The Rogue Alphas

Chapter 3

We arrived at our destination. "Evergreen Mountain Park, Campgrounds and Wildlife preserve" read the sign at the entrance. We pulled into the gravel parking lot with excitement spread across our faces.

"We're here!" Aida exclaimed as she parked the car and shut it off.

We jumped out of the car to stretch before racing to the Ranger's Station bathrooms and relieving ourselves.

"I'm gonna go let the ranger know we're camping for the weekend," Aida said as she pointed to a door that said "Campers check in here."

"Okay!" Lily and I said in unison.

Lily linked arms with me as we walked around the nearly empty parking area. Aside from our car, there were a couple of park ranger trucks and one other beat-up, old sedan with a canoe on the roof. We were taking in the view of the maze of trees and observing the signs and maps that tell you where the rivers, lakes, and campsites are.

I heard the rocks agitating and looked over my shoulder to see we walked out in front of a Ranger on a golf cart.

"AHHHH!" I screamed as I pulled Lily to the side.

The Ranger came to a screeching halt a few feet from us.

BEEP BEEP, she honked her horn.

"Watch out, ladies! I almost ran you over!" the ranger exclaimed angrily.

"OH MY GOSH WE'RE SO SORRY," Lily said and pulled me away to the building where Aida was coming out.

Aida called out to them as she walked over, "Alright. We're checked in. Let's go."

"Did you see that we almost got run over!" I said as we approached Aida.

"Yeah, I did," Aida laughed.

"It's not funny! Why are you laughing!?" Lily said, irritated.

“It is funny because I tell you all the time to watch where you’re going. That’s what you get for not listening,” She stuck her tongue out at Lily, “Now let's go set up camp!”

She grabbed my arm, and we hurried to the car with Lily trailing behind us, rolling her eyes at the two 'children' in front of her. We grabbed our tent, bags, and drink cooler. Thankfully, the drink cooler rolled because after 10 mins of walking, our bags seemed like they had gotten heavier.

"Such a beautiful sight," I said in total awe of the squirrels and birds dancing through the overhead branches of the evergreen trees.

"Aida and I love camping here. I'm so happy that we could bring you," Lily walked backward in front of us while she talked, clutching the bagged tent close to her body.

The trail twisted and turned through the woods, and we arrived at a nearly empty campsite. The area had a wooden log fence around it. The campsite was mostly dirt from foot traffic but had grassy patches and small flowery weeds. It had more signs pointing down each of the trails, a couple of rock circles where you could build a small fire, and an out house close by, so you didn't have to walk 15 minutes back to the Ranger station. Only one other tent was there off to the far left side of the campsite, and it didn't seem like anyone was currently in it.

"Since someone else is here too, we should go over there," Aida pointed towards the far right side of the campsite.

Lily & Aida pitched the tent together, and unsure of what to do, I set down the things I carried and started looking for sticks for a fire. While gathering small sticks around the campsite, I overheard the couple talking, which turned quickly into a heated argument about setting up the tent.

"AIDA, you never listen," Lily raised her voice.

"Lily, I KNOW how to set up my own tent," Aida said, raising her voice a little louder than Lily’s.

"Clearly, you don't. If you let me do it, I'd be done putting it together," Lily said in a condescending tone.

"Can you just be patient for once?? I don't always need your help."

"Well, look at a little miss independent here. I always have to do everything for you, even at home!"

"LILY I go to school 6 hours a day and then go to work when I'm off. I'm sorry, but I DON'T wanna go home and do chores! At least you get days off and--"

"Hey guys, I'm going to go look for more sticks, I'll be right back, " I finally interrupted.

I walked up to the rock circle near where they were pitching the tent and tossed my sticks down. I turned away, walking swiftly down one of the trails.

"Okay, Marc... Be careful!" Aida sighed and looked upset as she called out to me. I was already speed walking away from the campsite.

"Make sure you stay on the trails, or you might get lost," Lily added.

I heard the fighting continuing behind me. I looked back at the two. I didn’t know they had so much pent-up anger towards each other.

"Now look at what you did, Lily! You don't have to belittle me in front of her, "Aida exclaimed.

"BELITTLE you?! I---" Lily's voice trailed off as Marceline got further away from camp.

She could hear expletives echo off the trees.

Forget looking for sticks, I'm exploring. They can have their petty lover's quarrel. I study the signposts pointing in this and that direction.

“So where do I go first?” I scratched my head.