The car pulled into the littered lot ten minutes later. Angus jumped out and ran to the nearest tree. We all piled ourselves out of the car and took everything out of the trunk. It was cold here, I missed the heat of the car.

After Angus- uh, returned, we got everything set up in the woods and then headed to the beach. Brian and Cliff thought it would be funny to grab a bunch of seaweed and wrap Phil in it. Phil didn't like that as much. Malcolm took pictures of the incident and Angus gave me a piggyback ride down the shore.

"Is this place familiar to you?"

"No, why?"

"Just wonderin',"

"And you?"

"Not at all. Barely know my way around my own house."

"So what's the surprise?"

"Not here yet."

"Aw, why not?"

"Because it's not, end of discussion."

"When is it?"

"Soon."

"How soon?"

"Soon."

"Boo, I hate surprises."

"I know that. You'll like this one though. At least I hope you do." He continued walking a bit. "How far do you want to go?" I rested my head on his and tightened my arms around his neck.

"Don't know."

"You comfortable up there?"

"Yeah."

"Good. Oh, there's something I've been meaning to ask you. Did you ever read that letter I gave you in 1980?"

"Yeah I read it. Thank you."

"You're welcome. How about that picture huh? That good looking chap standing next to you eh?"

"Oh yeah, real eye candy." He laughed.

"Not so much anymore huh?"

"I didn't say that."

"But..."

"There is no but, you're still handsome."

"How 'bout in the future?"

"Not to everyone but I still think so." He looked over his shoulder at me and smiled.

"Good." I nuzzled my face in his hair and closed my eyes. No idea where we were going but I trusted him.

"Hey you two! Come on, we've got pictures to take and memories to make!" Malcolm shouted to us.

"The Warden's calling," I mumbled.

"Uh-oh, better go see what he wants." He turned around and started walking back, swaying side to side pretending to drop me.

"Come on over here guys." We took a bunch of pictures of each other doing silly things. Malcolm and Brian holding Phil's legs up as he attempted a handstand. Cliff holding a bunch of sand above Malcolm's head. Angus and Malcolm standing back to back, Cliff and Phil throwing sand at each other. All of us lying on our backs in a circle, which was a difficult picture to take. And finally, Angus and I with our arms around each other. I leaned my head on his shoulder and he rested his head on mine.

Evening came and it got dark enough to where we wanted to build a bonfire. We got a bunch of wood from the forest behind us and Brian lit it with his lighter. We made sure to keep it away from the woods, but not too close to the water.

The boys had gotten all their instruments set up. They just brought some acoustic guitars and a snare and cymbal set. They played a song from each album and we had a great time singing along. The clouds began to cover the stars and we hoped it wouldn't rain that night.

"Hey you think anybody hears us out here?" Brian asked.

"They hear you at least," Phil said.

"I won't lie, if I heard us in the woods, I'd go home," Malcolm laughed. The air was growing colder as the fire was growing dimmer. Through the glow I could see Angus staring back at me. He grinned slyly and continued playing. I dare say he was showing off!

The wind picked up and I felt a few drops of rain. It wasn't much, and this band never let much get in the way of their playing before. We just wouldn't want to sleep out here.

"Aye-aye-oh, shake your foundations, aye-aye-oh, shake!" I could tell they all had a little fun with that one.

"I think my voice is shot," Cliff said.

"That's a twist of events," Brian said.

"Those high notes did it."

"Here drink this." Brian handed him a beer.

"Hey, you cold?" Angus asked. I shrugged. "Come here." I scooted next to him and he pulled me right up close. "Your skin is freezing you know that?" he asked holding my hand tight.

"That better Cliff?"

"Much, thank you."

The rain started to pour so we headed back to the woods. Our fire had long since burned out, and we thought the trees would give us shelter. The blankets were set up under a huge tree so we wouldn't get wet. Angus took the one next to me so we could talk a bit more. "My fingers are sore."

"I thought you'd be used to it."

"Well you know, using an acoustic guitar for electric songs...you just kind of gotta improvise with what you're given. You know...play more than what you have. That's hard work."

"You're dedicated."

"Or stubborn." We fell asleep under the trees, cold but dry.