Living the Life

By Patrick Lavigne

Living the Life

Tannis Schroeder is about to experience a life-changing event that will change her life more than she knows.

During the summer, she meets a guy named Landon, whom she easily becomes close to, only to discover that their short time together may not be as short as she thinks it will be.

Tannis and her very close friend Sasha move from Spruce Dale to a small town called Hawthorn. This is the same town where Landon also happens to live.

Sasha is dealing with her own possible love interest when she gets a crush on the guy who works at their local corner store.

This is not all that is going on in this small town; there are some big events coming up.

The cross-country meet that takes place at the Hawthorn Sand Pitits the first big sporting event of the school year. Everyone is preparing and getting ready for it.

This and so many more twists and turns are about to await you in this first installment of the Living the Life series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Release date: Aug 21, 2013
• ISBN: 9781466980112

Patrick Lavigne

I have always had a passion for writing and telling stories. At a young age I took an interest in creative writing, and I have not put down a pen since. What qualifies me to write a novel and makes me standout is that I don’t write stories that I just like to tell. I write stories that have a message behind them and leave the reader wondering what will happen next. I also have been writing short stories since I was in grade 5 or 6, so I have been doing this since I was eleven. And I think I have a very good, unique style that is my own. I currently am living in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. I have been living here since 1992. I used to live in a very small town called Ramore, Ontario, which is, as I said, a small town, and you probably have driven past it many times without even knowing it was there. This is where I found my love and passion for writing. It is where it all started for me. I am now thirty-six years of age and have been doing the same. It is something that has never gone away. Many times I stopped writing and tried to do different things, but writing has always found its way back into my life. So the way I see it, this is truly my calling and is meant for me to do. It is something that I will always have a determined and confident passion for.

Book preview

Contents

SUMMER

CHAPTER ONE

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

CHAPTER TWO

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

SEPTEMBER

CHAPTER THREE

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

CHAPTER FOUR

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

CHAPTER FIVE

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

CHAPTER SIX

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

CHAPTER SEVEN

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

CHAPTER EIGHT

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Part 8

Part 9

Part 10

Part 11

Part 12

CHAPTER NINE

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Part 8

Part 9

Part 10

Part 11

Part 12

CHAPTER TEN

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Part 8

Part 9

Part 10

CHAPTER ONE

Part 1

Part 2

SUMMER

CHAPTER ONE

Part 1

Have you ever thought about why people exist? Have you ever asked yourself what is our main purpose in life? There have been many nights that I have laid in my bed and wondered as I have asked myself these questions. What is the purpose of our existence? I guess if we knew the answers to these questions, then life would become too easy and life as we all know it would eventually become repetitive and boring.

So far I do not think I have much to complain about. I have a mother and father who love me, I have my best friend Sasha who is now legally my sister. I will try to explain why as quick as possible; it is quite a long story. Long story short; her mother left her without even saying goodbye, she did not even leave her a note. My parents took Sasha in and fought hard to become her guardians. In my opinion this makes both of us legally sisters and we always will be, nobody messes with my sister.

My name is Tannis Schroeder I am thirteen years old and live in a town called Sprucedale. It is a pretty big enough town it has four malls and a movie theater, a very nice boardwalk that you can go walk up and down, and on a nice summer day you can go take a nice dip in the lake.

Unfortunately though we will not be living here for too much longer, we are moving before the end of summer, just before school starts. We are moving to a town called Hawthorn which is about 6 hours away from Sprucedale. It was very difficult for me to tell all of my friends that we are moving. I have cried enough tears over this; I’m officially out of tears.

You are probably curious about where I am moving? As far as I know Hawthorn is in Canada, and it is in the province of Ontario; probably in the middle of nowhere. The main reason people move to a small community like this one, is because of the work, the money is good and a good man like my dad can support his family.

My dad now works for a company called Cam-Tar Construction; he got a big job to be a foreman. My dad has been working in construction since he graduated from high school; where he got lots of experience in that field. This was the main reason he was hired for this new job.

There is a very big highway project that he is going to be in charge of. This highway that Cam-Tar is making is going to connect all the way from Hawthorn to Gatineau. This also means that I will not be seeing very much of him for the next few years. This is something I have gotten use too though, he is always gone and it is just me and my mother and Sasha. I am not sure what it will be like living there, but it will be my home. So I will have to make the best of it. The one plus is, is that it is not far from my favorite camp site.

Hawthorn is only a two hour bike ride from Crystal Lake, so that is definitely going to be great for in the summer. Instead of having to have someone drive us out to the camp site all the time. I think that two hours is much better than having to be in a four hour car ride just to camp for a couple nights. However something amazing happened over the summer that I totally did not expect. It is something really that does not happen to just everyone so easily. Did you ever think that you would meet your soul mate and know right away?

Sometimes you just get a feeling about something and have to just go with it. I do believe that the very minute that I laid eyes on him, I felt very close to him. This made me have a good feeling about it. Somehow I knew that I was instantly connected with him. The day that I met him is a day I will not forget for the rest of my life. The way we met is something that usually only happens ina romantic novel or movie.

