If I had a choice, I would rather squeeze myself inside the compartment of Rush's SUV and endure the three hours drive towards the campsite looking like a kidnap victim in CSI than spend another second stuck here in the backseat of Parker's gorgeous Hummer.

Whoever thought of this seat plan wanted blood. No kidding.

Here was the arrangement: Parker was behind the wheel since he was the assigned driver going to the campsite. Sitting on the passenger seat, just an arm-length away from him was none other than Roe, whom I didn't even know would join the trip until she came running towards me for a hug when they picked me up twenty minutes ago. Natalie and Shawn sat on the second row back seat, then Hunter and I on the third row.

Pen insisted we follow this stupid seat plan like it was a matter of life and death. No one dared to disagree with her especially after she warned us that she had a premonition that the trip would be a complete disaster if we changed seats. Apparently, Pen had miraculously (or should I say conveniently?) developed a psychic power just an hour before the trip. I would have been amazed if I wasn't so nervous at the thought of being in an enclosed space with these unlikely combinations.

I didn't want to spoil the fun but let's be realistic here, Parker and Roe just inches away from each other? We would be very lucky if we arrived at the campsite with both of them still breathing.

We were on the road for only twenty minutes and Roe and Parker had already threatened each other's life a total of six times. Seven if you included Roe telling Parker that she would loved to kick his ass out of the car and ran him over with his Hummer but in a way that wouldn't kill him immediately because she wanted to see him writhing in pain first.

Talk about psycho tendencies.

I had to give it to them though; they sure spent an awful amount of time thinking of creative ways to get rid of each other. My favorite was when Parker told Roe he was praying every night that an alien spaceship would come and take Roe away from Earth because only a distance of at least one million light years away from her would make him feel safe again. Roe retorted that she wished Parker would be trap in an episode of The Walking Dead and be eaten by hordes of zombies flesh by flesh.

The weirdest thing? They said all of those dreadful things to each other in a sickly sweet voice, like they were exchanging sweet nothings rather than death threats.

Shawn and Natalie, on the other hand, spent the first five minutes of the ride in awkward silence but after hearing Roe and Parker's sweet bickering, Shawn commented that Roe and Parker fought like Siths and Jedis, it rubbed Natalie off the wrong way. The usually shy girl told Shawn to stop inserting Star Wars related characters to the conversation because obviously, Roe and Parker fought more like Griffindors and Slytherins. Soon, the two of them were already arguing furiously over which fandom was better.

It was a complete mayhem.

It was becoming problematic on my part because I didn't have anyone to talk to, leaving my thoughts free to wander towards the guy sitting beside me. And Hunter at five o'clock in the morning was a walking and talking temptation. He was incredibly handsome with his hair even more ruffled than usual and his bruised left eye made him sexy and dangerous in the morning light. His minty scent was tickling my nostrils and the heat coming from his body was doing weird things to my senses.

Out of the six of us, it seemed like he was the only one amused by this arrangement.

"Well, isn't it fun?" I heard him say as he brought out three packs of chocolate chip cookies from his backpack.

My stomach started to growl at the sight of food. I hadn't had time to eat breakfast because I woke up late and had to rush out of the house since I didn't want to keep the others waiting.

"You're the only one happy about this seating arrangement." I whispered as I continued to watch our four companions fight. I was trying hard not to look at Hunter and his chocolate chip cookies. I couldn't decide which of the two was more tempting.

"Of course I am. I'm seated beside you. Best seat-plan ever." I sensed the smile laced in his voice and I knew he was teasing me again. Typical Hunter. For all I knew, he was dying to jump out of here so that he could sit next to Heather in Rush's car. The thought made me want to throw something, preferably at him.

"We'd be lucky if we survive the next four hours without them murdering each other, genius." I huffed under my breath, careful not to let the others hear my worry.

Hunter sniggered beside me.

"You worry too much. Have a little faith." He said, smiling from ear to ear. "Hey, guys, catch!" He threw the two packs of cookies in front. Shawn and Roe caught it easily.

"Share it to your seatmates, will you?" he said.

