"Hi honey, how was work?" Lacey hears Aunt Kim call down the hall. Kim's in her room, so Uncle Don must be home. That means that her true torture is about to begin.
Lacey hated Texas. She hated how friendly everyone was and how there was never anything to do or anyplace to go. Yet every year her parents shipped her off for two weeks of "family time" with Uncle Don and Aunt Kim and their whole damn BROOD of children. The only one who was even bareable was Cole, Kim's kid from a previous "marriage". Lacy hated that too. The idea that anyone together more than three months was assumed to be getting married. She thought it was stupid. She didn't understand why people couldn't at least just have a quickie wedding if they loved each other that much and wanted the titles so bad. Whatever. She was eighteen now and when she moved out in the fall her parents could never force her to go through this again. More than anything, Lacey hated fishing. It was the one thing her impending freedom find't make easier to handle.
Fishing was just...disgusting. And boring. And stupid. She just couldn't. No matter how hard she tried to like it, she couldn't, and she made that clear every year to her aunt and uncle. Yet every year, they loaded everyone up and headed off for three days, determined to convert her.
Two hours later, all seven kids loaded up with three tents and two coolers, Lacey isn't feeling very "converted". In fact, she's feeling a little pissed that she has to sit in Cole's damn lap. She's not five and its not ok at her age to sit in her damn cousin's lap. Why are his parents ok with this?? She considers saying something, and then decides she'd rather stay quiet than have to hold a snot nosed, loud-ass, little brat. At least Cole won't get bodily fluids on her. That is the last thing she needs on this torture trip.
"When we get in, put your hands on the roof. I won't be able to buckle us both in and I don't want you to bash that pretty head in. Ground's bumpy." Lacey shivers at how close to her ear those words came. She had been so lost in her own thoughts that she never even heard him on the gravel.
Lacey nods her assent as she watches Cole climb all the way into the back of the short bus her aunt and uncle bought for these occassions. He settles down in between the coolers of food and bait and, even though she knows Don and Kim would send them back there anyway, she has to restrain herself from hitting him in the arm.
Cole's arm slips around her waist and he spreads his legs a little as everyone else piles in. Lacey can't hslp but notice how hard all his muscles are against her back and thighs.
"Hand's up, Lace" Cole's voice, this time his slow drawl is so close to her ear, she can feel his breathas it comes out on each word.
Lscey's hands go up as the bus starts, but she soon feels foolish and drops them. Surely she'll see the ruts before they hit one?
Cole's arm tightens around her waist just as they hit the first rut. His grip is tight enough so she doesn't slam down on his crotch, but not tight enough to keep Lacey from hitting her head with a hollow THUNK.
Lacey inhales a sharp breath as Uncle Don calls back, "Ok back there? Can't be breakin yourself yet, I still gotta send you back"
"Yeah, I'm fine," Lacey call up, humiliated. They already think she's a spoiled brat, she won't give them any more ammunition to use against her.
"You're lying," Cole whispers into her ear, "How bad is it?"
"I'm fine!" she whispers as quietly as she can.
