The Making of…

Chapter 48

Happy Campers

“Alright, get the tents into the car – no not that car – Orlando! Pay attention!” I yelled at Orlando as he pointed at my Mini. “Do you honestly think we’d fit all the tents in there? Put them in Vig’s Jeep.” I rolled my eyes and picked up the bags that sat at my feet, tossing them into the car as I walked past on my way to find Viggo. We were setting off on the camping trip in half an hour and I was worrying about the fact that nothing was ready. The hot afternoon sun beamed down on my bare shoulders from the cloudless blue sky as I walked. I pushed my sunglasses up so they were resting on top of my head as I found him talking to Sean and Raven.

“Hey.” He smiled, but his smile drooped as he saw my frazzled expression.

“Viggo…” I whined, “What else do we have to get ready?”

“Nothing,” He grinned, “We sorted it all.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive.” He assured me, wrapping an arm around my shoulders comfortingly as he turned back to Raven and Sean, “These two have decided to come, isn’t that great?”

“Do we have-”

“Yes we have enough tents, and food and anything else you’re worrying about.” He cut me off by lightly placing a finger over my lips, “Stop stressing.”

“Where the hell would I be without you?” I sighed, allowing myself to get wrapped up in his arms. As I hugged him I rested my head on his chest and thought I heard Raven mumble something like: ‘Those two are so cute!’ But I didn’t quite hear her. I licked my dry lips as Viggo released me from his embrace, but kept his hands resting on my hips as I stood close to him. “So what’s the final headcount then?” I sighed, reaching up to play with his cowboy hat.

“Around ten, give or take a few.” He smiled and I exhaled with relief.

“Somehow I had it in my head that it was more like twenty.”

“I don’t think our little expedition is that popular – and there are only three people in the actual scene.” He laughed and nodded towards the Jeep, “Ready to go?”

“Yeah.” I nodded, winding one arm around his waist as he released mine and casually placed his arm around my shoulders.

“Coming you two?” He asked Raven and Sean, who nodded and picked up their backpacks as they followed us to the car. I climbed onto the passenger seat and thumped the ancient radio to life. “Go easy on that – it’s an antique.” Viggo joked as I rolled my eyes and sat back in my seat. Raven and Sean climbed in the back as I slipped my sunglasses on.

“Sean!” Raven cried, “Our song is on the radio!” I raised an eyebrow as I listened to what the station was playing – I didn’t know the song, but the two lovebirds in the back sang along cheerfully as Viggo fired the engine to life and pulled out of the car park. As we drove on, the song ended and Raven and Sean laughed and chatted happily between themselves whilst I stared blankly out the window, thinking about how Raven and Sean had a ‘song’. It seemed like a cute idea – a song that sums up your relationship. I hadn’t really thought about it before, but I couldn’t think of a song that summarised what Viggo and I had.

“We don’t have a song.” I mumbled – speaking my thoughts out loud.

“Every song is our song.” Vig replied with a smile.

“I thought you were only supposed to have one… Or a select few at least.”

“Okay then… Pick one.” He shrugged as I sighed.

“You’re not supposed to pick one… It’s supposed to be one of those things like fate, or destiny… Or coincidence.” I ran one hand through my hair as he reached for the dial on the radio – spinning it until it hit a random station.

‘… you make it easier when life gets hard…’ It took me a moment to recognise the song playing, and then I smiled a little. ‘… Lucky to be in love with my best friend, lucky to have been where I have been…’

“How did you know about my weakness for Jason Mraz?” I laughed as he turned up the volume.

“Fate, destiny, coincidence?” He grinned as I softly sang along to the song. I reached across the car and took his free hand as I sang.

“Lucky we’re in love in every way, lucky to have stayed where we have stayed…” I smiled as he checked the road – keeping one hand on the wheel as he leant across and lightly kissed me.

“Ew! Public display of affection!” Raven yelled from the back – totally ruining the moment.

“Well we could always dump you on the side of the road if you’d prefer.” Viggo grinned, turning back to the long stretch of empty road that led up to the mountainous areas.

“Nah, we’re good.” Sean laughed as I curled my knees up to my chest and wedged my feet against the dashboard whilst I listened to the last chords of the song – our song.

“I don’t think it would have been quite as charming if you’d landed on a station playing a terrible song.” I smirked.

“I was relying heavily on good luck.” Viggo smiled in response.

“Coincidentally the song is called ‘Lucky’.”

“Well then I have exceedingly good luck.” He laughed, turning off the main road onto a country lane that snaked up towards the hills.

“How much further?” I asked.

“Check the map.” He said, nodding towards the folded map that stuck out of the side-pocket on the car door. I lifted it out and unfolded it, locating the road we were on. Viggo had drawn a little red circle around the lake we would be camping beside and I measured with my finger how many more centimetres were left – then I checked it against the scale, and then I looked at the speedometer.

“If my maths is correct – which it’s probably not – we have roughly another half-hour.” I announced.

As it turned out my maths was incorrect – it took us twenty minutes.

“Alright, alright, so I was ten minutes off – you don’t need to rub it in.” I sighed as I lifted a heavy tent bag out of the back of the car.