The two said their thanks and grudgingly offered the cookies to their nemesis. And for the first time since we hit the road, the arguments died, replaced by the sounds of cookies being chewed and a sense of camaraderie that only a pack of cookies could induce.

Hunter gave me an obnoxious smirk.

"Problem solved."

I faced him so that I could frown at him but then, I couldn't resist the temptation that were the chocolate chip cookies so I grabbed the remaining pack in his hand, forgetting about the frowning part.

"You're so cocky." I said, tearing the wrapper open and stuffing one cookie in my mouth.

"I know. It's one of my endearing qualities." He said, pulling out bottled waters, another pack of cookie, two bags of Doritos and lays, and an assorted pack of chocolates from his bag.

I looked at him and the bag in wonder.

"How did all of that food fit in your bag? Did you steal that backpack from Dora?" I said incredulously.

Hunter let out an amused laugh.

"That, buddy, is one of my special abilities. Aside from being a genius hacker. I'm also one hell of a talented packer." He bragged, offering me one of the bottled water.

"Are you sure packer and not fucker?" I heard Parker said, looking at Hunter through the rear view mirror and laughing. We all knew Parker's question had double meaning; the other meaning too R-rated for me to even think about.

Hunter gave Parker a lazy smile.

"That, too." He winked, causing all of the girls inside the car to let out a disgusted groan and the guys to whistle playfully.

Did Hunter just confirm that he was an amazing lay? Good lord.

"Eeew. Too much information alert." said Roe while Natalie shook her head, seemingly to erase whatever image that was formed inside her mind.

"God, Hunter, we really didn't need to hear that." she said.

Me? I was speechless and blushing profusely at the thought. It hadn't crossed my mind before but it suddenly dawned on me that there was no way Hunter hadn't done the deed yet. With that face, I was sure women were jumping on his bed, left and right.

You scumbag brain! Stop thinking about Hunter's sex life!

I heard Hunter clucked his tongue.

"Tsk, tsk... you girls have a dirty, dirty mind." He said, shaking his head.

He turned to look at me, one eyebrow raised upon seeing my guilty expression.

"Thinking of something interesting?"

Uh oh.

The cookie I was munching got caught on my wind pipe. I suddenly couldn't breathe.

I clutched my throat.

"W-water!" I gasped, eyes watering.

"Oh God, I think she's choking." Roe exclaimed.

"Shit." Hunter immediately grabbed the water in my hand, tore the cap open and guided it towards my mouth.

I drank the entire content as fast as I could, not even caring if some of the water spilled down to my neck.

I almost died. And it has something to do with water and Hunter again. Surely this wasn't just a coincidence? Even the names rhymed. What sorcery was this?

"Is she okay?" I heard Shawn asked, looking at me with a worried expression on his face. As a matter of fact, all of them were sharing the same expression.

"Feeling better now?" Hunter inquired, tapping my back with the heel of his hand rhythmically.

God, this was beyond humiliating.

I nodded, still coughing and gasping for breath. My cheeks were burning from embarrassment.

"I-I'm fine."

"She's still red. Let me give her a mouth-to-mouth resuscitation just to be sure." Parker offered as he jokingly attempted to stop the car and park it on the side of the road.

My head automatically snapped towards Roe who just rolled her eyes.

"Hubby, you are such a moron." she smiled sweetly like she didn't just insult him. "Since when did mouth-to-mouth resuscitation become necessary for choking incidents?"

Parker smiled just as sweet.

"Since now because I said so, future wifey." Parker answered, saying the word 'wifey' with as much enthusiasm as when someone says the word 'amoeba' or 'fungi'.

"Roe, give him a fist-to-mouth resuscitation to shut him up." Hunter suggested.

Parker gave Hunter a scathing look.

"So you're on her side now? I thought we're best friends? Where's the love?"

"Well, Sky's my buddy. I should be the one giving her a mouth-to-mouth if ever there's a need for that and not you."

Parker snorted.

"Yeah, right. As if you know how to."

There was something about the way Parker said it that made me suspicious. Aside from that, he and Hunter were eyeing each other rather intently through the rearview mirror when he said that.

"Good thing for me, first aid's included in CIA's curriculum." Hunter replied coolly.