It was the beginning of summer vacation. Sasha and I kept begging my Mom to bring us camping to Crystal Lake. However my mom would not let us go camping alone, she wanted to go with us. Luckily though I was able to convince her that we could take care of ourselves and we were mature enough. I promised her that we would watch out for each other. My mom knows that we both are good swimmers and know how to cook and make our own meals.

So I managed to convince her, or maybe it was when Tyler, Sasha’s sort of on again and off again boyfriend who decided to tag along. I guess my Mom figured with a guy with us it won’t be so bad. The car ride down seemed too take forever, it just felt like more than six hours to me.

It felt more like twelve; believe me if you had to listen to Tyler sing the whole way down, you would completely understand. I had to listen to Tyler sing the whole way down. The guy thinks he is good but if you really listened to him. You would think he has gerbils in his underwear.

I simply love camping though it is so much fun. My three favorite seasons are spring, summer and fall. As for winter, I hibernate and do not come out. I do not like being cold, so winter and I do not get along very well. I’m not exactly what you would call a girly girl, but I am not a tom boy either. I’m in between because I like to dress up also and wear make-up and do girly things. Like go to the mall and go shopping with Sasha all day long. We don’t buy anything, we window shop and plan on what we will buy in a month or two from now. Then there are times where I like to be a tough and do guy things.

Like camping for example, I’m not afraid to rough it. I don’t mind getting dirty if I have too. I also have taken a self-defense class, which every girl in my opinion should do. You never know when a perverted guy is going to try something, so it’s always good to be prepared. I know how to punch and know how to drive a knee where it counts if need be.

Enough about that, let’s get back to how I met my dream guy. Sasha and I were setting up our tent, when we heard this truck coming into the beach, the truck stops as a bunch of people all start getting out of it. The first guy I notice has to be the oldest, he is very big and muscular; he has a tattoo of a flaming skull on his right forearm.

I am only assuming the girl who is with him is his girlfriend. She is standing beside of him, she has long blonde hair, a very athletically toned body, and she has on shorts and a yellow bikini top. I look at myself and then her; I’m not even in her league in the beauty department.

She is drop dead gorgeous, something out of a swimsuit magazine. I am wearing almost the same thing as she is, but she makes it look a thousand times better than I do.

There is another guy with them who probably is his brother because they do look alike; he also has long hair as well. He is dressed in a black t-shirt and a black bathing suit. He also has a goatee; it almost makes him look like a biker in a way. There is a girl with him also; who I assume once again is this guy’s girlfriend. She is pretty also; she is really short; she is about 5'4 maybe even 5'5. She has shorts on and a white t-shirt; she is also wearing a baseball cap.

It looks like that they will be staying here for the weekend. From what it seems, they are unloading a bunch of gear from the truck. A few minutes after they finish unloading the truck, the two older guys I described are talking to one of the younger guys. The four people I just described all get back in the truck and leave. Leaving three other guys behind with all the gear they just unloaded.

The first guy I see is about six feet tall and has short dark brown hair, he is wearing blue sunglasses and is wearing a blue muscle t-shirt and a matching blue and white bathing suit. He is kind of cute actually. The other guy with him is about five feet eleven; then again, he almost looks taller than the other guy. He is wearing sunglasses also and is wearing a white muscle t shirt and a red and white bathing suit. He has a bit longer hair than the other guy though. He definitely is into hard rock music because he keeps playing his air guitar while they are playing his music.

The last guy they are with has dirty blonde hair it is short and a bit wavy on the top. He is wearing camouflage shorts, a Metallica t-shirt and black flip flops. He is singing along to the music they are playing. I do find them all to be attractive; they look like a bunch of fun guys.

My attention was distracted by this when these guys all suddenly arrived. So I did not do very much to help Sasha and Tyler set up the rest of our things. The day is going along pretty well; the guys have been still playing their music. Which I don’t mind at all, I actually like some of the songs they are playing. Two of the guys are drinking beer and are just being guys and having a good time.

Exactly where they got the beer from though is interesting to me. The guys who dropped them off must have bought it; it is the only possible way that they could get alcohol like that. Two of the guys are not really doing very much, while there is another guy who seems to be doing the majority of the work.

He keeps looking over at me as he is putting the poles to his tent together. Tyler and Sasha have already got our tent set up. I kind of feel bad for him; there he is in the hot weather alone putting up their tents. So I decided to go over and see if he needs a hand. Sasha and Tyler are pretty well ignoring me anyways; they are already in the lake together. I know that they are probably going to try and find some alone time this weekend. This means that they will be ditching me all weekend. So I will have to entertain myself while they are off doing god knows what together.

She still has not told him yet about us moving to Hawthorn. The longer she waits the worse it is going to be for the both of them. She knows very well that they cannot stay together living six hours apart from each other. There is just no possible way for it to happen, I know Tyler though.

He will try and make her stay with his family. He has been trying to get her out of my parents care for a long time. He does not like my parents; he thinks they are too strict for her, and that they do not have the right to tell her what to do with her life.

I obviously do not like Tyler; to be honest he is an idiot. So the fact that we are moving and Sasha possibly having to break up with him will make me very happy. We never get along I have tried to for Sasha’s sake; we just do not get along. I put up with him for her, because she is my sister. I’m watching her as she is doing her back stroke and spitting water out of her mouth like a whale’s spout.

