Kate rolled over and viciously jabbed at her alarm clock, in hopes of stopping the annoying buzz. She couldn't believe that she was actually getting up at 5:30 am to start her vacation, but she needed to get moving if she was going to make it to her boyfriend's house by 6:30. Kate loved camping and she'd been looking forward to their first trip of the summer for awhile now. As she was staggering towards the shower, her phone rang.
"Hey Mike," she breathed into the phone, knowing nobody else would be calling her so early. "We still leaving at 6:30?"
"That's the plan," replied Mike. "But listen. Ethan just called. He says that Jess is really sick and can't make it."
"Oh yeah? What happened?" asked Kate, as she tried to sound concerned. She really liked her boyfriend's best friend Ethan, but she wasn't all that sorry his girlfriend wouldn't be joining them on their camping trip. The girl was nice enough, mused Kate, though she didn't understand Jess's phobia of dirt.
"I'm not sure. Ethan wouldn't say. I think Jess just doesn't like camping."
"Oh," said Kate, while trying not to laugh.
"His sister just got back into town two days ago though, and really wants to come. Since Jess can't make it, would you mind if Erica came along?"
Kate's stomach did a few turns at the mention of the younger girl's name. "Uh, sure. I mean, no. No, I don't mind, and yeah, she can come."
"You ok, Kate?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Listen, I need to get moving if I'm going to make it to your place by 6:30. I'll see you in an hour, ok?"
"Sure. I'll call Ethan back and let him know. Bye."
"Bye." Kate closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths. Erica was going to go camping with them. Kate would have to be around her for two nights and three days.
It wasn't like Kate had only met Erica recently. She had known Ethan for years; they'd even gone to high school together. Erica had, too, though she was three years younger than Kate. After graduating college and moving back to her hometown, Kate had met up with Ethan at a party and he'd introduced her to his best friend Mike, whom he'd met in a frat. And she was also reintroduced to Erica.
After that party, Kate's opinion of Erica had changed completely. In high school she'd always been a bit awkward, although a year of college had given her some new level of confidence that Kate was drawn to. At first it had been confusing, because Kate had only ever liked boys, although she had messed around with a girl once in college. They had both been quite drunk but Kate had enjoyed the kissing, at least. She'd actually wanted more but sensed that the other girl wasn't really into it, so she had moved off of the couch before passing out. Other than that, though, Kate hadn't been drawn to a woman the way she was with Erica.
Erica, on the other hand, had been out as a bisexual since high school. She usually dated boys but she did have the occasional fling with a woman. And ever since that party, Kate had fantasized about Erica's tight little body. Kate let her mind wander a bit more then firmly told herself to forget the whole thing. Did she really want to torture herself all weekend?
But all the while Kate was packing, she found she couldn't stop. As she braided her long blonde hair, she thought about Erica's short, dark curls, so unlike her own. As she applied mascara to make her green eyes stand out, she could imagine the exact shade of blue that looked up at her from Erica's face. And as she slowly laced up her hiking boots, she wondered where the tiny girl could find good shoes in size four.
Get a grip on yourself
, Kate thought angrily, as she threw her stuff into the trunk of her Jetta.
A horn honked and Kate glanced up, realizing the light had changed to green. She had driven almost the entire way to Mike's house without realizing it! She sighed again as she pulled into his driveway. Mike walked out onto the front porch of the house he shared with two cousins carrying a steaming mug of coffee. Kate couldn't help smiling; Mike was such a sweetheart.
"Remind me to thank Ethan again for introducing us," she said, while taking the coffee from Mike. He leaned in to kiss her gently on the mouth, then pulled away, smiling. The two lovers chatted easily about their mornings and their combined excitement for the trip.
Their conversation was soon interrupted by the arrival of the siblings. Ethan got out of the car first and jogged over to join his friends on the porch.
"Hey, it really means a lot to Erica that you invited her on this trip. I know she's three years younger and not that close with you."
"It's no trouble at all, Ethan. I daresay she may be more fun than…"
"Oh-ho! Look at that, it's almost seven. Let's load up your car, Ethan, so we can get going," said Mike, loudly, while glaring at Kate.
The blonde rolled her eyes, and moved to load her own belongings into the SUV they'd be taking up to the mountain lake.
"Morning, Kate," Erica muttered sleepily. She was curled around her pillow in the front seat, her dark curls held in place with a red bandKate.
"Hi!" squeaked Kate. The 24-year-old felt like an explosion had gone off inside her chest. She quickly raked her eyes over the younger woman, taking in everything from the freckles splashed across her nose to the argyle-patterned socks peaking over the tops of her tiny brown boots.
"Do you need help loading any of your stuff?"
"Oh, um, no, I think I got it, but thanks," stammered Kate.
"Hey, where'd you get coffee?"
"Oh! You want some? Mike gave it to me, I can get you a cup if you like, while the guys load up the car. How do you like it?"
Jeez, chill out, Kate
, the blonde scolded herself. Don't scare her off.
Erica smiled at Kate. "Thanks, I'd appreciate it. I can get it if you're busy."
"Oh, no, it's no trouble. I know where everything is anyway. What do you like in your coffee?"
"Any flavored creamer, if he has it. Otherwise just milk."
Kate threw the rest of her gear into the car and went into Mike's kitchen. The pot was empty, so she started a fresh one while she rummaged in the fridge. She welcomed the cool air of the fridge on her flushed face, but thoughts of Erica kept pushing their way in. The younger girl looked fantastic, with a bikini top holding her small, perky breasts in place under a little gray tank top. Although Erica had been sitting down, Kate knew that her shorts hugged a nearly perfect ass, and that they would nicely show off slim legs. Kate squirmed as she tried to focus on her task and stop wondering what those pouty lips tasted like.
"Ugh, it's hot," Erica said, throwing her pack down and collapsing on a stump, nearly five hours later. "That was quite a hike getting up here!"
"Yeah, but the lake is only a half-mile away, so it's the perfect place to camp," Ethan said. "You and Kate can head up there now, Mike and I can set up camp."