"Too bad you didn't have the knowledge back in seventh grade." Parker continued to tease.

I felt Hunter's rhythmic tap on my back faltered a bit. I looked at him questioningly but he just smiled and then continued to caress my back.

"Yeah. It's really too bad." He said, low enough that I was the only one who heard him say it.

"Parker, that's enough. Focus on the road. We're already a few kilometers behind Rush." Natalie said, throwing nervous looks at Hunter and Parker.

Parker gave Hunter one more meaningful glance through the rear view mirror before shrugging.

"If you say so..." he said, bringing his attention back to the road.

Maybe I was just being paranoid, but I had a feeling that the recent conversation had more to it than what it sounded like.

***

The rest of the drive went down smoothly. And when I said smoothly, I meant my four companions managed not murder each other and I managed not to sexually harass Hunter. Thank God.

We winded our way up a series of hairpin turns, the road narrowing to a single lane, one side cut against the sheer rocky face of the mountain, the other dropping to a ravine below. Finally, after more than three hours, the road leveled into a small turnout.

Parker pulled over and parked next to Rush' SUV.

"This is as far up as we go in the car. We'll have to hike from here." Hunter explained upon seeing my confused expression.

I silently thanked mom for buying me hiking boots. I could only imagine how painful it would be for my feet if I hiked using my usual chucks.

We were met by a blast of fresh air as we opened our doors to grab our packs from the compartment. I was wearing a sweater on top of my tee shirt but I still shivered slightly, probably because my legs were exposed. My mom convinced me to wear this khaki shorts that only covered half of my legs. It wasn't 'slutty-short' but not that long enough for my liking either.

We stood for a minute staring at the trailhead and the distant ridges of the mountain over the treetops until Rush, Heather, Pen and a very sleepy Cal approached us.

"Did you enjoy the ride up here?" Pen asked us innocently.

"Very. I always enjoy spending time with my dear fiancée here." Parker said sarcastically, putting his arm around Roe's shoulder. Roe elbowed him hard on the ribs causing him to drop his arm, grimacing painfully.

"Aww. My fiancé is so disgustingly sweet." Said Roe, pinching Parker's cheeks so hard, his eyes were already tearing up by the time she let go of it.

That game of theirs was becoming more and more brutal every second.

"Come on, we need to be at the campsite before lunch." Rush said, looking at his wristwatch.

I was about to follow Rush but Hunter stopped me by grabbing my arm.

"What's up?" I asked.

Hunter scratched the back of his head, a telltale sign that he was feeling uncomfortable. I raised one of my eyebrows. Was he blushing?

He took out a small tube of mosquito repellant lotion from his pocket and handed it to me.

"I think you should apply some of it to your... ah, uhm, exposed skin before we go in there." He stammered, looking at everywhere except me.

I wondered why he looked so flustered?

"Okay, thanks." I took the lotion from his hand and started applying it to my legs.

I heard someone whistled. I looked around and saw Parker looking at us, an amused smile on his face.

"Now, now, Sky, don't just go around displaying your legs like that. You'll give Hunter a heart attack." He said as he passed by us to follow Roe who already went ahead.

My face instantly reddened out of embarrassment when I realized why Hunter was acting strange. Could it be that somehow Hunter found me... desirable?

I shook my head. No. That was impossible. He probably thought I looked ridiculous in my outfit, which was the reason why he couldn't even look at me.

"Don't mind him." I heard Hunter said. I noticed his ears were red. I gave him back the lotion with a breathy thanks.

He offered to carry my backpack for me but I refused seeing that he was already carrying two bags; the bag where he kept all of his snacks (and probably his clothes?) and another larger bag that had the foldable tents.

Rush led us into the trail, followed by Heather, Cal, Pen and our group. Hunter and I walked side by side. He was unusually quiet but I'd rather choose silence over another round of his teasing.

We walked for a long time. The air seemed to get thinner the higher we went and I was already panting and huffing after thirty minutes of hiking.

"Let me carry your bag." Hunter offered again, and this time, I hadn't had the chance to refuse since he already grabbed my bag without waiting for an answer. I didn't have the energy to argue.