Sasha can stay in the water for hours and not come out. I have to watch her because she will stay in the water for hours and will get a really bad sun burn. This would mean that I will have to sit and listen to her complain about it, when it does happen. She has the tendency to burn easily. Some people do not realize that the sun actually attacks your skin more in the water. Think of it like this, what happens when you cook potatoes in a pot of hot water. It boils them right; the same thing goes for the sun when you are in the water. It has the same effects on your skin, it still burns.

I was really nervous as to what to say to him. What do you say to some random guy who you don’t even know? I’m now more nervous to talk to him as I get closer. Just as I get closer, I have second thoughts and turn around; as I turn around I do not see a tent pole in my way and I trip over it. Here I am now with my face planted into the sand; sand is in my hair and I feel like such an idiot right now.

To my surprise though I looked up and there he was in front of me. He had a concerned puppy dog look in his eyes, as he looked into my eyes. The way that he looked at me sent shivers up my spine. He held out his hand, smiling at me and with a concerned voice asks me, Are you ok?

Yeah I’m fine, she answered.

From that point on everything just seemed easy from that point on with him.

You took quite a wipe out there, he tells her.

How did it look from your vantage point, Tannis asked?

I kind of laughed, he answered, with a grin on his face.

Nice she says back, smiling at him, but still is blushing because of it.

Generously he helped me back onto my feet. I offer some help to him with the tents, kindly repaying the courtesy that he showed me. It did not take the both of us long to hit it off afterwards. We have been getting along really well, we have been telling jokes, and I was flirting with him like crazy.

The next thing we knew we had all three tents set up. In that time we also built and dug a fire hole and got a camp fire going. After that we set up his lawn chairs and both sat down and finally got to relax. The entire set up of their camp is not completely done, but that can be finished later.

So do you have a name, he asked?

Yes, she answered.

How foolish was I? Here we were putting this camp site together and I had not even told him my name.

My name is Landon, he tells her.

I’m Tannis, she says back.

This of course would be the start of something great. It just gave me a very comfortable feeling. How is this possible? Can this one person who I hardly know, be my dream guy? The both of us are now just sitting together and enjoying each other’s company.

I do not want this weekend to end; these two days are not going to be enough. I really wish that I had more days to enjoy with him to do whatever we want. It just feels so unreal; it feels like I am in a dream right now.

While we were setting up the camp I saw him take off his shirt. My eyes could not get enough of him; I was practically salivating the minute he took it off. I was looking at his muscle’s rippling as he was hammering a tent pole into the ground. My eyes did not let me take them off of him; I just could not get enough. So yeah, anyways that is how I met him, by me tripping over a tent pole. What a way to meet someone, by tripping and looking like such a klutz.

We still do have a few more things to set up around their set up, but it is coming along quite nicely. I don’t know where Sasha took off too, she was in the lake the last time I did see her. Next thing I knew she was nowhere to be found. Tyler is not around either, so this leads me to believe that they wound up going together for a hike in the bush.

Sasha in my opinion could do so much better than him. I thought about letting it slip out a few times now. I am waiting for the right moment, and if she does not tell him. Then I will have no problem letting the cat out of the bag. Not that I care if she tells him or not, I’d rather her just tell him after we have left. Knowing him he would run away and try to get her to come back with him.

She has finally told him, I’ll make sure that he has very little time to say or do anything about it. I don’t like to poke my nose in other people’s business. This is my sister we are talking about here, and I don’t like the guy he just rubs me the wrong way. I have put up with his nonsense for way too long. Enough about him though I’m supposed to be enjoying this and not thinking about that moron.

His two guy friends are now sitting with us. So we are not alone anymore. The beach is not as empty as it was earlier when we got here. We happen to be the only ones that are set up to stay the night. The music is nice also; I hear one of the other guys whistling along. He is pretty good at it; it makes me smile when he is doing this. He is a pretty good looking guy; but there is something about him that tells me he is just not my type. You just know when you see a guy if he is for you or not, it’s just how it is.

Now I’m not saying that to be judgmental or anything, I just know my type of guy I prefer. He is more of the type of guy that Sasha would definitely go for though. So I might have to play the mother hen role later tonight, if she hears him start to whistle like this. Yes she is a flirt; I’m going to be honest about that. I have caught her flirting with other guys before. This often makes Tyler become very jealous, which makes him completely freak out on her, which usually starts a fight or an argument.

Sometimes I think she does this on purpose, just to show him that he does not own her. He happens to be a very controlling guy, this one time at this dance we went to, he did not allow her to dance with any other guys but him. That is how controlling of her he can become it sometimes can become abusive. I do not know if he has ever been physically abusive with her, but if I ever found out that he has been. He better run very fast if I ever find out about it.

I just got this feeling that tonight she might flirt with these other two guys. They are both good looking and exactly the kind of guys she would go for if she was not with Tyler.

Landon has gotten quiet since his two friends got back from their swim. I’m kind of talking with the other guys more now, because of it. Not sure if he is getting a little jealous because of it or not. He is not talking to me so what am I supposed to do, not talk?

Then again I did not even notice that he has been drawing something in his sketch book. So while he is doing that I decide to introduce myself to the other guys.

So what is your name, Tannis asked?

Derrick, he answered.

What is your name, she asks as she looks at the other guy with the wavy dirty blonde hair?

