The sun had disappeared hours before, the cricket's que to begin their never-ending song in the night. Within five minutes of our excursion, Avery ran ahead to chase something. Probably some scared little rabbit I thought. We saw her disappear behind a bush. "Don't go too far," Taylor warned her. She only mumbled a distant answer. He then took my hand again as be continued to wander down the beaten path. "Hey, look," I pointed to a dark body of water that lay a few yards ahead. "Oh yeah, I remember this lake," he said and stopped when we were close to the water's edge. I turned to face him. "Wanna go for a swim?" I playfully asked. What he said next proved guys to be oblivious to most given hints, "I dont have my trunks with me." "Whoever said you need a bathing suit?" I retorically questioned him, with a smirk. To provoke him a bit more, I pulled my shirt over my head and dropped it at his feet. He stared at it and then me. "Not I," he said, kicking off his shoes and unbuttoning his shirt.
I laughed as Taylor chased me into the water. The cool liquid soothed my sunburned skin, but was over powered Taylor's warm body. He lifted me off the sandy lake floor. I wrapped my legs around his thin waist and my arms around his neck. His lips were at my chest and shoulders before they moved to to my face. The small noises we made were all that could be heard through the vast stretch of open land. We sank lower and lower into the water as our kisses became more passionate. The lake was just at my chin when an urgent scream rang throughout the air. Taylor gasped and pulled away from me. Another scream. "Oh God, Avie!" he cried and nearly dropped me. He dashed out of the water and snatched his boxers from the grass. While jumping into his pants, Taylor began to run in the direction we had last left Avery. I followed but was not fast enough to keep up with him. I was still tugging my shirt over my head when I reached them. I saw Avery huddled behind a bush on the ground. She cradled her arm next to her chest as Taylor picked her up. "What happened to her?" I worriedly asked as we jogged bak towards camp. "I don't know. Something must have bit her," he said. Avery began to whimper. "Shhh, it's ok,Avie. You're gonna be fine," he tried to comfort her and kissed her cheek. When the lights of the camp came into view Taylor sped up to a run. "Jesus Christ, Tay! What happened?!" Isaac yelled at his brother. Taylor ignored him. He searchd the site for the car and his father,"Where's dad?" "He and Zac drove to the park store for some stuff. My God, what's wrong with her?" Isaac told us and then referred to his sister. I looked at the little girl again. She was trembling convulsivly and a large ammount of sweat was pouring down her pale face. "We've got to get to a hospital," Taylor told his brother. He nodded,"We'll have to walk." Taylor gave Avery to Isaac who began to jog in the other direction towards the main camp road. He then turned to me, "Stay here with Mac. Dad should be back soon. Tell him what happened and where we are and to hurry." With those conclusive words, he ran to join his brother. I looked down at Mackenzie who had been by my side the entire time. I hoisted him onto my hip. "Where they goin?" he asked me while we watched his brothers fade into the night air. "To make Avie better," I quietly told him.