you guys this weekend.”  She didn’t need to explain, Kasey knew Ashley and Madison were far from friends at school.  They tormented one another whenever they had the chance.

“By the way Kasey, thank you.”  The girl she referred to gave her a quizzical look.  “For what?”

“Thank you for saving me that night at Gray’s and for also making this weekend so great.”  Madison smiled.

“No need to thank me.  That’s what friends are for.”  Kasey replied standing while Kyla yelled for her to come back.  “I better go.  Hey, you should join us.”  She jogged off toward them.

Madison proceeded to wave at Ashley.  The brunette walked toward her with a confused look.  “What’s up?”  Ashley asked a little perplexed.  Madison wanted to clear the air, bury the hatchet so to speak. 

“I want to apologize for…everything I guess.  The way I treat you at school and for judging you without actually taking the chance to get to know you.”  Her tone was sincere as Ashley took a seat next to her.

“I’m starting to understand that being gay isn’t a choice and that it isn’t wrong but almost a blessing when you find the love of your life.  No matter who they are.”  They looked at one another.  “I hope that, when we go back to school Tuesday we don’t go back to hating each other, I hope we can be friends.”

Ashley had noticed a huge change in the girl’s demeanor this weekend.  She has grown fond of Madison; she had to admit the Latina was fun.  “We’re already friends Mads and when we go back to school that won’t change.”  They smiled before the two were beckoned to the lake by Spencer.

Nightfall soon came with the teens gathered once again around the fire.  The weekend had brought the group closer together.

“Wow, we don’t see anything like this in LA.”  Spencer admired the stars from Ashley’s embrace beneath the blanket.

“It’s beautiful.”  Madison added, snuggling in Aiden.

“It is amazing.  It’s too bad we don’t see them like this town.”  The boy rested his gaze in the sky.

They sat in a comfortable silence, only the sound of the crickets and the crackling fire could be heard.  This was their last night in the wilderness.  Tomorrow they would be back in the hustle and bustle of the bus city of Los Angeles.

“Let’s make this a yearly trip.”  Ashley looked down at the fire.  “No matter where we are in life or how much we hate each other in the future, let’s promise to meet out here once a year.”  It sounded corny but everyone agreed to it.

Slowly everyone eased into their separate tents with their respective partners and dozed off not wanting to return to reality the next morning.