I’m Christian, but you can call me Chris, he tells her.

Part 2

The day that I met Tannis, I was very nervous and shy around of her. I was doing everything not to look like such a dweeb. However the more and more quiet I got the less she seemed interested. So I just started drawing in my sketch book. My brothers took off to our cottage with their girlfriends. This was the front my brothers told my parents. They told them that they were going to go camping with me. When all along they knew they were going to the cottage, and ditch me at the lake.

Derrick and Christian are my two best friends, they are good guys but they both really are lazy. They did not even help me set up our stuff. They just left me all by myself to do all the work. I am glad that Tannis was nice enough to come over and help me. The both of us are now sitting together at our camp fire that we built together.

We are sipping down ice cold lemonade from my jug that I stocked up with ice. It should keep the jug cold for the majority of the day. I’m still drawing in my sketch book, as her curiosity is starting to get too her. I know she is trying to peek at what I am drawing. I keep watching her lean over trying to see what it is.

Do you want to see, Landon asked?

Yes I’d like too, she answered.

Landon turns the picture around showing her what he had drawn. She looks at it and is amazed at how talented he is. The drawing is a picture of her sitting in her lawn chair looking out at the lake. It does not have any color to it or anything it is just a sketch drawing. It also makes her feel very flattered that he would draw a picture of her. Looking at her he says to her, I hope it is ok that I drew you.

Of course it is, she responds.

I saw you sitting there and you hardly moved so it was easy to draw you the way you were posed, he says.

You are a very nice guy, she tells him.

Of course I blush when she says this to me, I just say, Really?

Yeah of course, she answered.

She is so beautiful she has medium length blonde hair, silver blue eyes and such a gentle smile. It’s a kind of smile that tells you, that she will never do me any harm. I usually can read or tell what someone is like just by how they smile at me. Whenever she smiles it makes me feel very warm and tingly.

Now the girls at my school, you can tell by their smiles that they are not genuine. You know that they are out to get something for themselves. With Tannis I don’t get that vibe from her, she seems very genuine. I’m just quiet now and not saying anything, when she asks me a question that nearly makes me fall out of my chair, So do you have a girlfriend?

It is not a question that I usually get asked, but I don’t want to make myself look like a fool. So I just answer, No, I don’t. She gives me a wink and says, Good, I’m glad, she is looking straight at me, when I ask her, So I guess it’s just us this weekend? As I realize how stupid of a question it is.

No question about it I definitely find her attractive there is chemistry that I am feeling between us both. Whatever I am feeling at this moment feels very good. It feels as though an electric current is flowing throughout my body, it is making me feel warm all over.

Well we are not exactly alone, she says.

She gestures to Derrick & Christian who are both sitting in their lawn chairs sipping away on some ice cold beers. She gets up and offers her hand and says, Come on lets go for a swim.

I did a lot of work setting up this camp of ours, and I think I deserve a break and a dip in beautiful Crystal Lake is exactly what I need. So I accept her offer and take hold of her hand as we walk down to the water, I dip my toes in it. Of course at first it is always cold, however seeing Tannis with her shorts off, has made me care less about how cold the water is.

I had not even seen her take her jean shorts off, I turn around and see her in her purple and pink bikini, with the water up passed her knees, she has started giving me these flirtatious looks. She is smiling and giggling and waiting for me to come in the water.

Come on in the water is nice, she says.

The flirtatious looks that she has been giving me are telling me that she is about to become playful and not just by looking at me, her intentions to splash me are very obvious. She gives me a wink as she starts splashing me; she is relentless and keeps splashing me.

The ice cold water lands on me and I feel how cold it is, it chills me to the bone. However what she does not know is that I can get just as equally playful. I get out of the water and stand a few feet back from her. I look at her and ask, You sure you want this?

Yes, get your cute butt in here, she responds, as she giggles.

OK you asked for it, I respond.

I run towards her and scoop her up by her legs and put her over my shoulder. I bring her in the water with me; she is now over my shoulder and is kicking and screaming. I hear her keep saying out loud, Put me down! However that is not what I’m hearing, what I am really hearing her say is, I like it don’t put me down!

How is the view from up there, Landon asked?

Very high, she responds, as she laughs.

You ready, I suggest that you cover your nose, he says to her.

Taking her by her legs and in my arms she wraps them around my waist as I dive into the water with her wrapped around me. We both come back up our heads both pop up out from underneath the water. We both are still holding each other, I let go of her as she swims away from me and kicks some water attempting to splash me once again.

She swims back towards me and is looking at me and is laughing at my hair. Her hair is all wet and still in the ponytail she had tied it up in. Mine is all out of place and shaggy, she puts her hands in my hair and shakes it up, making it look all spiky. She is so much fun, I’m having a blast with her, and this is exactly what I needed to get a little more comfortable with her. We get bored of swimming and go back to our lawn chairs.

When we get back there are two other people now sitting with Christian & Derrick. I guess they must have all met. Tannis and I sit down and relax a bit in our chairs. It is Tannis who is the first to say something, she looks at the girl with red hair and asks, "I was wondering when you two would get back?

We went for a hike, she answers.

Sure yah did, Tannis responds back.

Seriously we just went for a hike, she replies.

Yeah right Sasha, Tannis responds.

