Katie lugged the heavy canoe along with the rest of her group, her arms aching. She never understood why canoes had to be carried over your head. Ahead of her, her best friend Veronica stumbled over a root, and all six of their group nearly went down. Katie snickered while the four guys making up the rest of the group grumbled about getting stuck with two girls.
It was their senior trip, a canoeing trip down the white waters of Tennessee and Georgia. Thanks to an overeager Phys Ed staff, instead of going to Disney World, New York, or even Dolly World, they were trapped on this canoe trip. Well, it hadn't been that bad, Katie admitted to herself.
With glee, her group tossed their canoe where the rest where thrown haphazardly to the ground. Mr. Peterson the gym teacher was about to have an apoplexy, but then, he hadn't had to carry the damn things so he didn't understand the sheer joy of getting rid of the canoes. Veronica turned around and smiled at Katie, miming smoking a joint.
"Later," Katie whispered, looking around furtively with a giggle. "Someone is going to see you do that!"
"Ah, let 'em. I'm eighteen and graduated, so there isn't anything they can do to me now." Veronica was exactly four months older than Katie. Katie had just celebrated her eighteenth birthday, and Veronica had been the Buddha of forbidden knowledge. Katie didn't feel any different, even though she technically was an adult.
"Oh, look. Josh Peterson is giving you the eye, Katie. I think he may actually work up the courage to ask you out. Or ask for head, whichever comes first."
Katie turned and met Josh's gaze, blushing at Veronica's words as he smiled and waved. She quickly looked away to find Veronica watching her in amusement.
"You are never going to get a date if you keep being so shy. I mean, you are gorgeous, but you keep them at arm's length." Veronica grabbed her arm and walked her over to where Mr. Peterson already had a huge bonfire roaring. Dinner was the usual; roasted hot dogs and beans followed by a dessert of toasted marshmallows.
Katie ate in silence, listening to Veronica ramble on about the lead singer of her favorite band. Katie liked listening to music, but Veronica obsessed about it. Her thoughts and gaze drifted to Josh, and she idly wondered why she was so shy. She would love to be able to flirt as casually as the other girls, but Katie couldn't seem to get out even a hello.
Veronica jabbed Katie with her elbow. Katie glared at her and rubbed her sore arm.
"What did you do that for?" Veronica's dark brown eyes twinkled caramel in the firelight as she laughed quietly. Her short blonde hair was a sharp contrast to Katie's copper colored mop.
"Listen, Juliet, your Romeo is getting uncomfortable with all the staring you are doing." Katie realized with a start that Veronica was right! She had been staring at Josh the entire time she had been lost in thought. He had even turned his back to her because she was making him so creeped out. She felt herself flush to the tips of her ears, knowing every freckle across her nose would be blazing.
"Oh. My. God. He must think I am stalker girl!"
"Probably. That's why this will be a good time to slip away." Veronica pointed to the tents where most people had already begun to go to bed. Mr. Peterson could already be heard snoring loudly from his collapsible chair. "We'll just pitch our tent, stuff our sleeping bags and when he checks it later, it will look like we are in there asleep!"
"Okay. Anything to get me away from Josh!" They pitched their tent next to Mr. Peterson, the better to seem as though they were doing nothing wrong. Luckily, their tent had two entrances, and after stuffing their sleeping bags, they quietly slipped out the back, following the woods until they came to the slow moving Chattahoochee.
Veronica burst out laughing as soon as they reached the shore, twirling around in glee. Katie smiled and sat down on a waterlogged branch. Veronica quickly took out her stash and immediately lit up. They had decided that on this trip, they were going to try new things, be more grown up in their choices of fun.
Veronica passed the joint to Katie who inhaled deeply. Much to her embarrassment, she began to choke and sputter, the foul tasting smoke exploding from her in convulsive gasps. Veronica laughed with glee before taking another long, slow drag. She passed the joint back to Katie who took a much smaller puff. The odd enchantment of the drug was already taking effect, and Katie smiled at the night around her.
We should go swimming," Veronica announced happily, already shrugging out of her shorts and tank top. Sandals were thrown on top to keep the wind from blowing them away. Bra and panties quickly followed, leaving Katie gaping. She had never seen another girl naked before. Even in movies during a nude scene, she had always looked away or closed her eyes. But this was Veronica, her best friend, and Veronica was beautiful.
"Come on, Katie. Come with me or it'll be no fun."
"I can't do... THAT!" Katie laughed, and Veronica shook her head putting her hands on Katie's shoulders.
"Katie, take a risk. For once, do something you want to do and not something you should do." With that, she turned and waded into the water, giggling at the chilly wet against her skin.
Katie stood up abruptly; her head was so fuzzy it was making it hard for her to think. She knew that Veronica was right. With less grace than her friend, she stripped quickly out of her shorts set and matching bra and panties. Flinging her sandals on her clothes, she walked quickly to the water's edge where Veronica was watching her intently, her body submerged, head just barely floating above the water.
"Come on in. Water's good." Katie smiled and stepped into the river, amazed at her boldness. The lapping of the water felt so good against her skin, that it was almost erotic. Katie blushed at the thought, wondering where it had come from.
"Now. Tell me what you were thinking about back at the campsite," Veronica said, locking her feet with Katie's as they floated together.
"It was nothing really. Just thinking that I have no idea how to be with anyone. If Josh did try to kiss me, I wouldn't know what to do."
"You mean you've never kissed anyone? You've gone on dates, Katie."
