Chapter 18

   I woke up the next morning and crawled out of my tent. Orangeheart followed after me. I picked her up and she climbed onto my shoulder. I stretched out my arms and Orangeheart shook out her fur.
   A rustle in the bushes caught my attention. I shoved my hand into my pocket and grasped the pocket knife. Orangeheart hissed at the bush, her tail sticking up and fur fluffed out. The bush rustled some more until a familiar voice reached my ears.
   "How about calming down your feline friend?" Leo asked me.
   I sighed, pulling my hand from my pocket and placing it on Orangeheart's back. She relaxed slightly but kept watching Leo carefully.
   "What are you doing here Leo?" I asked calmly, trying to show Orangeheart there was nothing to worry about.
   "I'm hunting..." He said hesitantly, shifting the quiver of arrows on his back and pulling the string slightly on his bow.
   "No you're not. There're no animals around here, you know that. It's far to popular a spot" I told him.
   "Right... Well... Ugh you got me. I asked your dad where you were when I went to your house yesterday. I was wondering if you'd like to go to the school dance with me...?" He asked.
   "Oh... Um no sorry... I'm already going with someone" I lied.
   "Oh? Who?" Leo asked.
   "John" I said confidently.
   "Oh... Well in that case... I'll see you around Sam" Leo said and walked back into the forest.
   I sighed in relief until someone cleared their throat behind me. I cringed and turned around to find John standing just outside his tent, leaning against a tree, watching me.
   "Uh... Hi John" I said.
   John chuckled. "I'd like to know ahead of time if we have a date planned" he told me.
   "Does that mean you'll go with me?" I asked.
   John thought for a moment. "On one condition" he said.
   "Name it" I said.
   "You have to go to dinner with me the night before" John said.
    "Alright, but you have to wear a tux to both" I responded.
   "Fine, but you have to wear a nice dress to both" he answered.
   "Fine" I said, smiling.
   Jenna and Susan crawled out of our tent and stretched. Jake crawled out of their tent and immediately started to take it down. Jenna and Susan joined in by taking ours down. I started loading up the truck while John went to help Jake take down the tent.
  
   Just twenty minutes after we all woke up, everything was taken down and packed up. John climbed into the driver's seat of his truck. I climbed into the middle backseat with Orangeheart. Jenna climbed in on my right, behind the passenger seat, and Susan climbed in on my left, behind John. Jake climbed into the bed of the truck to make sure the boat stayed attached on the bumpy, uphill trail through the trees.
  
   it didn't take long  for us to get to the dock. I climbed out after Susan to help unload the boat. We managed to get the boat into the water with no issues and we all loaded up into it. I picked up Orangeheart off the dock and set her into the boat on the ground so she wouldn't fall out and into the lake.
   We all took a seat as Jake took the wheel. He started up the boat and we set off, tearing through the water. Orangeheart tried to remain standing, but the speed and wind knocked her off her feet. I picked her up and sat her on my lap, smiling down at her.

   We got off the boat later that day for lunch and to pack everything up. Susan, Jenna, and I trade smirks. Jenna covered Jake's eyes and I covered John's.
   "It's a surprise" we told them. Susan led the way to our picnic spot while Jenna and I kept our hands over the boys' eyes.
   We reached the picnic spot and Jenna and I moved our hands. The boys saw the sandwiches and pies laid out and looked at the three of us, grinning.
   "Is that why you wouldn't let us into the basket?" John asked.
   "Yup" I answered, grinning.
   "You three are very sneaky, you know that?" Jake laughed.
   "Yeah we know" Jenna chuckled.
   "What're we standing around for? Let's eat!" Susan laughed.