You both looked like you were having fun out there, Christian asked?

Yeah it was fun, Tannis says.

I am so glad I came this weekend, Landon says also.

Yeah, who ever thought that covering for your bros would turn out fun, Derrick says.

My name is Sasha, she says introducing herself.

I’m Landon, he says back.

The other guy who is with Sasha looks at me and says, I’m Tyler, extending his hand to me. I do not respond back my name because he just heard me say it. I do shake his hand though. Looking at Tannis I get an idea and ask her, If you want you can bring your tent and stuff over here.

Sure, Tannis answered without thinking twice.

I’ll help you, Landon tells her.

So we both get up and go over to where they are set up, and we start taking stuff out of their tents. They have two tents set up so we have quite a bit of stuff to move. It does not take the both of us long to get the tent poles out of the ground. I manage to convince the guys to help bring over their tents and belongings, over to our camp. It does not take us long to bring them over and set them up. After that it is just a few trips back and forth with their other things that we had to take out of the tents, before we could move them. Within about an hour we have moved them over to our end of the beach.

While I am putting their tent poles back into the ground, Tannis comes up behind of me she kneels beside of me and whispers into my ear and asks me, If you like you can share my tent with me tonight. Of course when she asks me this I am a bit shocked that she would ask this. This is something that I do not get asked very often. It is not every day that I get asked by a girl to share a tent with her. How could I say no to this offer, so I just look at her and smile and ask, Are you sure?

Yes I am very sure, she says.

Then I will, he says."

Part 3

It has been a very nice day, we are the only ones left on the beach right now. Just the five of us sitting together and listening to music, and having a good time; right now I am listening to a song called Night moves, by Bob Seger. I love listening to his songs in the summer, just something about his songs that hits the right mood for it. Whenever I am listening to a Bob Seger song, I seem to always be listening to it in the summer.

The song ends as another one begins to play it gets my groove on, so I just get up and start dancing in front of Landon. He is watching me dance, and for some reason I block everyone else completely out of the picture. I’m focusing on just him and no one else. So I continue on dancing, unfortunately the song ends. Sasha keeps looking at me; she probably has not seen me ever act this way before. I don’t care though I’m enjoying myself and that is all that matters to me.

It is getting a little bit dark out. So I excuse myself from the others and change into something that will keep me warm, it has also started to get cold out. So I change into my shorts and into a baby blue hoodie, underneath I have on a white t-shirt that has a Toronto Blue Jays logo on it. While I am changing Sasha comes into the tent and closes the zipper to the door. This gives us some time to chit chat.

So you and that guy seem to be getting along, Sasha says.

I know he is such a sweetie, Tannis responds.

Remember Tannis we are just here for two days, she says reminding her.

I know but what is the harm in a little weekend fun, Tannis responded.

Sasha knows Tannis much better than that, when she is into someone she does not let go very easily. Then again this is the first time that she has seen her really take a liking in a guy. Yeah there are other guys at home back in Sprucedale. However she has never seen her as comfortable with someone as she is with Landon. She never has been able to be open with guys like this, she is often very shy and it takes her awhile to be comfortable with anyone. This is what Sasha is most concerned with; she does not want to see her get hurt.

I understand Sasha’s concern but really, she has nothing to worry about, I’m just having fun. It is not like I am going to run off and elope with the guy or something. We go back out of the tent and I see Landon sitting by himself, the other guys are drinking beer, and seem to have left him out of their fun. So I take two beer out of the cooler and come up to Landon and sit down beside of him.

He looks at me as I place a beer into his hand. We clink our bottles together and we each take a sip. My reaction to the taste makes him laugh. Out of the blue I hear Derrick say, Holy crap; Landon are you drinking beer?

Yes, he said.

I have been trying to get him to drink beer for over a year now, Derrick tells Tannis.

Maybe if you danced sexy for him you would have got him too, Tyler says.

Sasha gives Tyler a look that does not approve of how he just insulted Tannis like that. He just looks at her and says, Why are you looking at me like that?

You are being rude, she says.

I was just joking, take a chill pill, Tyler tells her.

This is how the evenings with Tyler and Sasha usually start. Especially when Tyler is drinking, he can become quite a nuisance when he starts feeling good. I watch Christian get up and come over by where Landon and I are, as he takes out his guitar and begins playing it. I like it when someone plays a guitar around a camp fire at night like this.

This to me is so relaxing and peaceful; life can be tough some times. You need to get away and just enjoy the little things that matter in life. I’d much rather be doing this than anything else, I watch as Landon keeps sipping away at his beer. The taste is starting to get to me and I don’t want mine anymore.

Do you want the rest of mine, Tannis says as she offers it to him.

Nah I’ll take it, Tyler says, as he snatches it out of her hands and begins chugging it down.

Sasha just looks at him and says out loud, TYLER! What is with you?

Nothing it’s not like he wanted it anyway, Tyler says.

I did not even offer it to you, Tannis tells him.

Looking at Landon he asks him, Were you going to drink it?

I was going too yes, Landon answered.

It is his beer you know, Derrick tells him.

Tyler looks at Derrick and is looking at him like he wants to fight. Derrick of course is not about to let this guy ruin his weekend. Landon knows that Derrick will not back down from him, so he gets up and looks at the both of them and says, Come on guys don’t fight over a beer.