“Your inability to count astounds me.” Raven countered as she shouldered her backpack.

“I’m a creative person – for everything else there’s this magical little thing called a calculator.” I retorted.

“Now, now girls, don’t fight.” Orlando smirked, leaning over me to get his bags out of the car – he’d driven up with Miranda, Bernard and John.

“We’re not fighting, just having a difference of opinion.” I rolled my eyes and carried the tent over to where Viggo was trying to find a flat patch of grass near the lake.

“Over here should do.” He smiled as I approached.

“Why couldn’t you carry the heavy bag?” I grunted, dropping it at his feet and rubbing my aching arms.

“Uh… I had to… Go find some… Ground?” He looked at me sheepishly and I raised an eyebrow.

“Well done, you found some ground. Would you like a gold star?” I muttered sarcastically, “Let’s get this tent up.” Viggo mock-saluted in response and unzipped the large bag. I knelt down and started pulling out the poles and pegs that we’d need as he unfolded the large canvas and laid it out. I’d pitched tents hundreds of times before, and it seemed Viggo had similar experience as we got to work. Within minutes I was stamping the final peg into the ground and looking proudly on at our achievement.

“Nice.” Viggo grinned, unzipping the entrance-flap and ducking in. I followed him into the stuffy little ‘room’. It was big enough for two – with some extra space. Viggo was sitting at the entrance looking out, and I sat beside him, leaning on his shoulder as he wrapped an arm around my waist. I laughed as I spotted Sean and Raven unsuccessfully trying to put up their tent. Miranda was already sorted – she’d brought some kind of pop-up thing. Orlando had done the same and was sitting unpacking his sleeping bag. I glanced up when I heard a car pull up somewhere behind our tent.

“That’s probably Karl.” I smiled, scrambling to my feet and ducking back outside. I held my hand out for Viggo, who took it as he stood and followed me to where Karl – complete with cowboy hat - was climbing out of a battered blue pickup truck. To my surprise, someone else climbed out of the passenger side. It was a girl with dark brown hair pulled up into a high ponytail. She was wearing a pair of faded jeans with a pale blue t-shirt, and smiled shyly as we walked up to them.

“Hey!” Karl waved as he grabbed two backpacks from the back and handed one to the girl.

“Hi.” I grinned, “Who’s this?” I smiled and nodded towards the girl.

“Oh, sorry this is Rylee.” He introduced us and I extended my free hand and she shook it. “Rye, this is Kira and Viggo.”

“Hey.” She smiled, “Nice to meet you both, Karl’s told me a lot about you.”

“I wish I could say the same – Karl, how could you keep her a secret from us?” I glared at him accusingly, “Were you afraid of me finding out that I’m not the only girl in your life?” I joked as Viggo shook his head.

“I wasn’t keeping her a secret!” He responded defensively, “I just haven’t seen you guys in a while is all!”

“You could have texted me.” I huffed as Viggo laughed.

“So, are you two going out or what?” He asked – addressing both Karl and Rylee.

“Uh… Yeah, kinda.” Rylee smiled as Karl reached across to her and took her hand.

“I think I’m having an overdose of cuteness.” I sighed.

“Sorry, am I standing too close again?” Viggo winked and I punched his arm.

“I’ll assume that you two need a tent then?” I asked, nodding towards where the Jeep was parked. We walked over and I climbed into the back – kicking out one of the tent bags as I did. “Vig, catch!” I called over my shoulder – throwing my backpack at him. I heard a thump which hopefully meant he’d caught it; I tossed his backpack out and then grabbed my guitar case and pulled it out. Viggo and Orlando had persuaded me to bring it; I was slowly becoming one of those people who always have their guitar with them…

“Right, we’re going to go set up our tent.” Karl said, “See you in bit.”

“Ok.” I grinned as they walked off. I hopped out of the car and mouthed ‘So adorable!’ to Viggo, who laughed and slipped his arm around my waist as we walked back to the tent. I noticed that some time between us arriving and putting up the tent, the makeup bus had somehow appeared. It occurred to me that I’d never seen anyone actually drive it… It just turned up wherever we went.

“Hey Vig!” I turned to see John looking at us expectantly, “You coming fishing?”

“Yeah, just a second!’ He replied, tossing his backpack into the tent and turning to me, “I’ll see you in a bit, ok?”

“Sure,” I smiled, “Go have fun and be manly.”

“Will do.” He smiled, leaning forwards and kissing me, before turning and running back to the car to fetch his fishing gear. I smiled and made my way back to our tent; I had some time to kill whilst he was away, I just had to figure out what to do with it. As I unpacked my backpack and laid my sleeping-bag out in the tent, I caught sight of my orange bikini and smiled. I changed into it and pulled a pair of denim shorts over the top – but not without bumping my head on the tent-poles a few times; getting changed in a tent is never easy. I grabbed a towel and practically rolled out of the tent. After standing and brushing myself down, I spotted Raven talking to Rylee and I waved.

“You going swimming Ki?” Raven asked and I shook my head.