After a couple of hours of monotonous trudging, Rush turned off the trail towards a deeply wooded part of the forest. It was colder here, darker, in the shade of the towering pines and I was grateful I was wearing a sweater.

In front of us, Heather slipped and fell and I saw Rush ran to her side to help her up. I glanced at Hunter and saw he was looking at Heather and Rush with an unreadable expression on his face. I wondered what he was thinking. Was he jealous? I suddenly remembered Shawn's theory the other night and decided it was completely farfetched.

"We're not much farther." Rush called out after a while. "Hang in there, guys."

"You said that an hour ago." Parker said as he wiped the beads of sweat on his forehead using the sleeves of his jacket.

"I'm hungry." Hunter complained even though he was currently munching something as he spoke.

"My feet hurt." said Shawn.

"I'm sleepy." Guess who said that.

Rush huffed impatiently.

"You are such pussies. The girls aren't even complaining."

"That's because we are carrying their packs. Where's feminism when you need it?" Parker said.

He was right, though. The boys were carrying our packs and I felt guilty for that. I wanted to get my bag from Hunter but I knew he wouldn't give it to me. He was stubborn like that and alright, a real gentleman too.

Rush rolled his eyes at the strings of complaints and continued to hike up the trail.

Sure enough, after ten minutes, Rush stopped us. He lifted his head and smelled the air, smiled in a kind of satisfied way then told us to make a sharp right turn.

"Here," he said, pointing to a narrow gulley a bit farther than the mountain. "We need to go through here."

He led the way, taking us down the slippery trail until he stopped suddenly that Heather almost crashed into him.

"Why did you stop?" Heather asked.

He grinned, a tired but triumphant expression, and stepped aside to let us pass through so that we could see what he was looking.

Then we stopped too, our mouths dropping open.

"Holy..." Shawn breathed in amazement.

It was some sort of a meadow, a vast, flat stretch of land surrounded on two sides by mountains, the third edge a beautiful shining lake that was clear enough that you could see the landscape reflected back perfectly. A few feet from where we stood, the moss disappeared, becoming instead a long, soft stretch of green grass.

Birds were winging their way back and forth across the meadow, the sun already high up in the clear blue sky.

"It's so beautiful." I said, still taking in the sight in front of me.

"I agree." Hunter said. I looked at him and instantly blushed when I saw him staring at me instead of the scenery.

Why did I always have to be reduced into this blushing mess every time this man was concerned? It wasn't funny anymore.

"Come on, guys." Rush adjusted the straps of the bags on his shoulder and strides off into the grass, hand in hand with Heather.

We followed into the meadow without a word and stopped several feet away from the lake.

"This is where we're going to set up camp." Rush said.

Pen clapped her hands in her usual bossy way.

"Okay, guys, listen. I know we're all tired and hungry but we still have work to do." She said, earning a series of complaint from Parker. Everyone ignored him.

"Rush, Shawn and Parker, you guys set up the tent. Hunter, Cal and I will cook our lunch, then the rest; you can go gather woods for our bonfire later tonight." Pen said, delegating the tasks efficiently.

We nodded and dropped our bags to the side while the boys brought out the tents. There were only two large tents, one for the boys and one for the girls.

To my amazement, Hunter brought out at least a week worth of food supply from his bag.

I could only stare in disbelief. I wanted that backpack. For real.

Hunter saw my expression and shot me a naughty smile.

"I'll teach you how to pack one of these days." He said, chuckling at the disgusted expression on my face.

***

I didn't know how it happened, but I found myself back in the woods, walking side by side with Heather, looking for dry tree trunks.

We walked slowly and cautiously through the mossy, slippery path, afraid that we would slip and bash our skulls onto the sharp rocks. It was darker here since the tall trees stood so close to each other and their leaves blocked the sunlight from entering. It was eerily quiet. I could hear the birds singing, the leaves rustling, and by the rate we were going, I might even be able to hear the sound of ants doing the nae-nae.

I wished Heather would talk. The silence was becoming more and more awkward every second. I kept racking my brain for something to say to initiate conversation but I couldn't think of any. Small talk wasn't really included in my skills set.