This guy owes you an apology, Derrick says.

Just let it go it was just a beer, Landon tells him.

Yeah that’s right listen to your friend there. It looks like he is the one who is the brains behind your brawn, Tyler says.

I’m not afraid of you, you want a piece of me, Derrick tells him.

That’s enough of this, Landon says loudly!

I’m just sitting back watching all of this going down, Christian and I are looking at each other just shrugging our shoulders. How this all erupted into this over a beer is really ridiculous. Do you see what I mean about Tyler now though, do you see why I don’t like him. He is a troublemaker; he thinks he is funny, when the fact of the matter is, he really is pathetic. He is the only one who thinks his jokes are funny. I don’t even think Sasha even thinks that his jokes are humorous.

You are cut off, Landon says looking at Tyler.

Like hell, Tyler says to him.

It’s his beer, Sasha tells him.

I don’t care, no one tells me what to do, he tells her.

Just stop it, you are ruining everything, Sasha says.

Like hell I am, he yells back at her.

HEY, don’t yell at her like that, Tannis says.

Dude calm down, Landon says to him.

Out of anger and frustration he shoves Landon which makes him trip and nearly fall face first into the fire. Luckily his shove was not very hard or he would have fallen right in the middle of the flames. Tannis from her vantage point thought he actually fell in the fire; she gets up right away and pitches a jug of ice cold water on him.

This makes Landon stand back up and yell out loud, to the reaction of the ice cold water. He is drenched from head to toe. Tannis just looks at him and feels really bad for it, but she thought he was on fire.

I’m sorry I thought you fell in the fire, Tannis said.

I feel really stupid right now, yes I am a klutz did I mention that before. I just drenched Landon from head to toe with ice water. That jerk Tyler just shoved him and I thought the worst when I saw Landon fall down by the fire. It looked like he fell in from my point of view. So I just reacted under the situation. Only to see he did not fall in the fire at all. Unfortunately by the time I tossed the water it was too late, and I realized it afterwards.

It’s ok Tannis, you were just reacting under the circumstances, Landon says.

If you would not have acted like such a jerk, none of this would have happened to begin with, Tannis says to Tyler.

Why do you always blame everything on me, he asked?

Ok everyone just shut the hell up, Sasha says.

She looks at Tannis and tells her, Go with Landon I’ll deal with this.

Fine, you better get him under control Sasha, said Tannis.

Landon gets too his tent, he opens it up but he does not look like he wants to go inside. He is all wet and does not want to get the inside of his tent damp because of his clothes. Tannis can see that he does not want to go into his tent, so out of kindness she offers to go into his tent and get his clothes for him. She goes inside and gets his backpack out and hands it too him. She zips up the door to his tent, he now has to go and find places too change.

Just change behind the tent, I promise I won’t look, Tannis said.

He listens to me however there is nothing wrong with telling a little white lie is there? Of course I’m going to look, so I sneak around the other side of the tent and watch as he is stripping down. I am enjoying the view that I am seeing right now. Hearing Sasha and Tyler arguing now more intensely than before, has distracted me completely. I walk back over to where they are and see the both of them alone now by our tent. That is when I have had enough of this; I’m done with Tyler and his nonsense.

Hey would you mind not yelling at my sister, said Tannis.

She is not your sister, Tyler tells her.

Yes she is, Tannis responds back in frustration, Do you want me to show you the damn papers in my mom’s night table that proves that she is?

Shut up you stupid bitch, he responds back very angrily, and looks like he is about to backhand her across the face.

Tyler does not know that someone had heard his very loud and violent tone and does not like how he is speaking to the girls, the way that he is.

Just who do you think you are, someone asks behind of them?

Tyler turns around to see Landon standing now in front of the two girls. This has gone way far beyond just an argument over a beer, it is getting personal now. He really does not like the way he is raising his voice to the two girls. The two guys are face to face as both girls can do nothing but watch.

How dare you talk to her like that, Landon says.

Shut up dweeb, Tyler says as he shoves him again.

Don’t shove me again, he tells him.

He does not listen and shoves him once more; Landon is now beginning to lose his patience with him. He keeps shoving and poking him in the chest. Finally he has had enough, the next time Tyler tries to shove him, he grabs his right arm and flips him over his shoulder with an arm drag. This causes Tyler to land very hard on his back.

Tyler gets up and is now even madder than he was before; he did not see that Derrick and Christian are now standing beside of Landon. Christian points at him and says to him, I strongly suggest you don’t even think about making another move.

OK enough guys, enough fighting, said Tannis.

You are not welcome at our camp anymore, Landon says to Tyler.

What, Tyler responds.

If you are going to continue being rude, and being a jerk to everyone then you are not welcome here, Landon says.

I like him even more now than I did before. Someone is finally telling this jerk that he is not wanted. Finally someone has done what I have been waiting for someone to say to him. Everyone in Sprucedale thinks he is a good guy.

No one has the balls to say something like this to Tyler there; it’s very nice to see him finally get a taste of his own medicine. It is usually Tyler who is the one who has the numbers in his favor. Too see him finally being told off like this is something I don’t think I will forget, not for a little while anyway.

Can we all just go back to what we were doing, Tannis said.