“Not now – I need to absorb some vitamin D!” I grinned and made my way down to the shore of the lake, where I spread out my towel and lay down on it. I was a little wary of the fact that I was once again sunbathing near Raven… Last time she caught me off guard she’d dumped a pile of sand on me. I was pretty sure that there was no sand around here though.

“Mind if I join you?”

I looked up to see Miranda spreading a towel out beside mine.

“Sure.” I smiled, lying back and closing my eyes as she sat down and opened a book. I could hear the waves of the lake gently lapping against the shore, and somewhere a little further away; I could hear people talking quietly whilst they cast their fishing lines back and forth. After a short while, I heard them cheer, and I looked up to see Viggo reeling in a sizably large trout. That should keep him happy for the rest of the day.

“Ki!” I heard Raven cry loudly in my ear – causing me to wince and roll over.

“What?” I muttered.

“Let’s go swimming!”

“Alternatively, let’s not go swimming.” I mumbled sarcastically, looking up to see her and Rylee both wearing their bikinis.

“If you don’t come willingly, we’ll make you.” She growled menacingly.

“I’d like to see you try.” I challenged, lying back casually and stretching my arms above my head. Suddenly, my arms and legs were grabbed and I was physically lifted off the ground. “What the? Stop it! Put me down!” I yelled as they carried me down to the lake. I managed to kick one leg out of Raven’s grasp but she still firmly held the other. “Get off! Get off! GET OFF!” I cried, “Miranda! Do something!” – She just laughed. I squirmed my other leg away from Raven and stood clumsily, but she’d already grabbed my shoulders and both her and Rylee pushing me closer to the lake. “Don’t you dare!” I wailed as I felt my bare feet touch cold water. “Right, if I’m going in, I’m taking you two with-”

I didn’t get to finish my sentence, as they pushed me off my feet – I did manage to grab their arms and drag them with me though. The water was shockingly cold at first, cold enough to force all the air out of my lungs as I tumbled beneath the surface. I kicked out as I tried to locate which way was up and quickly broke though the surface. “My shorts are probably ruined.” I muttered upon seeing the other two resurface – both in fits of laughter. I treaded water and then tipped backwards, allowing myself to float for a few seconds. “You know, we’ve probably scared all the fish away – the guys will be mad.”

“Psh, screw them!” Raven laughed.

“Karl isn’t even that good at fishing.” Rylee added.

“And I suppose Vig’s already caught one…” I sighed, “But the blame’s on you guys if they start pointing fingers, I’m the victim here!” I smirked and splashed them, which resulted in a splashing-fight until I eventually surrendered. Two against one wasn’t fair. I swam around for a bit, ducking beneath the water to try and see how deep the lake was, but then I remembered that there were fish in here and got a little freaked. It wasn’t as if there would be sharks in there… But still… I swam back to the others nonetheless. When I rejoined them, they seemed to be discussing each other’s relationships.

“So how did you and Karl meet?” Raven asked.

“Well, I’ve been hanging around the set for a few months, because I’ve been trying to get some experience of what it’s like working on a movie set, and Karl and I really hit it off.” Rylee smiled, “He asked me out a couple of weeks ago, and we’ve been dating since then.”

“That’s so sweet.” I grinned as I treaded water.

“Hey guys – talking about me behind my back?” I looked up to see Karl standing by the water’s edge.

“Only a little.” I retorted.

“Did you catch anything?” Rylee asked him, swimming to the edge of the lake and climbing out.

“No, Viggo caught two though.” He sighed regretfully, “And then you guys jumped in.”

“Not my fault!” I held my hands up defensively, “I was assaulted!”

“I know, we all saw.” He laughed.

“And not one of you came over to save me? Thanks.” I rolled my eyes as Sean walked over and Raven swam up to him.

“Coming for a swim Sean?” She asked.

“Nope.” He grinned as she joined him on the grass – leaving only me in the water.

“Where’s Viggo?” I questioned, looking around.

“He’s coming now.” Karl nodded towards where they had been fishing and I saw Viggo walking over to us.

“Hi Vig.” I waved, swimming to the shore and clambering out, wrinkling my nose at my soaked shorts.

“Hey.” He smiled, holding out his arms for me. I ran to him and hugged him tightly, “You’re soaked.” He laughed.

“Oh, sorry.” I blushed, moving away, but he pulled me back.

“I don’t mind.” He murmured softly, brushing my damp hair behind my ear and then leaning forward to kiss me.

“Get a room!” Karl cried jokingly, so I lifted the cowboy hat off Viggo’s head and used it to block our faces from the others as we kissed. I leant my forehead against Viggo’s and laughed a little as he kissed the tip of my nose and rested his hands on my bare waist. I set his hat on my own head and untangled myself from his arms.

“I’m going to go get dried off.” I smiled, picking up my towel and wrapping it around my shoulders.

“Don’t take too long.” He grinned, “Can I have my hat back?”

“It’s my hat now.” I smirked as I walked back towards the tent. I heard him run up behind me and pluck it off my head. As I turned to protest, he grabbed my face and quickly kissed me, before running off in the opposite direction. I smiled and lightly touched my fingertips to my lips, before turning and ducking into the tent.