Yeah, let’s just go and sit by the fire and chill, Christian will start playing some tunes again, Derrick says.

Everyone calms down and sits back down around the camp fire. Tyler is now sitting in the tent alone. Sasha leaves him by himself and comes back to sit with us. Sasha just looks at Tannis and says, I just told him! The look on her face when she says this makes her jaw drop.

The guys of course have no clue what they are talking about so they just continue on what they were doing. Christian is now playing his guitar. He gets up and goes into his tent and brings out a set of bongo drums. He hands them to Landon, and looks at Derrick and says, Sing Hotel California for us.

My face lights up and I am very eager to hear them play this together. Landon looks at me as he puts the bongos on his lap; Christian is getting his guitar ready. I hope he sings for us because I really want to watch this. I am not the only one; I see a pretty big eager smile on Sasha’s face as well. Christian looks at him and says to him, Come on it will set the mood again. He looks at me and then looks at Sasha he smiles at her and gives her a wink. I know if we were not in the dark right now, that she would be pretty flushed in the cheeks.

Fine what the heck! Derrick said.

Christian starts to play the intro for, Hotel California on his guitar this alone completely is impressive. Landon comes in on the bongos and is playing along to the beat. This makes a very nice rhythm to the song. They both play very well together; I’m very impressed by this.

Then we hear Derrick’s voice when he begins to sing. Sasha and I are just in awe. He is a very good singer; all three of them combined with their harmonies together. It sounds just like the Eagles, they are very good. Of course Sasha starts singing along with them also, which I kind of knew would happen. She can sing very well, and hearing the four of them singing together. Makes me wish I had some kind of musical talent of some kind. I’m sitting and watching them, when Landon smiles at me, and takes my hands and he shows me the rhythm with my hands to the beat of the song.

Landon says to me, Now you.

I look at him and just shake my head, Landon is still playing to the beat, but he does not take no for an answer. He is doing one beat with his hand and he is using my other hand for the other drum. Teaching me the rhythm to the beat; and to be honest it is not that hard of a beat to keep. I pick it up pretty easily and now I am the one playing the bongos.

This is so much fun, Christian smiles at me as Landon is sitting back and watching me play. We finish playing the song and I look over to see Derrick and Sasha now sitting a little more close together. I saw this coming; I knew it was just a matter of time. She sits down on his lap and Derrick just smiles and chugs some more beer. I did say that she is a flirt and I knew that eventually, she would try something with one of them. Tyler comes out of the tent and sees her sitting on his lap, her legs draped over him and sipping away on her own beer.

Sash, what are you doing, Tyler asked?

Having fun, Sasha answered.

Get off of him, Tyler responded.

Don’t tell me what to do, said Sasha.

What did you say, Tyler asked?

You heard her bud, Derrick said.

Listen buddy this does not concern you, Tyler responded.

I see this becoming a huge explosion in a matter of seconds once again, so I just get up and look at Tyler and say to him, "Know what Tyler, I’m glad we are moving. That way we don’t have to put up with you and your nonsense anymore.

You’re moving, Tyler asked?

The minute he says this, I look at Sasha who looks at me and just gives me a little smirk. She never even told him, she made it up to make me believe she did. Now I just officially let the cat out of the bag, seeing his reaction to what I said, has completely gotten the attention off of Sasha’s flirting. He is looking at her now and asks her, Sash is that true?

When has Tannis ever lied about something, Sasha answered.

Can we talk about this, he says.

I don’t want too right now, she says.

I think we should, he tells her.

NO, go away, she says to him

Tyler I think it is best if you sleep in a separate tent for tonight, Tannis tells him.

That is not happening, he says.

I think it is probably a good idea also, Landon says.

No, that is not happening, he yells.

His reaction to this is what I expected, and honestly I don’t see Sasha even getting into the same tent as him. He obviously does not seem to understand that they are breaking up. It is not the time to be talking about this, especially in front of people we hardly know. So I’m just trying to talk some sense into him, but he is stubborn. You would have to ram a railroad spike into his head to talk sense to him.

I’m not sharing a tent with you after how you have been tonight, Sasha tells him.

Like hell, Tyler says, come with me NOW Sash!"

He attempts to try and control her again, when I have simply just had enough of him. She is intimidated by him and is about to leave with him when I stop her and look at her and tell her, You are not going anywhere with him.

Tyler looks at me and says, Don’t tell her what she can and cannot do.

So what you do is not telling her what to do, Tannis asked?

This does not concern you, Tyler answered.

You are such a moron, I’m glad we are leaving Sprucedale, Tannis says to him.

She is not going to leave Sprucedale, he says.

You have no say in it Tyler, the move is already planned and Sasha is coming with us, Tannis said.

I do have a say in this, she can live with my family, Tyler says.

Yeah right, Sasha laughs.

What you actually are going to leave, Tyler asked?

TYLER this is not the time to talk about this, do you get that, Sasha answered.

Landon is fed up of all this fighting and arguing, he gets up and says, Tyler you can sleep in my tent, I’m not sleeping in it anyway.

You sure about that, Tyler asked?

If it resolves this situation, then by all means, Landon answered.

Fine, Tyler says as he kicks the sand as Landon gets him to follow him to his tent, and away from everyone else. Tannis however is not about to leave the both of them alone. She follows them as she watches Landon open his tent for him, as he grabs some other things out of his tent. He gets out and shortly after Tyler closes the tent door, he walks up to Tannis and hands her something. It is the sketch that he drew earlier, he added a little more too it. There is color and ink now; it is an amazing drawing.

WOW, this is amazing, Tannis said.

Do you want it, he asked?

Yes of course I do, she answered.

He gently tears it out of his sketch book and hands it too her. She takes the generous gift from him and is speechless. He does not expect the huge hug that she gives him afterwards. She kisses him on the cheek after the hug and says to him, This is so sweet of you. The way they both are looking at each other, is a sign that neither of them want this to end, neither of them want this weekend to end.

It has now got to the point of the night where we are all tired, and we all want to call it a night. Derrick comes up behind of me and taps me on the shoulder and says, Would it be ok if Sasha and I slept in the same tent?

Of course I am thinking to myself. Is that such a good idea after everything that has happened tonight? I just look at him and say, I don’t think that is a good idea, after what happened with her and Tyler tonight. He looks at me and looks a bit disappointed, but then again I do not want to have to watch out for her all night long either. However I told my mom that I would keep an eye on Sasha also, and a promise is a promise.

I don’t think that is such a good idea, Tannis responds.

Well I know you asked Landon to sleep in yours, so how is that fair, said Derrick.

Fine, but only if you both sleep and that is it, she responds.

I promise you that is all we will do, said Derrick.

Tannis is no longer playing around she is being serious with him, as she says to him, I mean it Derrick, only sleeping or I will personally toss a bucket of ice water on you, and it won’t be by accident.

Fine you have my word the only thing that we will do is sleep, he says to her.

Ok then you can, she tells him.

Of course it is not long after I say that, that the both of them are in his tent and the door to his tent is closed. Landon, & Christian both look at me and the both of them just shake their heads. We all know that more is going to be going on in that tent than just sleeping. Especially after the way that Sasha had been flirting with Derrick after Tyler went into Landon’s tent.

Things got much more intense, they even kissed. Sasha did not know that I saw them kiss, but I did. I saw it after I went to keep an eye on Tyler when Landon brought him to his tent. I honestly do not know how long they were both kissing for.

The lights turn off in the tent and all I hear now is giggling and laughing coming from inside of it. I put a hand on my forehead, realizing that once again I have been tricked by her. That is now two times tonight she has played tricks on me. I look over at Landon’s lawn chair but he is not there. Christian whistles at me and points towards the beach. I walk over to where he is lying down close to the water, and is looking up at the stars. I kneel down beside of him and ask him, So are you going to go to sleep?

He just smiles at me and says, Yeah in a bit, he gestures for me to lay down with him. So I snuggle up close to him and feel his warm body close to mine. Looking up at the nice dark sky with all of the twinkling stars above us; this could not be more romantic.

I hear Christian open his tent up and close it. I smile at him and say, I think we are alone now!

He just smiles at Tannis and gently brushes the side of her face and gently strokes her hair, he looks into her silver blue eyes, as a twinkle appears in her left eye. He smiles at her and says, You are so beautiful.

Everything I am feeling right now cannot be described in words, it feels nice. I feel warm and tingly all over; I am enjoying the attention that Landon is giving me. I can hear his heart beating as my head is resting on his chest; the sound of it almost makes me fall to sleep in his arms.

Landon can still see the twinkle in her eyes; he can feel Goosebumps all over her. Gently he begins grazing his hands through her hair. She looks at him and places his lips onto his and gently kisses him. He smiles after and she now feels the same reaction all over him, he is now the one with Goosebumps all over.

I have to stop myself, as I look at him and just smile and don’t say anything. He leans closer and kisses me again, this time it is him doing it. This is getting intense and I have to stop him. So I sit up as I feel him come up behind of me as he is holding onto me in his arms.

I’ll never forget this weekend, Tannis said.

Me either, Landon responded.

Will you hold me like this all night, she asked?

He whispers into my ear, I promise you that all we will do is sleep.

The feeling that I get when I hear him tell me this, makes me trust him and safe it also tells me that he is nothing like Derrick at all. I know many guys that would take advantage of me in a situation like this. This is showing me that his word actually means something, and I’m slowly seeing for myself that Landon’s friend Derrick may become a problem. Right now all that I want is to get to know Landon better, because I don’t know much about him, I know very little.

What do you say we call it a night, and get warm, Tannis says.

I was about to say the same thing, Landon responded.

So I take his and we walk back to the tent. Landon quietly goes back into his tent to get some pillows. He looks in on Tyler who is sleeping, while Tannis is waiting for him. Sasha peeks out to see what is going on, and notices that Tannis is the only person there.

Where is everyone, Sasha asked?

Christian has gone to sleep, Lanny and I are about to as well, he is just getting some pillows from his tent, she answered.

You sure you are ready to do this, Sasha asks her?

To do what, Tannis responds back?

Oh please, I have seen how you have been eyeing him up like candy all day, Sasha answered.

This insults Tannis a little bit, thinking that she would easily give herself to someone who she does not know very well. Yes she does find Landon attractive, but that does not mean that she is about to be intimate with him. Tannis does not have time